Our Researcher, Sarah Devido has compiled this summary of this new discovery we made in our practice and is now validated via this scientific literature.
Summary of an article from Scientific American, June 2015, Volume 312, No. 6, pgs. 46-49.
Inflammation can stem from something simple as a pimple or whenever tissue is damaged (i.e. from stubbing your toe or more seriously, suffering from a heart attack). When inflammation occurs without the presence of a pathogenic organism, it is called sterile inflammation. When the inflammatory process goes awry, it can contribute to a wide range of seemingly unrelated conditions, from Alzheimer’s Disease to diabetes or various liver conditions.
Scientists recently have made a ground breaking discovery and found that inflammation is not an automatic reaction but requires the active assembly of molecular structures, known as in-flammasomes. Once an inflammasome is built, it releases cytokines. These cytokines induce a short lived inflammatory response of redness, swelling, pain and warmth. After about 18-24 hours, the inflammasome is disassembled. But if an inflammasome is active longer and is not disassembled, various ailments (such as Alzheimer’s and gout) may result. The severity of the ailment will depend on the amount of cytokines produced and the reaction in different tissues to those cytokines.
Surprisingly, many unrelated conditions – such as Alzheimer’s, gout, and heart disease – share the same type of inflammasome. Scientist previously thought these diseases each had a separate mechanism for inflammation. Although these diseases share the same type of inflammasome, they do have their own particular substance that may trigger an inflammasome, e.g. gout (uric acid), heart disease (cholesterol), Alzheimer’s (beta-amyloid), and lung cancer (asbestos). The differences between diseases are caused by the type of initiating trigger signal as well as the location of inflammasome activation and its duration.
Scientists were shocked to find that eating can trigger an inflammatory response. Eating too much at one sitting can cause an inflammatory response. And eating too much over time can cause chronic inflammation. Specifically, certain nutrients such as saturated fats from meat and cheese can activate the formation of inflammasomes. This has opened up a whole new area of research looking at the effects of specific products of digestion on inflammasome activity. The organ most affected by inflammation from overeating is the liver, most likely because it has to process a lot of fatty acids. This can result in fatty liver disease, and even cirrhosis, much like what is seen in alcoholics. As much as a third of obese children have fatty liver disease.
Researchers at Yale were interested to know that because overnutrition can cause inflammation, could undernutrition reduce inflammasome activation. They found two molecules involved in fasting and exercise, beta-hydroxybutrate and lactic acid, can create a cascade of biochemical reactions that turn off the genes involved in triggering inflammasome production.
The author and his researchers have found that adenosine (substance produced when body breaks down ATP) delays the breakdown of inflammasomes. Ironically, adenosine has been used previously as an anti-inflammatory because it counteracts later products of the inflammatory process.
Researchers now agree that many different stimuli – stranger signals, danger signals, and food products- trigger inflammasomes.
- Microbes (parasite, fungus, virus, bacteria)
- Tissue Injury (DNA, RNA, ATP)
- Proteins (Beta-Amyloid)
- Crystal Deposition (Asbestos, Cholesterol, Uric Acid)
- Overnutrition (Fatty Acids)
Drug companies are now looking to develop drugs that either block the production of inflam-masomes altogether or promote their dissassembly in a wide variety of ailments.
Also, they are looking at whether digoxin, a drug to treat heart beat disorders, might decrease inflammation in Alzheimer’s because digoxin inhibits a molecule required for sustained activation of the Alzheimer inflammasome.
In a number of clients, we have reduced chronic inflammation stemming from rheumatoid arthritis, dietary issues, lyme disease, gout, kidney issues and other conditions. We begin by supporting the body with customized food plans aimed at reducing inflammation and creating an alkalized environment for each specific individual. For some, this involves removing foods containing gluten or dairy. For others, foods high in sulfur such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and egg yolks are removed. For those with kidney issues, it might be removing oxalates (spinach, beets, or parsley) or nightshade (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers) vegetables. For some individuals with a problem digesting animal protein, a wildatarian or vegetarian diet is needed to allow the body to heal. A wildatarian diet consists of meat from animals who have been allowed to forage for their natural foods (buffalo, cornish game hen, lamb). Supplements are also added to the individual’s diet to complete biochemical pathways that may be not functioning optimally. In addition, we supplement with a proteolytic enzyme which supports the elimination of inflammasomes. To fur-ther alkalize the body, apple cider vinegar is taken. This combination of supplements and cus-tomized foods allow the body to heal.