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Colin Campbell is a scientist and professor with Cornell University,
famous for leading the huge "China Study" on diet and disease. This intensive study of populations in China found a strong correlation between higher animal protein consumption and cancer. In "Whole", his most recent book, he tells of his career as a researcher, biochemist, as a professor, and as a member of national health boards. He describes how research findings can be skewed or influenced by many factors and how food policy is heavily influenced by the need to produce a profit. Similarly, medical education and research are influenced by commercial interests. Campbell offers a very good discussion of how reductionist thinking - the need to isolate one factor to study - influences medical research and the health system. He makes a case that adopting the diet he advocates - a whole food, plant-based diet (low fat, vegan) - would solve many world-wide environmental problems as well as severe health problems of many countries. This book increased my concerns over how money influences research and policy. Indications are that our meat, dairy and animal fat is unhealthy but this may be due to confined feeding practices, use of hormones, etc. I agree that whole foods have many more benefits than the element we can analyze. Campbell gives as an example some interesting research showing the overall antioxidant effect an apple is about like 1500mg of vitamin C though it contains only a few milligrams of Vitamin C. The benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet may be related to what people DO eat on this diet, than from total avoidance of animal foods. My own belief, based on research studies and personal experience, is that using small amounts of naturally raised animal foods (about 2 ounces a few times a week) is advantageous, both to human health and for efficient use of land. Most likely, the nutrition and quality of the food is more important than the strict elimination of animal foods. It is also important to consider individual variations both genetic and acquired; sensitivities, digestive problems, cultural preference. How can we figure out which factors may be a trigger for autoimmunity in a certain individual? It varies depending on the situation, but is usually best to start with any triggers in the digestive system... fix the gut first. Testing for reactions to foods is fundamental - either through testing or with an elimination diet. It is known, for example, that people with autoimmune thyroid disease (which is most people with thyroid disease) have a high rate of milk protein sensitivity. A true allergy is a fast IGE reaction, but the delayed IGG reaction does stress the immune system and can act as a trigger. It is very common that these delayed food sensitivities trigger colitis, make "hay fever" worse, and cause more pain and inflammation in arthritis. Wheat, cow dairy and eggs are the most common allergens, but also could be yeast in foods, yeast in the gut, citrus, shellfish, soy, other beans, bananas, etc.
The next most common trigger is stress. This is a major suspect in lupus, colitis, thyroid disease, and many more. This is a whole subject in itself! We have a self test on the IHC site - DASS - it helps to sort out stress and depression and anxiety. We do training with the Heartmath monitor in the office, sometimes teach mindfulness or use Alpha-Stim. Spiritual support can be vital. Dr. Price is very successful treating stress and autoimmunity also with his Acu-Hyp therapy combining Acupuncuture and Hypnosis. Other triggers are also important. Adjusting the diet not only to avoid allergens but also inflammatory foods. Yes, these are saturated fats, commercial meats (because of the grain diet the animals are fed) too much starch and sugar. Exposure to pesticides and other toxins (eat organic as much as possible). Many people have chronic infections such as the yeast that was mentioned or another bad bacteria in the gut, or Lyme disease, etc and need to treat this. Lower hormones with aging encourage more inflammation. Adding bioidentical hormones and helping some natural restoration with stress and adrenal treatment will often reduce some of the pain, stiffness, and flair ups. Lastly lack of some nutrients can increase inflammation. If the diet is pretty good, there may still be malabsorption. We often use the FIA test from Spectracell to look for this, or the Metabolic Analysis or Nutra-Eval from Genova. Other strategies include various means for detoxification (a subject for another day) use of supplements for immune balance and support and we at IHC often use the Pleo Sanum isopathic remedies for balance of the body's bacteria and yeast. It is worth some work to reduce or stop autoimmune disease! These conditions not only cause a wide range of damage, pain, and disability but also tend to cause increased risk of heart disease and cancer! This is a complex system and it is a miracle that it usually works so well. However it can go wrong when the immune response identifies its own cells as the enemy and starts attacking them. Once this starts, it often persists. There is often a genetic tendency toward this autoimmunity and also one or more triggers that initiate the reaction. I think of it as a bit like a harried mother who has many children acting out and finally one spilled milk sends her over the edge shouting and spanking everyone! These autoimmune reactions cause inflammation which increases risk of heart disease and all kinds of tissue degeneration - and especially destroys the tissues it is reacting against. The immune cells use inflammation as part of their defense system but this increases free radicals and depletes the body’s antioxidants.
The result of the immune imbalance are many: Chronic Immune & Inflammatory Disorders: “itis” • Atopic syndrome/eczema • Rheumatologic: autoimmune disorders • Gastroenterologic: IBD, gluten intolerance • Cardiovascular disease: atherosclerosis • Neurodegenerative disease: PD, AD, MS, ALS • Cancer • Endocrinologic: diabetes, thyroiditis • Periodontal disease • Psychiatric disorders: ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, dysthymia So can an autoimmune disease be improved or stopped? Yes, absolutely. We have seen this in many patients! If you can identify and remove the triggers, the immune system may calm down. The triggers are usually one or more of the following list. We can’t always find these triggers, some may be viruses or organisms we can’t identify, but reducing these factors will usually help a lot.
Let's start to understand this with a very brief review of normal immune function.
The immune system is complex with many aspects. It is spread through the body but less active in some areas (inside joints, the brain and spinal cord) and concentrated in others (the intestines, neck, lungs and underarms). There are 2 main parts to immunity - the "Innate" and the "Humoral" systems. The innate immunity includes the white blood cells (phagocytes) you are probably familiar with, which can go to a site of invasion within a few hours and engulf and destroy invaders or toxins. It also includes some physical barriers like mucus and some chemical cytokines. The "humoral" or "adaptive" immunity is the more specific system that takes 4-5 days to react, and includes T-cells and B cells that produce specific antigens to a bacteria or sometimes a body tissue. This is the type of immunity that comes from getting an immunization or exposure to a virus or bacteria and usually lasts for years. It is also the type of immune reaction involved in allergies. The innate immune response is called to the site of possible invasion by "chemotaxis" or chemical signals. It uses controlled inflammation as one of the tools to destroy invaders. They include some "antigen presenting cells" that prime the adaptive immune response. Next time we will talk more about how this process can go wrong. A Free Class offered by Integrative Healthcare
Elizabeth Markovich will discuss how chronic stress affects the body and causes diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, and many other problems. We will have information on use of herbs, lifestyle changes and some simple safe devices to help stress. Dr. Eric Garland will teach about use of mindfulness breathing and meditation for stress. February 6th Wednesday evening - 6-7:15 at the IHC office 2016 Delta Blvd. Suite 100 - (this is off John Knox Road). RSVP to [email protected] or call us at 850-878-4434 |
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