Let’s take a very common scenario that I see with some of my Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)/Nutrition Clients. See examples ⬇️
A HTMA client may have contacted me because she feels so tired, no energy, brain fog, she has suffered/is suffering anxiety and/or depression, loss of libido, sleep problems (despite feeling fatigued) weight gain, hair falling out, loss of interest in usual hobbies….of which often get blamed all on the hormones. Yes hormones can be a part of it, but what about other body systems, like the thyroid and adrenal glands, to name a few…..see example⬇️
She is a mother of a couple of young children (maybe one child or more than 3). Either working at home raising children (24/7) or paid employment outside the home and juggling a family as well.
Her pregnancy/pregnancies may have been troublesome or she may have had a wonderful pregnancy/pregnancies.
***So many women are entering pregnancy already depleted of essential nutrients. In pregnancy, baby will take what is needed and may well leave the mother with some nutritional deficiencies. The labour or birth(s) experience(s) may have gone smoothly or may have been challenging, she may have had strong medications (or not) but either way….
***Labour and a caesarean birth can deplete the mother even more if she has little nutritional reserves as she uses up more nutrients and for many women stress and fear is a big factor in pregnancy and chlidbirth, using up even more essential nutrients potentially, leaving her even more depleted.
Postnatal Period: Having a baby (and maybe another young child or 2 around as well) can be tiring, of course we all expect this, we expect to be up in the night feeding a baby (breast or formula). This can be exhausting for many new mothers and for not so new mothers too.
***Stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, “baby shock” reality (usually with first baby) conflicting advice, not eating well, loss of identity with some women, as they readjust to their new role, can all take it’s toll on their physical, mental and emotional well-being and guess what? Depleting the mother even further of essential nutrients! Minerals are used up like rocket fuel when we are stressed.
So, is it any wonder that these mothers feel absolutely goosed a few years down the line? At which point they get in touch with me. They are warriors and they will keep going through it all thinking it’s “normal” or thinking that they are “going crazy” but at some point they crash and burn!!
By the time that I see them, many have already struggled with their mental health, many are taking anti depressants as they were desperate (but never wanted to take them). Often the GP approach is a quick fix pill, antidepressants or sleeping tablets. With another popular one being told that she needs vitamin D (synthetic and without the balance of vitamin A/retinol) or B12 (often in a cheap and synthetic form) without taking some THOROUGH blood tests and without looking at other nutritional co factors, this may add insult to injury in the long term for their health ! It really concerns me how many people are taking vitamin D without knowing the long term effects! Most G.P’s will admit that they do very little training in nutrition. They are generally trained in the prescription of pharmaceutical drugs.
⚠️ I WILL NEVER SUGGEST THAT A CLIENT STOPS PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM THE PERSON WHO HAS PRESCRIBED THEM. Some people may genuinely benefit from them and need them.
***Medications may contain ingredients that can lower nutrients even further not to mention all of undesirable side effects including addiction!
So…… when they work with me, it may well be a slowly, slowly, gently, gently approach. My client may have been is this state nutritionally for many years so it may take some time to boost nutritional levels. It is not just as simple as taking a multivitamin. I look at their individual biochemical mineral profile and toxic metal status, alongside some THOROUGH blood tests and have insight into their physical, mental and emotional medical history.
Regular assessments are crucial every few months to assess progress, to adjust diet (if necessary) and to adjust good quality supplements (where necessary)
This is why I say let’s educate and support women nutritionally (and men) way before she/they want to become pregnant… or at least address it in early pregnancy! And no I don’t suggest prenatal or pregnancy supplements that contain many synthetic ingredients! Of which most do, including most of the very well known popular big brands.
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