Minerals, Metabolism and Female Physiology
Metabolism, minerals, and the unique physiology of females are closely intertwined factors that play crucial roles in women's health. This blog post aims to explore these aspects, shedding light on how they interact, and the importance of considering these factors in maintaining optimal health.
Disclaimer
Before we delve into the details, it's important to note that I am not a medical doctor, and the information provided herein should not be treated as medical advice. Any actions taken based on the information provided are your own decision and responsibility.
Understanding Female Physiology
Women's physiology is unique and complex. On a physiological level, women require more nutrients compared to men. This is especially true during pregnancy, where a baby takes about four pounds of minerals from the mother over a 265-day period, which accounts for about 10% of her total mineral supply. For women with multiple pregnancies close together, the stakes are even higher. In fact, pregnancy can be compared to an extreme sport, with women burning about double the amount of calories compared to endurance athletes.
Nutrition and Pregnancy
Nutrition is paramount for baby-building. The importance of nutritious foods during pregnancy is well-known, but the research of Dr. Weston A. Price showed that certain tribes understood the importance of nutrition before pregnancy for both parents. These tribes followed rituals where the couple consumed a particularly rich diet before the marriage ceremony. Pregnant and lactating women were given specific foods rich in fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins D and A, which are only found in animal foods. According to Dr. Price, vitamin A is one of the most critical vitamins during pregnancy, which many in the western world suffer from its deficiency.
Health Fads and Women's Health
Unfortunately, a lot of health research should actually be called “men’s health research.” Women’s hormones run on a 28-day cycle, making them cyclical beings, unlike men who run on a 24-hour cycle. Some health practices such as fasting and cold plunges, which might sound helpful for men, may not be beneficial for women. Indigenous practices from Ayurveda, The Maya, and Traditional Chinese Medicine recommend keeping women warm, and properly nourished consistently.
Stress, Hunger and Metabolism
Stress can throw off women’s metabolism more quickly and significantly than it does for men. Hunger is one of our biggest stressors, pointing to the importance of dependable nourishment. When women are depleted and deficient, their cells focus on survival. We don’t have extra energy to connect with our family members or work on other projects. This is a sign that we are in a stressed state.
Improving Women's Metabolic Health
Signs of good metabolic health include regular bowel movements and urination, a strong pulse and body temperature, a painless menstrual cycle, a healthy sex drive, and strong nails. Consistent energy throughout the day, good quality sleep, a strong appetite, mood that aligns with your situation, and healthy digestion are other positive indicators.
Common Practices That May Harm Women's Metabolic Health
Some commonly recommended practices may be harmful to women's bodies. These include fasting (including intermittent fasting), cardio and excessive exercise, cold therapy, restrictive diets such as Keto, Paleo, Low carb, Vegan/Vegetarianism, Carnivore, AIP, microdosing, avoiding dairy, and taking multivitamins.
Minerals: The Spark Plugs of Our Body
Minerals are the spark plugs that run our body and immune system. Without minerals, our mitochondria (and thus metabolism) can't function appropriately. This impacts our enzymes, proteins, hormones, and every system in our body. Minerals require a specific ratio & balance within the body. Our physical health, mood, personality, and mineral status, which is passed down to our children, are directly dependent on minerals.
Decreasing Mineral Stores and Heavy Metal Toxicity
There are several factors that have led to decreased mineral stores in our bodies. These include poor soil health due to industrial agricultural practices and glyphosate usage, less home-cooking leading to less consumption of whole foods and increased consumption of processed foods, fad diets & influencer-led health advice, outdated conventional medical recommendations, exponential increase in pharmaceutical usage, increased stress, increased toxins, and generational mineral deficiencies and toxicities passed congenitally.
When our body is minerally deficient it will hold on to more heavy metals since they are a back-up and can take the place of preferred minerals in our enzyme receptors. As we start to remineralize with the right ratios and cofactors for each person, the body will naturally start to release more metals.
Re-mineralizing women’s Bodies
With the help of Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), we can identify mineral imbalances and deficiencies in the body, and create a personalized re-mineralization protocol. The Slow Health movement, which I've coined, aims to refocus our healing journeys on providing ample time for cellular regeneration to unfold. Along with a biologically specific mineral protocol and retesting every 3 months, the Slow Health movement involves a high protein diet, consistent and well-balanced meals, embracing healthy saturated fats like raw dairy, butter, gut support with mineral rich bone broth, exercise appropriate to your body’s energy level, gentle detoxification practices, and more.
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