Lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and depression share a few common connections. Firstly, they affect more women than men, and secondly, most of these conditions are considered autoimmune disorders or diseases.
Autoimmunity is an epidemic impacting more Americans than either cancer or heart disease. Around 75 million people are suffering from it, resulting in worsening fatigue, pain, and brain fog. Most of these conditions can be relieved, and some possibly cured, by a change of diet.
The diet and disease connection
Dr. Terry Wahls, a former MS sufferer, credits her recovery to an anti-disease diet that provided her body with the correct building blocks – vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fats – needed for life. But that was just the first step. She also removed foods that contained “anti-nutrients.”
Anti-nutrients exacerbate inflammation in the body (the root cause of many diseases). They can lead to fatigue, brain fog, and other random and varied symptoms, making autoimmune diseases difficult to diagnose.
Three of the most problematic anti-nutrients are phytates, leptins, and sugar.
Phytates bind minerals, making them less absorbable and increasing inflammation. Lectins have a similar effect, as they “stick” to your intestines and keep nutrients out. The foods highest in phytates and leptins are grains and legumes.
These foods are excluded from the paleo diet, which focuses on suppressing inflammation and enhancing the power of your immune system. This is why the paleo diet is considered the perfect anti-disease diet.
Carbs, grains, and sugar
Sugar is the third anti-nutrient and has been linked to inflammation and illness in the body. It has a direct effect on your immune cells. Whenever you eat grains, such as wheat, your body converts it to glucose — a simple sugar.
Macrophages, a type of immune cell, generally fall into two broad categories:
- M2 macrophages are helpful. They nibble cellular debris and release factors that encourage new cell growth and stimulate blood flow
- M1 macrophages are inflammatory. They attack invaders using free radicals and produce proteins that act locally and systemically to ramp up the entire immune system to high-alert status. In doing so, they recruit other types of immune cells to participate in unhealthy behavior.
The overproduction of proteins responsible for importing glucose into cells leads to excessive uptake of glucose by macrophages in the mitochondria. This ramps up the immune system and causes the immune cells to attack your own body by creating an autoimmune response.
Celiac sufferers have to steer clear of gluten-containing grains completely. Grains worsen the disease symptoms and can be detrimental. Gluten intolerance displays similar symptoms and can also be aggravated by grains.
Though every autoimmune disease or disorder isn’t the same, it’s very likely most are affected by the dual enemies of grains and sugar and their impact on the immune system.
The paleo diet may well be the ultimate anti-disease diet for women. Furthermore, it could be the perfect diet for anyone who wants to maintain a healthy, disease-free future.
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