Dr. Axe on YouTube talks about how to heal autoimmune, and on his website writes about how to heal leaky gut. They go hand in hand, because healing leaky gut is one of the first steps for healing autoimmune.
First remove the things that causes inflammation and leaky gut such as sugar, hydrogenated oil, omega-6, gluten, and casein.
Then add more cooked vegetables to your diet. For autoimmune, too much raw may not be such a good thing because they are harder to digest. And some fruit, wild-caught meat and salmon (for omega-3).
He is a big fan of bone broth. While authentically bone broth either store bought or made on your own is preferred, he does suggest Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth protein powder if you can not make bone broth on your own (in this other YouTube video).
And he said that coconut oil is one of your go-to cooking oil.
“there is clear evidence that exposure to EMFs produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations, radars, or electricity induces changes (within the physiological range) in number and percentage of circulating immune cells as well as in the immune response.”
The effect of EMF on the body appears to be similar to that of stress.
Dr. Tom O’Bryan suggests using the Pong Radiation protective case which reduces radiation from your cell phone. The nice thing about it is that your phone still works.
“Vaccines and Autoimmunity” is a book written by Yehuda Shoenfeld, professor and autoimmunity researcher. It explores how adjuvants (such a mercury and aluminum) in vaccines can induce autoimmunity in genetic or autoimmune prone individuals. There is even a name for this — Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA).
Many people with autoimmune conditions also have gluten sensitivity. But what is less well known is how glyphosate (in many non-organic vegetables) may play a role in this gluten sensitivity. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the Roundup herbicide.
“Fish exposed to glyphosate develop digestive problems that are reminiscent of celiac disease … Glyphosate … has been shown to disrupt gut bacteria in animals, preferentially killing beneficial forms and causing an overgrowth of pathogens. “
Pigs fed GMO corn and soy developed intestinal inflammation due to glyphosate in the GMO feed.
Celiacs and non-celiac gluten sensitivity is associated with imbalance gut flora. Glyphosate inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes which helps in detoxifying environmental toxins, activating vitamin D3, etc. It also chelates iron, cobalt, molybdenum, and copper, causing deficiencies of tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine and selenomethionine.
Glyphosate suppresses a certain step in the synthesis of these amino acids in the shikimate pathway. While humans do not have this pathway, our gut bacteria do. Worst is that glyphostate negatively harms our good bacteria such as Enterococcus, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacillus more than they hurt the bad pathogens like Salmonella and Clostridium. Hence probiotic treatment with Bifidobacteria may help celiacs. Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli have the ability to make gluten less allergenic as well as the ability to biosynthesize folate.
Interesting article about glyphosate show that GMO crops, animal foods, cereal grains, oil seeds and dried pulses contain the highest levels of glyphosate. If you don’t want glyphosate on your food, buy organic and avoid GMO.
The bad thing about GMO crops is that they are genetically modified to withstand Roundup and hence more glyphosate can be sprayed on them.
Here is one of the authors, Stephanie Seneff , speaking on the dangers of glyphosate and how it affects the rise in autism…
People should not be eating GMO foods, especially those with autoimmunity. Watch Jeffrey Smithf talk in GMO Ticking Time Bomb …
where he explains how GMO soy and corn has genes that were inadvertently turned on that produces more allergens than non-GMO soy and corn. Furthermore, these GMOs makes digestion of protein slower.
We know that many autoimmune people have allergenic reactions to certain foods and some have sub-optimal digestion of proteins. GMOs damages the intestinal tract, including possibly causing leaking gut.
If you want to avoid GMO, avoid corn and soy (unless they are certified organic) and products derived from them (high fructose corn syrup, soy lecthin etc). Get organic meats so that the animals are not eating GMO feed.
Avoid GMO sugar beets and sugar in general. Use raw organic honey from local farm instead. Avoid aspartame as well as all artificial sweetener.
Papaya may also be GMO. Just get organic.
Avoid canola oil and cotton oil. Livestocks feeding on GMO cotton has seen to die.
Avoid dairy which can contain growth hormones.
Zuccinni and yellow squash should also be brought organic.
Here is a reference…
Next Dr. Edward explains how to detox GMOs with some products here…
I’m not saying pesticides on food is good, but between avoiding GMOs and avoiding pesticides, I would say avoiding GMOs would be a higher priority. There was a study where one group of mice was feed GMO potatoe, another group feed potato with pesticide but no GMO, and third group organic potatoes. The mice eating the GMO potatoes died, while all the other lived.
Because vitamin D is an important nutrient for the proper function of the immune system, it should be monitored and optimized on a regular basis, especially for people with any kind of autoimmune issue. Vitamin D is also one of the nutrients to heal leaky gut.[reference]
The best way to get vitamin D is direct mid-day sunlight on bare skin — such as at times when your shadow is shorter than you are. But make sure you don’t get burned, because that can cause skin cancer. In order for skin to generate vitamin B, the UVB rays of the sun needs to hit the skin. It can also go through light clothing. But it can not go through glass.
You don’t want to get sun through glass, because you don’t have any benefits from the UVB rays generating vitamin D. But you do get UVA rays being able to penetrate glass and even giving you a tan. However, UVA rays are not beneficial in generating vitamin D, and may even be detrimental by destroying vitamin D. That is why Dr. Mercola says to avoid getting tan through the window. [reference]
Certainly it would be fine to sit by the window and may in fact be beneficial in that light from sun can strengthen the circadian rhythm and fight seasonal affected depression. But you shouldn’t be in a position for such a long duration where you are feeling heat from the sun through the window to the point where you are starting to get a tan.
When you are outside in nature without the separation of glass (as nature intends for our body to be), the UVA and UVB rays are in balanced and you get the optimal vitamin D you need without overdosing. The UVB generates the vitamin D. While the UVA destroys it and tans your skin if you get too much. Tanning darkens your skin naturally so that a natural feedback to slow down the vitamin D production when it doesn’t need it. People with dark skins will need to be out in the sun longer to generate the same amount of vitamin D.
Depending on where you live, there are certain months of the year where you get no vitamin D from the sun at all. The UVB rays can only generate vitamin D when the sun is greater than 50 degrees above the horizon. Otherwise, the UVB will bounce off the atmosphere.
To determine when the sun is above this angle, look at the “altitude” column on this site.
Cod Liver Oil
So in winter, many people may need to supplement with vitamin D. While cod liver oil had been recommended by many as a source of vitamin D, new update from Dr. Mercola suggests that cod liver oil may cause an unfavorable vitamin D to vitamin A ratio because it contains too little D and too much A. Depending on the particular cod liver oil, it may have excessive vitamin A and not enough vitamin D.
In terms of vitamin A, it is better to take beta-carotene and let you own body make the amount of vitamin A it needs from that, rather than taking vitamin A — which can become toxic in excess.
However, WestonAPrice.org “have pointed out that concerns about vitamin A toxicity are exaggerated” and suggests using Fermented Cod Liver Oil and list Green Pastures Cod Liver Oil as a possible brand to look at. However, Chris Kresser found some update on that, and recommends Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil from Rosita Real instead.
If you are going to take cod liver oil, get one with as low vitamin A and as high vitamin D as possible. Dr. Mercola says Carlson has the best ratio.
Do not confuse cod liver oil or Omega 3 fish oil. The latter being mainly for omega-3 DHA/EPA supplementation and does not contain vitamin A or D.
Or you can get some vitamin D from salmon. But it is difficult to eat enough salmon to get the amount of vitamin D one needs. Plus there is the danger of mercury in salmon when over-consumed.
Personally, I do feel that cod liver oil and salmon alone is not a sufficient source of vitamin D, so now I take vitamin D tablets during those winter months. It is also preferred to take vitamin K2 when taking vitamin D.
Whenever supplementing with vitamin D, you should retest your levels. Because if blood levels get up to greater than 100 ng/ml, it is getting to toxic levels. Optimal levels of vitamin D is 50-70 ng/ml of 25 Hydroxy D test (according to Dr. Mercola)
To learn more about Vitamin D watch this webinar by Dr. David Anderson who says that people need not be afraid of the sun …
While most people have a hard time losing weight, there are people that have a hard time gaining weight or have a problem with “unhealthy weight lost”. Why would a person lose too much weight or can not gain weight if underweight?
While I’m not a medical professional, and there are different causes for different individuals. Some medical reasons for this may be…
Hyperthyroid autoimmune condition. Thyroid producing too much thyroid hormone increasing metabolic rate too much.
Pancreas not producing enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes (also autoimmune) is such as case. There is also LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults). Zinc and vitamin B6 is needed to make insulin — may want to supplement if deficient.
Parasites or chronic infections
Note that while some individuals gain weight as they age and become elderly. Other sets of individual lose weight can become frail as they age (possibly due to natural loss of muscle mass as we age). WebMD says …
“Physically inactive people can lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. Even if you are active, you’ll still have some muscle loss.”
Resistance Training
One of the best things a skinny person can do to maintain health as they age is to maintain muscle mass.
If these and all other possible medical reason have been ruled out and you are perfectly healthy and not able to gain weight, consider the following to help maintain muscle mass…
May need more calories. Some people overestimate what they eat and the number of calories they need. Use this calculator to see how much calories you need per day. And track your calories consumption with cronometer.com
May need more carbs if you are not having problem with blood sugar. If you are very thin and have trouble with high blood sugar, look into Type 1 diabetes or LADA or other issues. Did you start losing weight when going on a gluten-free, or low-carb diet? Aa gluten-free diet will tend to be automatically lower in carbs. Try adding rice as a non-gluten carb.
Weight training and exercise with short but high intensity, rather than long and light intensity. Use progressive overloading style of exercise. The former helps build muscle if you give some rest days in between. Whereas the latter burns calories. Although the amount of calories burn is not that much. And you still need light movement throughout the day instead of sitting all the time.
Zinc and B6
The New Optimum Nutrition Bible writes …
“Energy nutrient include vitamin B6 and zinc, which help insulin work”
And we need insulin to gain weight. Zinc and magnesium are two minerals that are most deficient in people.
There are certain group of individuals with condition of pyroluria that require higher amounts of B6 and zinc — there are questionnaire and lab tests for this. If you have poor dream recall, you may be deficient in either or both B6 and Zinc (read here for best form of these supplements).
Paleo Diet
Some thin people lose too much weight on the Paleo diet and want to gain weight. Here is Chris Kresser’s answer…
Weight lose can be a concern if you are underweight. He discusses some reasons why some people are underweight …
Fast metabolism
Gut issues, malabsorption, gluten sensitivity, celiac
SIBO (the bacteria get the food first)
Low stomach acid (not able to break down protein)
Leaky gut
Adrenal fatigue
Autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes, MS)
Sub-clinical hyperthyroidism
chronic infections
And some things to try…
Eat more calories and from all three macronutrients (not low-carb or not low-fat)
Increase starch and with each meal
Add fat (like coconut oil)
Smoothies (easier to drink more calories than eat them). One smoothie might be 600 calories.
Most people with autoimmune issue have food sensitivities. In fact, it may be that having a food sensitivity for a long time and continue to eat that food may be one of the reason why autoimmune develops in the first place.
But what causes food sensitivity? In short, it is damage to the gut causing increased intestinal permeability, also known as “leaky gut”.
Low stomach acid and lack of digestive enzymes can cause one not to break down food properly. And partially un-digested food particles can passed into the bloodstream via the leaky gut, thereby triggering the immune reaction.
But what causes leaky gut?
Patrick Holford writes in New Optimum Nutrition Bible…
“There are several possible reasons why a person become food allergic. Among these are lack of digestive enzymes, leaky gut, frequent exposure to foods containing irritant chemicals, immune deficiency leading to hypersensitivity of the immune system, microorganism imbalance in the gut leading to leaky gut syndrome, and no doubt many more.”
Gluten and GMOs are damaging to the gut and can cause leaky gut.
Food sensitivity is caused when undigested food proteins passes through the leaky gut into the bloodstream, triggering the immune system to attack the particles.
Low stomach acid and lack of digestive enzymes can cause one not to break down food properly, exacerbating the situation.
That is when digestive enzymes can help. Because so many people are deficient in zinc, what may also be helpful is zinc supplementation.
Patrick Holford writes in New Optimum Nutrition Bible…
“supplementation with digestive enzymes reduces symptoms associated with food allergy and intolerance. Zinc supplementation can also be helpful as deficiency is extremely common among allergy sufferers. Zinc is not only needed for protein digestion, but also essential for the production of hydrocholoric acid in the stomach.”
” zinc appears to be essential in preserving and healing intestinal mucosa and halting celiac disease progression. It is also essential for healthy skin and skin cell regeneration, essential with dermatitis herpetiformis.”
Study found that children with food allergies have lower blood levels of zinc and selenium.
While I agree that Vitamin A will not be on the top of the list for healing leaky gut. There are many other higher priority items on the list to heal leaky gut.
Nevertheless, I want to note this what Patrick Holford wrote on in his book New Optimum Nutrition Bible …
“Vitamin A is also crucial for the health of any mucosus membrane including the gut wall.”
That makes sense because Vitamin A is known to be good for the skin. And your gut lining is like your internal skin. Just like your skin, it is a barrier between the outside world and you.
A good source of food vitamin A is liver. Or you can supplement with cod liver oil or other supplement forms. But be careful. Vitamin A can be toxic in high doses. It is not likely to overdose if you are eating a reasonable size portion of liver. But it is possible to overdose with supplements.
A safer way is to take beta carotene, which is water soluable and can be more easily eliminated by the body. Then your body will be able to make its own amount of vitamin A from beta carotene as needed.