1. Blood Health
It is critical to restore proper oxygen to the body. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to the cells where it us utilized by the mitochondria in order to make ATP. If this pathway is inefficient, it will be difficult to resolve any health issue naturally. The CBC is the most common blood chemistry marker used in healthcare today. It is divided into a red blood ell, white blood cell, and thrombocyte count.
The most significant patterns that identify low iron issues are reduced Ferritin and elevated Total Iron Binding Capacity. These can be evaluated with a simple blood test.
2. Blood Sugar Balance
The human body must have a steady and balanced supply of glucose to function ideally and properly. The human body is designed to consume food groups such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates in order to produce ATP. ATP is derived from the breakdown of these food groups into glucose that is taken up into the cells by insulin and converted into ATP via our metabolism. Any compromise in ATP production will decrease the individual’s ability to perform to his or her potential and decrease the body’s ability to establish homeostasis.
3. Gastro-Intestinal Integrity
Healthy gastrointestinal function is important not only for ideal hormone metabolism, but for general health. There are many connections between gut metabolism and other vital physiological systems. For example, many botanicals used to restore homeostasis become active when acted upon by gut bacteria. Enzymes that convert hormones into other hormone metabolites are also found in the gut. Gut bacteria influences our ability to properly detoxify. And, in addition, inflammatory bowel conditions and loss of intestinal permeability increase systemic inflammation, promote adrenal stress responses, and alter the integrity of our immune system.
4. Healthy Hepatic Clearance
If a patient cannot convert antigenic (toxic) compounds from fat-soluble to water-soluble, detoxification cannot occur. Everyday, millions of molecules from different compounds enter our bodies through voluntary or involuntary ingestion. These chemicals come from foods, beverages, medicines, food additives, personal care, and numerous other sources. Whenever a system, whether it is a living (humans, animals) or a mechanical (different machines) system becomes polluted, normal functioning becomes affected. Excessive pollution in a system may result in malfunctioning or serious degeneration of the system. If you are not successful in fixing a polluted system, you are never sure if it is the system that has not been fixed, or if it is the pollution that is causing the problem.
Cleansing the body from the accumulated xenobiotics and the excess biological compounds and metabolites (i.e. hormones, etc.) is known as “detoxification”. Most of these toxins are subjected to numerous chemical changes (detoxification) in order to be prepared for elimination from the body. The major detoxification reactions take place in the liver. The goal of detoxification reactions is to transform chemicals that are fat-soluble into water-soluble compounds. Water-soluble compounds can then be eliminated through kidneys, skin, or gallbladder, in urine, sweat, or bile, respectively. Secretion of bile is one of the major pathways of body’s detoxification. Once the liver has detoxified xenobiotics and other toxins, the resulting compounds are delivered to the gallbladder to be excreted with bile into the digestive system in order to be eliminated in feces. Detoxification has shown to be extremely beneficial as a preventative measure for different health problems, or as a means to enhance therapeutic procedures for a variety of medical conditions. The removal of these toxins from the system enhances the organs’ ability to better absorb nutrients, improves biological functions, which, in turn, accelerates the healing processes. A healthy detoxification is of utmost importance in a variety of medical conditions and therapeutic procedures.
5. Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism
Essential Fatty Acids are necessary for human health, but it is important to note that the body can’t make them — you have to get them through food. Along with omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they help stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain bone health, regulate metabolism, and maintain the reproductive system.
A healthy diet should contain a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and some omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation.
6. Immune Health
A dysfunctional immune system can affect a persons ability to attain normal health.
The barrier system of the body is the immune system’s first line of defense against foreign microbes. The innate and adaptive immune systems only become involved when the immune barrier system is infiltrated. The barrier system includes the skin, the respiratory mucous membranes, the gastro-intestinal mucosa membrane, and the blood-brain-barrier. The skin is typically penetrated only by lacerations and trauma, however the other barrier system scan be compromised by physiological and chemical responses.
The mucosa barrier system of the lung and gastro-intestinal tract are covered and protected by immune cells, known as SIgA cells. These cells serve as a barrier lining for the mucosa, but unfortunately are susceptible to physiological stress responses. The stress response, in turn, hinders the production of these immune cells and causes damage to the barrier system – a vicious cycle.
Mending the physical immune barriers is another critical priority when restoring health and homeostasis.