Article
BODY SYMPTOMS THAT SHOW POSSIBLE ILLNESS
OR LACKING NUTRIENTS
By Brenda Eastwood, RNCP

FOLLOW THE CLUES

Drugs force a reaction, nutrition provides the body with the right environment to heal itself. An MD can prescribe an anti-depressant, but nutrition asks “why are you depressed”? Are your adrenal glands fried? Are you deficient in B12? Do you need more vitamin D? Are you letting your blood sugar drop? Do you have Candida, etc?

Sometimes you need help figuring out the clues. But there are lots of clues that you can learn so you can be your own NSI (nutritional science investigator).

Craving for Chocolate: you need magnesium. Did you know that during PMS your magnesium levels drop further, so your need for magnesium is higher? You need magnesium to make progesterone. If you don’t have it, you will become estrogen dominant and suffer with PMS symptoms.
Under stress, you lose more magnesium.
You need magnesium for your adrenal glands to function properly.
You need magnesium for all contracted states in your body such as asthma, angina, high blood pressure, muscle cramps, menstrual cramps and tense muscles.

Grinding Your Teeth: first try magnesium. If you are taking 3 caps of magnesium before bed and you are still grinding your teeth, take more. Megan needed 5 capsules per night before she stopped grinding her teeth. Can you take too much magnesium? Your body will let you know. If you are taking too much magnesium you will get loose stool.

If you take 5 or 6 or 7 magnesium caps per night, and you are still grinding your teeth, I would say that either you have low serotonin or parasites.

Low Blood Pressure: almost always this is caused by weak or fried adrenal glands. This may be a genetic issue, meaning that you may not have necessarily experienced a lot of stress; you simply may have been born with weak adrenal function. Recently I did a consult with a client and she has had low blood pressure for years. After she had been on adrenal therapy for several months, she had her blood pressure checked, and it was the first time her GP had ever seen it in the normal range.

Craving for Salt: everyone should know the answer to this! It indicates exhausted adrenal gland function. As your adrenal glands recover, the salt craving will disappear.

Craving for Licorice: this also indicates exhausted adrenal glands. And typically a person that craves licorice will also suffer with low blood sugar. Remember all people with low blood sugar have exhausted adrenal glands, but not all people with exhausted adrenal glands have low blood sugar problems.

A Feeling of Shakiness or Irritability if Hungry: That is a for sure sign that you have a blood sugar problem. This is a BIG DEAL. If you don’t manage your blood sugar you can have all kinds of annoying symptoms from insomnia to poor concentration to night sweats.

One drop in blood sugar, even if you go and eat right away, causes trouble. You might feel better by eating after your blood sugar has dropped, but the drop has already occurred and the ripple effect of symptoms can last for 24 to 48 hours.

Don’t Feel Like Eating Breakfast: This is a sign that you have liver congestion and you should do a liver cleanse.

Little Hard Goosebumps on the Backs of Your Arms: this either indicates that you are sensitive to dairy products or have a vitamin A deficiency. If you eat dairy products daily, you might see how good you feel by removing it from your diet entirely for 3 weeks! Butter is usually tolerated by people with dairy sensitivities and eggs are from chickens and are not considered dairy products.

Food Sensitivities: If you have a food sensitivity, then you should absolutely be avoiding the food and also taking a food enzyme such as Digest Plus. And you should always look at the next layer of the onion. In other words, something caused the food sensitivity. Is it an overgrowth of Candida? Is it parasites? Is it liver congestion or adrenal exhaustion?

Dairy Sensitivity: Usually indicates some liver congestion.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: are primarily related to the health of the adrenal glands.

If You Are Vegan: you will likely be low on B12 even if your blood tests say you are normal.

Dark Circles Under Your Eyes: typically relate to food sensitivities or adrenal exhaustion. However low iron or fecal build up in your colon can also cause them.

Unusually Sore or Stiff Muscles After Exercising: usually indicates a potassium deficiency.

Unexplained Nosebleeds: usually indicates a vitamin C deficiency or a food sensitivity. There are some people that need at least 5,000 mg of vitamin C per day in divided amounts.

Cold Hands and Feet: is most commonly associated to low magnesium and/or subclinical low thyroid

If You Frequently Get a Cold: If you are someone who gets colds easily, you can of course help yourself with products such as Silver Biotics and Sterols, but you should be looking for the root of the problem. Do you suffer with adrenal exhaustion, a food sensitivity, a vitamin C deficiency, or a zinc deficiency (or combination)?