Copper Imbalance – An American Epidemic

By Rebecca Steiner, Holistic Health Coach and Peptide Therapy Specialist

About Copper Imbalance:

Copper imbalance might be the biggest epidemic in our country, that nobody’s heard about. Copper is an essential mineral that is, without exaggeration, needed to live. Copper is required for ATP energy production, cell function, immune function, collagen formation, iron utilization, oxygen transportation, and much more.

Clearly the body needs copper to function. But copper must be functioning properly too. It must remain at just the right levels. It must not get too low, or too high, or lose its ability to move freely (becoming bio-unavailable). When copper gets out of balance it can lead to all sorts symptoms and disease processes, and yet it is often missed or misdiagnosed. The main reason for this is because copper imbalance rarely shows up in bloodwork, since it is mainly stored in tissues. Blood levels can look normal, even when there is copper deficiency or toxicity.

Symptoms:

Copper can act like a heavy metal, accumulating in tissues and organs and impairing their function. Many times, symptoms of copper dysregulation are related to systems of the body where copper is being stored. Common areas of copper storage are: the brain, liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs. So copper dysregulation may show up as depression, or headaches if it is accumulating in the brain, or endometriosis or infertility, if accumulating in the uterus. Copper dysregulation symptoms may also impact immune system and gastrointestinal function, or show up as iron deficiency, or B12 anemia.

Copper toxicity, insufficiency, and bio-unavailability can also cause:

• Acne

• Adrenal Fatigue

• Allergies

• Anemia

• Anorexia

• Anxiety

• Arthritis

• Asthma

• Attention Deficit Disorder

• Autism

• Autoimmune Disorders

• Behavioral Problems in Children

• Bipolar (Manic Depression)

• Brittle Nails or White Spots on Nails

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Chronic Digestive Disorders: Acid Reflux, GERD, SIBO, Indigestion, Constipation, Diarrhea, Bloating, Nausea, Vomiting 

• Chronic Infections, Bacterial, Viral or Fungal

• Chronic Yeast Infections, Vaginitis, UTI’s or Chronic Candida Overgrowth

• Depression, Apathy

• Dry Skin or Hair

• Dysmenorrhea

• Early Aging

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

• Estrogen Dominance, or Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

• Feeling like you’re “Wired but Tired”

• Fibromyalgia

• Fluroquinolone Poisoning – both predisposing one to poisoning, and worsening of symptoms associated with the condition

• Food, Environmental, and Chemical Sensitivities 

• Gastritis

• Getting sick all the time/Never Getting Sick

• Hair loss

• Hoshimotos

• Hypertension

• Hypotension

• Hypothyroidism

• Hyperthyroidism

• Immune Dysregulation

• Infertility

• Insomnia

• Irregular Periods

• Learning Disabilities

• Loose Skin

• Lyme Disease – that persists despite treatment

• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

• Memory Problems

• Mental and Mood Disorders

• Migraines, Headaches (primarily located at the front of the head and behind the eyes.)

• Miscarriage

• Mold Toxicity and Mold Sensitivity

• Neuralgia (nerve pain)

• Osteoporosis

• Parasites

• PCOS, Fibroids, Uterine Cysts, Endometriosis

• POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)

• Poor Collagen Production

• PMS (bad cramps, mood swings, water retention)

• Racing thoughts that can lead to insomnia

• Schizophrenia

• Sciatica

• Worse hangover from alcohol or Alcohol Sensitivity

Not only is copper imbalance commonly misdiagnosed, it is also often missed because it is hidden by chronic illnesses like Lyme, mold toxicity, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, candida, parasites, and EBV. Because copper plays such an important role in the immune system, if it is not functioning properly, we become more susceptible to chronic infections.

Causes:

But what causes copper imbalance? There can be many causes, but the two biggest are; modern agricultural practices and the increasing ubiquity of female birth control. The way that we grow food in this country depletes the soils over time. As the years go by fewer minerals and nutrients make it into our food. This includes grass, and grass-fed animals too. So, we get less copper, or less of other minerals and vitamins we need to keep copper in check. In addition, GMO’s, pesticides, and even “natural” pesticides like copper sulfate are detrimental to the delicate mineral balance of the body. Ultimately, we can end up with too little, or too much copper. When we get too much copper, it acts like estrogen in the body. Combine this with naturally occurring estrogen, and the growing number of young women prescribed hormonal (and copper) birth control, and you have a recipe for a copper toxicity epidemic.

Since women naturally have more estrogen, copper overload from birth control, or other sources, tips the scales, leading to hormonal imbalances like; estrogen dominance, acne, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, infertility, and miscarriage.

Copper dysfunction in women should be suspected when the onset or worsening of symptoms coincides with puberty, early adulthood, or if symptoms increase around menses. It should also be considered in women with symptoms of copper toxicity who have used any form of birth control, at any point in life, including progestin and the copper IUD, which have been shown to elevate copper levels. That being said, men and boys can experience copper toxicity or deficiency too. One reason being that it can be passed from mom to baby in the womb. In young boys it often presents as behavioral problems, poor impulse control, learning disabilities, mental disorders, or developmental disabilities.   

Other sources of copper toxicity or dysregulation include:

·       Breast Milk

·       B Vitamin Insufficiency

·       Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders

·       Copper Cookware and Dishes

·       Copper Piping in the Home

·       Fluorinated and Chlorinated Drinking and Bathing Water

·       Eating Disorders

·       Fluoride Used in Dental Procedures

·       Genetic Mutations

·       Gestational (transmission from mom to fetus)

·       Medications

·       Infant Formula

·       Lack of Vitamin A from Animal Sources in the Diet

·       Other Mineral Imbalances

·       Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs (treated with copper)

·       Supplementing with copper, zinc, vitamin C, and citrate, or using zinc sulfate sunscreen, without knowing your mineral levels

·       Vegetarian or Vegan Diets

·       Water Contamination

Testing and Treatment:

If you suspect you are suffering from copper dysfunction, it is extremely important to work with a practitioner who has experience in diagnosis and treatment.

As stated above, copper dysregulation is very difficult to find through blood work, so alternative forms of testing are needed, and in some cases, clinical diagnosis is required.

Treatment will be based on a person’s individual mineral balances, and symptoms, and usually consists of supplementing methodically with specific vitamins and minerals. It can take anywhere from 3-12 months, and in some cases up to 3 years, to correct copper imbalance. With proper diagnosis and treatment, health can be restored.

If you are interested in learning more about copper dysfunction or mineral balancing, please contact me: rebecca@bewellnaturalmedicine.net or schedule an appointment: https://SteinerHealthCoaching.as.me/?appointmentType=38500332

GLP-1 Agonists: The Future of Weight loss and Aging

By Rebecca Steiner, Holistic Health Coach and Peptide Therapy Specialist

You’ve probably heard of GLP-1 agonists by now. These are medications known as Semaglutide, Ozempic and Wegovy that are all the rage in Hollywood, touted by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Elon Musk for their impressive weight loss benefits. But just because GLP-1s are getting a lot of buzz, it doesn’t mean they are a passing fad. In fact, quite the opposite, it’s safe to say that GLP-1s are very likely the future of health and anti-aging.

GLP-1s, or Glucagon-like Peptide Agonists, not only promote significant weight loss, they provide a plethora of health benefits, from preventing heart disease to lowering cholesterol and reversing Type II diabetes. Additionally, GLP-1 agonists upregulate cell efficiency by boosting natural NAD production. NAD is arguably one of the most important factors in slowing the aging process, and it declines as we get older. NAD is required for our cells to make energy, stay healthy, function optimally, and avoid cancerous proliferation. By increasing NAD production, GLP-1s not only help us live longer, they help us live better, improving the health of our cells, organs and metabolic function.

While Ozempic is standardly prescribed for significant weight loss in obese individuals with a BMI of 30 or above, GLP-1s are being used by clinicians off-label, with great success in people with healthy BMI’s who want to achieve minimal or moderate weight loss, and improve overall health and metabolic function. Additional applications include:

• Reversing insulin resistance

• Lowering cholesterol and triglycerides

• Preventing cardiovascular disease in patients at increased risk

• Improving Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Hypertension

• Erectile Disfunction

• Aging

• PCOS

If you have been following the news (or TikTok) you may have heard reports of extreme gastrointestinal side effects and other risks associated with GLP-1 agonists. The potential for side effects depends on where you source your peptide, and how it is dosed. Side-effects like these are not a concern with our products, which are specially compounded through an accredited, FDA regulated pharmacy, and carefully dosed. 

GLP-1s are the most effective weight loss product on the market, and the key to anti-aging. And they are only going to get better, as scientists and researchers continue to work on developing and improving them.

Through January 2023, we are offering 10% off of our Semaglutide Weight Loss Package.

If you are interested in finding out if you are a good candidate for Semaglutide or learning more about learning more about its benefits, email Rebecca: rebecca@bewellnaturalmedicine.net

VIVACE RF MICRONEEDLING + PRP NOW AVAILABLE at BE WELL

Vivace RF Microneedling with PRP is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Surgery and Fillers

Why are we offering this service? 
It's true that aesthetic treatments are not usually part of a naturopathic medical practice. That said, I see many patients who are doing everything they can to stay vibrant through mid-life, and yet, like me, they don't like the wrinkles that still come along with aging well. This tool is the combination of safety and effectiveness that I want for myself and for my patients. Also, it is ideal for patients with autoimmune conditions who are more likely to have adverse effects from fillers and Botox. 

Benefits of this simple, minimally-invasive treatment:

• Soften Fine Lines & Wrinkles

• Tighten Skin

• Reduce Active Acne

• Diminish Appearance of Scarring

• Improve Skin Tone & Texture

• Minimize Pore Size

• Restore hair growth 

• Fast results

• No downtime

How does it work? 
Microneedling is a safe non-surgical treatment to trigger new collagen. When combined with radio frequency, it becomes the newest revolution in contouring and tightening for the face, neck, hands and body. The addition Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to the microneedling process gives skin all fo the essential elements it needs to create new collagen.   

While the changes to your skin will be visible immediately, the long-term benefits of this treatment are seen when the treatments are repeated monthly for three consecutive months. 

REAL RESULTS

• No Surgery

• Little Downtime

• Virtually Pain Free

• Ready To Go Out That Night!

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL: Buy a package of three treatments and get one free!

For more details and to schedule your first session, please call Kristi at 415-569-4470

Breast Implant Illness: A Modern Epidemic

By Rebecca Steiner, Naturopathic Medical Assistant and Health Coach

About Breast Implant Illness:

Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a little-known, but debilitating condition that develops in some women who have undergone cosmetic breast augmentation. Although the public has generally been made aware of the dangers of silicone implants, BII appears to be no less prevalent in women with saline implants. This may be in part because although saline implants are filled with sterile salt water, the outer shell is still comprised of silicone and other harmful chemicals that can flake off into the body. Consider just some of the toxic chemicals that have been reported in implants: 

Acetone (used in nail polish remover), methyl ethyl ketone (a known neurotoxin), sodium fluoride, formaldehyde, lacquer thinner, epoxy hardener, printing ink, heavy metals.

Additionally, saline implants can harbor mold and other fungi that can leak through tiny holes that develop when the implant shell degrades over time, resulting in systemic, chronic fungal infections. 

Not all women develop Breast Implant Illness. It is estimated that around 10 million women have breast implants, and while there is currently no fully accurate statistics available, it is believed that somewhere around 2% of these women will develop BII. This is a small percentage to be sure, but when you consider how many women have implants you’re talking about 140,000-200,000 women. Additionally, this estimation is probably staggeringly low, since it is likely BII cases are grossly underreported.  Breast Implant Illness is not currently recognized by the mainstream medical community, or the FDA. Both groups have a vested financial interest in dismissing the health complaints of women who report becoming ill after high-priced cosmetic augmentation surgeries. Therefore, women may not have any idea that implants are the cause of their health problems, and might even be accused of making their symptoms up. 

Causes:

While medical knowledge about this condition is still limited, it is believed that BII develops in some women because their immune system attacks the implant, viewing it as a foreign object. A capsule of tissue and immune cells grows around the implant attempting to wall it off from the rest of the body. The immune system continues to attack the implants on an ongoing basis, leading to an auto-immune-like condition resulting in chronic inflammation and a wide array of debilitating symptoms and a cascade of secondary disease processes. 

In women who have breast implants in addition to complex, chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, and mold toxicity, breast implants may play a big role in inhibiting their inability to recover, despite proper treatment. Because the immune system is so focused on the implants, it is not dealing with other problems like tick-borne infections, viruses, or mycotoxins, allowing them to run rampant in the body. Additionally, the immune system can become weakened and compromised over time, so that it is not functioning properly and is less able to fight off infections. Medical studies have shown significantly suppressed natural killer cell activity in patients with silicone implants. Natural killer cells are an integral part of a functioning immune system and work to limit illness and infections. Often times removal of the implants marks the first time a patient with complex, chronic illness begins to make headway in her treatment, because her immune system is unburdened.   

Women who develop BII may go years with no symptoms and then suddenly develop them out of the blue. Others report becoming ill almost immediately after implant surgery. Symptoms can be severe and debilitating. Just some of the many symptoms that can be associated with BII are:

Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, hair loss, rashes, auto-immune disease, thyroid dysfunction, SIBO, leaky gut, neuropathy, arthritis, pain, Lymphoma, brain fog, cognitive dysfunction, weight gain or weight loss, low libido, insomnia, vertigo, persistent viral, fungal, bacterial and yeast infections, chemical sensitivity, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, feelings of dying, mast cell disorder (MCAS), migraines, food allergies and sensitivities. 

Diagnosis:

What do you do if you suspect you may have BII? Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer. There are no laboratory tests that will tell you if you have BII. I do not recommend patients seek a diagnosis from a doctor. Few doctors are aware of, or have accurate knowledge of BII and patients are likely to receive misinformation. I do not recommend returning to the surgeon who performed your initial surgery. Many surgeons have a vested financial interest in turning a blind eye to BII. Even the best-intentioned surgeon is likely to simply believe what they’ve been taught by the medical establishment – that Breast Implant Illness doesn’t exist. 

Here is what I do recommend: follow your gut, listen to your intuition. Think back over your health history; what was your health like before implants? How has it changed since? How well does your immune system function? Do you have a condition like Lyme disease? Have you been treated by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor with little improvement in your symptoms? I also recommend that any woman who is wondering if she has BII join a Facebook group where she can read the stories of thousands of other women and see if those stories resonate. The best Facebook groups dedicated to BII are: Dr. Jae Chun- Patient Explant and Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/298460460534109/and Breast Implant Illness and healing by Nicole https://www.facebook.com/groups/Healingbreastimplantillness/. 

Making the choice to remove your implants is a big decision that only you can make. 

Treatment:

Once you decide that you are going to treat BII the first and most important step is to undergo a full En Bloc Capsulectomy explant of your implants with a highly trained surgeon. There are very few surgeons who are qualified to correctly remove the implants of BII sufferers. You can find a list of qualified surgeons on Nicole’s Facebook page or her website https://healingbreastimplantillness.com/explant-surgeons/. It is imperative that you do not remove your implants with any surgeon who is not on this list and is not highly skilled in En Bloc removal technique, in which the implant and the surrounding tissue capsule are fully removed in one piece. Many women have undergone expensive explant surgeries only to remain ill due to tissues that were left behind during surgery.

Even if a doctor promises you that they can remove all of your capsule, at the time of surgery he or she may find they are not skilled enough to do so. For instance, in some cases tissue can be adhered to the ribs and most surgeons are not capable of removing it without risking complications. In this case the surgeon may choose to leave pieces of the capsule behind rather than risk harming the patient. It is probably not possible to recover from BII without a full En Bloc extraction of the entire implant and surrounding tissue. 

Once you have decided to go through with explant surgery you must understand that for most people symptoms do not resolve overnight. Experienced explant surgeons generally report that around 85% of their patients experience significant improvement in their symptoms, but at minimum recovery usually takes at least one year. It is essential to enlist a qualified holistic practitioner to help you get your body and immune system back on track. Your body has been under assault and it will take time and work to heal. Work with your Naturopath to address detoxifying from the implants and clearing up any other associated problems like heavy metal toxicity, mycotoxins, Lyme and Co-infections. 

Some additional treatments that can assist with recovery and which we offer in our clinic are:

1.     IV Therapy: Following up explant surgery with nutritive IV infusions can really help to support and speed up recovery, especially in cases of leaky gut or otherwise compromised G.I. health where your body is not getting enough nutrients from food and oral vitamins. Speak with your doctor about which IV therapies are appropriate for you. 

2.     Ozone Therapy: Ozone therapy applied to the chest, post-surgery can have an almost magical, healing effect, helping to promote wound closure and diminish scarring. Ozone gas is also anti-microbial which helps prevent infection and complications of the incision site. 

3.     Low Dose Immunotherapy: LDI therapy can be a good addition to BII treatment. You can read my article about what LDI is and how it works here: http://bewellnaturalmedicine.net/blog/2020/1/9/low-dose-immunotherapy-for-chronic-conditions  In order to utilize this therapy, you will need to request before your surgery that your explant surgeon provide you with a small tissue sample of your removed capsule after surgery. We can make a sterilized, autologous LDI solution from your capsule that can be administered with a small injection under your skin. In some patients it takes a while for the immune system to rebalance once the implants are gone. LDI therapy can help to speed up the process. In cases where a patient is not recovering despite explant surgery, LDI can be a useful tool for retraining the immune system, which may be stuck in overdrive. 

4.     Health Coaching: It is essential to clean up your diet and lifestyle in the year following explant surgery. It may be helpful to work with a health coach to determine which diet and exercise programs will work best for you. 

If you are interested in further information on Breast Implant Illness, treatment, or Health Coaching please reach out to our clinic.

 SOURCES: 

1.     https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/8/9/5269/htm

2.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7570622

3.     https://www.myplasticsurgery.com

4.     https://www.breastimplantillness.com

5.     https://www.facebook.com/groups/298460460534109

6.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QowrmaDy4uA

7.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7855864