FOCUS ON: AUTOIMMUNE€¦ · in terms of autoimmune conditions is particularly interesting, not...
Transcript of FOCUS ON: AUTOIMMUNE€¦ · in terms of autoimmune conditions is particularly interesting, not...
FOCUS ON: AUTOIMMUNE
DAVID PERLMUTTER, MD
2
From The Desk of Dr. Perlmutter
Articles
How Gut Bacteria Protect The Brain
InflammationTodayMeansBrainShrinkageTomorrow
GutInflammationAffectstheBrain
RebalancetheGut,RebalancetheImmuneSystem
TheMicrobiome–ImplicationsforGlobalHealth
TheRealReasonGMOMatters
The Empowering Neurologist
DavidPerlmutter,MD&Dr.AmyMyers
DavidPerlmutter,MD&Dr.SusanBlum
About The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan
3
4
6
7
11
12
16
18
20
22
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
ANoteBeforeReadingNormallywethinkofourimmunesystemasprotectingourbodyfromeverydayconcernsliketheflu,orseriousinfectionsanddiseases.Butdidyouknowthatthehealthofourimmunesystemcanalsoimpactthehealthofourbrains?
It’safact.
DuringtheBetrayalSolutionyou’regoingtolearnallaboutthisandtherolethatinflammation,immuneregulation,andthehealthofourgutmicrobiomeplaysinouroverallhealth.
Whilethismayseemoverwhelming,thismeansthatscienceispoisedtorevealpowerfulnewtreatmentsandpreventionstrategies,asitrelatestoautoimmunity.Inthepagesthatfollow,you’lldiscoversomeofthelatestresearchonallofthesesubjects,butifIcangiveyouonepieceofadvicetotakeawayfromthisall,itwouldbethis:healthbeginswiththefoodyoueat.
Whenyou’vefinishedreading,pleasedovisitmywebsite tolearnmoreabouthowwecansupporthealthyimmunefunctionwithproperlifestylechoices.I’llcontinuetoscourmedicaljournalsforthelatestresearch,andhelpyouunderstandthesimplestepswecanalltaketolivelong,healthylives.
FROM THE DESK OF DR. PERLMUTTER
4
How Gut Bacteria Protect The Brain
Doyouknowabouttheblood-brainbarrier?Theblood-brainbarrier(BBB)actsasagatekeeper,protectingthebrainfromvarioustoxicelements,whileallowingtheentranceofvariouslife-sustainingnutrientslikewater,aminoacids,andgases,thatareessentialforthefunctionofthebrain.Itisformedbycellsthatlinethecapillariesandareconnectedbywhatarecalled“tightjunctions,”quitesimilartothetightjunctionsinthecellsthatlinethegut.
AnynumberofbraindisordersisassociatedwithbreakdownoftheBBB,includinginfections,andevencancer.Assuch,scientistshaveaggressivelystudiedtheBBBtodeterminespecificallywhatleadstoincreasedpermeabilityand,perhapsmostimportantly,whatcanbedonetoreduce
permeability.Inotherwords,what
canbedonetoreestablishthebarrier,andprotectthebrain.
InastunningresearchinthejournalScience Translational Medicine,researchersattheKarolinskaInstituteinStockholmstudiedthebloodbrainbarrierinmicethatwere“germ-free.”Thatmeansthatthemiceusedinthisexperimentdidnothavebacterialivingwithintheirintestines.Usinghighlysophisticatedbrain-scanningtechnology,theresearchersdemonstratedthatthebloodbrainbarrierinthesemicewassignificantlycompromised,basicallyasituationofwhatwemaycalla“leakybrain,”andthisleakinessofthebarrierpersistedintoadulthood.
Evenmorecompellingwastheirfindingthatwhenthesemicereceivedafecaltransfer,meaningthattheirintestineswereinoculatedwiththefecal
materialincludingbacteriafromahealthymouse,the
permeabilityofthebloodbrainbarrierwasmarkedlyimproved.
Firstly,thisresearchistrulygroundbreaking.Theimplicationsofbeingabletomanipulatethehealthofthebloodbrainbarrierbymakingchangesinthegutbacteriaofferup,forthefirsttime,apowerfultherapeutictoolthatmayhaveincrediblywideapplicationinbrain
44
5
disorders.ProfessorSvenPettersson,theprincipalinvestigatorinvolvedinthestudywasquotedinScienceDailyasstating:
Given that the microbiome composition and diversity change over time, it is tempting to speculate that the blood-brain barrier integrity also may fluctuate depending on the microbiome. This knowledge may be used to develop new ways for opening the blood-brain-barrier to increase the efficacy of the brain cancer drugs and for the design of treatment regimes that strengthens the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.
Second,thisresearchaddsfurtherevidencetothenotionthatawidearrayofhumanhealthissuesmaywelldependuponthediversityandcomplexityofthearrayofbacteriathatliveswithinthegut,knownasourmicrobiome.
Itisveryhumblingtoconsiderthatwhatseemstobeemergingasourmostpowerfulleveragepoint,intermsoftreatingavarietyofdiseasestates,maywellrestinthehandsofthehundredtrillionbacteriathatconsiderourbodiestheirhome.ThesearethefundamentalsofanewhorizoninmedicinethatareexploredinmybookBrainMaker.
55
6
InflammationTodayMeans BrainShrinkageTomorrow
AsIhaveemphasizedoverthepastdecade,thefundamentalmechanismthatunderliesneurodegenerativeconditions,includingAlzheimer’sdisease,Parkinson’sdisease,multiplesclerosis,andotherissues(thinkdiabetes,coronaryarterydisease,andevencancer),istheprocessofinflammation.We’vegottodoeverythingwecantobringinflammationundercontrol.Dietarychoiceslikelimitingsugarandcarbohydrates,avoidinggluten,eliminatingvegetableoils(cornoil,sunfloweroil),increasingintakeofhealthfulfats(oliveoil,avocadooil,nutsandseeds),andfavoringfiber-richfoods,areallfundamentalbuildingblocksofalifestylethathelpstoreducetheriskforexcessinflammation.
Weknowthatthereisahigherlevelofthechemicalsthatmediateinflammationinthebloodofindividualswithhigherbloodsugar,causedbymanyofthepoorchoicesoutlinedabove.Again,higherbloodsugarcorrelateswithhigherlevelsofinflammation.
Degreeofinflammationis,toasignificantamount,determinedbythehealthand
diversityofgutbacteria.Soissuesthatthreatengutbacterialdiversity,likestress,artificialsweeteners,andacid-blockingmedications,pavethewayforincreasinginflammation.Thisthreatensyourlong-termhealthybyraisingyourriskofvirtually
allthosechronicdegenerativeconditionsyoudon’twantto
get.
Itdoesn’tmakesensetowaituntilyou’rehavinganissuewithoneofthesediseasestobeginaprogramdesignedtoreduceinflammation.Thisnotionwaspowerfully
supportedinarecentstudy
publishedinthejournalNeurology.Inthisreport,
researchersfrommultipleinstitutionsendeavoredto
determineifinflammationinmidlifewouldhaveanyconsequencesforthebrainlaterinlife.
Theystudiedagroupof1,633participants(withanaverageageof53)bylookingattheirbloodlevelsforvariousmarkersofinflammation.Thesefiveinflammatorymarkerswerecompiledintowhatwascalledthe“inflammatorycompositescore.”
7
After24years,theparticipantsunderwentaspecialbrainscantomeasurethesizeofvariousareasofthebrain.Thestudyrevealedamarkedcorrelationbetweenmidlifeelevationofinflammatorymarkersandreductioninsizeofkeybrainareas,includingthehippocampus,thebrain’smemorycenter.Therelationshipbetweentheseinflammatorymarkersandshrinkageofthebrainlaterinlifewasmodifiedbyageandraceinthatyoungerparticipants,aswellasCaucasianparticipants,withhigherlevelsofinflammationmarkersinmidlifeweremorelikelytoshowreducedbrainvolumesduringthefollow-up.
Theauthorsconcluded:
“Our prospective findings provide evidence for what may be an early contributory role of systemic inflammation
in neurodegeneration and cognitive aging.” The important take-home message here is in line with John Kennedy’s statement: ‘The time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining.’
Thatmeansthatweshouldbedoingeverythingwecantoreduceinflammationtoday,longbeforesomechronicdegenerativeconditionmanifests.Inthisstudytherewasaclearcorrelationbetweenelevationofmarkersofinflammationandriskforshrinkageofthebrain,andwhowantsthat?Thisiswhatpreventivemedicineisallabout.It’saboutdoingtherightthingstodaytopavethewayforahealthiertomorrow.
77
8
GutInflammation AffectstheBrain
Thefundamentalmechanismthatunderliessuchseeminglydisparateissuesasautism,Alzheimer’sdisease,Parkinson’sdisease,multiplesclerosis,andvariousotherneurodegenerativeconditions,istheprocessofinflammation.
Butitnowlooksasifinflammationmayactuallybegininthegutandsubsequentlyaffectthebrainasadownstreammechanism.InasubmissiontotheJournalofNeuroinflammation,researchersatCedars-SinaiMedicalCenterinLosAngelesreportedonafascinatingexperiment.
Usingalaboratorymouse,theyadministeredachemical,dextransodiumsulfate(DSS),intothedrinkingwaterofsomeoftheanimals.Theythenexaminedthebrainsoftheseanimalsatvarioustimes,upto26daysafterthechemicalwasplacedinthewater.DSSwasusedbecauseitspecificallycausesgutinflammation.
Whattheresearchersdiscoveredwas,infact,quiteprofound.First,theydemonstrateddramaticevidenceofgutinflammationfollowingexposuretoDSS;therewasanincreaseininflammatorycellsintheintestinallining.
Whatwasmorecompelling,however,iswhatwentoninthebrainsoftheseanimals.Thescientistsfoundthattherewasfirstanincreaseinthechemicalmediatorsofinflammation,IL-6andIL-1beta,followedbyactivationofthebrain’sinflammatory
cells,calledmicroglia.
Evenmorecompellingwaswhattheyfoundintheanimals’brainmemorycenter.Thisareaofthebrain,thehippocampus,playsarolenotonlyinmemorybutalsoinregulationofmood.Normally,itisfairlystraightforwardtodemonstratepersistentgrowthofnewbraincellsinthehippocampusinthemousebrain(asitisinhumans).However,wheninflammationinthegutwasbroughtonbyadministrationofDSS,therewasadramaticreductioninthegrowthofnewbraincellsintheanimalsinwhichinflammationhadbeeninduced.
Notonlywasthereareductioninthegrowthofnewbraincells,butinadditiontherewasareductioninthedifferentiationofthebrainstemcellsintofully-functioningneurons.
Theimplicationsofthisstudyarebreathtaking.Notonlydoesitshedimportantlightontheexplanationastowhyindividualswithinflammatoryboweldiseasearefrequentlycompromisedwithrespecttocognitivefunctionaswellasmood,butitfurtherextendsourunderstandingofthepivotalroleofgut-relatedissues,inthiscaseinflammation,astheyimpactthebrain.
It’stimethatwebeginlookinginearnestoutsideofthebrainforcluestoourmostperniciousbrainmaladies.Byandlarge,researchershavecomeupfairlyempty-
9
handedwhenlookingonlyatthebraininwhentryingtoexplainmechanisticallywhatgoesoninthingslikeAlzheimer’sdiseaseandParkinson’sdisease.
Iadmitthatthisisananimalstudyandthatitiscertainlyinappropriatetoextrapolatetooaggressivelyfromtheresults.Nonetheless,wearemovingforwardwith
9
anewconceptofbrainhealthanddisease,andtheseresearchersaretobepraisedforbringingusthisvaluableinformation.
10
11
Rebalance the Gut, RebalancetheImmuneSystem
Itisveryexcitingtoseetheincredibleincreaseinscientificresearchbeingreleasedthatrelatesgutissuestovarioushealthproblemselsewhereinthebody.Theresearchthatexploresthisrelationshipintermsofautoimmuneconditionsisparticularlyinteresting,notjustbecauseitlinksgut-relatedproblemstochangesinimmunebalance,butintermsofhowthisnewunderstandingmightopenthedoorfornewtreatmentsforthesechallengingconditions.
In a recentissueofthejournalNeurotherapeutics,researchersembarkedontheirstudywiththeacceptedpremisethatintestinalpermeability(leakinessofthegut)hasbeenwidelyevaluatedintermsofitsrelationshiptovariousformsofinflammatoryboweldisease,aswellasceliacdisease,andthatimbalancesinthegutbacteriaareinvolvedinthisrelationship.
Theyalsodescribedthewell-knownrelationshipbetweenanautoimmune,inflammatoryconditionofthebowel,Crohn’sdisease,andmultiplesclerosis(MS).Bothoftheseconditionsarenowcharacterizedbyincreasedpermeability,orleakiness,ofthegut.
Withthisunderstandingasabackground,theresearchersmovedforwardandpostulatedthatperhapssomeoftheeffectivenessofvariousfirst-lineoralmedicationsthathaveprovenusefulinMSmayactuallyowesomeoftheir
effectivenesstothefactthattheyhelpwithreducinggutpermeability,possiblythroughchangesbroughtaboutbythegutbacteria.
Icanassureyouthatonlyafewyearsago,theseideaswouldnothavebeenanythingthatmainstreamsciencewouldhaveconsidered.Wehavecertainlycomeaverylongwayinappreciatingtheimportantroleofthegut,andspecificallythebalanceofgutbacteriaandregulationofgutpermeability,intermsofitsroleinautoimmunity,andkeepinginflammationinacheck.
Ihavenodoubt,movingforward,thatwewillsoonseethedevelopmentofpharmaceuticalinterventionsforMS,aswellasotherautoimmuneconditions,thatspecificallytargetrehabilitationofthegutbacteriatobringaboutreductioningutpermeabilityandbalancingoftheimmunesystem.Thiswillbeamanifestationofholisticmedicinefinallyenteringthemainstream,wherebyitbecomescommonlyacceptedthateventsinonepartofthebodycanclearlyaffectthehealthofanotherarea.
Truthfully,thisunderstandingoftheinterrelationshipsbetweenseeminglydisparatepartsofthebodyhasbeenhowmedicinehasbeenpracticedforcenturies.Whatablessingthatwearefinallyembracingthisunderstandingonceagain.
12
TheMicrobiome– ImplicationsforGlobalHealth
Whatsciencehasrevealedoverthepastdecadeabouttheroleourresidentmicrobesplayinkeepingushealthyhastrulybeenremarkable.It’snowclearthatthemorethan100trillionmicrobeslivingonandwithinusare,momenttomoment,playingafundamentalroleinvirtuallyeverysystemwithinthehumanbody.Whowouldhaveconceivedthatresearchwouldhaverevealed,forexample,thatthebacterialivingwithinthecolonarehelpingshapeourmood,regulatingourappetite,manufacturinghealth-sustainingvitamins,controllingourimmunesystemandinflammation,andeveninfluencingtheexpressionofourDNA?
Thisexpandingscienceiscompelling,humbling,and,atthesametime,empowering,aswenowarebeginningtomakerealinroadsintounderstandinghowchangesinthemicrobiome(thecollectionofthemicrobes,theirgeneticmaterial,andthemetabolicproductstheycreate)affecthealth,diseaseresistanceandlongevity.
It’scertainlyclearthatsomanyofourlifestylechoices,includingdiet,sleep,exercise,nutritionalsupplements,managingstress,socializing,etc.,influenceourstateofhealth.Andovertheyears,studieshaveidentifiedthedirectmechanismswherebythesefactorsinfluencedhealth,forbetterorworse.
Thesedayshowever,weareseeingaproliferationofresearchthatseeksto
explainhowtheseimportantfactorsinfluencehealthasseenthroughthelensofthemicrobiome.So,inasense,thisisatwo-stepprocess.Lifestylechoicesaffectthehealthofourresidentmicrobes,andtheyinturninfluenceourhealth.
Hippocratesiscreditedwithstating,“Alldiseasebeginsinthegut.”Andwhilethisdictumcertainlydoesn’taccountforcasesliketrauma,asitrelatestosomanyofourmoderndiseases,it’swellontrack.Changesinthegutbacteriaare,forexample,stronglyrelatedtochronicdegenerativediseases(thinkAlzheimer’sdisease,osteoporosis,type2diabetes,andcoronaryarterydisease),which,asaclassification,havebeendeterminedbytheWorldHealthOrganizationtorepresentthenumberonecauseofdeathontheplanet,surpassinginfectiousdiseases,trauma,andevenwar.
Thismeansthatthestateofhealthofthehumanmicrobiomeisdirectlyinvolvedintheglobe’sleadingcauseofdeath.
Intermsofnurturingthegutbacteriatopreventtheseailments,withoutadoubtthemostimportantconsiderationisfood.Ourfoodchoiceshaveanoverridingimpactonthehealth,diversity,andproductivityofourresidentmicrobes.Unquestionably,themostimportanttaskforeachofusistosupplyourbacteriawithprebiotic fiber,theuniquetypeofdietaryfiberthatisnotdigestedbyushumans,butallowsourmicrobestothrive.Foodsrichinthis
12
13
specialfiberincludedandeliongreens,garlic,onions,leeks,chicoryroot,Jerusalemartichoke,asparagus,andmanyotherfruitsandvegetables.Healthfoodstoresarehelpfulforthosewhomaynotbeeatingenoughprebiotic-richfoodsbysupplyingeffectiveprebioticsupplementsderivedfromnaturalsourceslikeacaciagumandbaobabfruit.
It’salsoimportanttoembracethefactthatsomanyofourday-to-daychoicescanseriouslythreatenthehealthofthemicrobiomeand,assuch,openthedoortothreateninghealthissues.Forexample,Frenchresearchersshowedastrongrelationshipbetweentheconsumptionofartificially-sweetenedbeveragesandriskfordevelopingtype-2diabetes.Thismassive2013studyevaluatedthedietsofcloseto70,000women,followingthemfor14years.Thescientistsdiscoveredthat,comparedtothosenotconsumingsoda,thosewhodrankartificiallysweetenedbeverageshadabouta200%increasedriskforbecomingdiabetic,andthisresultwasfarhigherthantheriskforthosewomendrinkingthesugarsweetenedbeverages(34%).[i]
Thefollowingyear,Israeliresearcherswentabouttryingtounderstandthesefindings.Intheirstudy,theydemonstrateddramaticchangesoccurringinthemicrobiomesofbothhumansandanimalsinducedbyartificialsweetenersalongwithimportantmetabolicchangesspecificallyrelatedtoglucosetolerance,thehallmarkofdiabetes.Otherissuesthehumansubjectsexperiencedincludedweight
gain,increasedcentralobesity,higherfastingbloodsugar,aswellaselevationofHbA1C,amarkerofaveragebloodsugar.Evenmoreintriguingwastheresearchers’
demonstrationthattransferringhumanfecalmicrobialmaterial
tonormallaboratoryanimalsalmostimmediatelyaffectedtheirbloodsugars,asisseenindiabetics.Theauthorsconcluded:
Artificial sweeteners were extensively
introduced into our diets with the
intention of reducing caloric intake and
normalizing blood glucose levels without compromising the human ‘sweet tooth’. Together with other major shifts that occurred in human nutrition, this increase in (non-caloric sweeteners) consumption coincides with the dramatic increase in the obesity and diabetes epidemics. Our findings suggest that (non-caloric sweeteners) may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.[ii]
14
Americanresearchersstudiedcloseto4,000adultsubjectsfor9yearsandshowedadirectdoseresponserelationshipbetweentheconsumptionofdietdrinksandobesity.Thismeansthatthemoredietdrinkswereconsumed,themoreweightwasgained.[iii]
It’simportanttounderstandthevastimplicationsofthesestudies.Thesealterationsinthemicrobiomethatenhancemetabolicchangesaffectingthingslikeglucosebalanceandbodyfatareofgreatconcernasjustthesetwofactorsalonehavebeenassociatedwithincreasedriskforalargelistofhealthissuesincludingcancer,heartdisease,osteoporosis,depression,andevenAlzheimer’sdisease(seefurtherdown).Sothehealthimplicationsrelatedtodamagingthemicrobiomewithartificialsweetenersgowellbeyonddiabetes.
It’snowclearthatdementia,specificallyAlzheimer’sdementia.mayalsoshareinthisrelationship.Bostonresearchers,publishinginthejournalStroke,followed1,484elderlyindividualsfor10years.Theirevaluationsincludednotonlyfrequenttestingoftheirbrainfunction,butalsokeepingtrackoftheirdietsaspartoftheFraminghamHeartStudy.TheresultsofthisenduringprojectrevealedanincreasedriskforAlzheimer’sdisease,nearly3-fold,inchronicconsumersofartificially-sweetenedbeverages.Interestingly,strokeriskwasincreasedalmostasmuch.Moreover,therewasnoincreasedriskofstrokeorAlzheimer’sdiseaseinthosewhoconsumedsugar-sweetenedbeverages.Intheirconclusion,theauthorsexplainedtheirfindingsbystating:
Artificial sweeteners have been shown to cause glucose
intolerance in mice by altering gut microbiota and are associated with dysbiosis (negative changes in the gut bacteria) and glucose intolerance in humans.[iv]
Thisisimportantsincediabeteshasbeenassociatedwithasmuchasa4-foldincreaseinriskforthedevelopmentofAlzheimer’sdisease.
Further,todate,effortsbypharmaceuticalcompaniestodevelopanymeaningfultreatmentforAlzheimer’sdiseasehavecomeupempty-handed.Thisistosaythatthereiscurrentlyno meaningfully effective treatment for Alzheimer’s,nowaffectingsome40millionpeoplearoundtheglobe.AsDr.MichaelSchnaiderBeerirecentlystatedinthejournalNeurology:
Despite great scientific efforts to find treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, only 5 medications are marketed, with limited beneficial effects, on a limited number of patients, without modification of the disease course.[v]
Thisfactshouldreallyencourageustotakeaseriouslookatfactorsknowntobeassociatedwithincreasedriskforthisdisease.Anditseemsprettyclearthatartificialsweeteners,likelybyvirtueoftheirdamagingeffectsonthemicrobiome,showstrongassociation.
Whileit’sinstructivetoexplorehowdietary
15
choicesliketheuseofartificialsweetenersmayconnecttoriskforserioushealthissuesthroughtheireffectsonthemicrobiome,theupsideofthesefindingsisthattheywillundoubtedlyspurresearchthatinvestigateshowthemicrobiome,oncedamaged,mayberestored.Thisrepresentsaverynewplayingfieldformedicalresearchersthatisrepletewithhugepotential,especiallyasitrelatestothesecompellingchronicdegenerativeconditions.
[i]GuyFagherazzi,,etal.,Consumptionofartificiallyandsugar-sweetenedbeveragesandincidenttype2diabetesintheEtudeEpidémiologiqueauprèsdesfemmesdelaMutuelleGénéraledel’EducationNationale–EuropeanProspectiveInvestigationintoCancerandNutritionCohort.AmJClinNutr2013;97:517–23
[ii]SuezJ,KoremT,etal.Artificialsweetenersinduceglucoseintolerancebyalteringthegutmicrobiota.Nature.2014;514:181–186
[iii]SharonP.Fowler,etal.,FuelingtheObesityEpidemic?ArtificiallySweetenedBeverageUseandLong-termWeightGain.Epidemiology.Obesity(2008)16,1894–1900
[iv]MatthewP.Pase,etal.Sugar-andArtificiallySweetenedBeveragesandtheRisksofIncidentStrokeandDementiaAProspectiveCohortStudy.Stroke.May,2017;48
[v]MichaelSchnaiderBeeri.BrainBDNFexpressionasabiomarkerforcognitivereserveagainstdiseaseprogression.Neurology,2016Feb23;86(8):702-3
16
TheRealReason GMOMatters
WhenIlecturetothegeneralpublic,aswellastohealthcareprofessionals,Ioftenaskthequestion,“HowdoyoufeelaboutGMOfoods?”Theresultsarealmostuniversallynegative.Generally,theaudiencescometotheconclusionthat,forwhateverreason,GMOfoodsare“bad.”
Mynextquestionprobesabitfurther:why? It’satthatpointthatveryfewhandsareraised.Peoplegenerallyhavethesensethatthere’ssomethingthreateningandsinisteraboutGMOfoods,but,forthemostpart,theydon’tknowwhy.
Solet’stakeastepback.I’dliketoexplorewhyitisthatweshouldindeeddoeverythingpossibletoavoidGMOfoods.
First,let’stakealookatthescopeoftheissue.Atleast90%ofthecanola,cotton,corn,soy,andsugarbeetssoldinUnitedStatescomefromseedsthathavebeengeneticallyengineered.Themainreasonthatthesecropsaregeneticallyengineeredistomakethemresistanttoherbicides.Thatmeansfarmerscanspraythesecropstokillweeds,andbecauseofgeneticengineering,thecropsthemselvesarenotaffectedbythepoison.Nonetheless,residuesofthepoisonremaininthefood,whichisthenconsumedacrossourcountry.MypointisthatmostoftheagriculturalproductsconsumedbyAmericanscomefromgeneticallyengineeredseedsandhaveresiduesofherbicides.
Themostcommonlyusedherbicide,bothinAmericaandglobally,isglyphosate.Thatisthechemicalnameoftheactiveingredientinthemorefamiliarherbicide,Roundup®.Infact,thesegeneticallymodifiedseedsaretypicallycalled“Roundup®-resistant”seeds,playinguponthismuchmorefamiliarname.
TheconnectionIammaking,andthatIwantyoutomake,isthatwhenyouseeagriculturalproductsthatdonotcarrythe“non-GMO”designation,thereasontheyarelikelyproblematicisbecauseoftheresidualherbicideglyphosate.
Dr.StephanieSeneff,ahighlyregardedM.I.T.researcher,haspublishedextensivelyregardingthedangersofglyphosate.Shehasmadeitclearthatthisdangerousherbicidethreatensthehumanmicrobiome.Morerecentlyshehascalledour attention to howreadily
17
glyphosateleadstotheformationofcancercells.Beyondherwork,it’sveryimportanttorememberthattheWorldHealthOrganizationrecentlylabeledglyphosateasbeing“probablycarcinogenic”inhumans.
Dr.Seneff,apastguestonTheEmpoweringNeurologist,hasfoundthatglyphosatehassanumberofdangerouseffectsonbiologicalsystemsthatmaystronglyrelatetoitsabilitytoformcanceroustumors.TheseincludedirectdamagetoDNA,interruptionofaminoacidbalance,removaloftraceminerals,aswellasimpairmentofdetoxification.Assherecentlystated:
Epidemiological evidence supports strong temporal correlations between glyphosate usage on crops and a multitude of cancers that are reaching epidemic proportions, including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer and myeloid leukaemia.
It’sbeenestimatedthatapproximately92%ofAmericansareinfavorofGMOlabeling.Thismakessense.Weabsolutelyshouldknowwhetherornotwearebuyingandconsumingfoodsthatarepotentiallylacedwithacancer-causingagent,glyphosate.Beyondthat,theresurearealotoffoodsandotherconsumableproductsthatarenowlabelednon-GMO,sowecanvotewithourwalletsandsupportthoseproducersandmanufacturersthataredialedintotheimportanceofthisissue.
17
18
DavidPerlmutter,MD &Dr.AmyMyers
DP Thethyroidis,asyoucallit,the“mastergland.”Itcontrolsthemetabolism,asyousay,andeverycellhasthyroidhormonereceptorsonit.Itseemstomethatwe’rehearinganawfullotaboutthyroidproblemsthesedays.HowprevalentisthyroiddisorderinAmericansociety?
AM InAmerica,webelievethatthereareabout27millionpeoplewhohaveit.That’sanestimation.Ithinkit’sprobablyfargreaterthanthat.Andofthose27million,60%don’tevenrealizetheyhaveit.Ithinkit’sanepidemicrightnow,andconventionalmedicinedoesn’tdoagreatjobofdetectingit.Becauseofthat,aswellasmanyenvironmentalfactors,we’reinanepidemicstatewiththethyroid.Ibetthere’snotasingle[reader]outtherewhodoesn’tknowsomeonewiththyroiddysfunction.
DP YoutoucheduponsomethingIwantedtojumpinto—thepeoplewhomaynotknowabouttheirthyroidproblem,whichmaybethecauseofsomeoftheirissues.Youtalkabouthowsomanypeoplecangotothedoctorandendupwithathyroidbloodtest,athyroidpanel,thatisactuallywithinthenormalrange,andyetstillhavesomesignificantthyroidissues.
AM Allthesepeopleidentifywithanynumberofsymptoms,whetherit’shyperthyroidsymptomsorhypo-,whichisfarmorecommon,andyetthey’vegonetothedoctorandheard,“Oh,we’vecheckedyourthyroid,everything’snormal.”Therearetwocommonwaysforthattobeabsolutelywrong.ThefirstisthatconventionaldoctorsaretypicallyonlycheckingaTSH,orathyroidstimulatinghormone.Thatonlytellsuswhatthepituitary’sdoing.It’sasignaltothethyroid,tellingittoproducemorehormones.It’snotevencheckingwhatthethyroiditselfisactuallydoing.It’sverylimited.
SowhatItypicallycheckisamuchlargerpanel,thatdoesincludeaTSH,butitalsoincludesaT4,afreeT4,afreeT3,areverseT3,andthenIcheckantibodiestopickupwhethertheirthyroidisbeingattackedbytheirimmunesystem.That’scalledGraves’diseasewhenit’shyper,andHashimoto’swhenit’shypo.Themostimportanttest
THE EMPOWERING NEUROLOGIST
18
19
Clickhere to watch
fullinterview
tolookatisafreeT3.Ourfreehormonesaretheonesthatmatter.Whenyou’relookingatatotal,they’reboundtootherproteinsandwecan’tusethem.Butwhenit’safreehormone,it’sabletogointoreceptorsandintoothercells.It’sthatfreeT3thatkeepsuswarm,givesusenergy,keepsusfromhavingbrainfog,andregulateseverythingelseinourbody.
ConventionalmedicineistypicallynotevencheckingfreeT3.
19
20
DavidPerlmutter,MD &Dr.SusanBlum
DPWhentheimmunesystembecomesoveractive,wecandevelopwhat’scalledbottleimmunity,wheretheimmunesystemactuallyreactsagainstourownbodytissue,likethethyroidglandforexample.It’scalledHashimoto’sthyroiditis.CanyoutelluswhatHashimoto’sisallabout?
SBHashimoto’sisconsideredanautoimmunedisease.I’lltellyouaboutthethyroidfirstandthenwe’lltalkaboutautoimmunity.Thethyroidisaglandthatlivesinyourneck,andit’sanendocrineorganthatmakesthyroidhormones,whichareresponsibleforalotofveryimportantfunctionsinourbody.Alotofpeoplewalkintomyofficeandgo,“There’ssomethingwrongwithmythyroid!”It’sacommonmisconceptionthatthisisthesinglethingthatcausesweightgain,hairloss,slowmetabolism,andfatigue—anditdoescauseallthat,butthereareotherthingsthatcausethattoo.That’sthethyroidgland.Whathappensis,there’ssomethingcalledautoimmunity.Anautoimmuneconditioniswhenyourimmunesystemattacksthegland.Yourimmunesystem,ratherthanfightingthebadguys,turnsitsattentiononyourowntissuesandstartsfightingyourowncellsandtissues.Dependingonwherethatattackhappens,andtowhichtissue,that’showyougetthedisease.
IhadHashimoto’sthyroiditis,whichmeansmyimmunesystemwasattackingmythyroidgland.Butthereareotherconditions,asyouknow,likemultiplesclerosis,whentheimmunesystemattacksthebrain,andrheumatoidarthritis,wheretheimmunesystemattacksthejoints.Autoimmunitycanstrikeanytissueinyourbody.
Asafunctionalmedicinedoctorfocusingoncomplexchronicillness,itcrossesallbarriers.Infunctionalmedicine,wedon’tcutthebodyupintopieces,metaphorically.Weseethepersonasawhole.
THE EMPOWERING NEUROLOGIST
20
21
Clickhere to watch
fullinterview
SBStartingfromthetop,thesimplestpreventativemeasuresarelifestyle.Food,right?Whatdoesthegutneed?Thegutneedsalotofvegetablesandfiber,alotofplant-basedmaterial,tofeeditandkeepithappyandhealthy.Inthe1950s,whenwestartedprocessingfoodandtakingalotofthenutrientsoutofit,westoppedfeedingourgoodbacteria,andinstead,westartedeatingalotofprocessedfoods,whichareallfilledwithsugarandsimplecarbohydrates.It’sveryinteresting,they’vedonestudiesthatshowifyoucompletelychangewhatyoueat,yourbacteriacanchangewithinthreedays.Foodhasabigeffectontheflora.That’sthesimplestplacetostart.
21
22
About The Grain Brain WholeLifePlan
It’stimetoturnadviceintoaction.TheGrainBrainWholeLifePlanisyourpractical,comprehensiveempowermentguideforachievingoptimalhealth,preservingbrainvitality,losingweightandreducingyourriskforchronicdiseases.Dr.Perlmutterleveragestheleadingedgeofpublishedscienceonnutritionandwellness,takingthelessonsofGrainBrainandBrainMakertocreateapowerfullyactionableplanforoptimizinghealthandachievingpeakmentalperformance.TheGrainBrainWholeLifePlan–livehappilyeverafter.
Facebook.com/DavidPerlmutterMD Instagram.com/DavidPerlmutter
https://DrPerlmutter.comTwitter.com/DavidPerlmutter