Health | Personal Trainer San Diego / North County

Healing Osteopenia and Osteoporosis the natural way

Mar 5 2021

Weak Mind equals a Weak Body:
This post chronicles my wife’s health journey from the brink of destruction back to health utilizing natural remedies and smart training principles.

By Julia Turk:
My 33rd birthday was difficult to celebrate. I remember thinking, how could I enjoy my life when my body felt 93 years old? Everything in my body ached; I felt delicate, as if I could snap with a twist in the wrong direction or speed.

One of the hardest parts was watching my thick hair fall out in clumps; my health issues were so severe it became a real problem for our condos plumbing system.

After getting some blood tests and a bone scan, (John had to convince the doctor to do this because he felt I was too young to have porous bones, even though I had low back pain and a family history of osteoporosis. ) The bone scan revealed I had Osteopenia in my spine and hips; I was sent home with a prescription reserved for someone more than twice my age. As soon as I started this regimen, I felt even WORSE; every one of my joints ached, especially my jaw.

When my husband researched this further, he discovered that a ‘rotting of the jaw-bone’ was a common side effect for individuals taking this medication for long periods of time.

John is a passionate health professional who took my health very personal. He wanted to help me navigate the kind of healing that would work with my body, not against it. John warned doing things his way would not be as ‘easy’ as taking a pill; it would require a change of bad habits and mind-sets that had gotten me in this mess to begin with.

You see, I was a swimwear model and in order to maintain my figure (and keep working) I adopted a harsh exercise regimen and adhered to a strict diet that got me instant results. But this ‘stay skinny’ diet was not supporting muscle growth, bone strength, mental or organ health. Although this served me well cosmetically, it destroyed my vibrant, youthful foundation.

By the time I was thirty-three, I was devoid of energy, had a hard time concentrating, was an emotional wreck and couldn’t sleep through the night. My body was rebelling from my caffeine fueled nights and nutrient-deficient low calorie diet. I had pushed the poor thing into over-drive.

My doctor recommended I gain twenty pounds (to build bone density) and continue taking that disastrous pill along with calcium supplements.

Gaining twenty pounds on my four-foot eleven frame? I trembled at the mere thought.

My husband hugged me, promising he would help find a better way. A couple of days later, his genius intervened with a holistic and creative plan. We would ‘trick’ my body into believing it had ‘gained’ weight by wearing a weighted vest (20lbs), cleaning, doing chores and going up and down the stairs with it on. I honestly thought this would make my fragile frame feel as if it would break, but it did not! In fact, wearing the vest had the opposite effect. I always felt BETTER whenever I did.

This was the beginning of me feeling hopeful that change could happen.

I refused to gain the weight but obeyed the doctor’s orders to take Calcium Citrate pills. Strangely, every time my calcium levels were tested, we discovered my body was not absorbing any of it; my levels had not budged.

The truth was, my body needed to receive calcium though sources it would recognize, which was in actual food. I began incorporating Greek Yogurt which contained calcium as well as probiotics to aid digestion. I added Magnesium Glycinate, Phosphorus and Boron which aids calcium absorption.

Since I love vegetables and was eating a lot of spinach at the time, John had me squeeze a lemon over my leafy greens, this would neutralize the oxalic acid in the spinach, which can bind with iron and calcium, preventing their absorption. My doctor diagnosed me with low levels of vitamin D and placed me on a super-large dose of it one time a week. In order not to overtax my system, John lowered the amount but switched the frequency of my vitamin D dosage to every day.

My husband encouraged me to take weight barring activities more seriously (safe and effective heavy weight-lifting) not for esthetic purposes but to ‘stress my axial skeleton and hips’ and trigger the body’s natural response of laying down more bone. Heavy weight training was something I’ve always hesitated to embrace, for I’m naturally drawn to a more svelte, lithe esthetic. Muscle is something I’ve always seen as beautiful trait reserved for manly men but in order for me to heal, I needed to re-frame that thought. The truth is muscle shapes the body into its beautiful form. It is the foundation of a healthy figure, longevity, metabolism and a healthy immune system in both males and females.

I began to pause and truly reflect about everything I took into my body. John stressed that it wasn’t so much what we added to my diet but what we removed that was most important. I began to ask myself the hard questions…what is the purpose of this food? Will it build or will it destroy? With this in mind, I knew my Diet Coke habit had to go. One of the ingredients in most diet sodas is phosphoric acid; this corrupts the balance of phosphorus in the body which in turn, upset the body’s delicate calcium levels.

It was vital for me to replace this damaging habit with something life-giving. I began drinking hot lemon water, which was great for my nerves, kidneys and bones! Lemon water is known to cleanse the kidneys which also plays a vital role in calcium balance along with the parathyroid gland. If the kidneys are hampered, the amount of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D you absorb may be thrown off. Parsley is also a great kidney cleanser. On a side note, hot lemon water is great for dissolving and preventing kidney stones.

Another facet to regaining my health has been prioritizing my sleep and stress levels. The truth is, I cannot afford the damaging ‘cortisol surge’ of not attending to my care in this way. I am learning (with the help of the Holy Spirit,) to move not out of fear or obligation but with peace and discernment. God is helping me to give up the habit of ‘people pleasing’ by adopting a lifestyle of peace. This means I must say no to things I might enjoy in the moment but might overtax my schedule. Life isn’t about cramming a bunch of frantic moments in. It’s about being happy and present. I am learning to honor the way my nervous system works and give myself the time I need to truly relax and enjoy. I am giving myself the grace to learn a new way of seeing and experiencing life.

My greatest struggle has always been Trust. Early in my life, I learned if I was not in control, things fell apart. For a while, this helped me…until that way of thinking almost destroyed me.

I had to ask myself some more hard questions: Do I think all I have to offer the world is being skinny? Is my ultimate desire to be skinny? Skeletons are skinny…

What I really wanted was to be healthy, vibrant, thoughtful and beautiful.

Asking these questions prompted me to re-define what beauty was to me: Today I believe beauty is not about being that ‘perfect weight’. It’s about being fully confident, satisfied in the present moment, enjoying healthy skin, hair and teeth. It’s about having youthful posture, stamina, strength and flexible movement. It’s about embracing the imperfect ways I connect with others; when I’m healthy I can be funny, compassionate and empathetic. When I am not healthy, I only think about myself and what I am missing out on.

None of those aspects of beauty can be embodied if I am too focused on my weight being ‘perfect’. This reduces the quality of my existence, creating a shallow and closed-off world I don’t enjoy living in. It creates a hell on earth.

When John wanted to change my diet, I struggled hard with letting go of what I knew because I was so used to my contemporaries (other models and some “friends”) attempting to sabotage my success. I wasn’t used to having someone truly having my back.

In the end, I had to ask myself, Do I really believe my loving husband would risk his professional reputation (and our marriage) in order to make me fat? When I put it this way, it made no sense to my logical mind, but it was my damaged emotional history that was trying to get me to see things through a broken lens.

The truth is, God has provided amazing resources! People who love me that are far more learned in the area of health and longevity. (I did not go to school for nutrition or exercise!) Wisdom is accepting you don’t know it all. Having the humility to accept this and then the faith to lean on the right people takes courage. God did not create us to heal alone; for we do better when we are supported by people (and professionals) worthy of our trust.

My advice for anyone going through health issues:

1. Take responsibility for your current state for YOU are the only one who has the power to
change your life.

2. Work through your issues by fearlessly FACING the truth. This shift will help you move past your ‘blockages’ and into greater success.

3. Hire trusted professionals aligned with your values.

4. Give yourself grace to embrace the positive changes (that feel uncomfortable).

5. Relax and trust the process.

6. Keep your eye on the end goal. This is not about perfection but longevity and harmony of mind, body and spirit.

7. Celebrate small victories (which will add up to something amazing).

Remember, life is a series of moments. Be present! Enjoy the journey. If you don’t, you are choosing to waste your life.

Hugs from your fellow health warrior,

Jules

*I thank God every day for John Turk; not only is he an amazing husband but I truly believe that leaning on his wisdom saved my life.

For more encouragement, please check out my website:
www.AbbasHeart.net

Look younger, feel better and lose weight!

Jun 15 2019

Look younger, feel better and lose weight….

I recently noticed my vision was getting worse. Discouraged by this new symptom of getting older, I reluctantly made an appointment with my optometrist. After my exam was finished, the doctor looked puzzled.

Interesting…your eyes are not getting worse, John. In fact, they’re better. Your prescription is too strong and that’s why your glasses no longer work for you.”

“What? How?” I thought she was joking.

She smiled and said, I haven’t got a clue but whatever you’re doing…keep doing it.

A few months prior, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Pseudogout or medically known as Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPDD). The symptoms are similar to regular gout except there’s no medicine for it, no cure or even a prescribed diet. Every Google search landed me in an ugly place.

I basically learned this disease will eventually destroy all your joints. The medical community knows little about it and most who are diagnosed are doomed to the joys of joint replacements.

I noticed my pain started in my bad knee and slowly moved to other joints. Many people who have this condition go for years without a diagnosis because it requires aspirating the ailing joint, looking out for Calcium Pyrophosphate Crystals. Pseudogout, an autoimmune disorder, is a form of arthritis. I’ve suffered from this condition for over ten years but I was not properly diagnosed until this past March. My father suffered from Psoriatic arthritis and my sister has M.S. So there seems to be autoimmune issues within my bloodline.

I decided to find out everything I could regarding this disease. But, I knew the most important thing I could do was not claim the disease in the first place.

I eat really well, exercise…I don’t drink… smoke… do drugs…even my lifestyle supports a low stress levels! I had a hard time understanding how this could be happening.

I decided to look at the habits I could control and the first thing that came to mind was my diet—it’s an ‘activity’ I do at least three times a day, so it’s something crucial to consider. I took a good hard look at what I ate and began to cut out all sugar (even fruit) and starchy carbs (rooted veggies). I was basically doing my variation of the keto diet, which includes green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.

Unlike a true keto diet, I still eat a large quantity of protein each day and this does not follow the ketosis protocol. I eat about 1.5-2.0 grams of protein per of pound of body weight. I eat more than most because I’m passionate about building and maintaining muscle. Through trial and error, I’ve discovered what protein requirement works best for me. Muscle is, in my opinion, the fountain youth!

If you’re the type of person not interested in putting on muscle, eating between .09-1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight is fine. If you suffer from chronic kidney disease you will need to follow your doctors recommendations.

In my plan, I only eat organic chicken and trout for my protein. My fats consist of avocado, organic butter, heavy cream, flaxseeds and Brazil nuts (there’s also a lot of omega 3 fish oil from the 10 oz. of trout I eat on a daily basis.)

My smoothie from heaven:
I feel a huge part of my healing process was the daily smoothie I make. Not only did it calm the inflammation in my joints but…I lost weight!

I believe this smoothie contributed to my vision correcting itself and turning back time. If this power-packed drink is rejuvenating my eyes, what else is it doing to the inside of me.

Preparing this drink is time consuming and the taste is something I’ve gotten used to. If the taste is too strong cut back on the ginger or turmeric. To help with time, I blend enough for two days, put the remainder in the refrigerator (still in the blender cup) so it’s ready to go. All the veggies are chopped ahead of time and placed in the freezer. I chop enough for approximately five to six smoothies.

Our world is consumed with quick fixes… popping pills and cosmetic procedures but I believe in prevention through diet, exercise and good hygiene. All of us must invest in something…why not your health? Live without regrets.

I’ve listed my smoothie ingredients below.

NOTE: It’s important to remember that if you are working with a healthcare practitioner such as a doctor, nutritionist, or other holistic or functional medicine doctor, check with them before incorporating this into your daily routine. Many times certain foods can aggravate underlying medical conditions or interact adversely with medications. You should do your own research as well before incorporating anything you read on the Internet. I am putting this out there to let people know what worked for me. Also, this drink is packed with vitamins and minerals. If you are taking vitamins or supplements you risk overdosing.

Frozen Baby kale (Considered the healthiest of all green vegetables)

Frozen Celery – (Detoxifies liver and kidneys and boost fat or lipid metabolism)

Frozen Cucumbers – (high in water, sulfur and silica-both help heal splitting nails and hair)

Frozen Parsley – (Detoxes kidney and blood- good when made into a tea as well)

Ground flaxseed- 3 Tbsp. (Great healthy fats)

Chlorella- ½ Teaspoon or label instructions (Green algae. Oxygenates the body and helps heal)

Spirulina- ½ Teaspoon – (Blue / Green algae and considered the most perfect food)

Lemon- 1 whole- increases the amount of citrate in the urine to inhibit kidney stones. Also aids in absorption of green veggies by neutralizing oxalic acid -aka oxalates.

Ginger root- 2 inch stalk or bulb (Great for inflammation and soothing the stomach) In the photo below, Ginger is on the right.

Turmeric- 1 inch stalk (Great for inflammation and combating cancer) In the above photo Turmeric is on the left.

I also add a natural organic sweeter called Sweet leaf Stevia. I put 4 packets in.

“Re-mineralized” RO water-12 oz. (Reverse Osmosis) -What more can you say about pure water.

Then I blend it up with a “vita-mix” blender. Viola’:

The order in which I place the food items in the blender is important for it to mix thoroughly. If not done correctly, the smaller particles will get stuck in the bottom.

I place them in this order:

Celery

Cucumbers

Parsley

Baby kale

Chopped lemons

Ginger and turmeric

Chlorella & Spirulina

Flaxseed

Stevia

Add hot water to 1/2 the blender and let it sit for 2 mins so the frozen items loosen up. Then add cold water or room temperature depending on how cold you want it.

NOTE:

For those of you that may suffer from a heart condition called “Atrial Fibrillation”. Studies have shown that drinking frozen or cold drinks may trigger this condition. As the cold liquid passes through the esophagus, it comes in close proximity of the cardiac parasympathetic nerve. Read more about it at the link below. What can be even far more symptomatic is ingesting the cold liquid after exercise when your body is already heated up. This is usually when most people drink smoothies-immediately after exercise. This is why I bring it up.

Cold drinks causing Atrial Fibrillation

The best time to drink a smoothie like this is immediately after a brief “fast” (like intermittent fasting). I fast for 12 hours a day and break my fast with this. Your digestive absorption is at its best at your first meal after a fast. Drink this slowly. Eating too much, too fast and having cold liquid can disrupt the digestive process.

The entire purpose of my green drink is to combat inflammation and fill my body with oxygen and cleansing foods for the kidneys, liver and gut. Once the liver and kidneys are healthy along with your gut micro biome (Flora) the body can begin to heal.

I was drinking my green drink for two months prior to my eyes getting examined. I also cut out all sugars and I believe my elimination diet combined with my green drink is what improved my eyesight as well as alleviated 90% of my Pseudogout symptoms (I was told that CPDD was near impossible to cure or improve). All of this happened in a mere two months.

My wife also mentioned another obvious perk–my grey hair has diminished. Only time will tell what other health benefits I will incur; in the meantime, don’t expect me to give up my ‘Green Machine!’

Hope it blesses you like it did for me.

John Turk