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Anti-inflammation

A healthy GI tract

Believe it or not, reducing inflammation begins in the GI tract. The problem centers on protein digestion. When protein digestion is not complete, strands of amino acids can be absorbed. The body’s immune system, not knowing whether the fragment is a piece of chicken or a bacterium, will attack and destroy it. This especially occurs when the GI tract is not healthy. I am concerned about the current popularity of stomach acid blockers, as stomach acid is necessary for the proper breakdown of proteins. Our production of stomach acid tends to decline anyway with the passing decades of life, while, at the same time, the incidence of stomach distress increases. Something is wrong with this picture.

The nutrients that support a healthy GI tract are Probiotic Powder (or capsules), and fiber. If you have inflammatory disease, or GERD, I would recommend 1 capsule, or ½ teaspoon with each meal until symptoms recede. Once you are on a more even keel, then switch to just once daily.

American diets are woefully short on fiber. We typically eat 10 to 15 grams. It is recommended that we eat 30 grams, yet primitive cultures usually ate 120 to 150 grams daily. Please start slowly, as gas and bloating can be unpleasant if started too quickly. I recommend a scoop of ground-up flax seed, and a heaping tablespoon of Metamucil (or psillium).

The last nutrient for small intestinal health is L-glutamine. This amino acid is the preferred food for the small intestinal villi cells. These cells are in an extremely harsh environment, and, as such, replace themselves every 72 hours. They also must expend energy to absorb all the nutrients that they are required to absorb. They need an incredible amount of energy to do this. These cells do not get their energy from glucose in the blood stream, but from L-glutamine present in the nutrient stream that they are bathed in. When their energy levels are adequate, all is well. When it is low, the cells have difficulty multiplying, resulting in the cells being stretched over greater distances, causing gaps to form between the cells. It is protein fragments entering the body between the cells instead of through them that cause the immune system to attack the fragments. As a result, the immune system is on high alert, all the time. Even worse, any similarity between a normally harmless protein and a protein in the body can begin an autoimmune disease.

Essential fatty acids.

Balancing EFA’s (essential fatty acids) is a crucial part of an anti-inflammatory program. Omega 3 EFAs tend to relax or suppress the immune system, while omega 6 EFAs tend to enhance it. In diets with equal intakes of 3’s and 6’s, all is well, with an immune system that does its job and quits when not needed. American diets are now overwhelmed with omega 3’s. Patients need to balance their omega 3 to 6 ratio by decreasing their intake of omega 6 oils (soy, corn, sunflower, and safflower) and increasing their intake of omega 3 oils (salmon, tuna, cod, halibut, sardines and anchovies), and by taking a teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil or Fish Oil daily.

BCQ

BCQ contains 4 ingredients that work well together in reducing inflammation. Boswellia is the resin from a tree in India, also called frankincense. Bromelain, an extract from pineapples, is another substance to reduce inflammation. Curcumin, the spice of curry, is another. Finally quercetin, found in garlic, onions and apples is a natural antihistamine. The dose of BCQ is between 1 and 10 capsules daily, depending upon the activity of your inflammatory disease.