Family Wellness Center 801.298.4646

Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Gallstones

The gallbladder is the storage tank for bile which is the fluid that helps digest fats in the diet.  The gallbladder stores about two ounces of bile.  Fat receptors in the stomach and small intestines signal the body that a fatty meal has been consumed.  The gallbladder constricts and pumps bile into the small intestine where the fatty meal is acted upon by the bile.  The bile breaks down the fat into smaller particles to be more easily absorbed into the body for the creation of cells, hormones, lubrication etc.  The bile also helps to neutralize acids in the partially digested foods.

Modern medicine has yet to definitely show what causes gall stone formation but several theories exist:

1)    Too much cholesterol in the diet.  Since the most common type of stone is the cholesterol stone, scientists speculate that too much cholesterol and maldigestion of cholesterol may be the cause of cholesterol stones.  For individuals over age 30, a digestive enzyme taken with each meal is recommended to assist in the digestion of fats and cholesterol, thus reducing the chances for gall stone development.

2)    Parasitic infestation of the liver.  This theory suggests that gallstones are formed when the liver is malfunctioning.  The liver is the main filter and detoxifier of the body.  Any blood-born parasite or even intestinal flukes can pass through the liver but many times become lodged in the liver instead.  This action causes the liver to function abnormally and not be able to conjugate the bile appropriately in the gallbladder.  The abnormal bile sits in the gallbladder and becomes hardened, forming stones.

3)    Family or genetic tendencies.  Many times a whole family will have gallstone problems.  There may be genetic issues passed in the genes that cause liver malfunction.  There also may be a tendency towards gallstones among females who are over forty, over-weight, and are still able to bear children.

The treatment for gallstones is to support the liver with targeted supplementation, remove any layers of infection such as parasites, bacteria, fungus, etc, and to undergo a liver / gallbladder flush every six months.  Maintaining appropriate liver function is vital to overall health.

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Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Female System – PMS and Menopause

The female system undergoes an amazing and intricate set of changes in hormone levels all the way from the beginning of menses, to menopause.  These hormonal fluctuations are the reason women are able to bear children.

Puberty – This is the beginning of the process when the female body begins to have surges of estrogen at the beginning of the cycle, and progesterone at the ending of the cycle.  The fluctuations in these two hormones are what cause the menstrual cycle.  Puberty begins around the age of 12.  Normal changes in the female body include breast, hip and chest enlargement, resulting in the “hour glass” shape; menses begins; and there is usually a growth spurt.

PMS – Pre-Menstrual Syndrome is a set of symptoms that can cause the normal cycle to be very uncomfortable.  There are many causes of PMS, but the main factor is that estrogen levels are too high at the end of the cycle when normal levels would be relatively low.  These elevated estrogen levels are often a result of abnormal function of the pituitary and/or too much estrogen in the diet from chicken, beef, and animal husbandry.  Junk food and an over abundance of simple carbohydrates can also cause PMS since these factors create an overall inflammatory state in the body.  If the system is already over-inflamed during the month there is not much room for more inflammation during the normal menstrual cycle.

Treatment of PMS – There are three primary ways to treat PMS:
1)    Diminish the amount of simple carbohydrates in the diet helping to decrease the over-all inflammation in the body.
2)    Decrease the amount of conventionally grown beef, and chicken in the diet.  Choose free-range or products grown without added hormones in the food.  This will decrease the abnormal levels of estrogen.
3)    Support the system with natural supplementation such as Fem-Affirm and PMSync, two supplements that support the cycle before, during, and after menses.

Menopause – This is the cessation of the normal female cycle.  This usually occurs around the age of 45 to 55 years old.  The condition may include hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, a marked decrease in estrogen, and bone loss or osteoporosis.  For many women this is a very difficult time as these symptoms can become quite severe.

Treatment of Menopause – Primary treatment protocol for menopause is to support the normal life functions.
1)    Eat right, including decreasing simple carbohydrates and increasing fruits and vegetables.
2)    Get plenty of rest and support the system with supplementation such as Fem-Affirm, Hormone Combination, Female Balance and Meno-Fem.
3)    Estrogen Replacement Therapy is not recommended as research indicates the decrease in estrogen is a normal process.
4)    Progesterone should be supplemented as this is the hormone needed more at this time of life.
5)    Increase mineral supplementation to help counteract osteoporosis.

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Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been a misunderstood set of symptoms for years and people with these symptoms have been misunderstood as well.  People who have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome many times are thought of as “it’s all in your head” or told “just get over it”.  CFS is very real but what makes it difficult to treat is that there are many causes.

CFS usually has two major components, Endocrine Fatigue and Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Endocrine fatigue means the adrenal and thyroid glands are run down.  This is caused by overload and stress.  The adrenal gland produces adrenalin during stressful situations.  As we add more and more stress to our lives, the adrenal gland begins to produce less adrenalin due to the high demand.  The thyroid gland also begins to run down and the overall metabolism diminishes.  Research suggests 90% of the population has a low functioning thyroid.

Leaky Gut Syndrome plays a major part in CFS as well due to the increased toxin and infection load.  As the gut or digestive system looses its integrity due to overuse of antibiotics, poor food choices, chemicals, etc., more toxins and infections are able to enter the body.  Infections such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, and parasites trans-locate across the gut barrier and move around in the body.  As these infections move, they may infest vital organs such as the liver.  These infection layers build up in the body similar to the layers of an onion.  Traditional lab work doesn’t always pick up these infectious layers.

An overload of toxins in the system is another important cause of CFS and is most prominently noticed as water retention, or a “swampy” condition.  This swampy condition is the caused by lymphatic system blockage, resulting in the tissue and joint pain associated with CFS.

The recommended treatment for CFS is to:

1)    Support the adrenal and thyroid glands to increase energy and metabolism.
2)    Treat the Leaky Gut Syndrome by treating possible layers of infection in the digestive system and rebuilding the integrity of the colon.
3)    Detoxify the lymphatic system which will support the immune system.

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Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Blood and Its Function

Blood is the pulse of life and the fluid that makes it all happen.  Blood is so significant that it is seen in our language with verbiage such as blood sacrifice, blood brothers, blood relatives etc.  Without blood, life ceases to exist.

Blood Makeup:

Red Blood Cells – Red blood cells are the oxygen carriers of the blood, containing hemoglobin which is the oxygen transport system.  Hemoglobin contains iron, a necessary ingredient in the capacity of hemoglobin to be able to carry oxygen.  If iron is low in the blood, anemia occurs and the ability of blood to carry oxygen is diminished.

White Blood Cells – White blood cells are the infection fighters or soldiers of the blood.  They are found in the blood and lymphatic fluid and have the ability to determine what is friend or foe.  As white blood cells come in contact with substances that should not be in the blood, such as bacteria, foreign proteins, etc, the white blood cells bring the foreign particle inside the cell and digest it with enzymes.  There are about six different types of white blood cells.

Platelets – Platelets are the major contributor to blood clotting at a normal rate.  Platelets come together forming a clot anytime there is body trauma or injury.  When there are insufficient platelets in the blood a bleeding disorder occurs called Hemophilia.  When too many platelets are present, excess clotting occurs which may lead to a stroke or other vascular issues.

Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fats – These three types of substances are the basic nutrients of the blood.  They are absorbed into the blood via the digestive system and once in the blood, they travel around supporting the basic cell function finally exiting the body through the lymphatic and eliminatory systems.

Plasma – Plasma is the clear fluid of the blood.  It gives the blood volume and the ability to carry all of the necessary nutrients to the cells as discussed above.  Once this clear fluid exits out of the blood system, it known as lymphatic fluid.

Enzymes – Enzymes are the particles in the blood that help digest nutrients.  Digestive enzymes are produced in the saliva, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.  When we take digestive enzymes on an empty stomach, they help to digest particles in the blood that should not be there such as extra cholesterol, plaque, proteins and fats.  Having enough digestive enzymes in the blood is vital to maintaining healthy blood.  Foods such as fruits and vegetables are a major contributing factor in maintaining appropriate levels of these enzymes.

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Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Digestion

Digestion begins with what you put on your plate.  You have heard the old saying, “you are what you eat”.  That is not totally correct.  You are what you eat and absorb.  In order to absorb and assimilate proper nutrition, you must first eat foods that have proper nutrition inherently in them.  Fruits and vegetables are naturally nutritiously complete with all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and even more importantly, enzymes necessary to digest the food properly.  To illustrate — if you leave a banana on the counter, the digestive enzymes go to work and will eventually turn the banana brown.

Digestive enzymes are very vital to appropriate digestion.  Fruits and vegetables are full of enzymes and help the body digest other foods eaten with the fruits and vegetables.  Eating foods that have active enzymes inherent in them will diminish the stress on the body during the digestive process.

Cooking your fruits or vegetables will diminish the vitamin and enzyme content.  If you wish to cook your fruits and vegetables, only lightly steam or stir-fry them.  Do not heat live foods to over 120 degrees.  Heating live food over 120 degrees will kill the vitamin and enzyme content.  Microwave ovens are especially harmful to the enzymes, vitamins, and minerals in your foods.

Three major enzymes exist.  Protease digests proteins, Amylase digests carbohydrates, and Lipase digests fats.  These enzymes are produced in the body mainly in the pancreas.  As food is eaten, chemical receptors in the digestive tract sense what is in the meal, and the pancreas secretes the appropriate type and amount of enzymes to digest the food.  The body becomes stressed when we eat dead foods that contain no digestive enzymes of its own.  Simple carbohydrates such as bread, cakes, cookies, and candies do not contain their own enzymes, so the body has to produce more enzymes to digest this food properly.

Stomach acid is also very important to the digestive process as it is one of the major factors in digesting proteins such as animal flesh.  Many people have a diminished acid production as they age and it becomes difficult for them to digest meat properly.  If you are older than 30, a digestive enzyme supplement with each meal is recommended to aid in the digestive process.

Chewing food thoroughly is also very important in effective digestion.  The more surface exposed to the digestive acid and enzymes, the better the digestion of the food.  The idea with digestion and assimilation of food is to break it down small enough to be absorbed into the blood.  If it is not broken down small enough, it can not be absorbed and the food value will be lost.

Drinking fluid while eating your meal will diminish the digestion by diluting the enzymes.  If you need to drink with your meal, only sip water instead of drinking a full glass.  Drink the bulk of your water one hour after consuming food if possible.

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Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not make or use insulin effectively.  Insulin is the hormone that helps the body use the energy from sugar, starches, and carbohydrates.  Without the proper function of insulin in the body, you don’t have enough energy to accomplish daily activities.  Insulin helps to metabolize sugar and without this proper metabolism, sugar builds up in the body and causes damage to tissues and organs.

The major symptoms of diabetes are:

• Increased urination
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Poorly healing cuts or bruises
• Increased hunger and thirst
• Rapid weight loss
• Dry, itchy skin
• Loss of feeling in hands or feet

There are two types of Diabetes –Type 1 and Type 2
Type 1 is typically juvenile onset diabetes and usually has a genetic cause.  Children develop the disease early in life and are usually insulin dependent immediately upon diagnosis.  One theory for Type 1 Diabetes is there may be an autoimmune issue with an allergy to cow’s milk.  The body sees the protein of cow milk to be very similar to that of the pancreas.  As the body attacks the foreign protein of the cow milk, it sees the pancreatic protein also as a foreign protein and attacks it as well.
Type 2 is usually adult onset and has to be purchased at the store!!!  This means the pancreas becomes overworked and abused by all the simple carbohydrates we consume.  The onset of Type 2 diabetes typically occurs later in life after the pancreas and the body is burned out with too much sugar.  Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled by changing the diet to a more whole food diet that consists of complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats.  The ratio of these foods should be 50% vegetables, 20 % fruits, 20 % proteins, and 10% fats.
Treatment
1)    Control the diet by making wiser food choices to include complex carbohydrates.  The combination of foods is also important since improper food combinations may lead to mal-digestion.
2)    Support the pancreas with specific targeted supplementation that helps to remove any layers of infection out of the pancreas and supports the tissue in creating normal levels of insulin.

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Troy Giles, D. C. 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 298-4646   www.familywellnesscenter.info

Toxic Liver Syndrome

The liver is the major filter and chemical processor of the body.  This filter removes all the toxins from the blood.  When the blood is toxic, the liver works to remove all the toxins.  Continued high toxic levels overwhelm the liver’s ability to detoxify the blood and its ability to function decreases.

Toxic Liver Syndrome is caused by several factors:
1)    Leaky gut
2)    Translocation of infections
3)    Food sensitivities

Leaky Gut Syndrome creates an environment for translocation of infections to occur and food sensitivities to develop.  Therefore, treating the leaky gut is vital to the treatment of the toxic liver.  Treatment of leaky gut involves removing the various layers of infection such as parasites, fungus, and bacteria in the digestive tract.  Next, support the digestive system and rebuild the colon using specific supplementation.  Replace the good bacteria with a high count acidophilus supplement and take a digestive enzyme with each meal.  Lastly, change the diet to a more natural, unaltered diet consisting of 50% vegetables, 20% fruit, 20% protein, and 10% fat.

Once the holes in the digestive system have been repaired, the toxic levels in the blood will begin to drop.  The next process is to detoxify the liver.  This is done by supporting the liver with specific supplements that help each of the lobes of the liver rebuild in preparation for detoxification.

Once the liver is strong enough, a liver / gallbladder flush is in order.  The process again is accomplished with specific supplementation to cause any gallstones and congestion in the liver and gallbladder to become soft and to be able to be expelled.  A specific diet is also followed during this process that helps to expel toxins from the liver and the gallbladder.  (Performing a liver/gallbladder flush or other type of liver detoxification before the repair of the colon takes place will dump more toxins into the blood and interstitial tissues of the body and will create a cycle of overload to the liver and lymphatic systems.)

To help maintain a clean and effectively functioning liver, we recommend a liver / gallbladder flush every six months.

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