The ability to effectively fight illness often depends on the right nutrients. Instead of waiting for a nutrient deficiency to become a serious problem, test yourself now to determine what nutrients you may be lacking. After all, it’s much smarter not to wait until a disease is in full swing before learning about it and doing something to help. As the German physician, Franz Mesmer, once said, “In the beginning, disease is difficult to recognize but easy to cure. In the end, disease is easy to recognize but difficult to cure.”
Each person carries genetic codes that not only determine their health but also their illnesses. Many of these genes can be turned on or off, depending on factors such as diet and exercise. For instance, type 2 diabetics who switch to a diet of mainly raw whole foods often see their diabetes become inactive as a result of this lifestyle change.
While a nutrient-rich diet is often all it takes to turn off genes programmed for disease, there may also be individual nutrients that can make a significant difference. Wouldn’t it be great if you could find out your specific micronutrient needs through testing, and then use targeted supplements along with a diet of mostly raw whole foods to conquer illness? So, is micronutrient testing valuable and affordable?
Micronutrient Analysis by Spectracell Labs in Texas offers a solution in the field of directed nutrient supplementation. Besides classic vitamin-deficiency syndromes such as scurvy or beriberi, we now know that suboptimal intake of particular micronutrients and vitamins is a risk factor for several chronic diseases. Inadequate intake of certain vitamins contributes to coronary heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. In fact, almost all chronic diseases and symptoms of illness stem from nutritional causes that are mostly overlooked by traditional modern medicine. This problem is especially evident in the elderly, although deficiency often begins early in life when disease is developing but before symptoms are noticeable.
According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2002), suboptimal levels of vitamins and micronutrients are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, colon and breast cancer; low vitamin D levels contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of antioxidant vitamins may increase the risk for several chronic diseases. The authors argue that physicians should make a concerted effort to learn about their patients’ vitamin use to ensure they are taking the right ones for their needs.
Take chromium, for example. This essential trace mineral plays a crucial role in optimal insulin function and helps regulate blood glucose levels. Chromium may assist in lowering cholesterol and, therefore, help slow the development of atherosclerosis. In addition, chromium plays an important role in nucleic acid (DNA) synthesis.
Similarly, the antioxidant vitamin E is another vital nutrient. It helps protect against heart disease, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Supplementation with alpha-tocopherol vitamin E is useful for treating diabetes, fibrocystic breast disease, and menopause symptoms, as well as having applications in Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. Vitamin E is also important for immune function. A deficiency in vitamin E is known to cause nerve damage, muscle weakness, poor coordination, weakened red blood cells, and anemia. However, a vitamin E deficiency could play a role in many other illnesses and symptoms that haven’t been studied yet.
SpectraCell Laboratories in Houston, Texas, offers a micronutrient test that tests for a wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and more. To have a micronutrient test done, your physician must be a client of SpectraCell Laboratories. They can order a serum test for you, which involves a blood draw done at a phlebotomy station near you or in your physician’s office. The comprehensive panel is currently priced at $370, but it is well worth it for the valuable insights into your nutrient needs that it can provide.
SpectraCell Laboratories was established in 1993, with technology developed at the University of Texas (the Clayton Foundation for Research). Their aim is to help physicians discover the intracellular function of essential micronutrients for their patients, ultimately leading to improved health and longevity.
