Healing the entire body can take time- but that is what we should be aiming for in the long term: to actually heal the body, not just cover up symptoms or pop pills all day.
The HTMA gives us critical information to enable us to truly BALANCE nutrients and restore body function. not just supplement with synthetic forms. Restoring health balancing and nourishing the body with foods, herbs, and even topical methods of raising mineral levels. The whole body needs to be considered, it is important to nourish and replenish reserves to restore health using nutrients in their NATURAL state (not lab made), and truly healing the body instead of getting dependent on supplements forever. The more HTMAs I see, the more I realize that synthetic supplements often never actually fix levels- either they stayed super low or they were incredibly high (because the body could not utilize them!).
Supplements can all create a cascade of changes in the body that can take months to fix. Balance is crucial, and the easiest way to find the perfect balance of these nutrients is through nutrient dense foods, herbs, and whole food supplements. We can no longer ignore that we need to heal the gut and liver as well- Healing the entire body can take time- but that is what we should be aiming for in the long run: to actually heal the body, not just cover up symptoms or pop pills.
WHY FOOD IS MEDICINE
Food isn’t important just for vitamins and minerals. There are SO many other components to food that you will never find in synthetic supplements: phytochemicals, fiber, fat, protein, carbs, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, plant pigments, amino acids, fatty acids, isothicyanates. indoles, coumarins, antioxidants, enzymes, and more! Some of these components (like bioflavoinoids) used to be considered vitamins all on their own because of their importance to our health.
Many of these components have been studied in their roles to help to protect against cancer and other serious illnesses. However, most of these studies show that they work best when in a WHOLE FOOD and not as an isolated substance, and especially not in very high doses. However, we shouldn’t need studies to prove that food is healthy – What has happened to common sense ?
WHY I LOVE HTMA
HTMA is gaining popularity in the natural health world, but using it in a “holistic” manner isn’t as common as you’d think. Many Practitioners are working with synthetic supplements and allopathic thinking.
Reading an HTMA is not like a blood test. Meaning, high levels don’t always mean high, and low levels don’t always mean you need to add more of that nutrient in. It is meant to be viewed as a whole- the levels, the ratios, and the person that is being tested. The value is in the interpretation you get from a qualified practitioner.
HTMA SHOWS A LONGER STRETCH OF TIME THAN OTHER TESTS:
Blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples are only able to show that exact moment in time that they were tested. They are a snapshot of what is going on, and they can change significantly within minutes or hours. A hair sample shows us about 3-4 months of time so it gives a MUCH better view on how you are using your minerals.
HTMA is not a test for 1 time use- things can change quickly when you are starting a plan, and external factors can start to change results too (especially stress!).
HTMA TESTS FOR A LOT WITH JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF HAIR:
Minerals that HTMA tests for:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Copper
- zinc
- phosphorus
- iron
- manganese
- chromium
- cobalt
- boron
- selenium
- sulfur
- molybdenum
- and 14 trace minerals including lithium and germanium
HEAVY METALS:
- Antimony
- Uranium
- Mercury
- Arsenic
- Aluminum
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Beryllium
WITH ALL OF THESE MINERAL LEVELS, WE CAN GET AN IDEA ON THESE ISSUES BASED ON THE RATIOS BETWEEN THE MINERALS:
- Metabolic Rate/ Nervous system health: Calcium/Phosphorus
- Vitality, Adrenals, and Life/Death Ratio: Sodium/Potassium
- Thyroid : Calcium/Potassium
- Hormone (Estrogen/testosterone/progesterone): Zinc/Copper
- Adrenals: Sodium/Magnesium
- Blood Sugar/Cardiovascular Health: Calcium/Magnesium
MINERALS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR HEALTH:
Minerals are needed for millions of enzymes as co-factors, inhibitors or even as the enzyme themselves. Enzymes are what keeps our bodies running. When we are low on minerals or if they are imbalanced, our bodies cannot physically function correctly. We look at the whole picture with HTMA- levels, ratios, and the person’s individual symptoms. It is one of the most valuable tests that anyone can do for their health.
OTHER TESTS?
There are a few tests that I think can be helpful at times, but when you start to realize the importance of basic foundational care (gut, liver, minerals, etc), you realize that HTMA is a great start for everyone.. It is one of the most valuable tests that anyone can do for their health. I personally accompany all HTMA’s with a special blood test, together these tests give invaluable information on cellular metabolism and function. The HTMA test and the recommend blood test, when used properly can provide vital information to allow us restore health and vitality.
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