By Kyle J. Norton
endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also
reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up
tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period.
Besides conventional medical treatment, nutritional supplements also
play an important role in treating endometriosis. In this article, we
will discuss the relationship between minerals and women with
endometriosis.
A. Zinc
1. Definition
Zinc is a chemical with the symbol Zn and with the atomic number of 30.
It is found in over 200 of the body's enzymes and included in most
single tablet over-the-counter daily vitamins and mineral supplements.
It is said to have an antioxidant property that helps to protect
premature
aging of skin and muscles.
II. How zinc affects women with endometriosis
1. Immune system
Since Zn helps in protein and fatty acid metabolism resulting in
strengthening the function of the liver and white blood cells in the
body which help to protect against the accumulation of toxins as well as
improving the ability of the immune system in fighting against all
kinds of invasion such as virus, bacteria, endometrial implants, and
adhesion.
2. Nervous system
As we mentioned above, Zn plays an important role in protein and fatty
acid metabolism which provide essential elements for our brain to
function better resulting in reducing symptoms of endometriosis such as
headache, irritation, and
anxiety.
3. Hormone balancing
Since Zn helps in fatty acid metabolism, it balances the hormones of the protagslandins
family
which control the muscles in the uterus. Deficiency of zinc causes
over-production of certain protagslandins hormones resulting in
menstrual cramps.
4. Circulatory system
Besides protecting other systems in the body, Zn helps to reduce the
levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood stream resulting in
fatty acid metabolism. Deficiency of Zn increases the risk of
heart disease and stroke as well as blood stagnation causing endometrial pains.
5. Relationship with vitamin A and E
Deficiency of Zn interferes with the functioning of vitamin A and E metabolism, such as:
a) Decreasing the synthesis of retinol binding protein.
b) Decreasing the activity of liver in releasing of retinyl palmitate.
c) Causing Acne
6. Relationship with magnesium and calcium
Healthy levels of zinc, magnesium, and calcium helps to strengthen the
bone density and hormone balancing which are necessary for women with
endometriosis.
B. Iron
I. Definition
Iron is a mineral with the chemical symbol Fe and atomic number of 26.
Even though it only represents a tiny percentage in our body, it plays
important roles in maintaining our body's functions with other minerals
such as zinc, magnesium, calcium, and copper. Deficiency of iron causes a
variety of diseases while overdose of iron is toxic to our body.
II. How iron affects women with endometriosis
1. Red blood cells
Red blood cells is essential for circulation system. Women with
endometriosis are found to have iron deficiency caused by heavy blood
flow during menstruation or by the inability of the digestive absorption
leading to anemia and symptoms of endometriosis such as fatigue, loss
of memory, confusion, and dizziness as a resulting of circulation
disorder.
2. Immune system
Immune system helps to fight against the invasion of virus, bacteria,
formation of endometrial implants and adhesion. Deficiency of iron
causes the inability of our blood to transport the necessary nutrients
to our body's cells leading to a weakened immune system.
3. Nervous system
Since protein synthesis and fat metabolism by liver provide the
necessary nutrients to our brain for regulating our body's daily
functions. Iron increases the production of red blood cells which is
vital for nutrient transportation in our bloodstream and helps to
nourish a strong nervous system. Without enough iron, it causes tension
in the nervous system resulting in endometrial symptoms.
4. Digestive system
Since iron is hard to absorb for our digestive system, study shows that
only 10% of iron supplements are absorbed and may be even lower for
women with endometriosis. Intake with vitamin C will help to increase
the level of absorption by 30%.
C. Selenium
I. Definition
Selenium (Se) was discovered in 1817 by Jon Jakob Berzelius. It is a
chemical element with the chemical number of 34 and atomic mass of
78.96. It is necessary for cellular function in our body for reducing
certain oxidized molecules.
II. How selenium affects women with endometriosis
Selenium is a very important trace element for our body. Too little
selenium or too large an amount of selenium can result in certain types
of disease, therefore if you want to take selenium supplements, it is
for your own good to talk to your doctor first.
1. Immune system
Selenium is an antioxidant. When it works with vitamin E, it helps to
improve the immune system in fighting against abnormal cell development
such as endometriosis implants and adhesion, oxidation of fat, and
cancer.
2. Menstrual cramps
Selenium is necessary for a strong liver to ensure the secretion of bile
to the intestine for protein and fat metabolism, which are essential
for our brain cells. Deficiency of selenium causes brain cell inability
to perform their function resulting in weakening the signal transmitting
for hormonal production which regulates the woman's menstrual cycle
leading to menstrual cramps.
3. Nervous and circulation systems
Since we already know that selenium is vital for our brain cell to carry
daily activities, deficiency of selenium causes depletion of oxygen
levels in our blood as well as blocking the transportation of nutrients
to our body's cells as resulting of high levels of bad cholesterol in
our blood leading to symptoms of endometriosis, heart diseases, and
stroke.
4. Respiratory system
Some researchers have suggested that selenium supplementation, along
with other nutrients, can help prevent the recurrence of certain lung
diseases and improve the lung. If it is true, then it is important for
women with endometriosis, because a strong lung helps the bloodstream to
absorb more oxygen which is vital for our body's cells to perform daily
functions.
High levels of selenium in the body may cause kidney disease and
arthritis
D. Magnesium
I. Definition
Magnesium (Mg) is a trace mineral and has an atomic number of 32. Women
with endometriosis were found to have low levels of magnesium during the
menstrual cycle, causing symptoms of endometriosis and menstrual
cramps. Please make sure to take magnesium together with vitamin C for
better digestive absorption and the intake ratio of magnesium and
calcium should always be 1 to 2.
II. How magnesium effects women with endometriosis.
1. Abnormal cell development
Deficiency of magnesium decreases the ability of DNA and RNA synthesis
in the body leading to cell abnormality, such as peritoneal cells
growing into endometrial cells in the abdomen.
2. Protagslandins hormones
Magnesium is essential for for liver to balance the protagslandins
hormones that control the uterine muscles during the menstrual cycle.
Deficiency of magnesium causes the over-production of certain hormones
in the prostaglandins
family resulting in pre-menstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps for women with endometriosis.
3. Nervous system
Deficiency of magnesium decreases the carbohydrate, protein and fat
metabolism of the liver leading to nutrient deficiency of nerve cells.
Without enough nutrients for the nervous system it causes symptoms of
endometriosis such as
anxiety, and
depression as resulting of nervous system tensions.
4. Estrogen
Since magnesium helps in synthesis of protein and fat, it helps the
liver to produce good estrogen which keeps the levels of bad estrogen in
check resulting in lessening the levels of period pain and menstrual
cramps.
5. Circulation system
Magnesium also plays an important role in lowering the levels of bad
cholesterol in the arteries which helps to increase the blood
circulation of oxygen and the carrying of nutrients to the body's brain
cells. This helps to reduce tension of the nervous system and decreases
the risk of heart diseases and stroke.
E. Calcium
I. Definition
Calcium (Ca) is a trace mineral with the chemical number 32. Besides
playing an important role in building stronger, denser bones early in
life and keeping bones strong and healthy later in life, it also helps
to strengthen the immune system through cell division, and regulates
cell growth and muscle tone.
II. How Calcium effects women with endometriosis.
Women with endometriosis are found to have low levels of calcium 10 days
before menstruation because of the unbalancing of levels of magnesium
or inability of digestive absorption.
1. Immune system
Since calcium is vital for cell physiology, it helps to strengthen the
communication of cells through waves of calcium and other small
molecules to cells hundreds of micrometers away, which is essential for
the function of the immune system.
2. Cell growth
Since calcium is vital for cell division, the right levels of calcium
helps to maintain healthy cell growth and avoid cell abnormality such as
some peritoneal cells developing into endometrial cells in the abdomen.
3. Nervous system
The strong bond between cells in the body through waves of calcium helps
to strengthen the functions of cells in the nervous system which
decrease the risk of nervous tension resulting in symptoms of
endometriosis. Deficiency of calcium weakens the communication process
leading to confusion, memory loss, and
depression
4. Menstrual cramps
Calcium is needed to maintain the uterine muscle's tone. Deficiency of
calcium cause hyperactive muscles, including in the uterine muscles.
5. Coagulation
Since blood clotting requires the proteins made in the liver, calcium,
vitamin K and platelets together with substances released from damaged
tissue, deficiency of calcium causes heavy bleeding for women with
endometriosis.
F. Potassium
I. Definition
Potassium(K) is a trace mineral with the chemical number 19. It occurs
only as an ionic salt in nature and reacts violently with water. It is
an important mineral for women with endometriosis because deficiency and
incorrect ratio with sodium can interfere with the reproductive
system's functions during the menstrual cycle.
II. How potassium affects women with endometriosis
I. Hormone imbalance
Potassium plays a vital role in regulating muscle tone including the
uterine muscle, deficiency of potassium causes over-production of
certain protagslandins members in the protagslandins
family leading to over-active uterine muscles and severe endometrial menstrual cramps.
II. Menstrual cramps
Deficiency of potassium reduces the liver's function of balancing the
levels of fatty acids which are essential for building a normal muscle
tone and regulate certain hormones during the menstrual cycle which
causes menstrual pain.
III. Immune system
Potassium is essential in protein and fat metabolism. Without enough
potassium, our liver cannot secrete bile to form good cholesterol to
bind the bad cholesterol in the bloodstream, leading to malnutrition of
cells in the body which reduces the ability of cells in fighting against
the forming of free radicals, including endometrial implants and
adhesion.
IV. Nervous system
Deficiency of potassium reduces the process of passing
nutrition
through the cell including the cells in the nervous system leading to
tension of nervous system which causes a variety of symptoms of
endometriosis such as memory loss, confusion, and
anxiety.
V. Maintain fluid balancing
Distortion or depletion of levels of potassium reduces the ability to
maintain fluid balance in the body causing water and salt retention, and
other symptoms.
Since endometriosis is treatable and manageable by natural remedies and a
self help course, if you have endometroisis, please look at the bright side.
I hope this information will help. If you need more information or
insurance advice, please follow my article series of the above subject at my home page at:
http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com
To read the series of endometriosis visit:
http://endometriosisa.blogspot.com
