In my last article, we covered what craniosacral therapy is and introduced the idea of the craniosacral rhythm (CSR), the subtle movement that craniosacral therapists work with. Today, we will explore this rhythm in more detail looking at the current objective evidence of its existence, a working theory of what causes it, and a few ways you can work with it yourself.

Have you ever wondered what craniosacral therapy is and where it came from?

Why I practice craniosacral therapy and my journey to becoming the healer I intended to be.

During the pandemic, zinc, like vitamin D, has gotten a lot of attention.  Zinc, without a doubt, is needed for optimal immune function.  However, taking high doses leads to copper deficiency.  Before you choose to take a zinc supplement, I hope you will join me in a look at our needs for zinc, food sources of zinc, and how to avoid trading one problem for another.  We will also take a slight detour to investigate plant phytates and some easy things we can do in the kitchen to make plant minerals more absorbable. 

Sodium: we know we should avoid too much, but why, exactly, and how much is too much?  What about low sodium, is that a problem? This week, we will take a closer look at this essential mineral to understand what it does in our bodies and why we should pay attention to it. 

Selenium is necessary for life and plays major roles in our body including our “reproduction, thyroid hormone metabolism, DNA synthesis, and protection from oxidative damage and infection.” Too little selenium is an issue in some areas of the world, but here in the U.S. we are more likely to be challenged by selenium toxicity in the form of over-supplementation. Let’s learn more!

Potassium: there is much more to this mineral than eating a banana!  Potassium is one of our main electrolytes, acting as a partner with sodium to keep our nerves firing and sending information through our bodies.  Low levels are associated with high blood pressure and heart disease, but a diet full of potassium rich fruits and vegetables can protect against these conditions. 

Phosphorus is an abundant mineral that plays key roles in our physical structure from cell membranes to bones. This important nutrient is also a key player in our energy production; without it, we could not make ATP and our engines wouldn’t run. This all sounds great, but too much phosphorus can lead to heart and kidney disease, so we must take care. Let’s learn more about this interesting element shall we?

Molybdenum is another metallic mineral essential for human health.  You may not have heard of it, and this is because molybdenum deficiency has never been documented in healthy individuals, and is extraordinarily rare besides.  Current research is looking into the role molybdenum may play in cancer treatment and it is currently being used in the treatment of copper overload.  Let’s learn a bit more shall we? 

Is this a typo or a repeat of last week?  Nope, manganese is a distinct nutrient despite having a name quite similar to magnesium.  Let’s take a look at this nutrient that is found in multivitamins and is essential for health but is rarely talked about. 

Are you getting enough magnesium? If not, you’re not alone. Fewer than half of the U.S. population meets their RDA for this important mineral that is needed for over 300 different processes necessary for healthy function. Low levels are associated with a significantly increased risk for developing chronic health issues including heart disease and diabetes!

Iron deficiency is quite common and can quickly lead to a decreased quality of life.  Iron overload is also a problem that can do the same.  Let’s take a moment to learn more about iron’s role in our bodies, where we can find it in our food, and when we might want to consider supplementation.   

You have probably heard of iodized salt – salt that has had iodine added in – but do you know why iodine is added or where iodine comes from? Let’s explore these questions together. Along the way, we will learn a bit more about thyroids, who is at risk for iodine deficiency, what the research says about taking extra iodine, and how much iodine we need.

Copper is another trace metal that is essential to life. This is the same copper you would see in home decor, jewelry, and wiring. In the body, it plays roles in energy production; iron metabolism; bone, tooth, and connective tissue formation; nervous system function; and oxidative stress.

Chromium, like all minerals, is found in the Earth’s crust where it makes its way into plants and then animals. Unlike vitamins, minerals are not created by living organisms, but like vitamins, minerals are essential for life. Chromium is a trace metal that our bodies seemingly use to aid insulin in moving glucose from our blood into our cells for the creation of energy.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body. We store most (~99%) of it in our bones and teeth as hydroxyapatite, a large molecule that combines calcium, phosphorus, and oxygen.

The remaining small amount circulates through our body. This circulating calcium plays many important roles, including constricting or relaxing our blood vessels, sending nerve impulses, contracting and relaxing our muscles, and releasing hormones like insulin when they are needed. Calcium even plays several key roles in our blood clotting along with Vitamin K!

Unfortunately, calcium is a nutrient of concern with a significant portion of our population not eating enough.

B12 is the last of our water-soluble B-complex vitamins. It plays many important roles and is closely connected to the actions of folate. It is a large and complex molecule that requires a well-functioning digestive system for absorption and is commonly deficient in those over 60 due to a natural decline in digestive function. Low vitamin B12 levels have been associated with several different diseases.

Folate plays many very important roles in the development of our nervous system, in the regulation of our DNA, the creation of our blood cells, and so much more. Let’s learn more about this nutrient of concern!

Biotin for hair and nails? Not so fast. Biotin is a necessary nutrient for many biological processes including fetal development and the regulation of our DNA, but those hair and nail supplements are just a great marketing trick. Dive in to learn more about B7.

Necessary for over 100 different body processes, vitamin B6 is especially important in protein metabolism. (1) This week, we will look at this vitamin to investigate its role in our health, diseases, and how we can find this key nutrient in our food.