Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease

Why Does the Body Attack Itself?

Hashimoto, arthritis, CRPS (Complex Regional, Pain, Syndrome), and lupus are all autoimmune diseases that may be triggered from untreated inflammation. Did you know that an anti-inflammatory diet can put lupus and CRPS in remission? That the progression of Hashimoto can be slowed down with a diet that improves thyroid function and health? Indeed, nutrition is the most neglected discipline in the medical treatment. But healthy foods, charged with nutrients and anti-oxidants, deliver the most unexpected results.

When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system is in constant override which increases the oxidative stress (toxins produced during immune system activity.) Many factors, such as infection, exposure to alcohol, medications, medical treatments, and a poor diet can contribute to oxidative stress. I met a lady who developed thyroiditis as a result of a fertility treatment. Anti-oxidants are the only defense the body has against these assailants. When the intake of anti-oxidants is insufficient or absent, oxidative stress can damage DNA, proteins, and deplete the body of nutrients. The first side effect of oxidative stress is inflammation; if untreated, inflammation will lead to more chronic illnesses, such as heart and liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue, and even cancer.

How Can Nutrition Help?

Many people ask, “Is ginger good for inflammation?” or “Should I take turmeric?”

Scientific research has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is not one nutrient with superpowers, but rather it’s a combination of nutrients that work together as a team to enhance each other’s activity, act as cofactors, and even recycle and regenerate each other. “Nutrient synergy refers to the concept that the combined effects of two or more nutrients working together have a greater physiological impact on the body than when each nutrient is consumed individually.”

There are two types of anti-oxidants, endogenous (made in the body) and exogenous (obtained from food). Endogenous antioxidants such as lipoate and glutathione are powerful anti-oxidants but they need nutrients to be regenerated and without those antioxidants, vitamins and minerals contained in food, the body’s resources get depleted.

Here is how antioxidant can defend you against disease:

Oxidative stress destabilizes molecules and triggers a cascading chain reaction that generates thousands of free radicals in seconds of the reaction. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and prevent this chain reaction by donating an electron to neutralize them. Antioxidants can also enhance the activity of detoxification enzymes that scavenge free radicals. There are hundreds of anti-oxidants and more are being discovered regularly. Below is a small list of enzymes and antioxidants that safeguard the body from harm.

Endogenous enzymes and anti-oxidants

  • Glutathione — needs vitamin C to be regenerated
  • Lipoic acid — needs vitamin B3 to be regenerated
  • Coenzyme Q10 – needs chlorophyll to be produced and regenerated
  • Superoxide dismutase — needs copper, zinc, and manganese
  • Iron-dependent calalase
  • Glutathione peroxidase

Dietary (exogenous) anti-oxidants

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Beta Carotene and other carotenoids and oxycarotenoids (lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein)
  • Bioflavanoids and proanthocyanidins

These enzymes and and anti-oxidants work together and rely on each other to be active and be regenerated after each use. A deficiency in one, can lead to a deficiency in many.

Our MicroRiche™ diet combines anti-oxidant-rich foods and healthy fats and proteins for metabolism and energy. One way to identify an anti-oxidant-rich meal is to ensure it’s colorful. Anti-oxidants is what gives plants their joyful colors: green, yellow, orange, purple, blue, and red. These pigments also add flavor to food. You can enjoy delicious meals while preventing oxidative stress and reducing  the risk of disease and soothing the immune system. The protocol is simple yet effective. We remove foods that trigger allergies and inflammation; we increase foods with health benefits.

Misty’s Story

We have helped many clients reverse type II diabetes, restore thyroid function, and put lupus in complete remission. Mitzi shares her battle with lupus.

Watch Mitzi’s Success Story

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