FAQ
Questions and Answers on PCN

1. What are some key points regarding the Principle Care Nutrition ( PCN )Guide?

Primarily the PCN Guide is an information resource to help individuals manage their immediate and long term health in a proactive way. The PCN guide is not comprehensive but focuses on key causes and courses of action that individuals may take through dietary, environmental changes and the use of supplements that have been formulated based on current scientific knowledge in nutrition.
Individuals who are sick should seek medical help from physicians when needed but unfortunately, the medical profession does not always deal with root causes but rather focuses on symptoms of disease. The key is for an individual is to gather information and knowledge through association with other individuals and help groups who are on the cutting edge of understanding the most effective way to deal with and overcome a variety of conditions for which the medical community does not always have the answer. The Guide also provides information links to many other groups who have important information to share.

Second, the PCN Guide is a personal “Take Charge” approach to evaluate a person’s health status, to consider various options for building better health and to guide the individual in making choices on available supplements that have a proven track record.
Thirdly, the PCN Guide approaches many health issues using Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), an approach that integrates all the body systems in a unified approach to understanding the health issues facing a person. PNI combines the areas of mind, brain, hormonal, neurological, immune and GI tract functions. Understanding this interaction is a powerful tool in rebuilding your inner environment and optimizing your health potential.

2. What are some of the health areas that the PCN Guide covers?

Sections in the Guide include:
· General Nutrition
· Digestive System
· Neurological/Behavior Support
· Liver Detoxification/Chelaton Support
· Antioxidant Defense System
· Supporting the Immune System

Over two thirds of the Guide provides information on well-researched nutritional supplements which have been shown to support the specific areas above and to rebuild the health of the individual. The Guide is structured to help a person to rebuild their inner environment by providing an extensive menu of nutritional products from which a person can choose a personalized nutritional program to fit their individual needs.

3. What are the some of the claims of the PCN Guide regarding various diseases or health problems in general?

The PCN Guide cannot make any medical claims for the cure, prevention or mitigation of any diseases for any nutritional product according to FDA guidelines. This means that the language in the Guide is structured under the DSHEA guidelines in that dietary supplements can claim to support the structure and function of natural processes and organs in the body. Even though research may support the therapeutic uses of many natural products, the Guide cannot make such claims. Many health conditions that the medical community and the government refer to are not “diseases” in the real sense but are a syndrome of symptoms or changes in the body which reflect an imbalance in the biochemical and metabolic state of the body. Using a good diet and nutritional supplement can help the body maintain a healthy balance in the body and thereby provide the support of normal biological processes which engenders greater wellness, vitality and health.

4. What is the first step a person should take after reviewing the PCN Guide?

Get as much information as possible about your health condition from as many sources as possible. The more knowledge you have about your health status the better you will be able to make decisions about the best course of action you can take to improve your health. This includes nutritionally oriented alternative practitioners, websites, support groups and technical information provided by nutritional companies that have developed extensive research data bases on many natural products that have demonstrated health building potential. Once you have organized the information, you can begin to understand possible causes to your condition and to formulate a plan to begin to rebuild your health from the bottom up.

5. With so many products to choose from, what should a person do relative to using dietary supplements to support the structure and functions of the body?

The first thing you should do is clean up your diet and environment to provide the best foundation for rebuilding health. Many books and publications are available on this vital point. You must do all you can to change some of the factors in your life, which are contributing to your situation. The very first supplement you must choose is a comprehensive well designed multiple nutritional product that not only covers potential dietary deficiencies but will also provide those levels of nutrients needed because of your individual biochemical individuality. A good multiple with appropriate levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and enzymes which will raise your nutritional reserves on a daily basis, which will promote optimal health.

6. After a person has established a good nutritional foundation, what next?

The most important area next would be to maximize the health of your gastrointestinal tract. Your health is not based on what you eat but on what you digest, assimilate and transport to your cells to use to provide everything from energy to building blocks for anabolic processes. Review the section on the Digestive System and select those products such as fiber, digestive enzymes and probiotics to restructure your gut to a more healthy state. Proper assimilation of nutrients and elimination of waste material from the gut is vital to rebuilding the inner environment.

7. After restoring proper gut function, what next?

Many health problems are caused or made worse by excessive buildup of toxins in the body, which can affect many organ systems, including the brain and liver. For many people improving liver function and undergo detoxification from industrial chemicals to heavy metals is very important. Liver detoxification and oral chelation would be the next best area to evaluate and to utilize nutritional products that are helpful in purging the body of these toxins.

8. What are some of the other critical areas of concern when it comes to building total body wellness according to the PCN Guide?

The next area to consider will vary in importance depending on the particular state or health condition that a person is dealing with. It makes sense to attack the most obvious health problem or condition a person is facing. What may be problematic is introducing too many changes all at once when it comes to diet and using dietary supplements. It is best to changes in a slower more deliberate way so that one can determine what effect it has on a person’s overall health
The remaining areas of brain/behavior issues, antioxidant protection and supporting the immune system are all equally important. Again, a person’s principal focus should be to address those areas of primary concern. The PCN Guide provides basic information on brain health and covers key nutrients that are beneficial to supporting balanced behavior, vocal communication and social interactions. This area is extremely important to many in the ASD community.

A person should start as early as possible to build up their antioxidant defense system and protect themselves from free radical damage and to strengthen their immune system. Many nutrients work to support both of these areas and it is a good idea to select those nutritional products that will help maintain optimal immune and antioxidant health. It turns out that anyone who is suffering from any major degenerative disease is immune compromised and more prone to need increased antioxidant support. Again it is important to educate oneself on the specific benefits of antioxidants and immune system builders, which if provided in adequate levels, can make a big difference in overall health, wellness and performance.

9. What specific nutritional products should I choose and how much should I take?

Which products you should use and in what levels is a choice that must be made by the individual. It helps to consult with doctors or nutrition experts to gain their input on answers to these questions. Most doctors, however, are not aware of the benefits of nutritional supplements but there is a growing consensus among some physicians that supplementation with key supplements can produce better results. The levels suggested by the manufacturer are a good place to start but most products can and should be adjusted according to individual need. Always contact the manufacturer of a particular product regarding questions you may have whether it deals with dosage, safety concerns, quality issues, potential drug interactions or research that may be available.

10. What final advice can you give to individuals who accept the PCN Challenge to rebuild their inner environment?

Dealing with health issues that arise from multiple symptoms and unclear diagnosis can be an incredible challenge that impacts our time, financial resources and patience. As in any program you may try, it is important to do appropriate testing to establish a baseline from which to measure changes in the condition. Blood and urine testing along with GI tract evaluation is invaluable to pre-establish metabolic markers that are important to the situation. Next, keep complete and accurate records or a diary on the program noting details and changes either positive or negative. Finally, don’t make abrupt changes in your program but be systematic and organized in adding or deleting products from your program. Some products will give a response in a short period of time, but others may take several weeks or months to make a possible positive change. This is true for dietary changes as well such as in the casein and gluten free diets. Finally be persistent, patient and continue to grow in knowledge because in the long run a person will discover the nutritional program that will work best in rebuilding the inner environment.