EiR Blog

I thought for my main blog entry this week I'd discuss a subject that has for the past 10 years or so had a major impact on my ability to cope with daily life and plan for events in the future - the daily and seasonal fluctuations in the appearance and severity of my symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, environmental illness, and related conditions. I'll also talk about what I have done to adapt and minimise their impact.   Daily Fluctuations First I ought to explain that the body varies its biological processes such as hormone production throughout the day and night to allow for periods of activity and rest (i.e sleep) and this is known as the circadian rhythm. For example in the morning secretion of the adrenal hormone cortisol increases, as does activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and this makes us feel awake and full of energy so we're prepared to...

Continuing with my blog series aimed at helping you decipher the results of a comprehensive digestive stool analysis (CDSA), this week I will describe the various "metabolic markers" that might be referred to on your test results. n-Butyrate This short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) is produced as a result of the fermentation of dietary fibre, particularly gums and pectins, by certain bacteria that inhabit the intestines (particularly probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacilli and Bifodobacteria species). An n-butyrate level within the reference range is first and foremost then, an indicator that such health promoting bacteria are present in sufficient amounts. A low n-butyrate level in this respect may indicate a deficiency of beneficial bacteria while a high level suggests a general bacterial overgrowth caused by factors such as low stomach acid or high carbohydrate/fibre diets. In the former case probiotic supplements may be required while in the latter antibiotic therapy, whether drug-based...

Last week I blogged about how the two phases of liver detoxification can get out of balance due to chronic exposure to toxins, for example, and how this can impact on a person's health. As discussed, the most common problem is that phase 1 speeds up and phase 2 cannot keep up - someone in this situation is known as a pathological detoxifier because of their increased risk for symptoms and disease. The previous blogs with more detailed information can be found at: Pathological Detoxifiers and Environmental Illness Detoxification Profile Results - The Pathological Detoxifier and Chronic Illness   Now I want to take a look at foods and supplements that pathological detoxifiers can use to balance their liver detoxification pathways and improve their health. Essentially what we want to do is slow down phase 1 while speeding up phase 2. There are many foods and supplements that can help. One...

The Wellness Revolution (Wiley, 2002) was the “shot heard round the world” for the wellness industry. It defined wellness as an industry—linking hundreds of thousands of disparate service and product suppliers with a single cause. It showed like-minded scientists, fitness providers, businesspeople, food manufacturers, restaurant owners, wellness product distributors, doctors, and others focused on disease prevention and antiaging that they were part of a worldwide revolution—not just lone iconoclasts inside their chosen profession or industry. If you are an entrepreneur, or are considering becoming one in wellness, there has never been a better time in history to start a home-based direct selling business. This paradigm shift towards entrepreneurship is the only answer to America's Economic Crisis. On June 27, 2009 at the Health Care Organizing Kickoff event we plan to officially Launch an Academy of Social Entrepreneurship. The Academy will provide the tools and resources necessary to empower our communities...

Fatigue is a symptom which is common and particularly debilitating in environmental illnesses, as well as in many other chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease). Fortunately there are a number of nutritional supplements, herbs, and medications which in many cases can significantly improve your energy levels and therefore improve your ability to function normally so you can enjoy life once again. Fatigue or lack of energy can be the result of a number of factors. Physical fatigue may be the result of mitochondrial dysfunction or a poor supply of oxygen to the cells. The mitochondria are the part of the cell which generate energy aerobically (with oxygen). Fatigue may also be mental. Mental fatigue can often be hard to distinguish from physical fatigue as they more often than not occur together. However, mental fatigue can result from an imbalance in the levels of certain energising neurotransmitters in the brain or may...

This week a major review of scientific research into whether certain antioxidant supplements improve health and extend life caused another debate on the usefullness and safety of nutritional supplements to erupt.

Scientists at Copenhagen University, Denmark, who are part of the respected Cochrane Collaboration looked at 67 studies on beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium

 There has been a flurry of media activity in the UK this week after researchers from the University of Hull published a study showing that for mild to moderate depression antidepressant drugs show no clinically significant benefit over placebo. In other words they are pretty much useless. It turns out that pharmaceutical companies have been 'selectively reporting' studies on the effectiveness