Nutrition means different things to different people. To some it means to live to eat. To others it means eating to live. The more I learn about food, herbs and nutritional components, the more I realize that this is the fund of knowledge that can change the course of many illnesses. Real food consists of life forms that we depend upon for existence. Unlike our plant cohabitants, we cannot capture our own energy. Essential amino acids and other structural materials are needed to grow, repair and defend. These must come from the outside. Protein, fat and carbohydrates are broken down and reassembled. 

Magnesium is needed in adequate amounts for over 245 enzymatic reactions

Selenium is required for the enzyme that recycles glutathione from the oxidized to the reduced form. Glutathione may be the most important detoxifying substance in the body. Reduction of activity by this enzyme, either through inadequate intake or inactivation by lead, leads to increased oxidation.

-Without the building blocks and the neccessary chemical energy and  components neccessary for assembly the body's structure will crumble.

Without building blocks, chemical energy and components neccessary, antibodies will not be available for defense.

Without building blocks, chemical energy and components neccessary for multiplication, motility and transformation there would be insufficient cellular response neccessary for defense.

Without building blocks, chemical energy and chemical components neccessary for repair, the body's organ systems will fail over time.

 Other examples include:

Physical components of food affect the health of the GI tract. Increased bulk reduces degenerative disease of the bowel

Absorbtive properties of carbohydrates and dose affect the developement of Syndrome  X, or recently, Metabolic syndrome. This is a condition of distorted hormonal status beginning with excessive carbohydrate intake with insulin excess and resistance following. Other associated conditions include obesity , hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Adult onset diabetes often follows.

Patients' chemical systems are all similar but effectiveness of individual enzyme pathways can vary genetically. Enzymes systems can vary quantitatively and qualitatively with outcomes of their shortfall affecting function. The ability to mount an effective tanning response to sunlight is an excellent example. This example can be expanded to as numerous as there are enzyme systems for each need. The lack of an enzyme in Phenylketonurics causes mental retardation. The avoidance of an amino acid in the diet eliminates this tragic outcome. In the toxicologic hypothesis of the cause of autism, it is a genetic variation in the metal handling enzyme systems that is felt to be responsible for some children developing the syndrome with the same exposures that others have had without the problem.

Our body neutralyzes toxins using enzyme systems. Adequacy of function is dependent upon nutrients. Sulfur containing amino acids can be depleted and a relative state of malnutrition ensue when the body is confronted with a toxin excess. With the passage of time, chronic exposures to environmental toxins deplete the stores of these nutrients, also used in the production of proteins. Repletion of these nutrients has a beneficial effect on clearance of accumulated toxin while playing other roles as varied as that of the proteins synthesized. Those with genetically sub-optimal detoxication systems are the proverbial minor's canaries, alerting us that as the environment becomes more hostile, we all may need to adapt.

The liver, the chemical powerhouse in the body, does most of the heavy chemical activity. This generates free radicals requiring support that can be provided by a good, balanced antioxidant program The ultimate goal is to maximize the body's own antioxidant defense system.

Starting with a unique (patented) material that is not a part of the metabolism to begin with and seeking to impose that chemical's activity on our  bodies systems, side effects can be expected to occur as evidenced by warnings accompanying them. We need to start focusing more on the intricacies and the wonder of this creation that is  us, helping strenthen the weakened and faulty systems through modalities that are augmentations of our own chemistry, using substances that were meant to be in the system. Progression from the use of interventions with least risk to those with more risk, taking full advantage of the benefits of natural interventions prior to instituting more aggressive, allopathic interventions allows full benefit of all possibilities with increased liklihood of positive results and a much reduced risk of side effects.

When the beneficial substances can be assimilated through the GI tract and the harmful kept out, much benefit can be gained. When the GI tract is not functioning as it should,  measures need to be taken to enhance its function of keeping the good things in and the bad things out. As the importance of nutrition in its many benefits becomes apparent, GI function at the level of absorbtion and defense becomes an ever important component of survival with quality of life.

When GI function has been less than optimal and both absorbtion and defense have been compromise over time, repair of both the GI tract and support of the liver as well as other systems may need IV nutritional and detoxication support. Facilitation of the body's own systems of repair and detoxication result in more accurate expression of the recovery programmed into the system.

When toxins are not amenable to the body's own efforts to remove them, active intervention or detoxification becomes indicated. Like pealing the layers of an onion, the systems most likely to be derranged are prioritized and dealth with in a systematic way.