Oh, I "C"....

It's been a few days of just salting along, here.... not a lot to report. My pain levels come and go. I am gradually adjusting to a higher salt/C intake. I have times that I feel great and am out and about, and other times when it hurts just to move. I think it's going to be this way for awhile, so I will only be blogging on the days that it seems there is something meaningful to share.

I've been wanting to go into more detail about how the Vitamin C helps with this protocol. Info in the next two paragraphs is from www.lymephotos.com.

Vitamin C assists the immune system in two of its primary functions - to rid the body of foreign invaders, and to monitor the system for things like tumor cells. It does this by stimulating the productin of white blood cells (which attack foreign antigens such as bacteria and viruses), and it boosts the body's production of both antibodies and interferon (a protein that helps protect us from viral invaders and cancers).

It also contributes to our immune defenses, as Vitamin C helps boost collagen production in the skin, which is our first line of defense. This vitamin also acts against toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of environmental pollutants by stimulating liver detoxifying enzymes. And, it also incrases NK "killer" cells, as well as the activity of immune T-cells.

There are many other benefits of Vitamin C, but for purposes of this protocol, we will focus more upon how it works with salt to create an inhospitable environment for the bacteria related to lyme disease. Large doses of salt and vitamin C together (8 - 12 grams each, per day) increases the ability of elastase (an enzyme which contributes to white blood cell function and immunity) to kill harmful bacteria in the human body. Also, Vitamin C, when used with salt, greatly accelerates the healing process by stimulating and restoring the immune system, as well as detoxifying the body. (from The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments, Bryan Rosner).

I want to emphasize again why it's so important, while using this protocol or any healing/detoxifying protocol for any type of disease or immune-related dysfunction, to eat clean, healthy and well:

"The body simply cannot battle a persistent and pernicious infection while also battling toxic food byproducts, a lack of healthy raw materials, acidic PH, and so on."www.lymephotos.com

We want to create an "inner terrain" that is essentially very unfriendly and inhospitable to "bad" bacteria (which will eventually kill them), while at the same time supporting and strengthening the body's own various responses - immune, blood, digestive, cardio, respiratory, nerve, brain, eliminative, and so forth.

This goes beyond lyme disease to include many, if not nearly all, of the diseases and conditions known to humanity today. To change our "inner terrain" so that it is inhospitable to disease and supportive to the body's own immune response, many doctors and healthcare practitioners recommend that we:

1) Do NOT follow a typical American diet; if anything, follow a Mediterranean diet, and/or a diet rich in organic produce and whole grains.

2) Avoid ALL sugar products and artificial sweeteners, as well as "white" breads and pastries, candy, anything deep-fried, soda, coffee, fast foods, and keep dairy products to a minimum. Dairy products create mucous in the intestines where parasites breed, as well as impedes our ability to absorb nutrients.

3) If you eat meat, choose the best quality grain-fed meat containing no hormones or antibiotics. It costs more, but is vital to your health and vitality.

4) Drink lots of pure water (if you use a reverse osmosis purifier, be sure to add minerals back with uniodized sea salt or kelp). Spring water is more "alive" with needed minerals than "purified" or "drinking" (bottled) water. Distilled water has its uses, but is not good for drinking water, as it is stripped of all nutrients.

And it goes on from there.... also critical are exercise and movement (including stimulating the lymphatic system which can be done with a mini-trampoline or bouncing on an exercise ball)... breathing deeply of clean air... getting enough rest and sleep so that the cells can rebuild themselves and the bodily systems can refresh themselves.

One thing I learned from eating in a truly healthful way, is that weight ceases to be an issue. Without trying I have lost 32 pounds over the past year. My bodily systems all function well and I don't get bloated any more. It can be hard to switch to healthier eating habits, but honestly, it's SO worth it! And for those of us with lyme or some other critical health condition, it is the only way we will ever be able to truly heal and achieve lasting, vibrant health.

On that note, I'm off to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine. Wishing you the best of health, as well as happiness and peace.

Sukie