Conventional medicine often does not recognize the early stages and symptoms of
a mineral or vitamin deficiency. Neither does it understand the havoc created
in our bodies by these deficiencies and the many ways they contribute to the
destruction of our health and the part deficiencies play in both our common
and most serious disease states. Scientists and physicians alike may wait until
a state is fully developed before they take action.
If we are to understand the importance of proper nutrition and how devastating
deficiencies can be, we must first understand the differences between functional
mineral deficiency disease and organic deficiency diseases.
A functional disease is a condition whereby one or several organs, or groups of
organs, begin to suffer an impairment of function. For instance, the legs might
not function well, the heart may malfunction, vision may be reduced, or one’s
balance may be less stable tthan it used to be.
On the other hand, an organic disease refers to a definite, specific breakdown
of some kind. For example, a heart arrhythmia would be considered an impairment
of function, or functional disease. A heart attack would be a tissue or organ
breakdown, thus an organic disease. Arthritis, which is aa tissue breakdown,
and diabetes, which is an organ failure, are both organic diseases.
The symptoms between the two disease types are different. If a person has
learned to be aware of his or her body, an evident reduction of energy would
be the body’s signal that a mineral deficiency is making it impossible to
operate at peak levels.
The normal sequence of a mineral deficiency is: the less than adequate intake
of minerals, followed by depression and/or loss of energy, insomnia and/or
anxiety, followed by muscle cramps. Any of these symptoms could indicate
a calcium deficiency.
Next, there will be a measurable lowering of minerals in the blood and extra-
cellular fluid. In order to maintain steady levels of minerals in the fluids,
and thus preserve life, the body robs the bones and tissues of minerals.
Since the cells can no longer perform at peak levels, the above symptoms increase.
At this point, tissues themselves become inflamed, deformed or deranged, and
organic disease is the result.
At first, a calcium deficiency might appear as a functional disease; though
depression may be present, the bones have not yet deteriorated to the point of
osteoporosis. Depression or insomnia, since they inhibit the person’s usual
functions to a certain degree, are classified as functional diseases.
If the deficiency is not halted, osteoporosis will develop and would be
considered an organic disease. Similar progressions may develop with other
mineral deficiences.