Did you know that 7 of 10 of the top killers in the U.S. are chronic diseases that are created by inflammation:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
- Strokes
- Lower Respiratory Infections
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung Cancer
- Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2 Diabetes)
- Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias
Every one of these has inflammation as its basis. Many of these are being created by autoimmune problems where the immune system will turn on the body and attack self tissues.
Autoimmune disease is occurring in epidemic proportions and are created by the body reacting to environmental factors.
A Driver of Autoimmune Disease is Food
Food protein that leaks out of the digestive tract (leaky gut syndrome) can cause an inflammatory cascade of events that can lead to formation of antibodies against certain foods.
When a particular food protein is similar to a protein in a tissue in the body, the immune system can believe that it is foreign and attack the food protein but attack the similar body proteins as well.
Another big take home is that inflammation doesn’t just involve one system. There are multiple systems involved: People don’t just have an inflammatory problem or an immune problem. They are not isolated events.
If one body system is having problems, so will others. An example would be someone who takes a lot of B12. If they take too much B12 for too long, it will throw off the other B vitamins inside the body and create problems.
Body systems need to have a balance or homeostasis. If your nervous system isn’t working right, neither will your immune system or endocrine (hormone) system.
The Liver and Leaky Gut Repair
One of the first steps I take with new patients is to clean up the liver since it is the control center of inflammation in the body. The liver is also the number one storage unit of fat in the body.
That is why with our obesity epidemic, we are seeing increasing numbers of people with disease stemming from fatty liver. The liver has to detoxify chemicals and toxins. When it is congested, it can’t perform its many roles flawlessly.
That is why liver inflammation is such a big deal. Obviously, every patient I work with will have their points of emphasis and focus based on the findings in their blood work and lab tests. But, the liver is the foundation of the house. It’s where we begin.
Another point I focus on with new patients is “Gut Repair”. Most people (the vast majority) have what is called a “Leaky Gut” or “Leaky Gut Syndrome“.
Foods that we eat and other environmental toxins can create damage to the inner mucosal membrane that lines the stomach and small intestine (Gut).
The gut has tight junctions that when damaged get loose. Then, food particles leak out of the G.I. tract and get into the lymphatic system and bloodstream. The food particles are seen as foreign to the body by the immune system and people can develop symptoms as a result.
What are Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome?
- Asthma
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Celiac disorder
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Breathing difficulty
- Mucous production such as hacking/coughing
- Headaches
- Dermatological Disorders
- Anxiety
- Fibromyalgia
These are just some of the symptoms, but the list is really endless. Different people will have a vast array of symptoms manifest.
After many of my patients go through my 14 Day Blood Sugar Boot Camp, they splurge by cheating with some food that they really love. Once they make that error, symptoms often show up such as a headache or diarrhea.
That is the body telling them that they are having a response to that type of food. Normally, people eat so much junk that they can eat these foods daily and they don’t recognize that those foods are the reason that they don’t feel good.
Some people say that they don’t have any problems and that they can eat anything that they want without any reactions. What they don’t know is that they have never been “clean”.
Their liver has probably been inflamed and unhealthy since they were a child. So, their definition of “normal” is skewed. They have been eating the same foods their whole life and don’t know what it is to operate on a higher level (mentally and physically).
When they eliminate those foods and are burning “clean” fuel, their bodies are so much less inflamed, when they eat a pro-inflammatory food = kaboom! If that happens to you, your body is speaking to you. Listen to your body.
How do You Heal a Leaky Gut?
Of most importance is to identify food sensitivities and eliminate foods from your diet that are irritating and causing your leaky gut. Stop damaging your mucosal membranes by getting away from the foods that are causing an immune and inflammatory response. Not so hard, right?
One of my favorite formulas for helping seal a leaky gut is Bovine Colostrum. The colostrum I use with my patients is from organic cows that have just delivered. It is very pure and has 40 times the amount of IgG antibodies when compared to human colostrum.
Why is this important? IgG antibodies are able to cross the placenta from a mother to her baby. After a baby is born, breast milk has colostrum in it. Colostrum is what provides a newborn with a really strong immunity.
It’s pretty rare to see a breast fed baby with a cold, virus or bacterial infection. It’s the conferred immunity from the colostrum that is the reason why.
Colostrum Restores Surface Area of Intestinal Villi
You may be thinking, “Dr. Currie, I’m not a baby so why would I need colostrum from a cow?” Well, most people have compromised immune systems as they age and so much of that goes back to what I talked about earlier with a “leaky gut” and lack of gut health.
80% of your immune system is in your gut. Colostrum helps to restore the mucosal membrane lining of the gut which can also help to improve immune system function.
IgG antibodies in the colostrum are in such a high concentration that they also help boost the immune system which can help fight off sickness.
I take it every day. So do many of my patients and just yesterday, a patient told me that she can tell for certain that she has more energy within a short time of taking her colostrum.
It makes sense. If her immune system isn’t having to work as hard, her body energy systems can focus on other things. She said that she can see a huge difference with improved energy.
What about the Flu Shot?
Another really hot topic is the flu shot. The flu shot has been out for 10 years. In its’ best year, it only had a 60% success rate. This year, it was horrible at less than a 20% success rate.
Why not just take steps to be healthier and do something good for your body like organic bovine colostrum which has the antibodies that fight infections? Prevention is key so that you aren’t as likely to get sick in the first place?
Remember, the flu shot has live, attenuated viruses in it. If you take the flu shot, you are allowing someone to inject into your body.
I know that it is a controversial topic but the absolute sickest I have ever been in my life was in the early 1990’s when I was in the United States Air Force. One afternoon, I got a flu shot. After that day, I swore that I would never get another one.
That was before I learned about natural ways of staying healthy such as using colostrum and other natural anti-virals.
Why is Exercise Important for Gut Health?
We all know the health benefits of exercise. The real key is, how do we get ourselves MOVING? Movement is life, stagnation is death.
Exercise IS NOT OPTIONAL. You have to do it.
THE ONLY PATIENTS WHO TRULY RECLAIM AND MAINTAIN HEALTH ARE THE ONES THAT EXERCISE.
Here’s the important point that I want to make right now: Most of my new patients have severe health concerns and are limited in what they can do physically.
In fact, I limit most of my brand new patients to no exercise for the short term until they get stabilized. However, moving into a slow and easy progression of physical activity of some type is a MUST not for some, but for ALL.
The more lean muscle you preserve, the better your body can regulate blood sugar levels. This helps prevent conditions such as insulin resistance.
If you are in a wheelchair and can’t do traditional yoga, then sit in the chair watching the yoga DVD and raise your arms while really focusing on the breathing component of what the instructor is doing, etc…
Everyone can do something and the breathing and oxygenation of your tissues alone can pay huge dividends over time.
What are benefits of Exercise?
Besides just feeling better in general, here are some of the benefits directly associated with exercise:
- stimulates glycogenolysis – the body’s natural way of breaking down and using sugar
- up-regulates hepatic (liver) detoxification
- increases insulin receptors
- increases cortisol receptors (therefore increasing conversion of cortisol – cortisone)
- activates thyroid production
- lipolysis (fat breakdown)
- increases immune function
- promotes lymphatic movement
- stimulates bone growth
- maintains healthy joints
- increases sensitivity of neurotransmitters
DHEA and Exercise
DHEA levels increase up to 10% after exercise. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced by your body’s adrenal glands. It functions as a precursor to male and female sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen which decrease with age.
DHEA increased through exercise has been shown to help the following:
- Strengthens the immune system
- Increases sex drive and performance
- Slows natural changes in the body that come with age
- Provides more energy
- Improves mood and memory
- Builds up bone and muscle strength
I believe that inflammation is the number 1 killer and creator of disease. It is tied to all health problems in one form or another. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
Health is Happiness,
Dr. Keith Currie
