John Arts - Natural health researcher John Arts is a natural health researcher and supplement formulator. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John on 0800 423 559 or join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz.

Most contact me because they have some sort of health problem.
The first thing we discuss is the person's health history leading to their current situation. This will of course include discussion on medical treatments and any other treatments.

We then put together a programme based on healthy eating and in most cases appropriate supplementation designed to support various body processes.
Invariably we start the programme with a more intensive period. This could be from one to six months and is designed to kick start healing processes that are either damaged or dormant. In some cases the intensive period is essential as maintenance programmes are often unable to get the body systems to start working again. It is a bit like a swimming pool that has lost its chemical balance. What is needed is a shock dose to restore the water quality. So too for the body – it sometimes needs higher doses to get things to start to work again before tapering down to maintenance levels.
For example, if someone has large joint osteoarthritis such as knees, hips and spine we start a stepped nutrient programme. Depending on a person's weight and other circumstances we may start with 6000mg of fish oil, 3000mg of glucosamine, 1500mg of MSM and a high dose antioxidant and anti-inflammatory booster. This will normally get a response within a few months. As the person improves we would slowly reduce the glucosamine and MSM and move to a more maintenance level of antioxidants, minerals and fish oils. This approach works well for most chronic problems.
Some health problems need permanently higher nutrient intake and these would include people with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Type 2 Diabetes likewise demands higher nutrient levels because the disease process itself consumes much higher levels of nutrients. Type 2 Diabetes is both inflammatory and oxidative creating much higher demand for antioxidants, vitamins and trace minerals.
If you do have health problems it is well worth considering a monitored nutrient programme that starts more intensively as this just may be the way for you to get real benefits in the shortest time. The key though is to start with the range and types of nutrients that can actually make a difference.

John Arts is a natural health commentator and researcher. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John at john@johnarts.co.nz or phone 07 578 9051 or 0800 423 559. You can join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz Read more from John at www.sunlive.co.nz