Thursday, July 11, 2013

Vitamins for Cows?

When our kids were young we visited a dairy farm as part of a farm bureau day. As we watched, the farmer shoveled piles of grain (probably all corn) in front of cows whose heads poked through a kind of fence. Then he piled some white powder on top of the grain. Joel asked about the powder and the farmer explained that it was a mixture of 43 vitamins and minerals that the cows needed in order to produce milk. Seemed reasonable until someone asked why they needed more vitamins and minerals. The “official” answer was a short, mumbled response. Then, we moved on to the next display or demonstration. Here’s a link to a more detailed story about this incident. http://www.thecompounder.com/your-health/detox


Sidebar: Grains (corn in particular) are not the normal diet for cows. They eat grass and the shift to cheaper grain is also part of the reason they need to add vitamins and minerals.

Over the years I've often contemplated that exchange and I came to a simple conclusion. The grain did not provide all of the nutrients the cows needed to make milk. It had been removed from the land over the years, probably by inappropriate planting and fertilization. This was in a time when it had become rare for farms to actually rotate crops, which helped return nutrients that had been depleted by previous crops. But, what about the fertilizers the farmers applied? They are basically combinations of nitrogen and phosphate and zinc. Those additions made the corn grow but do nothing to make it as nutritious as possible - no magnesium, manganese, selenium, copper, iron, and so on. Minerals normally found in soil, once lost, were not replaced. The grain from those fields was deficient and not enough to allow the cows to make milk. That’s why the farmers had to shovel on a pile of white powder.

Do the dairy products you use come from cows who are fed corn and other grains? Ask if you don't know.

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

A Nurse in Constant Pain.

QUESTION:  I am in constant pain that I cannot function. I am a nurse and am on my feet for 9 hours straight with this pain. If I sit down to rest its worse because getting up is even more painful. Please help me feel better. I asked my doctor for a small amount of pain med thinking it would break the pain cycle but it did not.

LARRY’S REPLY:  It seems you may be in the throes of a systemic inflammatory situation - sometimes referred to as RSD or fibromyalgia. To reduce inflammation takes an effort but the results are worth it.

  • First, eliminate all wheat - other grains too if possible. In itself, going wheat-free can help a lot.
  • Next, ask your doctor about prescribing low dose naltrexone - 3mg, for example. Taken at bedtime, many people who suffer chronic conditions find relief that lasts all day. We sell it to people who are suffering symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, psoriasis, arthritis, and practically any condition associated with the immune system and inflammation.


Nobody is certain of how LDN works; just that it seems very effective for a large percentage of people with chronic conditions. Dr. Bernard Bhari observed the effectiveness of this drug – referred to as LDN – many years ago and once told me that he can't think of any reason to not prescribe a trial of it to anyone suffering from chronic health situations. The dose is low and there are very few side effects or interactions – the most prominent interaction is with opioids (narcotics).



Of course, there are other things to consider, but these two can likely give you some of the relief you're seeking.