With all of the current nutritional supplements out there today, it is easy to become perplexed about what and how much to use. From homeopathics to vitamins, herbal supplements and tinctures, there is a plethora of products on the health care market today, and it is becoming more complex and confusing. For chiropractors who incorporate nutrition in our practices, the key is knowing the basics on what, when, where, and how much to use in treating the whole person.

Three Steps Toward Nutrition

1. The neurology of the whole person (the hierarchy of health).
2. Systemic nutritional factors (when and where to supplement for optimal results).
3. Pulling it all together with products: glandulars, vitamins/minerals, homeopathics, and herbs.

As chiropractors, we correct neurological imbalance, and many techniques are used to assess and correct these imbalances. All chiropractors handle structural corrections with their particular individual techniques. Some also assess nutritional imbalances in different ways. Applied Kinesiology is one of those ways.

Nutrient Assessment

When looking at the whole person, it becomes apparent that there are optimal times in patient assessment to check certain nutrients. Walter Schmitt, DC, DIBAK, DABCN, has discovered that systemic nutritional factors must be addressed early regardless of presenting symptoms. "These factors are essential for proper healing and have a direct impact on nerve, brain, and immune function, inflammation, energy production, tissue oxygen supply, cartilage, and connective tissue repair."

For maximum benefits and results with patients, it is therefore important to address anti-inflammatory nutrients at the very beginning of the assessment process. It is imperative to clear out the inflammatory processes in the body before addressing any local issues or complaints. If inflammation is present, it will throw up a "smoke screen" and prevent the doctor from getting to the real issue.

After the inflammatory processes are addressed and quieted, it is then necessary to address elevated histamine levels in the body. Allergies increase histamine levels and need to be cleared. If the doctor does allergy-elimination techniques, this would be the point to perform them. If the doctor does not do allergy-elimination techniques, then it would be a good idea to help them with a food rotation and/or elimination diet.

After the allergies are addressed and the histamine is brought down, the next step is to screen for antioxidants. It is very important to keep free radicals in check and to screen for antioxidants at this point in your assessment. At this point, you can go to local issues and adjust the patient. You have effectively dealt with major offending processes before delivering the spinal correction. By addressing nutritional factors early in your assessment, you have increased the likelihood that the patient will hold their correction longer and you have taken an important step in bringing about total and complete wellness.

Nutrients to Reduce Inflammation

Fatty Acids (Omega 3, Omega 6)—fish oil and krill oil are excellent sources of EPA and Omega 3. Blackcurrant seed oil is an excellent source of GLA and Omega 6.

Fatty Acid cofactors for proper assimilation: Vitamin B6, Mg, Zn, Niacin, etc.

In my office, I have found that krill oil works excellent for Omega 3 supplementation, but you can use most any cold-water fish oils (such as tuna, salmon, cod, etc). I have also found that blackcurrant works excellent as an Omega 6 supplement, but the patient may need evening primrose or borage oil. Everyone is different, but I do frequently find the need for the cofactors. I have also found that Mangosteen is a very powerful Cox-2 inhibitor, and I use the Xango product.

Nutrients to Reduce Histamine Levels

A natural antihistamine product that works well is Antronex by Standard Process. It is also important to consider the histamine metabolizing agents, which are folic acid, spleen glandular, quercetin, B6, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, betaine, etc. These can be obtained from Thorne, Nutri-West, or Metagenics.

Nutrients to Reduce Free Radicals

Taurine, taurine cofactors (Mg, folic acid, B12, B6, etc), niacinamide, selenium, E, EFAs, C, quercetin, adrenal nutrients or glandulars, SOD, etc. For these, I use Nutri-West, Thorne, Metagenics, and Standard Process. I also use Xango juice, as it is a very potent antioxidant.

Carl Amodio, DC, is founder and director of Whole Body Health Inc, an Atlanta-based clinic specializing in total health techniques. He is a chiropractic kinesiologist and specializes in nutritional balancing that is individually targeted to each person. Contact him at www.wholebodyhealth.org.