| I was talking with a good friend the other day | | | | Step 3: |
| about a knee complaint her 12-year-old son was | | | | Use this "magic formula" recipe daily: |
| having after starting to run Cross Country for the | | | | 8-16 oz of orange juice |
| first time. She said, "I need help." Her son was | | | | 1 scoop of Grapefruit pectin powder |
| already very athletic, playing competitive travel | | | | 1 tablespoon of lecithin |
| baseball, as well as middle school baseball. He did | | | | 1 teaspoon of royal bee jelly |
| plyometric training three times per week as well | | | | 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil with lignin |
| and did moderate (low weight) strength training in | | | | 1 tablespoon of bee pollen |
| the gym. Basically, he was very fit and in shape. | | | | This recipe has a fruity/nutty flavor with the |
| So he was asking, "Why me?" Why was he | | | | consistency of a smoothie. It has a |
| having pain? | | | | multi-dimensional benefit in that it can be used as |
| Of course, pounding the pavement is hard on | | | | a meal replacement to help you lose body fat, |
| even the youngest, best, knees but it seemed | | | | build collagen, and emulsify the fat; thus, keep the |
| like there must be something else at play as well. | | | | arteries clean and clear. And it is good for your |
| I didn't quite understand why a young athlete, in | | | | heart as well as your respiratory system! |
| this top physical condition, would be having such | | | | Step 4: |
| discomfort so early into this new activity. I | | | | Be thankful and realize that while you - or |
| started digging into his medical history to see if I | | | | someone you love - is dealing with a very real |
| could find a way to help him. | | | | physical disease, mental state is crucial in living |
| Throughout the course of conversation, we found | | | | with - and triumphing over - it. |
| the key. My friend happened to mention that her | | | | Luckily, my friend's son already had this part |
| son had been diagnosed with the mildest form of | | | | down. He understood the power of the mind and |
| Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Class III) when he was | | | | could tick off in a second, several reasons why he |
| 9. Ehlers-Danlos is made up of a group of | | | | was actually thankful he had this disease. This was |
| syndromes of varying degrees but all generally | | | | more than the power of positive thinking, he |
| classified as collagen-deficient connective tissue | | | | developed a full personal development plan and |
| disorders at some level. The manifestations of | | | | then executed it with commitment and dedication. |
| Ehlers-Danlos are easy bruising, joint hypermobility | | | | I attribute that a lot to his mom who was |
| (loose joints), skin that stretches easily (skin | | | | consistently showing him how the disease actually |
| hyperelasticity or laxity), and weakness of tissues. | | | | made him better at the things he did. For |
| Even though my friend's son was very fit already, | | | | example, he was a starting first baseman on both |
| it was likely the manifestations of even his mild | | | | middle school and competitive travel ball teams. |
| form of Ehler's-Danlos that were creating his knee | | | | The extreme flexibility caused by his Ehlers-Danlos |
| pain symptoms! Once we had put this connection | | | | meant he had the immense ability to stretch into |
| together, I immediately went to work on a plan | | | | complete splits - in every direction - to make the |
| using my knowledge of nutraceuticals and body | | | | play. As a result, he had become known as the |
| dynamics. We came up with 3 simple things (plus | | | | "best first baseman in his age group" in a |
| one he was already doing and we just needed to | | | | tri-county area. |
| reinforce it) to help overcome this knee pain. | | | | The message behind all this is that when you - or |
| Step 1: | | | | your loved is faced with a "life-altering" illness or |
| Everyone with this disease - or any kind of joint | | | | disease, remember that attitude is a huge part of |
| muscle pain - should be on baxyl which is far | | | | dealing with it. Everything in life isperfect and is |
| superior to glucosamine-condroitin-msm complex. | | | | happening for a reason to serve you in your life in |
| Step 2: | | | | some way. If you spend a little time/effort |
| Everyone should also take a multi-vitamin | | | | seeking how you (or they) are being served - in a |
| multi-mineral with Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, | | | | positive manner - by this "seemingly-negative" |
| Co-Q10,Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Omega | | | | situation, you will find you are able to triumph |
| fatty acid complex, and Flax Seed with Lignan. | | | | over it with less effort. Add a little good, |
| These all address the life support of your collagen | | | | old-fashioned, effort in the form of taking care of |
| with the added benefit of keeping your arterial | | | | the physical manifestation of your body - right |
| walls pliable and reducing the chances of arterial | | | | along with your spirit - and you can learn to say |
| sclerosis by assisting in the proper breakdown of | | | | "Thank You God" for anything! |
| plaque and cholesterol. | | | | |