Minerals and Disease

This paper is a review of hair tissue, diet and lifestyle analysis this author has been engaged in since 1974. The original involvement with hair mineral analysis occurred in an effort to avoid osteoporosis, a familial trait of several generations; the goal has been achieved. During this period, the diet and lifestyle of many clients were anlaysed, some several times. An earlier report gave details of the procedures and methods used. The interest and usefulness of this procedure is being recognized by an increasing number of health practitioners. This is reflected in the 17 papers and two editorials published on the subject in this Journal since 1985. Laboratories such as Anamol of Concord, Ontario, recently added the minerals boron, silicon and strontium to the earlier 16 essential minerals that it analyses. Antimony, barium and silver have likewise been added to the earlier five toxic minerals. Normal ranges were established in the early 70s using healthy volunteers. They are revised as a result of world-wide research in this field. During these years, the importance and functions of the essential minerals and the harmful effects of toxic ones, continues to be documented. This paper will report on the results of the author's most recent 1,000 clients. The sample included well people, but the majority had one or more health problem. The relationship between ever increasing degenerative diseases and dietary changes of this century will be indicated. A 45 year old man today has a life expectancy of only about two additional years over a man that age in 1900. Control of communicable diseases accounts for most of the improved life span. This, in spite of the impressive advances made in public health measures and medicare. The highly technical type of medicine practiced today, threatens our ability to pay. The diseases of affluence, are clearly on the rise. In 1900 cancer killed one in thirty; today it is one if five. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) at the beginning of the century was responsible for one death in 7; today it is one in every two. The five most prevalent diseases are: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. Only industrial societies, rich in animal products and highly processed foods, can afford our lifestyle. A hundred years ago when these diseases were rare, two thirds of our protein was from plant sources; today that proportion has reversed due to a greater consumption of animal foods. The inadequacy of the Western diet compared to that of the Primitive, was thoroughly researched and reported almost fifty years ago by Price. The powerful food industry has succeeded in giving most, a false sense of security concerning our present diet. It has been ably assisted by very persuasive lobbies, and prestigious well-paid nutritionists, promoting milk, meat and manmade foods such as hydrogenated fats and oils. The public was assured that all one needed to stay healthy, was to eat a varied diet consisting of five food groups (meat, milk products, grains, vegetables and fruit). We were informed that taking supplements was a waste of money and that sugar plays a valuable role in any diet. Such widely accepted views were believed by most of the medical establishment; fortunately they were successfully challenged by many independent workers and writers. Orthomolecularminded health practitioners have espoused a much more nutrition-minded view. It is obvious that our food supply has been debased by chemical additives, antibiotics, coloring agents and excessive processing. It is a far cry from the ancestral diets that kept our forbears free from the degenerative diseases so prevalent in today's industrialized societies. A recent trend that some main-stream scientists and doctors are slowly, but sure accepting, is the importance of optimum and clinical nutrition. Epidemiological studies, such as the China Health Project are playing a vital role. It is worth noting that in present day rural China, degenerative diseases are 1. #503 777 Blanshard Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2G9.