Wow Pat! I never knew how much this list needed you until you arrived! The
voice of prudence and reason and overall whatdoyoucallit...
>...for instance, that normal calcium values in the biochem. SMAC tests are
>meaningless as to bone health. That the CBC (complete blood count) test(with
>hematocrit and hemoglobin often desperately low with beginning vegetarians)
>and stucture and percentage of various blood cell constitutients,and
>urinalysis tests to see if abnormal crystals are present, could save serious
>but unnecessary mis-steps, even physically and monetarialy expensive
>hospitalization, as has happened to two young people, children of friends of
>mine.
How to interpet blood tests? Talk about about a can-o-worms!! Can I ask
you, Pat, about one of those worms?
In _Native_Nutrition_ by Ronald Schmid, ND (Healing Arts Press), the author
(who I respect immensely) mentions Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) as
an overall measure of metabolic health, claiming that the normal
sedimentation rate for men is up to 10mm/hour and 20mm/hour for women. He
says it is elevated in immune system disorders and also, often, in a nromal
pregnancy--all of which two MD's have confirmed to me. But he goes on to
claim that the ESR "in very healthy people" can approach zero, and has
consistantly seen readings of between zero and 1 in "healthy people",
noting that the blood may be thin in endurance exercisers but that the ESR
will remain very low if the are properly nourished (lots of RAF/seafood and
veggies is his version of properly nourished).
Have you heard anything similar or dis-similar regarding the interpretation
of ESR levels?
>I feel the need to warn Bob of his perhaps offhand and overstated remark :
You and me both! Thank you for calling him on it!
>I was also trained, as a lifeguard, not to dive into unknown
>water---submerged rocks could really ruin your day.
Wisdom speaks louder than words! Perhaps you are our resident raw-food
lifeguard! Keep us honest and humble. (Plato would be proud! ;))
Cheers,
Kirt
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