BIOCHEMICAL STAGES OF STRESS
Hans Selye, MD, the Canadian physician credited with discovering the stress theory
of disease, defined three biochemical stages of stress, which a hair analysis can assess.
ALARM – Fast oxidation, excessive adrenal and thyroid activity (inflammatory hormones), a high sodium/potassium ratio, high blood pressure and blood sugar, higher body temperature, more frequent bowel movements, and a dominant, sympathetic nervous system (part of the autonomic nervous system that tends to depress secretion, decrease the tone and contractility of smooth muscle, and causes the contraction of blood vessels). This is the early stage of stress where the body has adequate energy to fight back against the stress.
RESISTANCE - Mild to slow oxidation, reduced adrenal and thyroid activity (anti-inflammatory hormones), a sodium/potassium inversion, and a dominant parasympathetic nervous system (part of the autonomic nervous system that has the opposite effect on body functions as the sympathetic nervous system). The body still has some energy reserves available to resist the stress, though less than in the alarm stage. It is an endless battle in an attempt to contain the stress, as it is unable to eliminate it.
EXHAUSTION – Very slow oxidation, low medullary adrenal hormones, increased cortisol, fatigue, depression, apathy, despair, constipation, dry skin and hair, adrenal exhaustion, less than optimal thyroid activity, low sodium/potassium levels, and a dominant parasympathetic nervous system. This stage occurs when the body has exhausted its energy levels and no longer has the necessary energy to contain the stress, and is in a holding pattern to prevent further decline in health. This is the most common stage of stress among adults today.
According to the late Dr. Paul C. Eck, scientist and renowned pioneering mineral researcher, the slow oxidizer dies from mineral accumulation (e.g., calcification), while the fast oxidizer dies from mineral bankruptcy. And, the Eck Institute Healthview Newsletter reported that 95 percent of people die as slow oxidizers.
OXIDATION BALANCING
Oxidation is the process by which certain elements in the body chemically combine with oxygen. The oxidation rate is associated with the rate of metabolism and is largely due to the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Additionally, this process also affects the thyroid and adrenal glands to determine a slow, fast, mixed, or normal oxidizer.
If both the thyroid and adrenal glands are overactive, a person will be a ‘fast oxidizer’ and needs to be ‘hyped up’ to keep going. This person functions at high speed until he or she suddenly collapses. With both glands underactive, a person will be a ‘slow oxidizer’ and often feels tired.
This person can be oversensitive, defensive, anxious, emotionally evasive, and may worry about what other people are thinking about him or her. However, if one of these glands is overactive and one is underactive, a person will be a ‘mixed oxidizer’ and on an energy roller coaster. Each of these paths leads to premature aging and premature death.
Higher than normal calcium and magnesium levels and lower than normal sodium and potassium levels create the slow oxidizer profile with sluggish thyroid and adrenal glands.
Along with balancing body chemistry and correcting the diet, a slow oxidizer will benefit by avoiding change, emotional confrontation, and stress. For a slow oxidizer, animal protein foods, vegetables, vitamins B-complex, C, and E, and iodine are recommended. Higher than normal sodium and potassium levels and lower than normal calcium and magnesium levels create the fast oxidizer with overactive thyroid and adrenal glands.
To keep going, the body starts cannibalizing tissues for minerals. In this case, increasing protein intake is necessary, along with supplementation and correcting the diet to help balance body chemistry.
Too much vitamins C, E, and B complex can make this pattern (fast oxidizer) worse because they raise the sodium and potassium levels even higher, which can bring a person closer to a heart attack.
For a fast oxidizer, high-quality fats, heavier proteins, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, vitamins A and D, choline, and inositol are recommended. Balancing the mixed oxidizer (temporary state) requires a professional assessment to determine if they lean towards a fast or slow oxidizer.
Dr. Paul C. Eck made some important discoveries using hair mineral analysis. Contrary to what one would expect, he found that giving a particular mineral may actually lead to a lowering of that mineral level if other synergistic minerals were not also provided in the right amount.
For example, giving calcium to someone with low calcium would result in a lower hair level of calcium because it upset the balance with magnesium. In order to raise a low calcium level, both magnesium and copper were needed in the right amount.
Another example is that giving zinc doesn’t always raise the zinc level because it lowers the sodium/potassium ratio. Balancing this critical ratio helps the body better utilize zinc.
The “balanced oxidizer” is happy, content, and open with an inner calm and steadiness. This person is also the most powerful and productive type of person. The goal of a mineral balancing program, which includes having a hair analysis, is to bring a person into a state of balanced oxidation.
DIET AND SUPPLEMENT BALANCING
Eating the wrong foods can be as damaging as taking the wrong supplements. Slow oxidizers should eat more lean protein, fruits, vegetables, high fiber, less fats, oils, and dairy; and no soy, refined carbohydrates, or sugar.
Fast oxidizers should eat a moderate amount of protein, various nuts and seeds, specific unrefined fats, oils, and dairy; high fiber vegetables and fruits; gluten-free grains; and no refined carbohydrates or sugar. Eating for one’s blood type enhances the outcome of every type of diet.
Supplements offer significant health benefits when used appropriately; however, taking them without understanding the body's specific needs can potentially cause more harm than good in the long run. Too much of one element can be as detrimental as too little. Since each mineral in the body has an effect on every other mineral, if one mineral is out of balance, all other minerals are affected, which starts a chain reaction of mineral imbalances and illnesses.
For example, if a person takes an iron supplement, sodium and potassium levels increase; magnesium, calcium, and zinc levels decrease; nitrogen levels decrease (protein breaks down); copper levels decrease (at levels below 1.0, the person moves into a cancer danger zone); and manganese levels increase. Manganese, in balance with iron, can make a person feel powerful – physically and emotionally, and also angry.