Orthomolecular therapy is also called orthomolecular medicine or orthomolecular nutrition. It constitutes an important tool in functional nutrition and in complementing medical work.
Origin of the term “orthomolecular”
The term “orthomolecular” was first used by Linus Pauling in an article published in the journal Orthomolecular Psychiatry in 1968. He wrote, for example, about the fact that the level of certain molecules in the brain is not ideal, even when the blood level is normal.
Orthomolecular means “the exact molecules in the right amount”. To correct the body’s molecules it will be necessary to offer it the parts of which it is made up, in the right amounts to reach optimal levels. Orthomolecular medicine/nutrition/therapy, therefore, consists of preservation health and disease treatment by altering the concentration of substances normally present in the human body and which are indispensable to health: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, enzymes, pre and probiotics – whatever is appropriate in each case
Reasons for using orthomolecular therapy:
1 – Food very deficient in some nutrients, which can lead to serious clinical conditions related to the missing element.
2 – Food with a marginal or minimal deficiency in multiple nutrients. In this case, there is a synergy of negative effects that can create chronic, ill-defined clinical pictures, with dysfunctions or lower profitability of various organs or systems. These alterations may be difficult to relate to nutritional deficiencies, if a less careful approach is taken.
3 – Genetic characteristics of a person may imply the need to ingest very high amounts of a certain nutrient or group of nutrients to avoid or limit the genetic expression of a pathological tendency.
Vitamin and mineral intake recommendations are set for healthy groups of people. These are average values sufficient to cover the needs of 97-98% of people in a healthy group.
And the other 2-3%? What if the individual is not healthy? What if I don’t just want to have the minimum level of nutrients but the optimal level? What if there is a polymorphism that conditions a greater need? What if my lifestyle conditions greater or lesser needs?
Because of these reasons and many more, Functional Nutrition, Nutrigenetics and Orthomolecular Nutrition are the best approach to prevent, treat and maintain optimal health.
Examples:
Supplementation with high doses of vitamin D, after verified vitamin deficiency.
Supplementation with antioxidants after evaluating the antioxidant potential and the production of free radicals.
Supplementation with omega 3 in cases of chronic and silent inflammation, after checking the fatty acids in the erythrocyte membrane.
Diagnostic exams are necessary to define which strategy to adopt: physical exam and screening for symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, genetic tests, quantification of metals, quantification of fatty acids, assessment of oxidative stress, study of intestinal flora, food intolerance, blood analyzes of nutrients and other parameters of interest, …
If we are all different, the diet that someone else eats may be completely inadvisable for you, as well as the supplements you use.
EsmeraldAzul – for a healthy, conscious and sustainable life.
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