Musculoskeletal Health

The health of all of our organ systems depends upon the health of our gastrointestinal system. The GAP's Diet by Natasha McBride, along with the Heal Your Gut Cookbook by Boynton, provides critical knowledge central to managing gastrointestinal health. This is of primary concern when addressing any chronic disease, such as arthritis or recurrent / chronic tendon tears. It also addresses the health of our vascular, neurologic, endocrine (hormonal), metabolic and immune systems which are necessary in the repair and maintenance of our musculoskeletal system. When our gut is not intact it is one of the largest exposures to oxidative stress through toxins entering our vascular system from inappropriately digested food and bacterial antigens that leads to weight gain, insulin resistance and inflammatory dysregulation. Healing and maintaining gut health is central to the resolution or management of progression of all chronic disease pathologies.

Removal of all petrochemical based products from our lives by way of what we eat, breathe, drink, and put on our body is critical for the cellular health of all of our organ tissues to function and repair properly. Petrochemical based toxins are difficult for our body to utilize, break down and remove. They bind cell receptors on the outside and inside of our cells, often irreversibly or for prolonged periods of time and stimulate intracellular signaling that can cause organ tissue dysregulation and ultimately failure. Cancer, dementia, mood disorders, heart disease, autoimmune disease, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, infertility and numerous other pathological processes are the result of exposure to petrochemicals. In its best attempt to protect our organ tissues from these compounds, our body makes adipose (fat) tissue to store these toxins away from critical pathways of cellular function in our organ tissues. The adipose tissue created is pro-inflammatory and chronically initiates inflammatory cascades which disrupts the immune function in all of our organs, critically impairing the ability of our mitochondria to make energy (cell danger response) which all of our cells depend upon to live. These toxins have direct oxidative damage to our cellular structures, including our genes and the expression of these genes. You can expect to continue to have progressive painful arthritis, tendon tears and muscle weakness or poor growth in response to exercise, if these are not removed from your immediate environment. These products are most commonly found in body and laundry products as fragrances, emollients or emulsifiers. They are found in varnishes/paints/lacquers, rubber or soft plastic products, synthetic insulation and cushions/mattresses, and soft plastic food packaging and "to go" and pizza containers.

Sleep hygiene for restorative sleep is foundational for reducing insulin resistance, optimizing other metabolic health, and managing immune modulation for musculoskeletal healing. Remove artificial light in the afternoon until bedtime, wear blue light blockers when unable to do so. Computer work and TV should be ideally conducted during the day. Melatonin production depends upon this, as well as GABA for sustained sleep. Eating and exercise should be at least 3 hours before bedtime. Quiet and completely dark sleeping conditions in a room that is used only for sleep with minimal clutter and clean air circulation. Temperature should be cool around 65 degrees. Bed time should be as soon after dark as able which will depend upon the season. Bed time should be consistent in relation to the setting sun. Relaxing activities are important for 1-2 hours as a part of ritual before sleep. Aim for ideally between 7-9 hours of sleep.