The solution to reversing fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses

Fibromyalgia, like many chronic illnesses or diseases today is a condition that results from an environmental trauma (physical, emotional, toxic, etc.) that the body is attempting to adapt to. Or, the result of toxicity and deficiency and no drug on the planet can “cure” toxicity and deficiency.

Why is fibromyalgia an epidemic right now? Why are type II diabetes, gluten intolerance, allergies, cancers, and many other diseases and chronic illnesses growing more than ever in the last 50 or so years? It seems simple-just looking at trends and statistics. The four top culprits are: (1) Immunizations and medications, (2) poor food quality, (3) emotional stress, and (4) the lack of activity. This makes fibromyalgia and many other auto-immune diseases and chronic illnesses “lifestyle” illnesses.

Antibodies from immunizations are injected in people in huge numbers and become stored in huge numbers all before the age of 6. Antibodies have one purpose which is to kill their target infection and then to self-destruct. So what happens when we are full with antibodies that cannot all self-destruct? They build up and at some point “may” cause an overactive immune system as is seen in so many diseases today. At some point an environmental trigger starts the chain reaction that forces the immune system to malfunction. Most medications are violations of human biologic law and do nothing to “cure” problems and most cause more problems. (lifestyle trigger #1)

Food quality has been decreasing for decades but in just the last two decades with additives, preservatives, pesticides, and GMO foods, the majority (90%) of our foods are impacted by these toxins. What do toxins do in the body? They build up and at some point “may” trigger the trauma that initiates a chronic illness or disease. Our diets make us acidic and this produces disease symptoms. (lifestyle trigger #2)

Emotional stress that is chronic causes cumulative stress on every aspect of the body. We need to have a balance of stress in our lives so that it does not become chronic and be a trigger for disease or chronic illness. It seems impossible to “control” the amount or severity of stress in our lives but with a little practice it becomes realistic. Maybe some of us need therapy like CBT, maybe some need meditation, self-hypnosis, or other relaxation exercises-because we can’t all change our job for a less stressful one or change other things that are out of our control. That being said, we control what we can and we change ourselves versus expecting the environment around us to change. (lifestyle trigger #3)

The lack of activity is a major issue in the U.S. Just look at obesity levels in the last two decades-they are over 50% of the nation and growing. Part of the equation is the foods we eat and the rest of the equation is the sedentary lifestyle that technology has graciously provided for us. Why do overweight people have more diseases and chronic illnesses? Because they store more nutrients from food. What kind of foods are obese people eating? Processed and junk foods. What is in processed and junk foods? Toxins et al. So what is the obese person storing more of than a thinner person? Toxic nutrients. Plus many junk foods are pro-inflammatory. The next thing the individual experiences is systemic inflammation. Often the exercise piece of the wellness puzzle comes after detoxing, getting nutrition balanced, and reducing stress-things that will reduce pain and other symptoms so that the individual can actually go to the gym without exacerbating their symptoms and quitting altogether. (lifestyle trigger #4)

Today there is no cure for most diseases for one reason-science attempts to use chemicals (medications) to alter our physiology which attempts to reduce or eliminate the symptom expression that manifests from whatever trauma that happened to us versus addressing the underlying issue. So science attempts to change the physiology but fails most of the time.

We are living a lie. We’re violating a biologic law by using medications to bandage our symptoms without examining the underlying cause. Some people say that diseases and chronic illnesses aren’t really what hurt us, but rather the body adapting incorrectly to the environment- the body adapting to deficiency or toxicity. Over time, failed attempts to address the underlying problem promote severe stress in the body and many more symptoms begin and the severity of current symptoms will increase.

So here when our bodies are over stresses and we are given a chemical to “help” with this problem, it truly is just a band aid. The number one prescribed “drug” for any chronic pain condition are opioids like Vicodin, with antidepressants a close second. The function of an opioid isn’t to solve an underlying problem but to act as a band aid, which simply makes you care a little bit less that the pain is present. The fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. is properly prescribed medications. That is people are given the right meds for their “condition” but die anyways from that treatment that altered their biology.

Today physicians don’t teach nutrition and fitness as “the key” to reversing chronic illness and disease symptoms. Why? Because they didn’t learn that in medical school. Medical school taught them to use all kinds of band aids to address symptoms, and to avoid the underlying problem. Most lifestyle diseases are greatly improved or “cured” by getting your diet and exercise in check. However, nobody wants to hear this.

Physiologic issues to address:

The first thing we do is detox the body to eliminate toxins, balance cholesterol levels, eliminate medication expression, and right size the immune system. Every 140 days our blood is replaced. So we detox for 140 days.

The second thing we address is the gut to help many things, one of which is serotonin levels produced in the gut. We do this by creating the right diet. In a sentence, if man created it-don’t eat it.

The third thing we address is the psychological component which includes therapy, meditation, self-hypnosis, and other natural interventions, etc.

The fourth thing we address is sleep. We get our sleep architecture as good as it can be and we allow ourselves to enter all four stages of sleep so that we allow our body and our mind to heal as God had intended.

The fifth thing we address is exercise. Since we live in an era with toxic foods and too many technological distractions that keep us fat and lazy, we add in an exercise curriculum for life.

Serotonin side note:

Most physicians will look to serotonin as a possible suspect for some of the symptom expression seen in many chronic diseases. As such, physicians prescribe opioids and antidepressants for many diseases which positively impact serotonin levels-at least in small amounts and for a short time (under 3 months). Most serotonin is produced in the gut. So doesn’t it make sense to repair the gut and get it working correctly so that the body will produce the natural amount of serotonin which will help control pain and depression naturally?

Top food offenders:

If I were to attempt  to do the bare minimum to positively impact my symptoms I would eliminate a few food products in an attempt to do a partial detox. These foods are not a problem for everyone but are suspect in a number of nutritional disorders and many cause major issues in small numbers. (1) Aspartame (causing excitotoxicity) or any artificial sweetener. (2) MSG, (excitotoxicity). (3) white sugar, corn syrup, fructose, simple carbs, agave, (yeast love eating sugar so eating sugar produces an overgrowth in yeast and is thought to cause pain among other symptoms), plus sugars cause insulin spikes. (4) caffeine (stimulant) burns out adrenal glands which makes it difficult to regulate your blood sugar and inflammatory system. (5) gluten (allergen) only if you have a problem with gluten (as 70% of people in the U.S. do). However, eliminating gluten won’t hurt anything and may be worthwhile to rule out. Some people have a predisposition for gluten intolerance or celiac disease, but most people today develop gluten intolerances due to a bad diet that results in leaky gut syndrome.  (6) dairy, due to leaky gut, can cause someone with leaky gut to develop allergies to dairy, and the (7) casein in dairy is the culprit. (8) Soy proteins are similar to gluten and casein and cause inflammatory reactions in the body. All these foods may exacerbate your symptoms.

Making this plan into action:

Putting this plan into action requires a complex lifestyle make-over. It’s not going to be easy but the alternative is you stay sick! I have written many articles about what it takes to put this plan into action and will not go into that in this article.

Malnourishment, the immune system, and disease

 

What would you say if I told you that most degenerative diseases result from a compromised immune system which is compromised from an undesirable diet?

Diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, dementia, lupus, MS, Parkinson’s, osteoporosis, type II diabetes, rheumatoid, heart disease, even conditions like fibromyalgia, CFS, digestion issues, glucose intolerance, infertility, obesity, Celiac, gluten sensitivities, MCS, even anxiety and depression are all considered preventable nutritional related degenerative diseases. In fact many cancers today are considered a result of the lifestyle we lead and are preventable.

Fibromyalgia, which is not considered degenerative, is still considered a result of immune dysfunction.

Part of the problem is poor food choices but the rest of the problem is how food is grown and processed, and I am certain genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are not health promoting.

The nutritional content of foods seem to be getting worse.

Foods are made using stimulating chemicals and pesticides, making foods toxic to the immune system; effecting foods like veggies, fruits, grains, milk, and animal products like meats and cheeses. So even when we make healthy choices we may be fueling disease.

These chemical processes used to develop foods also deplete their nutritional value, contributing to 21^st century malnourishment.

This malnourishment from nutrient depletion contributes to degenerative diseases.

Essentially, soils that have been used for farming for a very long time become mineral depleted. Then factor in pesticides, herbicides and air pollution to that soil, and the use of GMO seeds.

This creates the perfect storm for poor nutrition.

Plus Americans are plagued by the processed foods in our diets as well.

And beyond that, we medicate ourselves to death trying to combat our symptoms, which further hinders our immune system.

Dr. Pauling, two time Nobel Prize winner suggests that every sickness, ailment, and disease can be traced back to a mineral deficiency likely resulting from soil depletion.

Nutrients like proteins and vitamins are dependent on minerals in foods which are dependent on minerals in soils; and mineral depleted soils make mineral depleted foods.

So if you have a degenerative disease, the lack of energy, cognition or concentration issues, headaches, sleep issues, depression, anxiety, or general malaise, you may be malnourished and that malnourishment may be leading to degenerative disease.

In the long run, malnutrition impacts the immune system.

Get control of your nutrition to get control of your immune system.

What is wrong with the USDA food pyramid?

Watch this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sCDglFU8uA

The USDA (government) food pyramid http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/Fpyr/pmap.htm is a dietary guideline written and sponsored by the US government, and suggests what foods to eat for a “healthful diet”.

The pyramid shows a broad selection of foods which is fine, so that you are likely to get all of the nutrients that you need from your diet. The pyramid also suggests overall to “choose sensibly, eat whole grains, fruits and veggies, foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol, drinks low in sugar, and less salt”-all of which make sense.

My argument with the pyramid is the way it is structured, which to me sends the biggest wrong message to Americans. The base of the pyramid is the largest, suggesting that we eat the most of our diet from this category-a whopping 6-11 servings. The foods from this category are primarily simple carb foods, processed foods, pastas, etc., which are part of what is causing Americans to be obese.

Typical breakfast choices like cereal, Pop-tarts, donuts, etc., are all wrong. You don’t want high carb foods in the morning. You want high protein in the AM for a slower breakdown and digestion, and thus a slower flow of glucose into the blood stream.

This slows metabolism and results in a more efficient process of energy usage during the day when you need it. Foods that the pyramid suggests will break down quickly and the glucose will make its way into the blood stream within 15 minutes (versus proteins or fats taking 4-6 hours) spiking your glucose level, in turn spiking your insulin, and causing potential health related issues like hypoglycemia, type II diabetes, and obesity-too much carbs, too early in the morning. If you eat cereal or a Pop-tart for breakfast, sometime in the next 4 hours you will experience some kind of “crash” resulting in fatigue at a minimum. Who wants to crash between the hours of 8AM and 5PM??? Plus, who wants the majority of the calories they consume to be stored as fat???

If you try to eat simple carbs later in the day, like for dinner, you will not be as devastated by the crash effect if it hits you hard versus at breakfast or lunch. A carb crash after 6PM is more acceptable. Plus carbs closer to bed may help you fall asleep and stay asleep from the crash effect.

The “meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group” should be as big or bigger as the “bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group” on the pyramid instead of occupying a small piece of the real estate.

Fat doesn’t make you fat like the pyramid would have you believing-carbs do. Obesity and type II diabetes were never a problem 100+ years ago when the staple of one’s diet was fats and not carbs-like it is today.

I’m not suggesting that Americans don’t eat enough fats-they eat too much fats, especially saturated fats which lead to heart disease, cancer, and stroke, etc., whereas regular fats are not nearly the contributor to obesity that as saturated fats, as the USDA and the government would suggest. But the issue is really the volumes of carbs that Americans eat that lead to obesity and disease. Even if you are not overweight but do eat a lot of carb foods, when your genes finally do catch up with you, your adrenal glands will have been overtaxed to death from countering all of the blood sugar spikes related to carbs.

So as the USDA and the pyramid put it, “start with plenty of breads, cereals, rice, pasta, vegetables, and fruits,” but I argue this is backward. I didn’t develop this hypothesis on my own; I agree with it after years of scholarly, peer reviewed research. Research is something which the government has a tendency to conceal. Try starting your day with proteins versus carbs for 2 weeks and see what you think.

Proper nutrition: foods to eat and foods to avoid

Wellness starts with proper nutrition. Everyone on the planet needs good nutrition although over half of us don’t eat right more than half the time. We don’t ever need to read another health study or diet plan. The research is done. The results are in. Eat A and don’t eat B and be well.

A-eat:                                                       

Slow, complex carb foods

Good carbs: starch, veggies, legumes, fruits, whole grains

Foods low on the glycemic index

Healthy fats: mono and poly’s

Antioxidant rich foods

CoQ10, glutathione, superoxide dismutase

Whole grains, beans

High fiber foods

13 vitamins a day

22 minerals a day

8 amino acids a day

2 essential fatty acids a day

Superfoods: Goji, avocado,

High protein foods in the A.M.

Protein foods for b-fast, lunch, and dinner

Walnuts, hazel nuts, pistachios, pecans

Sweet potatoes and yams

Brown rice, oats, tilapia, egg whites

Phytochemicals

Whole foods, raw foods, seeds

Soy, kimchee

Olive or coconut oil

Anti-inflammatory foods

Blueberries, Oatmeal

Japanese green tea

Greek yogurt, flaxseed

Salmon, mackerel, sardines

Edamame, tofu

Onions, garlic, shallots

Couscous, quinoa, amaranth

Bulgur, buckwheat, millet

Broccoli, spinach, tomatoes

Swiss chard, kale, collard greens, brussels sprouts

Red peppers

Figs, Asian pears, lychee

Apples, guava. Pomegranates, mangoes

When you’re hungry, not when you’re bored

Count calories

B-Don’t eat:

Simple carbs

Processed foods

Foods high on the GI

Bad fats: Trans fats, saturated fats

Fried foods

Processed lunch meats, red meats

White flour, white sugars, white rice, white fat

Most Campbell’s red label canned soups

Donuts, cakes, cookies, candy

Soda: sugar or diet

Bagels, most cereals, pasta

Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine

Yeast extract

High carb foods in the AM

Acrylamides, aspartame

Iced coffee, ice cream

High fructose corn syrup, corn starch

Hydrochloride, sodium

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Partially hydrogenated oils

Palm oil, Olestra oil

Sodium nitrite, sucralose

Pro-inflammatory foods

Animal fats

Boiled veggies

Crackers

Frosting

Margarine, butter

Frozen dinners

Gravy

Hot dogs, bologna, sausage, pork

Bacon products

Textured vegetable protein

Autolyzed proteins, BPA

Food colors: FD&C red #40

Phosphoric acid, propylene glycol

Cornbread

Corn tortillas

Flour tortillas

Grits

Pitas

Pretzels

Bakes beans

Ramen noodles

Eggnog

Fruit juice with sugar

Chocolate

Bagels

Cream cheese

Granola bars

Mayonnaise, miracle whip

Tartar sauce

Peanut butter

Microwave popcorn

Cottage cheese

What causes autoimmune diseases?

A healthy immune system protects us from diseases and infections from numerous sources like cuts, bronchitis, lupus, almost every nasty health consideration out there. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system will continue to attack healthy tissues anywhere and everywhere in the body.

Autoimmune diseases are significantly higher than they were a few decades ago; lupus and MS prevalence alone have tripled over 4 decades and type one diabetes has increased by 5 fold.  Often, autoimmune disease for the patient means a lifetime of disease and treatment.

I question to what degree the rising autoimmune cases are a result of physicians who now possess the skills necessary to diagnose an autoimmune disease versus 50 years ago (better diagnostics)???

I also question to what degree the numbers are higher due to patients living longer with better treatments??? Also, the rise in diabetes appears to have a stronger environmental factor than genetic factor over the last several decades??? The numbers of lupus and MS are global, while the numbers for diabetes are an American epidemic…..maybe diet is the etiology???

It seems that the following are the 2 top causes of autoimmune diseases: Genetics and environment!

The Hygiene hypothesis: Our germ free lives and immunizations, chemicals we absorb and environmental and air we breathe, and environmental toxins all contribute to developing autoimmunity, and have eliminated challenges for our immune system to become strong.

This is not to say that our genetics are predictable to suggest that we either will or will not develop an autoimmune disease for certain-science is not there YET. The genetic link is multifactorial and not as specific as some pure genetic diseases like: cystic fibrosis, down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, etc. These diseases are calculable for odds of developing them to an almost certainty.

Autoimmune diseases also appear to have an environmental factor as well as a genetic factor. The genetics may be the predisposition to autoimmunity and the environment may be the trigger.

There are roughly 80-100 recognizable autoimmune diseases/disorders, with dozens of other disorders that have autoimmune etiology. There are currently around 23 million people in the US that are diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Some of these are minor and treatable, and some are chronic and can be fatal. The autoimmune epidemic is a global one.

Which autoimmune disease develops depends on which cells are attacked.

Like most other diseases, the US is far behind many other countries in the scientific research.

Autoimmune stats: http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/a/ai/prevalence.htm

Autoimmune progress: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/autoimmune/documents/adccfinal.pdf

Below is a list of autoimmune diseases: Source: http://www.aarda.org/autoimmune_statistics.php

• Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
• Acute necrotizing hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis
• Addison’s disease
• Agammaglobulinemia
• Alopecia areata
• Amyloidosis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Anti-GBM/Anti-TBM nephritis
• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
• Autoimmune angioedema
• Autoimmune aplastic anemia
• Autoimmune dysautonomia
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Autoimmune hyperlipidemia
• Autoimmune immunodeficiency
• Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED)
• Autoimmune myocarditis
• Autoimmune pancreatitis
• Autoimmune retinopathy
• Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP)
• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Autoimmune urticaria
• Axonal & neuronal neuropathies
• Balo disease
• Behcet’s disease
• Bullous pemphigoid
• Cardiomyopathy
• Castleman disease
• Celiac disease
• Chagas disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome**
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Chronic recurrent multifocal ostomyelitis (CRMO)
• Churg-Strauss syndrome
• Cicatricial pemphigoid/benign mucosal pemphigoid
• Crohn’s disease
• Cogans syndrome
• Cold agglutinin disease
• Congenital heart block
• Coxsackie myocarditis
• CREST disease
• Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia
• Demyelinating neuropathies
• Dermatitis herpetiformis
• Dermatomyositis
• Devic’s disease (neuromyelitis optica)
• Discoid lupus
• Dressler’s syndrome
• Endometriosis
• Eosinophilic fasciitis
• Erythema nodosum
• Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis
• Evans syndrome
• Fibromyalgia**     
• Fibrosing alveolitis
• Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)
• Glomerulonephritis
• Goodpasture’s syndrome
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) see Wegener’s
• Graves’ disease
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Hashimoto’s encephalitis
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Hemolytic anemia
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura
• Herpes gestationis
• Hypogammaglobulinemia
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• IgA nephropathy
• IgG4-related sclerosing disease
• Immunoregulatory lipoproteins
• Inclusion body myositis
• Insulin-dependent diabetes (type1)
• Interstitial cystitis
• Juvenile arthritis
• Juvenile diabetes
• Kawasaki syndrome
• Lambert-Eaton      syndrome
• Leukocytoclastic      vasculitis
• Lichen planus
• Lichen sclerosus
• Ligneous conjunctivitis
• Linear IgA disease (LAD)
• Lupus (SLE)
• Lyme disease, chronic
• Meniere’s disease
• Microscopic polyangiitis
• Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)
• Mooren’s ulcer
• Mucha-Habermann disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Myasthenia gravis
• Myositis
• Narcolepsy
• Neuromyelitis optica (Devic’s)
• Neutropenia
• Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
• Optic neuritis
• Palindromic rheumatism
• PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus)
• Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration
• Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
• Parry Romberg syndrome
• Parsonnage-Turner syndrome
• Pars planitis (peripheral uveitis)
• Pemphigus
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Perivenous encephalomyelitis
• Pernicious anemia
• POEMS syndrome
• Polyarteritis nodosa
• Type I, II, & III autoimmune polyglandular syndromes
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Polymyositis
• Postmyocardial infarction syndrome
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Progesterone dermatitis
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Pyoderma gangrenosum
• Pure red cell aplasia
• Raynauds phenomenon
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Reiter’s syndrome
• Relapsing polychondritis
• Restless legs syndrome
• Retroperitoneal fibrosis
• Rheumatic fever
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Schmidt syndrome
• Scleritis
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Sperm & testicular autoimmunity
• Stiff person syndrome
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE)
• Susac’s syndrome
• Sympathetic ophthalmia
• Takayasu’s arteritis
• Temporal arteritis/Giant cell arteritis
• Thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• Tolosa-Hunt syndrome
• Transverse myelitis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD)
• Uveitis
• Vasculitis
• Vesiculobullous dermatosis
• Vitiligo
• Wegener’s granulomatosis (now termed Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA)

 

Acidosis and disease

Acidosis is the result of the body being too acidic. Acidosis interrupts normal, healthy cellular activities and is considered a major root cause of many illnesses.

Many diseases including cancers only grow in an acidic (anaerobic) environment. pH (the potential for hydrogen) balance is 7 on a scale of 1-14. The body has a pH value from all the different fluids-which function best at homeostasis balance-of 7. Blood is “basic” at 7.3-7.4 pH. pH above 7 is basic, and below 7 is acidic. When your body fluids (which make up 60% of your mass) are acidic, they are irritants- and can cause a chronic situation elsewhere in the other 40%.

The body maintains pH, except when your diet alters your pH; or other anomalies occur that can modify your pH. Acidosis occurs and is believed to promote degenerative conditions like arthritis and cancers and many, many more diseases. These diseases have been known to go into partial or total remission when pH is corrected-often through diet and/or supplementation.

An acidic environment also invites viruses and bacteria to flourish. Any illness, syndrome, or condition that has suspected viral or bacterial etiology may stem from acidosis. When viruses or bacteria are present, fatigue, pain, and other malaise presents itself and perpetuates to a chronic state sometimes.

Viruses, bacteria, and cancers cannot grow outside of an acidic environment. When your body is at homeostasis, it is alkaline-and inhibits viral or bacterial growth or presence. Poor nutrition is the leading factor promoting an acidic environment in the body, followed by pollutants, poisons, and chemicals we ingest.

What chemicals you ask? Aspartame used as sweeteners in thousands of food and drink products and phosphorus found in sodas for example. Did you know caffeine binds to calcium stopping the body from effectively using it? This promotes osteoporosis. Household cleaners and hygiene products can also promote acidosis such as:

Sodium lauryl sulfate-found in soap, toothpaste, and shampoo, etc. In its final report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a “degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties.”

Cocamide DEA-found in cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, and body washes, etc., serving no tangible purpose except to provide texture. This is highly carcinogenic, associated with miscarriage, brain development, cell death, and memory.

Propylene glycol-that can harm on contact-found in medicines, cosmetics, food, toothpaste, and numerous other products we ingest. It causes immune system disorders among other things.

Phenol-found in mouthwash, medicines, vaccines, and many other products we ingest. It reduces the immune response and is suggested to be carcinogenic.

Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate-a preservative found in shampoos, lotions, creams, etc. Thought to possibly present risks to human reproduction and development, linked to potential for reduced fertility or reduced chance for a healthy, full-term pregnancy. Preservatives make products last longer from spoiling, bacteria, mold, or yeast, etc.

Organophosphate– used as insecticide-found in laundry soap. Used to spray crops.

Blue #1, yellow #5, and red #40-found in thousands of food items and even vitamins, and are cancer causing dyes. Here is a partial list of popular Vitamins with TOXIC Dyes targeting Pets, Elderly, Children and Women.

– One A Day – Red #40

– One A day for Women  – Mixed Berry’s  – Blue #1 Yellow #5, Yellow #6 and Red #40

– One A Day Scooby Doo – Blue #2, Yellow #6 and Red #40

– Flintstones (Children’s Vitamin)\ – Blue #1, Blue #2, Yellow #6, Red #40 and Aspartame Toxic Sweetener

– Centrum & Centrum Silver – Yellow #6 and Red #40

– Geritol  – Blue #2, Yellow #6 and Red #40

– Prenatal from Natures Bounty – Blue #1, Yellow #6 and Red #40

– Tums – Blue #1, Yellow #5, Yellow #6 and Red #40

– Most Pet Foods – Blue 2, Yellow #5 and Red #40

Aluminum-found in processing of many foods like flour, baking powder, cosmetics, deodorants, medicines, antacids, aspirin, etc. Aluminum is common and widespread in the environment and even found in breast milk. A small amount of aluminum is consumed naturally in our diet, but taking in extra is toxic. Aluminum is suggested to cause Alzheimer’s because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Why is aluminum in so many hygiene products?

Did you know most soap products are made from cow and pig fat? (Remember Brad Pitt making soap from fat in Fight Club?) This is riddled with antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals the animals had injected and make its way into our food products. When this happens-we can plug up our pores and even have difficulty detoxing correctly.

Summary: One in four people have a chronic pain condition. Almost half the US population has a chronic illness of some kind. The fact is that the reason we hear so many different contradictory opinions about what is good and bad for us is this: The FDA does not “label” a product as harmful to humans until it has shown significant numbers of effected individuals. So while we consume potentially harmful toxins-the FDA may be testing the product as we speak-spending years to determine its toxicity. So eat right, exercise, and put less chemicals in your body.

pH, disease and digestive enzymes

Watch this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEH_12338Mc

Have you ever heard that you are only as healthy as your digestive system? Did you know that most diseases cannot develop in an alkaline environment? This suggests that many of the diseases we know today are a result of an acidic environment inside the body, most often a result of diet. You also need an alkaline environment for proper absorption of food. Many of the medications we are on for fibro, lupus, RA, etc., depletes minerals, essentially resulting in poor absorption.

When you consume refined sugars, which are the staple of the standard American diet (SAD), like soda, processed foods, junk food, and fast food, you are increasing your acidity, creating an environment for disease to develop. You can control your pH through diet, or even supplementation where diet restrictions exist.

An explanation of this is as follows: when kids or teens eat pretty much anything, they continue to produce energy and/or not become overweight, as a rule. This is because you have an arsenal of digestive enzymes that will break down whatever they eat.
The older you get, the less natural enzymes you produce; which translates into less absorption of food, and more importantly, less absorption of essential vitamins and minerals.

The lack of enzymes can lead to disease, especially nutrition related diseases like: obesity, IBS, and GERD. Enzymes are the spark of life. Food is useless without them. (So it is a good idea to alkalize your system). You cannot get the full benefit of what you eat if your body doesn’t have enough enzymes. When you have an illness like fibro, you typically have some sort of digestion issues.

Plus, many illnesses like fibro result in a less active or sedentary lifestyle, which slows your digestion process down. Plus you are likely to get less fiber as you age, further resulting in digestive issues. If you are on a medication like Prilosec for acid indigestion, like millions of Americans are, you are further inhibiting your digestion and absorption. Acid indigestion is essentially rotting food that did not get digested, coming back up your digestive tract causing acid reflux type pain.

When you digest food, the ash left over after digestion (when calories burn) will either be acidic or alkaline, based on what you eat. What is left over after digestion will be effectively used by the body or it may be excreted if it is not digested and absorbed. This suggests that you will not digest some foods properly (or nutrients)-foods that are not compatible with your system.

Digestive enzymes are mostly found in raw foods, which is not terribly popular in the American diet. Taking an oral digestive enzyme (broad spectrum food enzyme) as a supplement can aid with digestion and absorption. Getting enough enzymes will help in many ways, but will also reduce gas and heartburn and improve regularity-and contribute to pH balance.

Many experts believe that maintaining a balanced pH is critical to well-being. Many of our body functions depend on pH balance like: digestion, intestinal, circulatory, respiratory, immune system, enzyme activity, and hormone balance. The body has three natural systems for maintaining pH: respiratory, GI, and urinary. The nutritional effect of any food depends on your genes, blood type, and metabolic rate. You have to figure out what your body needs for your inherited tendencies.

Another way to control pH is to eat for your blood type. Peter D’Adamo determined that eating according to your blood type, A, O, B, or AB, will promote wellness, and avoiding certain foods will help avoid illness. Early in the 80’s, nutritionist Henry Bieler determined that there are four types of people, and their food cravings are associated with which glands are dominant in their metabolism: those with a dominant thyroid crave sweets and starches. Those with dominant adrenal glands crave meats and salts. Those with dominant pituitary glands crave diary, and those with dominant gonads crave fats and spicy foods. These cravings, or preferences translate into obesity by over-stimulating our dominant glands.

What negatively impacts pH balance is: poor diet, stress, dehydration, chemicals, and the lack of exercise. Your body may rob other systems of a few minerals to balance pH like: calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These minerals function as buffers to balance pH. The body maintains pH as a natural mechanism (homeostasis), however, this is stressful on the body when it is always fighting for a balance as a result of poor lifestyle choices.

These lists of foods that match your blood type exist and you don’t have to buy anything special. Print the list specific to your blood type and experiment with the foods that are right for you. Remember, you want to maintain a pH balance or be slightly alkaline, (between 7-7.5) and the more acidic or alkaline your system is, the more likely you are promoting illness.

The body can heal itself when it is slightly alkaline (ideal) as well as process nutrients properly. When you eat foods that promote acidity, your body begins to balance your pH, or buffer (neutralize acid and excrete it), resulting in depleting your body of essential minerals, eventually leading to disease. This process is cumulative and may not present itself until it’s too late. Acidosis can translate into dozens of illnesses.

To learn how to eat for your blood type check out Peter D’Adamo’s book Eat Right 4 Your Type.
http://www.dadamo.com/

For more on pH:

Click to access The%20pH%20Nutrition%20Guide%20to%20Acid%20-%20Alkaline%20Balance%208pp.pdf

Or try:
http://www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/pH.html
Or try: (free sign up link to food pH guidelines)
http://acidalkalinediet.com/alkalize/index.php

For more on enzymes:
http://www.howweheal.com/enzymes.htm
pH (potential of hydrogen): the measure of acidity and alkalinity in the body.
pH balance: A reading of 7 on pH scale of 0-14.
Alkaline: oxygen rich environment. Any pH reading above 7.
Acidic: oxygen deprived environment. Any pH reading below 7.

How do I deal with disease?

Watch this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLo2BbNF89Y

I talk to numerous people with fibro and more than a few have commented on the lifestyle I lead and my positive disease management approach. They say, “how do you get through every day and stay positive; how do you beat depression; how do you motivate yourself to push through the pain, day after day?”

It’s not that the answer is simple, it’s not, it’s complex, but I committed to it and so far it has been the one thing keeping me from being totally disabled, and totally insane and depressed. Long story short, I decided many years ago that I needed a strategy for my disease(s); I needed a wellness plan; I needed a schedule; and I needed a number of things I could control in order to manage my illness; and I needed to commit to specific treatment modalities or it would be all for nothing; finally, addressing my sleep hygiene. This took me many months to achieve. I wanted to quit several times…don’t quit.

•My strategy was to beat my illness. I was not looking for a cure, which I believe is a waste of energy.
•My wellness plan was a broad group of clinicians, of which I manage the whole program.
•My schedule was a complex paradigm of activities, sleep, rest, actions, etc.
•My controlling items were: sleep hygiene, nutrition, fitness, stress control, alone time, stopping bad habits, eliminating negative influences, and forming new healthy habits.
•My treatment modalities became: assembling my clinical team according to my needs and based on my research. My necessary medications. My optional supplements. My fitness program. My nutritional approach. My private time including: meditation, music, self-hypnosis, CBT, simple pleasures in life.
•I suggest owning your sleep hygiene program. If you don’t have one, learn how to get one. The lack of sleep you are missing is significantly impacting your symptoms and exacerbating your illness.

That’s it. That’s how you live with chronic illness. That is the basic shell of what it takes to manage your illness-something your clinicians will not do for you. Oh, and you have to accept your illness in full before you begin, you have to accept what has happened to you, and you have to adjust your attitude and conform to the following: you learn to educate yourself and advocate for yourself; you learn to stop being the victim; you are not dying, stop catastrophizing; and even if you are dying it can be dealt with accordingly with dignity and acceptance; you have to be willing to change your lifestyle; you have to turn your weaknesses into you strengths; you have to allow the dark cloud to lift; you learn to replace negative thought with positive ones; you learn to accept your illness in full; you get to acceptance and that can be the healthiest thing you can do for yourself; you learn actions you can take today that will improve your situation and you learn to stop negative behaviors and start positive behaviors that turn into habits; you learn that seeing a psychologist for cognitive behavioral therapy to develop new and better ways to cope with the changing dynamics brought on by the illness is also beneficial; and finally, you learn to rejoin your life.

I used to be a whole lot of things I was happy about, I was proud of, and I was committed to. I haven’t forgotten what those things were, but I have learned to replace those things with new things; things that fill those holes; things that bring me joy; different things from what I did before I got sick.

I’m a different person today; not worse; I’m more passionate; I’m more patient; I’m more understanding; I volunteer my time every moment possible to help me create positive actions in my life that will help to make me whole again. I reached a point in my life that it has occurred to me that having numerous illnesses, the sum of which disable me physically most days, has become a GIFT.

In all my pain; in all my suffering; in all my shortcomings; I still feel that I have received a GIFT; Every one of us with chronic illness can experience this gift, and then we have to decide what we are going to do with it. There’s nothing in the world like paying it forward; sharing the positive pieces you have learned about your disease with those who haven’t yet arrived there.

Everything I have discussed has happened to me and many others. If you haven’t arrived there yet then read this again and figure it out how to get these things. I’m not selling anything here-this is a lifestyle choice you have to make and commit to and again, NO ONE will help you do it. It’s all on you.

You own your wellness; you take your steps in the right direction; and you manage your health, not your clinicians. They will only deliver you to a degree of freedom from illness. The rest is up to you. At the end of the day you may still be in pain; you still may be tired; and you still may have many of the same symptoms. I’m not telling you how to eliminate your symptoms, because most of us cannot eliminate most of our symptoms. I’m telling you how to cope with living WITH them. People do it everyday and have for hundreds of years before you. It’s possible.

What do you do when you do everything you are supposed to do and you are still so symptomatic you don’t know what to do? You face your pain head on and address these issues above, and you keep addressing them over and over again. Maybe your symptoms will not go away. Then what? Then you mix up your program and try again. You dig deep down and find the strength to do it again. You don’t quit because quitting means everything will get worse: you symptoms, your relationships, your job, your physicians will know you are getting lazy in your program and are no longer managing your illness and they will stop partnering with you. Your life will fall apart.

Sick or not, you are still in control of your life and if you cant afford for it to fall apart then don’t let it. You reach down as deep as necessary and find the strength to stay one step ahead of your disease. I challenge you to take a trip somewhere where there are severely disabled individuals, individuals without limbs; or terminal individuals. And you take a hard look in the mirror and then you assess your situation; and you assess their situation. There’s always someone who has life much harder than you, and many of them LIVE their lives to the fullest. That’s what you are going to do from this moment on. You are going to live your life to the fullest. Figure out how.

Fibro Myth 13: Fibromyalgia is a disease of the muscle or connective tissue.

Current evidence suggests this is just not the case. While we experience most of our pain is in our muscles and connective tissue, is it suggested that the pain is neuropathic, or from the nerves in those areas; which translates into the perception of muscle pain. Fibro is still considered musculoskeletal in many circles, but no inflammation, damage, or disease can be observed in those areas, making it false. It is suggested that central sensitization, wind-up phenomenon, and post-exertional malaise helps to describe some of this theory of referred pain. This points to a malfunction in the CNS.

Why do we become deconditioned: mechanics behind the issue of bed rest due to illness

Watch this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00Q5dRy4Ko8

Summarized from Colleen Campbell
When we suffer from chronic illness, one concern we have to contend with is deconditioning. There can be consequences to all of our rest or downtime. Deconditioning can result in a reduced functional capacity of many of our body systems; but mostly our musculoskeletal system. Inactivity is not a natural state for us, resulting in negative consequences. Leading a sedentary lifestyle causes many physiologic adaptions in all of our organ systems.

Deconditioning occurs at several levels: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild-suggests difficulty with maximal activity like swimming, running, or most types of exercise. Moderate-suggests difficulty with normal activity like walking, shopping and chores. Severe-suggests difficulty with minimal activity like caring for yourself.

Deconditioning leads to: general muscle weakness, loss of performance, and muscle atrophy. The pathophysiology of contracture development: within 5-7 days the connective tissues are maintained in a shortened position. In less than two weeks the muscle fibers and connective tissues adapt to the shortened length by contraction of collagen fibers and a decrease in muscle fibers. In three weeks, loose connective tissue in muscles and around the joint gradually change into dense connective tissues.

After a short period of a few weeks, you run the risk of bone density loss due to increased reabsorption caused by the lack of weight bearing, gravity, and muscle activity on bone mass. After three months, an increase in the excretion of calcium in the urine and stool becomes present; reducing bone density to around 50%. At this time, especially the long bones become diseased from the marrow outward. Risk of osteoporosis significantly increases. Hererotropic ossification can then occur, where the soft tissues surrounding the bones form mature bone. Then cortical thinning occurs at ligaments.

The joints become subject to: flexion contracture, cartilage degeneration, fusion, synovial atrophy, fibro-fatty connective tissue infiltration, and osteoarthritis. Within one day of bed rest cardiovascular changes occur such as: increase in resting heart rate, a decrease in blood volume, fluid shifts, POTS, atrophy of heart muscle, decreased maximum oxygen consumption, increases in clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary emboli; increased risk of stroke, depressed levels of hormones, decrease in pulmonary function, reduced muscle strength and endurance, reduced movement of the diaphragmatic, intercostals, and the abdominal muscles, the development of cough, mucous plugging, and pneumonia. Increased risk of pressure ulcers, dependent edema, subcutaneous bursitis.

GI issues like: decreased appetite, decreased gastric secretion, constipation, slower rate of absorption, atrophy of the intestinal mucosa and glands, distaste for protein-rich foods. Risk on increased diuresis and mineral excretion, stone formation, urinary tract infections. Metabolic changes like: decreased lean body mass, increased body fat, disorder of nitrogen balance, and loss of mineral and electrolytes.

Psychosocial risks of: depression, loss of control and motivation, anxiety, fear, neurosis, decreased concentration, feelings of helplessness, increased psychotic behavior and apathy, increased irritability, increased feeling of self-isolation, decreased motivation and ability to participate in activities, impaired judgment and problem solving, loss of independent activities of daily living, loss of hobby or social pursuits, and loss of job.

CNS and PNS issues like: peripheral nerve compression, secondary factors of sensory deprivation and loss of independence, inability to effectively manipulate one’s environment, and neurological sequelae, decreased visual acuity, hearing issues, lack of social stimulation, loss of sensation secondary to primary disease.

Disorientation to time and place, hallucinations, lowered pain threshold, increased auditory threshold. 40-50% of elderly become incontinent after one day bed rest. Leads to immobility, and environmental barriers. Endocrine changes occur due to altered responsiveness of hormones and enzymes: glucose intolerance, altered circadian rhythm, altered temperature and sweating response, altered regulation of hormones like: PTH, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, GH, androgens, and plasma renin activity.
By the third day of bed rest there are reduced insulin-binding sites. After two weeks of bed rest: it takes two weeks of resumed activity before the glucose response returns to normal.

To stay ahead of deconditioning, you should: mobilize early, change position frequently, maintain functional position of head, trunk, arms, hands, legs, and feet, deep breathing, adequate coughing and adequate hydration, active or passive ROM exercises, prevent pressure development, adequate nutrition, proper skin care, maintenance of continence, progressive stretching, treatment of spasticity, surgical release. Remain stimulated, oriented and social. Maintain a normal wake-sleep cycle, encourage social visits, get outside. Maintain a general exercise program including strengthening, endurance, and coordination exercises.
So much evidence exists about the impact of becoming deconditioned. Your illness may send you into a state of “doing less” but consider the above before you surrender to a lack of movement and become deconditioned.

Comorbid diseases/conditions part 3

Addison’s disease: Addison’s disease may be a contributing factor to FM as it may be linked to hypothalamus dysfunction and low cortisol. Addison’s disease, at least the form seen in FM, is secondary adrenal insufficiency, as a result of pituitary gland dysfunction. Cortisol may be needed to address adrenal gland deficiencies as a result of pituitary gland dysfunction. This hormone helps physiologic stressors; it helps maintain blood pressure, and reduces inflammation. It can have an effect on hypoglycemia as well. It aids in the energy producing process that supports brain function and much more.
Thyroid disease: Low thyroid in general has many of the same symptoms as FM. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that is very prevalent in FM patients. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism and is when the body attacks the thyroid gland as if it were foreign tissue. This plays a role in the adrenal function as well and is thought to be a main contributing factor to some of the viciousness of the FM cycles of illness.
CMP: Chronic myofascial pain (myofascial pain syndrome) is a painful neuromuscular disease affecting sheaths of the muscles. CMP causes trigger points of pain, not unlike FM in some patients. Many patients have both CMP and FM at the same time, although both are suggested to be unrelated.
Candidiasis: A common yeast infection from a yeast overgrowth. Candida is commonly found in our body, and may not ever present a problem. In FM, there can be a build-up of yeast causing infection, leading to other factors.
Orthostatic intolerances: A disorder of the autonomic nervous system when blood pressure drops occur upon standing. This can be fairly typical in FM. Sometimes visual disturbances or blackouts can occur.
Dysautonomia: Dysautonomia is an autonomic nervous system dysfunction. A breakdown of many of your involuntary functions can occur with this disorder. There are a number of different types and severities of this condition that may affect FM.
Research has already proven that HHV-6, Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, Chlamydia Pneumonia, and Epstein Barr Virus among others may be involved in FM and CFS. Many of us have more than one of these issues and it seems easy to connect the dots and draw conclusions. I would imagine that soon, these may be on the list of underlying causes in FM.

Comorbid diseases/conditions part 2

Lyme’s Disease: Lyme’s disease is likely the first thing your doctor will test you for when you come to him complaining of FM symptoms; at least to rule it out. It’s a bacterium that comes from a tick bite and is fairly common in the US. The first sign can be flu symptoms, much like FM, but you can also get tired, headaches, and pain. This can be treated with antibiotics.
Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders like snoring, insomnia, apnea, RLS, PLMD etc., can mimic FM in early stages. Since sleep issues are a fundamental issue with FM, it’s important to try to understand what’s causing your sleep issue and attempt to address it where possible.
Severe Obesity: According to the CDC, if you weigh 20% more than your BMI you’re obese. If you are over 50% overweight you are morbidly obese and this will likely interfere with the normal function of your body. This can be a problem with FM since we are moving less than we used to now that we have this illness.
Depression: FM does not cause depression. It is believed that you are no more likely to suffer from depression with FM than with any other chronic illness. That being said, psychological disorders like depression and anxiety often accompany chronic pain disorders. There is no certain causal link between the two, but there are a percentage of individuals in the medical field who do not differentiate between the two. Sadly, this leads to a delay in diagnosis and undermines public confidence.
ME: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The British name for FM is ME. Some people use the two interchangeably, but the name is not used that much in the US. Some degree of controversy surrounds this condition and very little funding in the US is going to its research today. More is being done outside the US and it’s considered a neuroimmune disease by some.
HHV-6: HHV6 is an infection that can persist in the brain and contribute to fibro fog. It can play a role in CFS in conjunction with EBV. Elevated antibody titers do correlate with active infection. Studies have been published using tests that do not differ between active and latent infection. This is important so your doctor knows how or what to treat. Often, latent infections will present and can be triggers and it is unknown to what extent this happens or the likelihood.

Comorbid diseases/conditions part 1

CFS: While the majority of FM sufferers will also meet the diagnostic criteria for CFS, there are subtle differences, even though some experts may argue they are synonymous. The two disorders share most of the same symptoms and respond similarly to similar treatments; which is not much at all. Fatigue seems to be the primary symptom of CFS, while pain is the primary symptom in FM.
Epstein Barr Virus: EBV is likely one possible underlying cause of FM and CFS. It’s an infection that never leaves the body and is said to be capable of reactivation, causing FM. This virus is difficult to treat and even more difficult to eliminate from the body, making it a likely lifelong causal effect to FM.
Mononucleosis: Mono is a fairly common virus that first appears like FM. It is said to be caused by EBV and once you get it you will carry the virus for life and it may activate periodically, possibly not making you sick. The symptoms seem more on the line of the infection symptoms like a sore throat, fever, weakness and fatigue. There’s nothing really you can do, and it will go away on its own; typically.
Arthritis: Arthritis is a disease of the joint involving inflammation; one of the primary symptoms not typically found in FM. Physicians always look to rule out arthritis on their way to diagnosing you. Many people with FM also have some degree of arthritis, and many of those are treatable. There are over 100 types of arthritis identified so far.
Lupus: Lupus is an auto immune disease where the immune system attacks the body. The symptoms can be overwhelming and the damage can be devastating. There is a known link to EBV and women are 9 times more likely than men to develop the illness. Like FM, it is said to be difficult to diagnose.