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[Sadie49]

I had my BIM test today and found it quite revealing. Bio Electrical (Impedance) Measurement is a one and half hour test, measuring the stress/inflammation levels in the body using magnetic/meridian fields/areas in the body. Our local Health Food Store offers the service thru a qualified practitioner.

Not cheap, but it did bring to light low level internal inflammation and sensitivity to a couple of foods/medicines.

I have to take 3 supplements for 3 months = Omega 3, Hormone balancing complex and liver support complex. Apparently, I should have been taking the hormone supplement since the onset of the Meno which for me was 12 years ago! 

I knew I had low level issues, as things haven't been running right for a long while, and now I know what foods/pills to reduce/remove and adjust I should soon feel better. Apparently, dairy is too acidic, even yoghurt, ice cream and bread/crisp breads. So more alkaline and less acid should help lower the pain levels plus give more energy.

I would encourage any member to take this test if available. It's painless but time consuming - around one and half hours. A complete questionnaire is done at home, then the test done at the shop.

More exercise, tweaking on the diet front plus the supplements should see a dramatic improvement in 3 months. Wish me luck! 

[CLKD]

Yep.  Just what your GP would have told you or an NHS dietician 

'qualified practioner' in what exactly? and you were charged for this service?  Sorry to be cynical …… but what is a meridian field?

Stress levels are usually shown on X-ray films.  Inflammation can be felt and confirmed by blood tests. 

[Sadie49]

The interesting thing is, I have just had my annual MOT at the surgery and all results came back normal - whatever that is.  But I know from the flare up of the IBS and my skin's ultra-sensitivity, that things inside are not "normal".

Now that I have 3 essential supplements to help combat liver stress, hormones and inflammation, I am armed with more than my GP ever gave me. They just added more pills!

And I have a good diet sheet explaining how foods are broken down and which ones are alkaline and acidic. I had no idea this was the case. Yes, it was a bit pricey but I am happy that I had it done. I feel Jacquey was 100% knowledgeable on her subject and had a personal interest in helping me function better, that wasn't money related.

At the very least it's got me thinking about what I put into my system, and looking at other ways I can help my 64 year old temple function better. 

[honeybun]

I am always a bit wary of tests that end up having to buy stuff. I am a cynic at heart.

When I went to see an alternative practitioner the consult was free and you were not expected to buy on the day. I went home and did some research and decided what was applicable to me.

Unfortunately there are a lot of cons going on targeting people with health concerns.


Honeyb
x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Sadie49
I do hope the advice you have been given will help you feel better.  Sometimes it can be helpful to have someone look at your lifestyle and offer advice.  If you went through menopause 12 years ago then making sure you have the right nutrients to prevent osteoporosis, heart decease etc. is important.
Just a word of caution though; omitting certain foods like dairy and bread can leave you deficient in vital nutrients.  If you are actually intolerant or allergic to dairy or gluten then this should be confirmed by a doctor.  Dairy is a very good source of calcium which is essential for your bones and it is not easy to absorb calcium using supplements. Wholemeal bread can give you energy, B vitamins and fibre. As long as you replace these things with enough alternative foods, which is possible, then great.
I would recommend Omegas 3,6 &9 plus glucosamine for bones and joints.  Vitamin D is another essential for bones and general health.  The only good source of Vit D is sunlight which we don't get in winter.  I hope you were advised to take big doses of Vit D as this will also help energy, reduce depression and has also been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers.
Do search on the internet for the best prices of any supplements you wish to buy.

Brisk walking everyday will make you feel much, much better.  I have a dog and he makes me walk come rain, wind or shine.
Keep us posted about your progress.  DG xxx

[CLKD]

Foods are alkaline and acid which is what we would have been taught in Domestic Science and general science/biology at School - however a lot of that went over my head 

The tests that the NHS do are un-related to what you have paid for!  If it is accepted, peer reviewed and recommended as useful then 'it' will be on the NHS  . Supplements are different from 'pills' which have been tested thoroughly and approved by NICE before they are allowed to be sold.  Supplements do not undergo such scrutiny. 

I don't believe that the liver is ever stressed  as it is the only organ in the human body that regenerates. However, if it ever gets 'ill', i.e. through cirriossis then it can cause problems which is potentially fatal.  But a stressed liver?

How does one combat hormones and which ones are your supplements aimed at?  Inflammation can settle without any help at all, after all the body is a great healer, given time. 

It is good to know what we put into our gut as we are what we eat.  But cutting out certain products can be detrimental in a big way.  Allergies can begin at any age.  Some are instant or can take 2-3 days before the body reacts, there was a good explanation on the AT Show this week  .  For example if I eat onions then within 12 hours I would be in Hospital - they make me so ill that I hallucinate  and deplete my body of essential minerals etc. that I would soon dehydrate.  However, onions that are well cooked as in chutney, do not have a bad effect.

[Joyce]

I did something similar a few years ago. Didn't tell me anything I didn't really already know. Did I change my diet, nope! Didn't have to buy anything there & then, though the test cost me.  In fact first time I had it done, GP suggested it as NHS one would take too long to get appointment for.

Most of the stuff I take was recommended by GP. Calcium, as I don't tolerate dairy. With that is vit D as it helps body absorb calcium. Omega 3 only, probiotics.

[Rowan]

I had my sensitive/intolerant/ vit/min test way back in 1995 at my health shop, it was accurate, told me things I knew already e.g. sensitivity to dust mites, cat dander, grasses and quite a few I did not know.

I still have the booklet she gave me and recommendations  and advise, she was not there to sell me anything just the cost of the tests.

Its very hard to get that sort of thing on the NHS unless you are referred the Dermatology for patch tests the first line are drugs e,g anti histamines etc.. if they don't work they might think of referring you.

I have been given second generation antihistamines for very itchy rash, they have not worked, suppose too within 15 mins, second day and feel like a zombie, headache, feeling terrible and has not touch the rash or itchiness, I am not taking any more. OH had to practically guide me around the supermarket this morning.

Have found some relief with, with Witch Hazel and Tee Tree oil cream, and apple cider vinegar in the bath.

The vitamin/min test was interesting too, it showed I was lacking in calcium, which made sense as I was vey slim and did not eat milk or cheese then.

I say these tests do have there place but you will have to pay for them privately.

[Sadie49]

I first visited the Health Food shop after I had developed red, cracked areas either side of my chin and it was uncomfortable and sore. I have noticed a general increased dryness of my skin over the winter, and suppose the extra clothes/heating hasn't helped. I only shower every other day with Dove and use good quality lotions.

The assistant suggested coconut oil but even that made my skin worse, Also anti histamine cream - again no response. Just as it was healing, I thought to try some new Nivea Moisturiser. Bearing in mind Nivea has always been OK for me I was amazed when the next day my face was red as a beet root and very itchy.

4 days on anti histamine and cool compresses sorted it but the whole thing got me thinking about what was going on in my system - especially as the IBS has been bad since Xmas.

When the assistant mentioned the therapy room and the qualified practitioner I took a leaflet. Everything was explained and costed. For nearly 2 hours I had her undivided attention, and she talked me thru each section ie food intolerance/pills/potions.

The charts were 1-8 in body balance/inflammation and my was 2 generally, and 4 for the liver. She said the reading was OK because the meds I'm on for various things are doing their job but she could tell by my answers to the questionnaire, that my body was experiencing low level inflammation and the liver was tired! I know it made me smile but she is the expert...

She said my diet was rather limited and to add more veg/fruit/salad. Def. more herbal drinks/almond milk and the supplements. They would be working on a level different to food/meds but still beneficial. I am yet to order them but have started on the Omega 3 to help support the liver function.

For £80 this might all seem a waste of time but I felt she understood where I was coming from, both emotionally/physically. I can take her advice or carry on as I am but to be honest, feeling like 80 when you are only 64 and struggling, it seems worth the effort to me!

I have gone thru 12 years of hot flushes/mood swings/night sweats (no more thankfully) and all sorts of physical changes, without help of any sort. Always coping and hoping but never really comfortable. I would not want my 2 daughters to have a menopause like mine and will encourage them to get as much support/help as possible. I feel as if I have lost 12 years of my life now....

So for me the test was worth while but I can see how for some it would seem a waste of time.

Thanks for your thoughts ladies. 

[CLKD]

Nivea is a skin creme.  Savlon however has healing properties as does honey  ……… Savlon needs to be eased into any cracked areas  -  when I wore wellies constantly for walking/gardening the skin on my heels became hard and cracked and the only product which worked was Savlon ……… eased into the cracked heels it healed from the inside out if that makes sense 

How can a liver be tired?  Our internal organs regulate themselves ……… and only a blood test can show if there are problems with the liver  ……..

Dry itchy skin can cause cracking the important point is to find out why those areas are affected.  I tend to lick my lips which then get very sore in the corners ………..

[Rowan]

Some liver info  http://www.jashbotanicals.com/articles/natural_guide_liver_health_1.html

[honeybun]

Milk thistle is a very good liver and gall bladder supplement.


Honeyb
x

[CLKD]

I think there is a lot we need to read on the NHS about our livers!

BBC NHS information contradicts some of the issues stated in the 'link' above:

Largest internal organ
Your liver is your largest internal organ. A big blood vessel, called the portal vein, carries nutrient-rich blood from your small intestine directly to your liver.

Chemical processing factory

Hepatic cells make up about 60 percent of your liver tissue. These specialised liver cells carry out more chemical processes than any other group of cells in your body. They change most of the nutrients you consume into forms your body cells can use. They

Convert sugars and store and release them as needed, thereby regulating your blood sugar level
Break down fats and produce cholesterol
Remove ammonia from your body and produce blood proteins, including blood clotting factors
Other functions of your hepatic cells are to

Detoxify drugs and alcohol
Produce bile, which breaks down fats in the food your eat
Security guard
A second important group of liver cells are the Kupffer cells. They

Remove damaged red blood cells
Destroy microbes and cell debris
Essential for life
Because your liver fulfils so many vital functions, you would die within 24 hours if it stopped working. A common sign of a damaged liver is jaundice, a yellowness of your eyes and skin. This happens when bilirubin, a yellow breakdown product of your red blood cells, builds up in your blood.



There is certainly  no indication on any of the information sites about the human liver that suggests it 'stores' anything : "Numerous chronic physical and mental disorders are the direct result of an overloaded liver filled with toxic food fragments, synthetic drugs, fat, and environmental toxins. "   the idea being that the liver detoxifies so it is unlikely that mental illness can be caused by the liver!  The link above is again a Company who are selling items 

[Sarah2]

Sadie

You might have missed this in the news but about a month ago there was a huge amount written about a certain chemical in skin creams causing dermatitis- and Nivea was one of those creams. There was certainly something in the Daily Mail and all the national newspapers.

Here is a link to one of them

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10164452/Warning-over-epidemic-of-skin-allergies-from-chemical-in-cosmetics-and-household-products.html


CLKD is right- the only way you tell your liver is not functioning is a liver function test via your doctor. All the rest is mumbo jumbo, I'm afraid.

The only way you can get to the route of food intolerances or deficiencies in your diet is by having special blood tests through doctors who are allergy experts- immunologists- and dieticians. Unless the person you saw was one of these then she was just like anyone with a little bit of knowledge about 'healthy eating' and told you to eat more fruit and veg. Cracks around the mouth can be linked to low vitamin B and Vit C.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Sarah2, Sadie49 and all
I just want to tell you why I am such a big believer in Omega oils and vitamin D. 
I apologise in advance if I am preaching - I just want to share!!!
My son has a Primary Language disorder, Semantic/ Pragmatic disorder, which puts him within in the Autistic Spectrum - this meant that his language didn't develop properly (he has problems understanding and using language) and this has impaired his learning and social skills. 
12 years ago i attended a conference by the charity AFASIC which supports children with communication difficulties. One of the speakers was a scientist from Oxford or Cambridge(can't remember which).  She and her team had revisited some very old research that had been done in America looking at the benefits of fish oils.  What I remember her telling us was that this early research had looked at children who were not developing well and noticed they often had very dry skin (amongst other problems) and introduced big doses of fish oils into their diet.  For some reason the benefits shown from this trial didn't go forward, probably because there were no financial benefits for drug companies in this type of research.
Anyway, this oxbridge team had redone some trials which involved splitting a class of children into 2 groups and giving one half Omega oil supplements and the other a placebo. Very quickly it emerged that the children on the omega oils had improved concentration, were sleeping better, behaviour improved and skin dryness reduced etc.. The parents of the children on the placebo quickly demanded to have their children on this magic substance.
I immediately went home and put the entire family on Omega oils. My son was definitely less anxious, slept better and, I know, progressed in he is learning more positively.  However the biggest surprise was my daughter, who lacked concentration and was slightly dyslexic, made a very marked improvement. 
Since then, Omega oils have become the norm - often added to all kinds of foods and the benefits for all ages and ailments have been proved. Yes, you can get Omega oils from various food sources but it is often difficult to get enough.
My other vitamin passion is Vitamin D. 4 years ago I was teaching a dance class for adults and I had 2 GPs who attended my class.  After one class, a discussion emerged about feeling really tired all the time and both GPs told us that following a research paper they read in the BMJ they now prescribed Vitamin D as a first line treatment for fatigue.  They often had patients who came in, particularly in winter, complaining about constant fatigue and, when they did tests, these patients were deficient in Vit D!!  The only really good source of Vitamin D is sunlight and the constant use of sunscreens means many of us are getting little or no Vit D absorption! We need 15-20mins of direct sunshine, without sunblock, each day to get our Vit D dose.
I do worry about the premise that you can get everything you need from a sensible diet as we know that, particularly in winter, many food stuffs are far from fresh. The way we store and cook our food has a major impact on the nutritional value of many foods.  In fact, frozen vegetables often have more nutrients than those bought from the fresh veg areas in shops.
I have tried a vast array of herbal & homeopathic remedies for menopause and other conditions with absolutely no benefit but I do believe the right supplements can help our body help itself. Through episodes of extreme stress this is particularly important.
I do worry about the nutritionist that charges and uses some, highly questionable, diagnosis techniques. Common sense should prevail.  There is some good information out there and balance is the key word.
I know the foods that upset me and I know I don't necessarily eat everything I should (I'm a fussy eater) but I try to be sensible.   As we get older we must eat less or the pounds will pile on.  The discipline of taking exercise is very difficult, having a dog that makes you walk is very helpful but not everyone can keep a dog. 
We shouldn't obsess, just try to get the balance right.
This forum is such a wonderful way to support each other - I am learning so much.  DG x