Welcome back from Summer! How have you been? I hope your summer was filled with fun, love, adventure and was allergy-free! Remember, this is the time of year when the Ragweed is amping up. As the days lengthen ragweed plants increase their pollen production so if you're sensitive to that particular allergen-and it is among the most offensive-come on in for a quick "Grasses & Weeds" treatment.
Another bothersome allergen in this warm, dry time is the spore of molds & fungi...the spores are everywhere and can cause a variety of symptoms from skin reactions to respiratory distress. Mold/Mildew (indoor versions of Molds) & Fungus are easily treated, too!
As I mentioned in August, this month I intend to share with you more information about healing our guts. Why is this important? Most of the people who come to my office are suffering with miserable skin conditions precipitated by gut permeability or leaky gut syndrome. It's known that the outsize proteins in grains today as well as the GMO'd foods so many eat are the major culprits involved in the epidemic of allergies in the US. If you haven't already committed to eating organic fruits and vegetables, poultry, eggs, and grass-fed meats only, it's time, now. Your health is your wealth!
Let's begin today with a 4-pronged approach to healing your gut:
1. Avoid - Until I can treat you for those items--avoid foods that negatively affect the environment of the GI tract such as inflammatory foods (see chart below), and gastric irritants like alcohol, caffeine or drugs. Inflammatory foods like gluten/grains, dairy, corn, soy, eggs and sugar are prime suspects which lead to food sensitivities. I can muscle-test you to determine if these items are at issue for you.
2. Restore Your Gut - Restore the good. Add back in the essential ingredients for proper digestion and absorption that may have been depleted by diet, drugs (such as antacid medications or antibiotics), disease or aging. You want to be taking digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid and bile acids that are required for proper digestion. (see Sara Russell, Featured Friend for recommendations on these supplements).
3. Seed Your Gut - Inserting beneficial bacteria to reestablish a healthy balance of good bacteria is critical. As adults we average 8 lbs of bacteria in our guts: I always like to make sure over half are on my side! This may be accomplished by taking a probiotic supplement that contains beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacillus species. I recommend anywhere from 25 -100 billion units a day. Using fermented foods is how native cultures have historically cared for their digestive systems. Miso, sauerkraut (make your own or buy artisanal from your local health food store), kimchee, kefir, home made yogurt, etc should be a part of your daily diet. Also, taking a prebiotic (food for the good bacteria) supplement or consuming foods high in soluble fiber is important.
4. Repair - Providing the nutrients necessary to help the gut repair itself is essential. One of my favorites supplements is L-Glutamine, an amino acid that helps to rejuvenate the gut wall lining. Other key nutrients include zinc, omega 3 fish oils, vitamin A, C, E as well as herbs such as slippery elm and aloe vera.
Chart of Inflammatory Foods Courtesy of Dr. Oz:
My Dietary Ten Commandments
Although there is no "one-size-fits-all" diet, there are dietary guidelines that I consider absolute.
1. Avoid artificial sweeteners. Aspartame, in particular, has been known to trigger fibromyalgia-type symptoms, and if you have the disease already, it will only make it worse. Artificial sweeteners could be responsible for part or even all of your symptoms. Stop drinking diet drinks. (You can read more about this in Dr. Joe Mercola's book Sweet Deception.)
2. Eat a varied diet of fresh, organic, whole foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Whole fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties[ii]. The more colorful your produce, the better! Go for those deep oranges, reds, purples and greens.
3. Eat as many raw foods ("living foods") as possible for their enzymes and biophotons. I try to eat at least 50 percent of my food raw. Cooking food to above 118 degrees F destroys enzymes and reduces nutrient uptake.
4. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water that is fluoride-free (follow this link to learn about DBP's: 10,000 X's worse than fluoride!)
5. Avoid all additives, preservatives, and processed foods.
6. Avoid sugar and caffeine, including sodas, fruit juices and energy drinks.
7. Eliminate or strictly limit alcohol consumption.
8. Make sure you are eating enough long-chain animal based omega 3 fatty acids from fish or krill oils. Omega 3s decrease inflammation, joint pain, swelling and stiffness and are natural pain reducers, in addition to providing many other health benefits.
9. Coconut and coconut oil have been found to be beneficial to people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hypothyroidism. Cook with it daily.
10. Eat slowly and fully chew and enjoy your food!
You may have heard Russell and I stopped eating all grains about a year ago and recommend you give it a try for a month. See how you feel, grain-free. Most of my patients are sensitive to the common grains: wheat, rice, barley and oats. Corn is a category unto itself and yes, most are sensitive to corn, also. I hope this information helps you in decreasing your skin and respiratory symptoms. Next month I'll address Gluten Sensitivity specifically.
