Ankylosing Spondylitis - Roni

[Guest guest]

Roni

– show this to your mother – would she read it?

Carol

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Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disorder. It is also an autoimmune disease. It can affect joints, spine or hips.

One of the most impressive researchers on AS is J.

O. Hunter, M.D. He refers to AS as

an “enterometabolic disorder”. This simply means that the problem is caused

by toxicity transmitted from the intestinal tract. For example, a parasitic bacteria such as a

toxic form of E. coli, can affect the immune system in such a way as to

aggravate symptoms of arthritis and specifically ankylosing

spondylitis (Bland, The 20-Day...., p.128).

Inflammatory

conditions in general and specifically AS develop when the intestinal lumen

becomes damaged, either due to malnutrition or infection, bacteria can be

transferred across it into the bloodstream.

The barrier of defense in the intestinal tract becomes so compromised

that it can’t even prevent bacteria from attacking the liver. The bacterial attack usually occurs when the

intestinal tract is severely compromised, but it indicates how important a

defensive barrier the intestinal lining represents in defending against serious

illness.

A

recent study of hundreds of patients found gut inflammation and leaky gut

syndrome in more than 80 percent of those with forms of reactive

arthritis.

This

association was particularly true of patients with ankylosing

spondylitis (Mielants H,

et. al., “Ilecolonoscopic Findings in Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies,”

British Journal of Rheumatology, Vol. 27, pp. 95-105, 1988). Rheumatologists at the Health

Sciences Center

at McMaster University

Medical School

in Hamilton, Ontario confirmed that individuals with

increased intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome have an increased risk

of arthritis-like symptoms. (Rooney PJ,

et al., “A Short Review of the Relationship between Intestinal

Permeability and Inflammatory Joint Disease.”

Clinical and Experimental

Rheumatology. Vol.8,

pp. 75-83, 1990).

Dr.

Bland in his book Genetic Nutritioneering believes that

inflammatory conditions, from intestinal inflammation to rheumatoid arthritis,

is a result of a combination of genetic, lifestyle and nutrition factors. Therefore, an anti-inflammation program based

on nutrition and good supplements can prevent and/or reduce inflammatory

conditions.

Following

are nutritional and supplement strategies for inflammatory and autoimmune

conditions:

I. Remove

Offending ”Trigger “ Foods:

•. Remove strong acid producing foods. Examples are beef, chicken and pork.

If you must eat any of these meats, at least

reduce the amounts significantly.

• Remove all dairy products (cheese and

milk). These are also acid

producing

foods. If you can not avoid them, then

buy goat-based cheese (the soft kind) or raw goat milk.

• Avoid grains that are considered high-glycemic foods.

Examples are corn

chips,

instant processed grain mixes (i.e., puffed wheat), cakes, pies, pastry,

processed breakfast cereals, instant grain cereals, white rice, white flour and

white flour pastas.

• Avoid breads containing yeast. It may be prudent to consume types of

bread

made from whole rye and leavened with lactobacillus.

•

Remove hydrogenated oils and margarine

from your diet. Use coconut

butter or

oil (not processed) for cooking. Use

extra virgin olive oil or raw butter for any cold spreads.

• Avoid non-foods (i.e., salt, alcohol,

artificial sweeteners, coffee, tea,

soft

drinks, ....etc.).

• Avoid soy products, except for fermented soy

products (miso, tamari

sauce,

and tempeh).

II.

Your Daily Anti-inflammatory Diet: For

the first 14 days:

Klapper, M.D., recommends this strict diet for the

first 14 days.

Eat

only: (In unlimited amounts)

A) Brown

rice and sweet potatoes (for energy and

protein).

Green and yellow vegetables (for vitamins and minerals).

C) Non-citrus fruits (for vitamins, minerals and fiber).

D) Vegetable soups, broth, and fresh vegetable

juices.

E) Ample pure water, at least a 6 oz. cup or

glass every 1-2 hours.

Reconstruct

your diet after 14 days with “safe” foods. You can add oily fish, such as salmon,

halibut or cod, soft goat cheeses, citrus fruits, all types of vegetables,

nuts, seeds...etc.

When

you add such foods back to your diet, it is a good idea to add one food at a

time, every two days. You need to

observe carefully any effects on your joints and other tissues while keeping a

food diary to record your body’s reaction (if any) to each single

reintroduced food. Note any food that

incites swelling, stiffness, pain in joints, or other adverse bodily

reactions

within 2 days. As your list of “safe

foods” grows, base your

daily

meal choices on foods that cause no problems and that make you feel your best.

III. Repair “Leaky” Gut:

A) Friendly Bacteria supplementation:

Lynne

McFarland, Ph.D......., from the Department of

Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine in

Seattle, WA., reported that oral supplementation of

friendly bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidus can

help recolonize the intestinal tract with good

bacteria which can then force out toxic bacteria (Bland, Genetic....p.

133).

One

of the best friendly bacteria products in the market today is a wide-spectrum

friendly bacteria supplement micro-blended with fructo-oligosaccharides. Following are its ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, Bifidobacterium bifidum,

Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum,

Lactobacillus salivarius, Streptococcus faecium, Streptococcus thermophilus,

Acerola and Rose Hips blend, wild blue green algae,

Jerusalem Artichoke, Lipase, Amylase, Protease, and Cellulase.

Enzyme Therapy:

Digestive

enzyme therapy is used to improve the breakdown and assimilation of food

nutrients, reduce stress on the gastrointestinal mucous, help maintain normal

body pH levels, detoxify the body, promote the growth of healthy intestinal

flora, and strengthen the body as a whole.

Systemic

enzyme therapy is used to reduce inflammation and stimulate the immune

system. Enzymes improve circulation,

help speed tissue repair, bring nutrients to the damaged area, and remove waste

products.

One

of the best enzyme products in the market today is a wide-spectrum blend of 12

active enzymes with digestive-enhancing ingredients such as blue green algae

(high mineral food), fennel, ginger and cayenne pepper.

C) High quality dietary fiber:

To

maintain intestinal hygiene, you need about 35 to 40 grams of different fiber

sources everyday (i.e., bran, cellulose, lignin, pectin, etc.), all found in

different organically grown, ripe seasonal fruits, seeds, whole grains, and vegetables. Dietary fiber helps improve the production of

short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Dietary fiber is fermented into SCFAs by friendly bacteria like acidophilus and bifidus. One of the

best fiber sources is from brown rice and it has no adverse reactions in the

intestinal tract. Rice has both the

insoluble and soluble fiber, which friendly bacteria ferment to SCFAs. SCFAs nourishes

the critical intestinal lining.

Another

source of good fiber is flax seed.

Besides being a well-rounded source of both the insoluble and soluble

fibers, flax contains another component called lignans. Lignans have

antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties (grind flax seed

immediately before you eat it).

IV.

Enhance Natural Anti-Inflammatory Processes Through

Whole Food

Supplements:

A) Wild-crafted blue Green Algae:

A

specific amino acid, L-glutamine, is found to reduce inflammation.

According

to Wilmore, M.D., a trauma care surgeon at Harvard Medical

School, the amino acid

L-glutamine improves intestinal function and can help preserve the gut lumen

and heal a leaky gut (Bland, Genetic ..., p. 135).

One

of the most amazing foods high in L-glutamine is wild-crafted blue green algae

from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon.

It is nearly two-thirds protein which is an unusually high proportion,

particularly for a “plant” food.

Dietarily essential amino acids compose 49.1%

and non dietarily essential amino acids compose

50.9%. Supplementing with 4 capsules a

day gives the body 78 mg. of L. Glutamine.

High amounts of blue green algae are needed to promote healing of a leaky

gut.

In

addition, Wild-crafted blue green algae provides the

vitamins and minerals that can put messages of inflammation to sleep. For example, blue green algae

is high in vitamin B-complex, including vitamin B3 or niacinamide. B3 can

prevent inflammation by reducing immune system activation and the resulting

oxidant stress, which ultimately produces the pain, swelling, redness and

tissue destruction of arthritis (p. 137).

Virgin coconut oil:

Coconut

oil can reduce inflammation. In a study reported

by Dr. S. Sadeghi, coconut oil decreased

pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body.

The researcher suggested that coconut oil might be useful in therapies

involving a number of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases (Sadeghi, S. et al, 1999, Dietary lipids modify the cytokine

response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in

mice.

Immunology 96(3):404).

Coconut

oil has strong antimicrobial effects and can eliminate harmful and toxic

organisms and therefore can prevent/relieve the inflammation and pain they

cause.

To

get a therapeutic benefit from consuming coconut oil, 3 1/2 tablespoons is the

recommended daily intake. You can also

incorporate more coconut meat and milk into your diet. For example, seven ounces of dried coconut

provides 3

1/2 tablespoons of oil.

C) Wheat Sprouts:

Wheat

sprouts as a whole food supplement provides one of the most potent antioxidant

enzymes to fight inflammation; superoxide dismutase (SOD).

Since SOD requires copper and zinc as cofacters

to initiate maximum effectiveness, a whole food supplement that combines other

foods high in minerals would be the best type of supplement. We recommend a whole food antioxidant made of organic

wheat sprouts, blue green algae and red beta algae (dunaliella

salina).

Nutrition

and the Inflammation Process:

If

you have a problem with chronic

arthritis symptoms including ankylosing spondylitis, your first course of action might be to

utilize the above recommended dietary changes and whole food supplements. Look for ways as to how your diet and

lifestyle can interrelate to reduce the outcome of inflammation. By modifying your diet and lifestyle, you may

be able to realize considerable improvements in your body’s immune system

function and thereby lower the level of “alarm substances”

traveling in your bloodstream that trigger inflammation.

References:

Bland. The 20-day Rejuvenation Diet

Program.

Bland. Genetic Nutritioneering.

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Organic, wholefood, supplements provide

nutrients essential for the

health of people, pets and plants. http://www.bluegreensolutions.com

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