Nutrition From Womb to Tomb

Nutrition From Womb to Tomb

December 30, 2011

Most of us are given amazingly long lives by nature that we shorten by a wide variety of destructive behaviors and environmental influences. Nutritional deficiencies and excesses, along with smoking, infections, toxic factors in the environment and trauma, are the major determinants of how closely the functional capacity, health and longevity of individuals match their genetic potential.
The genetic potential of individuals is impaired by malnutrition and other environmental factors throughout life. Although every life begins with an individual genetic potential, this potential frequently begins to be compromised in utero, particularly if Mom is affected by malnutrition, infection, or other stress factors. Low protein and mineral intake (specifically calcium) in childhood always results in low-density bones at puberty, which become very susceptible to osteoporosis in later years.
Twenty years ago the scientific literature was filled with gloomy studies of the aging process, reporting inexorable physical and mental deterioration. Recent literature, however, suggests extraordinary variation in the functional changes with age and indicates that the extent of the changes depends to a remarkable degree on lifestyle choices and one's social environment.
The profound effect of diet and exercise on the incidence and severity of chronic degenerative disease is no longer news, but it is a striking example of our capacity to eliminate a great deal of the disability and premature death in older adults. In the last few decades there has been tremendous evidence of the influence of diet, exercise and micronutrient supplementation on macular degeneration, Alzheimer's, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.
Most ill health and premature death is preventable. This is the new paradigm! It calls for a multidisciplinary effort in which the role of the social scientist is as important as the health scientist in promoting health and preventing disease. Both have as much to offer in this effort as those scientists exclusively concerned with curative medicine. A collective effort is necessary to address the skyrocketing costs of treating disease and disability, as well as the social costs to individuals and society.

Ellen Troyer, MT MA -
Biosyntrx CEO / Chief Research Officer

PEARL

The Biosyntrx founders, staff and scientific advisory board wish our Friday Pearl readers a Happy and Healthy New Year.