Nutritional deficiencies and chronic infections go hand-in-hand. Each perpetuates the other in a never-ending vicious cycle. After many years, I discovered that both need to be addressed simultaneously in order for the recovery of health. The image below is my first hair test, from December 8th, 2011.  Prior to this test I had been sick for over 15 years and diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, hypothyroidism, post-traumatic stress disorder, major anxiety and bipolar disorder. In other words, I was very, very sick and deemed clinically disabled since 2004.  Little did I know that on top of these conditions,  I was also battling Lyme disease and several co-infections.

Most of my life I ate the SAD (Standard American Diet). This was very carb heavy with a few vegetables and lots of dairy. In 2008 I began experimenting with different diets in a desperate attempt to heal myself. This first hair test was taken after I had been on a very restrictive raw food and mostly vegan diet for a year.  This metabolic pattern on a hair test is called the Four-Lows. Calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium were all very low. This mineral pattern is typically associated with chronic fatigue and sometimes allergies. It is a chronic stress or ‘burnout’ condition that can take a very long time to correct.


My food intake at the time of this test was fruit-heavy with some raw vegetables. I was desperate to find a diet that would restore my health, but this one, unfortunately, did not work well for me at all. I was eating a small amount of animal products here and there but it didn’t come close to meeting my daily requirements, or let alone correcting my deficiencies and repairing my broken biochemistry. I had taken a positive first step in eliminating all grains, sugar, soy, corn and processed foods.  While helpful, it fell short in providing essential fatty acids, iron, zinc, choline and sulfur-rich foods, to name a few. I now understand that I did not have the stomach acid I needed for digestion, which resulted in poor nutrient absorption. My low stomach acid also wasn’t helping block new pathogens from taking hold and flourishing in my system.

When the results of this hair test and accompanying diet recommendations arrived, I switched to a cooked Paleo Diet, which placed greater emphasis on protein and fats.  I began eating salad for lunch, and cooked vegetables with meat/fish/chicken for supper.  Fruit was reduced to one serving per day. Still, it just wasn’t nutrient-dense enough to correct my severe mineral deficiencies at that time.  I simply couldn’t eat my way out of the nutrient deficit brought on by chronic infections that continuously drained my mineral stores.

It wasn’t until August 2015 that I was able to get my minerals into an acceptable range.  I had been on the Wahls Paleo Diet for almost 1 year.  My new protocol now included daily probiotic foods and a number of whole food supplements.  I had also spent the following year treating parasites,  Lyme Disease and other co-infections with Stephen Buhner’s Protocol.  Treating the mineral deficiencies,  Lyme and co-infections at the same time had finally paid off. I have been in Lyme remission since November 2014.

Causes of Mineral Deficiencies

1. Poor Diet – Diets high in processed foods, sugar, hydrogenated fats, additives and preservatives. Diets that lack fresh fruit and vegetables.
   Solution – Wahls Paleo Diet and whole food supplementation.
2. Restrictive Diets- Diets lacking B12, complete protein, zinc and vitamin A. Vegan diets are at risk of these deficiencies.
   Solution – Wahls Paleo Diet
3. Poor digestion and food absorption – Low stomach acid, leaky gut and low levels of good gut flora.
   Solutions- Betaine HCl with meals, bone broth  and probiotic foods.
4. Chronic infections – Parasites, lyme, viruses, fungus and other bacteria. These drain the body of all minerals around the clock, 7 days per week. It is very hard to correct deficiencies with active infections.
   Solutions – Treated Lyme, parasites, viruses and fungus with  Buhner’s Protocol for Lyme and parasite cleansing.
5. Drug and alcohol abuse. 
   Solution – I have been drug and alcohol-free since December 1, 2000. I no longer have any need for any prescription or over the counter medications.
6. Blood loss – Anemia had been an ongoing issue. It took me 1.5 years on the Wahls Paleo Diet but red blood cell count (RBC),  hemoglobin and ferritin are all now in the normal range.
   Solution- Beet kvass and other foods that provide iron, copper and vitamin C.
7. Stress-  Stressful career, overworking, negative relationships, financial worries, long commutes, single parenting and anything else that causes excessive levels of stress. It is important to reduce as much stress as possible during times of illness and recovery.
   Solution – I have made a conscious effort to reduce stress in every aspect of my life. This meant establishing boundaries with negative relationships, quitting a stressful career and living simply within my financial means.

Symptoms of Mineral Deficiencies 

Calcium- Also known as hypocalcemia. Symptoms can include numbness or tingling in the fingers, muscle cramps, lethargy and loss of appetite. More serious symptoms include mental confusion, skeletal malformations, dermatitis, delayed infant development, osteoporosis and rickets.

Magnesium- Anxiety, muscle cramps, restless leg syndrome, sleep disorders, irritability, nausea and vomiting, irregular heart rhythms, low blood pressure, foul body odor, confusion, excessive perspiration, inability to concentrate, depression,  muscle tightness. urinary frequency and  constipation.  This is considered by some to be one of the most important, yet deficient minerals among North Americans and Europeans.

Sodium – Hyponatremia. Symptoms can include mental changes, headache, nausea , vomiting, tiredness, muscle spasms and seizures.  Without adequate sodium intake, our bodies cannot make required levels of stomach acid.

Potassium -Symptoms can include weakness, tiredness,  cramping in arm or leg muscles – sometimes severe enough to cause inability to move arms or legs due to weakness (much like a paralysis). Symptoms also include tingling or numbness, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramping, bloating, constipation and palpitations (irregular heart beat).

Iron – Symptoms of moderate to severe deficiency include, anemia, general fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, strange cravings for non-food items such as dirt or ice, tingling or a crawling feeling in the legs and a swelling or soreness in the tongue.

Copper – Anemia, arthritis, bacterial infections, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, malignancies, gout, hypertension, emotional disturbances (manic disorders), insomnia, allergies and osteoporosis.

Manganese – Symptoms include impaired glucose tolerance, hypoglycema, abnormal carbohydrate and fat metabolism, skeletal abnormalities, bone demineralization and malformation, stunted growth, skin rashes, elevated blood calcium, siezures, weakness, nausea  or vomiting, dizziness, hearing loss, iron-deficiency anemia, weak hair and nails.

Zinc – Symptoms include acne or rashes, leaky gut, food allergies, thinning hair, diarrhea, weak immunity and poor neurological function.

Chromium – Symptoms can include, diabetes, hypoglycemia, high triglyceride levels, cravings for sugar or starch, high cholesterol levels and an inability to handle sugar or alcohol.

Selenium – Symptoms can include hair loss, skin and fingernail discoloration, low immunity, fatigue, brain fog and hypothyroidism.

Phosphorous – Symptoms can include loss of appetite, anxiety, bone pain, fragile bones, stiff joints, fatigue, irregular breathing, irritability, weakness and weight change.

Iodine – Symptoms can include hypothyroidism, constipation, feeling sluggish and tired, difficulty losing weight, dry hair, hair loss and cold sensitivity.

Here is my hair test after one year of Lyme disease remission, daily green smoothies, whole food supplementation and a paleo diet. I think this test speaks volumes. My body is slowly recovering and getting stronger with each passing month. I no longer have any of the above diagnoses that I had for decades. I have great health and energy today. My only lingering issues are cognitive. I would say I am about 90% recovered at the time of this writing. I can still have some issues with spelling, grammar, processing speed and long term memory. Usually, these flare if I am not getting my sleep or exercising too much. Now that I have recovered I just want to do everything!

Many symptoms of mineral deficiencies are the same as those of Lyme disease.  People, however, often confuse the two – this is my experience after many years on various Lyme forums. Many of those who focus only on killing infections are not regaining their health.  Infections continuously drain the body of needed minerals. It is important to correct mineral deficiencies, gently reduce the pathogenic load, correct digestion, balance blood sugar and heal the gut.  That is why it is so important to treat mineral deficiencies and chronic infections at the same time. You can read about everything that I did to recover from 20 years of chronic illness here.

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

Everything that I have done to recover my health is available here for free on my blog. If you would like a little extra help, I offer nutritional therapy consultations and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching

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