Renée Mitchell: Nutritional Therapist

19/02/2026

In the world of essential nutrients, some get all the spotlight — calcium for bones, magnesium for nerves, zinc for immunity. But beneath these well-known minerals lies a quiet regulator, an elemental conductor orchestrating hormonal balance, skeletal integrity, and even brain function.

That mineral is boron — a trace element found deep within the earth’s crust and in plants nourished by healthy, mineral-rich soil. Though it’s required in only microgram amounts, its effects ripple across nearly every system of the body.

Yet most people have no idea what boron is — or that modern farming has nearly erased it from the food supply.

Let’s dive into the profound biological importance of boron, why deficiency is common, and how restoring it can transform your health from the bones up.

🧬 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍?
Boron is a trace mineral and metalloid — meaning it has properties between a metal and a non-metal. In biological systems, it acts more like a regulatory molecule than a structural one. Unlike calcium or magnesium, it’s not stored in bulk — but its presence or absence significantly alters how other nutrients, hormones, and enzymes function.

While not officially classified as “essential” by all governments, boron is increasingly recognized as a critical co-factor for:
• Bone health
• Hormone regulation
• Cognitive function
• Inflammation control
• Mineral synergy (especially calcium, magnesium, phosphorus)

💡 Boron is a natural fluoride antagonist. It helps the body mobilize and excrete fluoride from the bones and pineal gland. In a world of fluoridated water, boron is an essential detox tool for cognitive and skeletal clarity

💀 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 & 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐈𝐔𝐌 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑
One of boron’s most important roles is in bone metabolism. It influences how calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are absorbed, retained, and utilized in the body.

🦴 Boron helps to:
• Increase calcium absorption
• Reduce urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium
• Activate vitamin D to its active form (calcitriol)
• Regulate osteoblast (bone-building) activity
• Inhibit bone breakdown (osteoclasts)

In studies, boron has been shown to dramatically reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women, especially when paired with magnesium and adequate vitamin D. It also supports collagen integrity, making it crucial not just for bones but also joints, ligaments, tendons, and skin.

💡 Without boron (and its partners K2 and Magnesium), calcium is a 'lost traveler.' Instead of entering the bones, it ends up in the joints (arthritis), the kidneys (stones), or the arteries (plaque). Boron is the GPS that tells calcium where to go.

🔥 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈-𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋
Boron modulates the body’s inflammatory response, particularly by influencing key enzymes and cytokines like:
• Cyclooxygenase (COX) — which governs prostaglandin and pain signaling
• TNF-α and IL-6 — inflammatory messengers that drive autoimmunity, arthritis, and tissue damage

It also raises levels of glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, and enhances the function of key enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD).

This gives boron powerful terrain-modulating effects — it cools inflammatory fires at the cellular level, supporting joint health, brain function, and chronic disease prevention.

🔁 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘: 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 & 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐍 / 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄
Perhaps boron’s most striking role is in hormone regulation, especially s*x hormones and steroid metabolism.

For Men:
• Increases free testosterone by lowering SHBG (s*x hormone-binding globulin)
• Supports muscle strength, libido, and bone mass

For Women:
• Modulates estrogen levels, especially after menopause
• Reduces bone loss by supporting estrogen/testosterone synergy
• May help reduce PMS, menopause symptoms, and fibrocystic breasts

Boron also interacts with pregnenolone, DHEA, and cortisol pathways — suggesting a broader role in adrenal support and stress hormone regulation.

🧠 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍
Boron is increasingly recognized as a nootropic — a brain-enhancing compound. In both animal and human studies, boron deficiency leads to:
• Impaired motor coordination
• Reduced attention and alertness
• Poor short-term memory
• Slower reaction times
• Brain wave changes (EEG) indicating reduced neuronal activity

This likely stems from boron’s role in cell membrane stability, electrical transmission, neurotransmitter signaling, and oxygen delivery.

Boron appears to enhance the activity of brain nutrients like magnesium, choline, and B vitamins, making it an unsung player in cognitive resilience and mood regulation.

⚖️ 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍’𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄
Boron acts like a mineral traffic controller — enhancing the utilization, uptake, and retention of other minerals.

🧲 Boron helps to:
• Prevent magnesium loss through the kidneys
• Regulate calcium-magnesium balance
• Improve phosphorus retention for ATP (energy) production
• Stabilize cell membrane potentials and pH balance
• Prevent soft tissue calcification

In essence, without boron, minerals can’t coordinate properly. It helps ensure that calcium goes to the bones (not arteries), that magnesium stays inside cells, and that D3 activates instead of accumulates.

🦠 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐕𝐒. 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐒: 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐋, 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐋, 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂
Boron and its natural compound boric acid have demonstrated:
• Antifungal effects (especially against Candida albicans)
• Antiparasitic action (shown in Giardia and other protozoa)
• Antibacterial properties against biofilm-forming pathogens

💡 Boron is unique because it interferes with the quorum sensing of fungi. It essentially 'jams' the communication lines of Candida and mold, preventing them from forming the biofilms that make them so hard to kill with standard treatments.

In natural medicine, boric acid vaginal suppositories are often used for recurrent yeast infections, BV (bacterial vaginosis), and resistant UTIs — with excellent safety and efficacy when used properly.

Boron’s immune-modulating effects make it a terrain-friendly antimicrobial tool, without disrupting the microbiome the way pharmaceuticals do.

⚠️ 𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘: 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍
Boron used to be plentiful in fruits, nuts, and vegetables — but modern agriculture has depleted soils of this essential element.

Deficiency is now widespread, especially in:
• People on highly processed diets
• Areas with boron-deficient soil
• Those with gut inflammation or poor mineral absorption
• Those with high stress or diuretic use (boron is lost in urine)

There is no official RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance), but optimal levels are estimated to be 3–10 mg per day for health benefits.

🥬 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍
Highest in plant foods grown in healthy soil:
• Raisins, dates, prunes
• Avocados
• Almonds, walnuts, pecans
• Apples, pears, grapes
• Leafy greens
• Legumes and pulses

⚠️ Note: Content in food varies wildly based on soil — even organic produce may be low if the soil is not remineralized.

𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑:
• Menopausal women (bone + hormone support)
• Men with low testosterone or high SHBG
• People with arthritis, osteoporosis, or joint degeneration
• Chronic yeast infections or recurring UTIs
• ADHD or cognitive decline
• Athletes or those with electrolyte loss
• Anyone using magnesium, vitamin D, or calcium supplements

🔬 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
Boron may be small in size, but its role is profound. From bones to brain, from hormones to pathogens, from mineral harmony to inflammation control — boron is a biological multitasker that belongs in every healing strategy.

In a world full of depleted soils, rising stress, and nutrient confusion, boron reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful healing tools are the ones we’ve forgotten.

💚

18/02/2026

16/02/2026

💧 The 3 Types of Fluid in Your Body

(And Why Understanding Them Changes Everything)

Most people think there is only one “circulation” system.

There isn’t.

Your body manages three different fluid environments at all times:

🩸 Blood
💦 Interstitial Fluid
🌿 Lymph

They work together — but they are not the same.

When you understand the difference, swelling suddenly makes sense.

🩸 1. BLOOD — The Delivery System

Blood travels inside:

• Arteries
• Veins
• Capillaries

It is pumped by the heart.

Blood carries:
• Oxygen
• Glucose
• Hormones
• Nutrients
• Immune cells

It is a closed system.
Meaning it stays inside blood vessels.

If blood leaks excessively outside vessels, that’s injury — not normal swelling.

Blood is about delivery and return.

💦 2. INTERSTITIAL FLUID — The Exchange Space

Now this is where it gets interesting…

Between your cells is a space called the interstitium.

It is filled with fluid.

This fluid:

• Bathes your cells
• Delivers nutrients from blood
• Collects waste from cells
• Contains proteins and electrolytes

It is NOT inside blood vessels.

It is outside them.

This is where most swelling begins.

When:
• Inflammation rises
• Proteins accumulate
• Capillaries leak
• Liver is overloaded
• Nervous system is stressed

Interstitial fluid increases.

That heavy, tight, puffy feeling?
That’s usually here.

🌿 3. LYMPH — The Drainage & Immune Highway

Lymph is simply interstitial fluid that has entered lymphatic vessels.

It carries:

• Immune waste
• Inflammatory by-products
• Proteins
• Dead cells
• Bacteria

Unlike blood:

🚫 It has NO pump.
🚫 It is NOT high pressure.

It depends on:

• Breathing
• Movement
• Hydration
• Warmth
• A regulated nervous system

Lymph is your body’s clean-up crew.

If lymph slows, interstitial fluid builds.

If interstitial fluid builds, tissues feel:

• Puffy
• Heavy
• Tight
• Dense
• Inflamed

🔄 How They Work Together

Here’s the flow simplified:

🩸 Blood delivers nutrients →
💦 Interstitial fluid exchanges with cells →
🌿 Lymph removes waste →
Back to bloodstream →
Filtered by liver →
Eliminated

If one slows down, the others are affected.

This is why:

• You can have normal blood tests but still feel swollen.
• You can exercise but still feel heavy.
• You can drink water but still retain fluid.

Because the issue may not be blood.

It may be interstitial congestion or lymphatic slowdown.

💡 Why This Matters for You

When someone says:

“My circulation is bad.”

We must ask:

Which system?

Because:

🩸 Blood problems feel different from
🌿 Lymph problems.

Blood issues often look like:
• Cold hands
• Blue discoloration
• Varicose veins
• Cardiovascular symptoms

Lymph congestion looks like:
• Soft swelling
• Afternoon heaviness
• Puffiness without redness
• Tissue density
• Slow recovery

Different systems.
Different solutions.

🌸 The Big Takeaway

Swelling is not always a heart problem.
It is not always a kidney problem.
It is not always “just water retention.”

Often, it is:

💦 Interstitial overload
🌿 Slowed lymph
🔥 Inflammation

And lymph does not respond to force.

It responds to safety.

That’s why:

• Calm nervous system
• Liver support
• Proper hydration
• Gentle movement

Work better than extreme detoxes or aggressive workouts.

Your body is intelligent.

And when you understand its fluid systems…
You stop fighting it.

You start supporting it.

15/02/2026

High homocysteine is associated with:
• Higher risk of heart disease
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Damage to blood vessel lining
Most likely cause: Vitamin Deficiency
- B6
- B12
- Folate

14/02/2026

🌬 Lungs & Lymph: The Breath-Detox Connection You’ve Never Been Told 🫁💧

You think of your lungs for breathing.
You think of your lymph for detoxing.
But what if your breath was the missing force behind your body’s ability to drain inflammation, move toxins, and boost immunity?

Welcome to the Lung-Lymph Axis — the oxygen-powered pathway to whole-body healing.

🫁 Your Lungs: The Silent Lymph Movers

With every inhale and exhale, your diaphragm moves up and down like a hydraulic pump.

This movement:
• Compresses the thoracic duct (your largest lymph vessel)
• Increases lymphatic velocity by up to 10x during deep diaphragmatic breathing
• Drives toxins from lower limbs upward toward drainage points in the chest and neck

Your lungs are mechanical activators of your lymph — but only if you breathe correctly.

😮‍💨 Chest Breathing vs. Diaphragm Breathing

Many people — especially those with anxiety, trauma, or shallow posture — only breathe from the upper chest.

This:
• Reduces diaphragm movement
• Decreases lymph propulsion
• Causes congestion in the legs, belly, face, and head

On the other hand, deep belly breathing activates:
• The thoracic duct
• Cisterna chyli (gut lymph reservoir)
• Parasympathetic tone (rest, digest, and drain!)

💨 The Lung-Lymph-Vagus Trinity

Here’s the magic:

When you breathe deeply:
• You massage the vagus nerve (which runs next to your lungs and heart)
• This calms inflammation and enhances immune signaling
• You also clear carbon dioxide, which helps maintain the pH needed for lymph enzymes to work

It’s a biological symphony:
🫁 Lungs create movement
🧠 Vagus interprets safety
💧 Lymph responds with flow

🌿 How to Breathe for Lymphatic Detox:
1. 5-5-7 Breathwork – Inhale 5 seconds, hold 5, exhale for 7. Repeat for 3–5 minutes.
2. Left Side Sleeping – Improves drainage from the thoracic duct to the heart.
3. Humming or Chanting – Creates vibration that moves fluid in the sinuses, neck, and chest.
4. Deep Cough Technique – Done after dry brushing or MLD to clear lymphatic congestion in the lungs.
5. Movement + Breath (like Yoga or Qi Gong) – Aligns respiratory rhythm with fascia and lymph flow.

🔄 Respiration = Detoxification

You lose 70% of detox waste through your lungs — not your sweat, urine, or bowel movements.

If your lungs aren’t fully expanding, you’re not just short of breath —
You’re short on lymphatic release, emotional release, and healing potential.

✨ Final Thought:

Your breath is your first medicine.
Before lymph moves… before toxins clear… before inflammation calms…
Your lungs must rise and fall with power and peace.

So breathe in healing.
Breathe out stagnation.
And watch your lymph follow the rhythm of your soul.

13/02/2026

I love this idea, especially with the postpartum group of ladies I will be chatting to this morning about their nutrition. 🐟

13/02/2026

Why Swelling Is Not “Just Water” 💧

Understanding Interstitial Fluid, Inflammation & Lymph Load 🌿**

Women are often told:

“It’s just water retention.”
“Drink less salt.”
“It’s hormonal.”
“It’s normal.”

But if swelling were just water, it wouldn’t:
• Feel tight, painful or heavy 😣
• Worsen with stress, illness or inflammation
• Appear in specific areas like the feet, ankles, abdomen, chest or face
• Come with fatigue, brain fog or pressure sensations

Swelling is not simply excess water.
It is often a sign of interstitial fluid overload and lymphatic strain.

Let’s break this down — gently and clearly 🤍

What Is Interstitial Fluid? 🧬

Between every cell in your body is a microscopic space called the interstitium.
This space is filled with interstitial fluid — a mixture of:
• Water 💧
• Proteins
• Immune cells 🛡️
• Metabolic waste
• Inflammatory by-products 🔥

This fluid is meant to move.

It is collected and cleared primarily by the lymphatic system — not the kidneys.

When this system becomes overloaded or sluggish, fluid doesn’t just disappear…
it accumulates.

Why Swelling Is Often Inflammatory, Not Just Fluid 🔥

During inflammation:
• Blood vessels become more permeable
• Proteins leak into the interstitial space
• Fluid is pulled in and held there

This type of swelling:
• Feels dense or tight
• Doesn’t respond well to diuretics
• Fluctuates from day to day
• Often worsens at night or in heat 🌙☀️

This isn’t “water weight.”
This is inflammatory fluid.

The Lymphatic System’s Role (That No One Explains) 🌿

Your lymphatic system:
• Drains interstitial fluid
• Clears inflammatory proteins
• Transports immune waste
• Relieves tissue pressure

But here’s the key point:

👉 It has no pump of its own.

It relies on:
• Muscle movement 🚶‍♀️
• Diaphragmatic breathing 🫁
• Fascial mobility
• Postural changes

When these are compromised — through stress, surgery, inflammation, pain, illness or long periods of sitting — lymph flow slows.

Fluid builds up quietly…
until the body can’t compensate anymore.

Why Diuretics Often Don’t Fix the Problem 🚫💊

Diuretics act on the kidneys, not the lymphatic system.

They:
• Remove water from the bloodstream
• Do not remove protein-rich interstitial fluid
• Can even worsen tissue dehydration

So swelling may:
• Temporarily reduce
• Quickly return
• Or shift to another area

Because the root cause — lymphatic load — was never addressed.

Why Swelling Shows Up in Certain Areas 📍

Swelling tends to appear where:
• Lymph flow is weakest
• Gravity pulls fluid downward ⬇️
• Tissue has been injured, scarred or inflamed

Common areas include:
• Feet and ankles
• Calves and knees
• Lower abdomen
• Chest and underarms
• Face and eyelids

These aren’t random places.
They are drainage bottlenecks.

Swelling Is a Message, Not a Failure 🤍

Swelling isn’t your body “holding onto weight.”
It’s your body saying:

“I am overloaded.”
“I need support.”
“I need flow — not force.”

When the lymphatic system is gently supported, swelling often reduces without aggressive measures.

The Takeaway 🌿

Swelling is rarely “just water.”
It’s often a combination of:
• Inflammation
• Protein-rich fluid accumulation
• Lymphatic congestion
• Nervous system stress

And it deserves understanding — not dismissal.

10/02/2026

08/02/2026

Most “focus” products come with a spike and a crash.

Mane Brain is built different.

With Lion’s Mane mushroom and Phosphatidylserine, it supports cognitive clarity, memory, and calm mental stamina… Without any stimulants!

If your brain’s carrying a heavy load, give it something it can work with.

Shop Mane Brain online now: www.reneeshealthshop.co.za

04/02/2026

Want to try something other than a drug to help your child to function optimally? 🧠

Focus mode is an incredible support for focus and concentration. Choose the smart option! 🧠
Read more in comments 👇

31/01/2026

We really are an interesting species 🤔

29/10/2025

🦴☀️ Vitamin D Deficiency & Back Pain Explained Simply

If you often have neck or lower back pain without any injury, one possible reason could be low Vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is very important for keeping your bones and muscles strong. When your body doesn’t get enough of it, your bones become weak and your muscles lose strength. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms, especially in the neck and back area.

💡 How it happens:

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which keeps your bones healthy.

Without enough Vitamin D, your bones may get soft and weak — a condition called osteomalacia.

Weak bones and muscles can press on nerves, causing dull or aching pain.

Low Vitamin D can also lead to inflammation in your body, making pain worse.

Some studies show that Vitamin D helps control pain signals — so when it’s low, you might feel pain more easily.

If you already have joint problems or arthritis, Vitamin D deficiency can make your pain feel stronger and slow your recovery.

🌞 Tip: Spending some time in sunlight, eating Vitamin D–rich foods (like eggs, fish, and milk), or taking supplements can help improve your levels and reduce pain.