Q&A


Q: As I’ve grown older, I’ve started getting muscle cramps. What can I do about them?
~ Peter.

A: Hi Peter,
This is a very good question. The lack of minerals such as magnesium and calcium is the most common problem for muscle cramps. Minerals are essential for the function of our muscles as well as thousands of other processes in our body. If you don’t have enough minerals, you find that your muscles recover more slowly after a work out and get more sore and crampy in general.

One of the reasons may be that you aren’t getting enough minerals from the foods you eat. The best sources are from vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables. Other great sources are from fruits, nuts and seeds, and beans.

Another important factor is that our digestive function decreases as we age. This means that our body isn’t as efficient in digesting and absorbing the nutrients we obtain from our food. So even if you are eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, you may not be absorbing all of their nutrients. A nutritional supplement may be needed to give you the additional amount of minerals that you need. Consult a nutritionally minded doctor or pharmacist for the best form of magnesium and calcium for you.

Q: My 3 year old child has slowly developed diaper rash and another rash on their belly.  I think it’s eczema from milk. How can I be sure? ~ Itchy B.

A: Itchy B.,
First of all, you should go to your pediatrician and have him or her take a look at the rash. It may be eczema, however it may be something more serious and needing immediate treatment. If you suspect that the rash is from milk, the best thing to do is to completely cut out all dairy products for 1-2 months and see if the rash goes away. It might be that your child has milk or other food sensitivities that need to be addressed.

Food sensitivities can lead to long term digestive problems, growth and learning impairments, chronic allergies (sinus pain and infections), weight gain, and fatigue. The best way to diagnose food sensitivities is to get a specialized IgG/ IgE blood test or elimination challenge diet from your doctor.

Q: I’m 24 years old working full time and going to school. With my schedule, I’m hardly able to study, let alone get a full night’s rest. Everyone says you need at least 8 hours of sleep a night. How important is a good night’s sleep?  ~ Mary

A: Dear Mary,
More and more people are sleeping less than 6 hours a night, and mostly due to insomnia. One or two nights with less sleep isn’t a problem, however the bigger concern is chronic sleep loss, which can contribute to health problems such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and lowering your immune system. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch gives some important reasons to prioritize sleep.
  1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later, so it’s better not to pull all-nighters and get your rest.
  2. Aging and repair: Growth hormone is secreted only during sleep. This is your body’s repair mechanism and anti-aging hormone. The less you sleep, the less time your body is able to repair and heal, and the faster you age and degenerate.
  3. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
  4. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat. So with all the stress from work and school, sleep should be your priority, not an afterthought.
  5. Colds and Flu: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s cells that fight off infections. People who have more sleep have less sick days and can get over a cold or flu more quickly.

Answers provided by Dr. Sonja Fung, ND of Live Well Clinic at Point Happy Plaza. If you have a health related question you would like addressed in a future Q & A, please email info@livewellclinic.org.

Live Happy, Live Well.
www.livewellclinic.org.  78900 Avenue 47 Suite 102 La Quinta, CA. 760-771-5970



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