A NEW LEASE—on Life!
By Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP, D.Ac.
Expensive Urine - Not!
Is your food grown locally year round without the use of insecticides and pesticides? Do you live in a pristine environment free of environmental toxins? I doubt if such a place still exists on our planet. Many conventional doctors tell their patients that taking supplements only creates expensive urine. This thinking is archaic. In fact, there are countless studies that show how various vitamins and minerals can not only reverse the ravages of disease but can prevent them. What causes the color of the urine to change is simply the color of the particular vitamin and hence the change in the color of the urine.
Testing for nutritional deficiencies
Conventional blood testing for deficiencies is not adequate nor are they accurate. One way of testing is through a detailed questionnaire. But a much more accurate and better way is through a Red Blood Cell Mineral Analyses which actually measures what the body is able to retain or absorb. Some practitioners use hair analyses to obtain further information.
There are numerous reasons to supplement:
Pesticides and herbicides destroy and reduce nutrition of crops so we are ingesting foods devoid of essential vitamins and minerals
Poor lifestyle choices - obviously it is best to make changes in lifestyle but for smokers and drinkers it would be prudent to increase antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, zinc, etc to increase anti-oxidant levels.
Counteracting environment pollution over which you have very little control - certain supplements detoxify the body and boost the immune system, hence reducing the potential harm that comes from such toxins.
Living in a stressful environment creating symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, depression, insomnia, etc. and using nutritional supplements to counteract such chronic symptoms
Eating processed foods devoid of most nutritional support. For instance removing grain husks not only removes the fiber necessary for proper bowel evacuation but also key vitamins and minerals. Processing also removes digestive enzymes that are naturally found in foods which are essential for the absorption of various nutrients.
Depletion of soil from agricultural abuse over years - end result is lack of essential nutrients
Transportation of fresh foods from field to dinner table results in diminished nutrients
Lack of absorption of various nutrients from our foods simply due to weak digestion
Biochemical individuality - we all come into the world with various deficiencies that over time can develop into further imbalances - hence the need to find out what they are and correct them.
For instance a patient can have symptoms such as dizziness, poor memory, exhaustion, and digestive disturbances and rather than looking at a simple B vitamin deficiency often are treated with an anti-depressant or some other medication that continues to mask the real cause.
It is also important to note that there are different qualities of supplements on the market. Liquid formulations using a safe sweetener such as xylitol or stevia are much easier to absorb especially for the senior set where often the ability to absorb from capsules or tablets is impaired. So the next time you think your urine is too yellow know that rather than wasting your funds you are probably helping your body deal with the many deficiencies and environmental toxins that abound. Keep on taking those vitamins and see you at the gym!
Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP, D. Ac. is the author of the Canadian best-selling book Free to Fly: a journey toward wellness and owns Change of Pace Fitness Center in central Ajijic.