This is an interesting conversation between myself and a patient who is a dentist.
Hi
Patricia,
I'm
doing some research on diet and fertility and coming up with some
interesting findings
that
have me really alarmed about what I eat!
I know
sugar is evil, I know most Americans have an acidic pH (I used to
test my patient's
saliva
as part of their initial exam).
I never
delved into what acidity does to the body other than enhance the rate
at which oral
bacteria
can dissolve tooth structure.
I found
this excerpt from the phionblance.com website especially interesting,
as it describes
me quite
well:
"The
individual tends to be touchy and irritable, to worry too much, and
to sleep poorly, and may even become depressed. The noxious effect of
acids on the nerves is easily explained: minerals like magnesium,
calcium, and potassium that the nervous system needs to function
properly are precisely the alkaline minerals the body takes away to
neutralize acids. Individuals suffering from acidification often are
sensitive to the cold, have low blood pressure, and are subject to
episodes of low blood sugar. All the functions of the endocrine
glands tend to slow down, except for those of the thyroid gland,
which become hyperactive. The immune system is weakened as well, and
recurring infections of the respiratory tract (colds, laryngitis,
flu, bronchitis) or urinary tract (cystitis) appear with distressing
frequency due to the combination of low immune response and the ease
with which microbes can penetrate the body through tiny lesions in
the mucous membranes of the respiratory and urinary tracts"
I'm
wondering, on behalf of those struggling with fertility issues, what
you can tell me about whether acidity directly affects fertility?
Best,
Carolyn
PS: I
seem to have more congestion since this new formula arrived. Lots of
throat clearing and nose-blowing, even when there's no dairy in m
diet!
Hi
Carolyn,
Are you
going to get your Ph levels checked? I know there are some people who
think that the Ph levels are very important and that most people
don't. I have never heard of a Reproductive Endocrinologist
(fertility specialist) who checks for this.
We don't
look at the body the same way in Traditional Chinese Medicine. All
those symptoms you mentioned would be caused from a "Spleen Qi
Deficiency" and a "Kidney Yin Deficiency".
The
dietary recommendations are the same though.
How are
your headaches?
How
about the hot flashes?
Sleep?
Bowel
movements?
Pimples?
Sometimes
these herbs can cause too much moistening and some congestion. I will
have to increase the herb that prevents this. They can cause the
bowel movements to become too soft too.
You
should be about ready for herbs. Are you?
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia
Karnowski M.S.O.M.
910-420-2194
Chinese
FertilityFormulas.com
Office
Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am to 7pm EST
Hi
Patricia,
I use
the phionbalance.com test strips and my salivary pH is between 6.25
and 6.5
My
headaches have been subsiding although my neck is still sore.
Pimples
are still an issue, but definitely calming down.
Sleep is
a little better, especially since I'm now completely off caffeine.
Bowl
movements are regular (the more fiber the better!)
Hot
flashes still going strong.
Soooo,
when you say the dietary recommendations are the same, do you
mean
that it would benefit me to cut out the sweets (I already started)
and
eat less
animal products?
Carolyn
Hi
Carolyn,
Yes, you
should cut out sweets (completely if possible) and absolutely no
artificial sugar. Red meat is only okay to have if it is a very small
amount and as long as you eat a lot of veggies (especially cooked
cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower) with it. When you
eat alkaline foods it pulls the pH to 0 (neutral).
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia
Karnowski M.S.O.M.
910-420-2194
Chinese
FertilityFormulas.com
Office
Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am to 7pm EST
Patricia,
What are
the dangers of artificial sugar? I'm trying to learn more about
what
happens with the sugar alcohols like sorbital, maltitol, erythritol,
and so
on.
Carolyn,
I was
first alerted to the problems of artificial sweeteners especially
aspartame, when my sister who is a nurse at the University of
Michigan hospital started talking about all the teenagers who were
coming in with brain tumors. The thing they had in common was the
high amount of diet Mountain Dew they were drinking. It was happening
so much that all the nurses were talking about it.
Google
"artificial sweeteners + tumors" and you will see lots of
information on this. There is also a link to cancer too. Since I had
another sister who died of breast cancer at age 39 and then I had
uterine cancer at age 43 my gynecology oncologist told me to stay
away from it too. It was the only dietary recommendation she gave me.
Then I
found out in a nutrition class that artificial sweeteners are the
most acidic thing that we eat. It is way worse than sugar which is
worse than meat.
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia
Karnowski M.S.O.M.
Hi
Patricia,
Oy.
Mountain Dew.
It's not
just for breakfast anymore...
You
should see what's happening to people's teeth!
Carolyn
Really?
You are seeing changes in the teeth?
Patricia
Are you
kidding me?
The
trend since fluoride and dental sealants were introduced was a
dramatic
reduction
in caries.
But,
since the introduction of soft drinks in schools, super-size soft
drinks for
small
change at the local quickie mart, and with school age kids drinking
coffee
deserts
for breakfast at Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, that trend has been
reversed.
1. The
sugars feed the bacteria that produce the acids that dissolve the
teeth.
2. The
phosphoric acid in the carbonated drinks impairs the buffering
ability of the saliva.
3. The
metabolism of the sugars, as you know, creates acidic body fluids,
which also impairs
the
buffering ability of the saliva
So along
with the bacterial acids, we also see "acid erosion" ,
which is a direct dissolving of the
enamel
due to the acidic environment. Just google "acid erosion teeth"
and look for images.
I looked
at the images... GROSS!
I
thought that the dental sealants had taken care of all this.
I had to
laugh when I saw the fake whiten teeth mixed in with all the horrible
decayed teeth.
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia
Karnowski M.S.O.M.
Sealants
only protect the "pits and fissures" of the chewing
surfaces of back teeth.
People
still need to floss in order to clean in between.
And the
rest of the enamel is still unprotected. (As you could see).
Sealants
are a help, but only for a certain type of decay.
Carolyn
You did
not say that I should order your herbs. Is that right?
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia
Karnowski M.S.O.M.
Right.
Could anything in there be causing sinus congestion?
Hi
Carolyn,
I have a
lot of herbs in the formula to moisten. This might cause congestion.
It doesn't usually but it could. I need to add herbs to the formula
to clear this.
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia
Karnowski M.S.O.M.
Alrighty.
I'll finish this formula first? Too costly to waste!
Carolyn
Definitely,
finish the formula that you have.
Chinese
Fertility Herbalist
Patricia Karnowski M.S.O.M.
Patricia Karnowski M.S.O.M.
