Category: Digestive Cancer and Diseases

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease (self-attacking on one’s own immune system) is defined by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus with primarily affecting the lower portion of the small intestine. Nearly 500,000 Americans are affected with usual age of diagnosis between 15-30 years old. Crohn’s disease can develops due to defects in the barrier lining of the small intestine causing mucosal lining issues but is enraged due to an out of control immune response to the antigens attacking the lining.

A compromised small intestine is often seen with those who have Crohn’s disease. An Italian study found that those who supplemented with Zinc three times a day decreased the occurrence of small intestine increased permeability or leaky gut. The intestinal barrier improves in those who supplement with Zinc.  Zinc is a double edged sword because if it is too low or too high it causes immune dysfunction so it is best to have an alternative medicine doctor test and make recommendations. Some food sources of zinc include sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and cashews.

Vitamin D is very important for immune system function. It has been shown to stimulate certain genes and proteins in immune system cells. Several studies have shown strong links between Vitamin D deficiencies and susceptibility to Crohn’s disease as well has ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, eating fruit (avocados are the best) and vegetables, lowering saturated and hydrogenated fat and sugar intake may reduce developing Crohn’s disease. A low fiber diet may be one risk factor for developing Crohn’s, along with certain foods that may aggravate symptoms, such as dairy products, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol and processed wheat items. All foods in the diet should be tested regularly to make sure they are not a source of inflammation.  Omega-3 fatty acids help fight inflammation and reduce the chances of recurrence. The best source of omega-3 is flax and hemp seeds.

Probiotics have many benefits, especially digestive health. Several clinical trials show benefits in the treatment of Crohn’s disease including blocking the effects of harmful bacteria in the gut, by producing antibacterial substances to fight off the bad bacteria. Probiotics compete with harmful bacteria and toxins. Probiotics also have inhibited certain inflammatory proteins and heal the epithelial layers of the intestines, then strengthening the mucosal lining.

Crohn’s disease if not properly managed with natural alternative healing methods can cause chronic inflammation that may lead to small intestine or colon cancer. The key is to completely correct the condition rather than maintaining it with medication. When you treat the cause which are the systems of the body out of balance, then the effect which is the disease can resolve.

Crohn’s disease can be a tremendous burden on one’s health. It can be well controlled and put into remission if the right steps are taken early in the disease. By supplementing with probiotics, food source Zinc and Vitamin D, committing to a plant-based, nutrient rich diet, especially those with rich Omega-3 foods, one can take back control of their health and life. It is important to be pro-active in achieving remission from Crohn’s and knowing ones triggering foods.

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system, and most specifically the small intestine. People suffering from celiac disease have a hyper sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Over time, exposure to gluten in the diet causes damage to the small intestine, inhibiting its ability to absorb nutrients. This can lead to malnutrition in individuals with celiac disease, regardless of how well they are eating. Over time, celiac disease can weaken the intestinal lining, leading to leaky gut syndrome and allowing bacteria, toxins, and waste to “leak” from the intestine into the bloodstream. It is estimated that celiac disease affects 1 in every 100 people, though that number may be significantly higher as there have been very few comprehensive studies of the disorder. Those affected by celiac disease know only too well just how challenging it can be to live with this chronic disorder. But by understanding the condition, and making some shrewd lifestyle choices, it is possible to live well despite a diagnosis of celiac disease.

Causes and Symptoms

There appears to be a genetic component to celiac disease, and the condition tends to run in families. Indeed, people who have a family member who has been diagnosed with the disorder are at a significantly higher risk for developing celiac disease themselves. Like many autoimmune disorders, celiac’s can be triggered by physical stressors, for example surgery, sever viral infection, pregnancy or childbirth. It can also be triggered by severe emotional stress. The most common symptom of celiac disease include chronic abdominal bloating and pain, weight loss, diarrhea, fatigue, anemia and bone pain. Often, celiac’s is misdiagnosed as these symptoms are common to a number of digestive and intestinal disorders.

Treating Celiac Disease

The best treatment for celiac disease is healing the root of the inflammation in the intestinal tract. This is done by balancing the nervous system, hormonal system, digestive and elimination systems, including checking for food sensitivities and parasites and other intestinal pathogens along with adopting a gluten free diet, and sticking to it. Even small amounts of gluten can cause damage to the small intestine. This will mean avoiding all foods containing wheat, barley, rye and oats. Unfortunately, gluten can turn up where it is least expected, and people living with celiac’s will need to train themselves to read product labels carefully. Gluten can be found in many prepared foods, usually used as a starch or stabilizer, and is also found in many over the counter supplements and medications. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that embracing a gluten free diet is easier than it has ever been. Most fresh fruits and vegetables are gluten free, and transitioning to a vegetarian based diet can relieve many of the symptoms of celiac disease. Artichokes, Avocados, eggplant, sweet potatoes, peppers, seeds, nuts, mushrooms….the list goes on and on and all form the basis of a healthy diet for both celiac and non-celiac sufferers.

Remember to Take Your Supplements

Living well with celiac’s is not only about removing gluten from the diet. Typically, people with celiac disease suffer from vitamin deficiencies, so it is vital that they enhance their diet with all natural nutritional supplements. Natural multivitamin and minerals  with the full range of B vitamins should be taken regularly to ensure that all daily nutritional needs are met.

More Good News

The really good news for celiac sufferers is that by balancing these systems of the body, being checked for food sensitivities and removing any parasites, pathogenic bacteria and yeast and following a gluten-free diet they can eliminate most, if not all, of their symptoms. Moreover, the small intestine will begin to repair itself, and further damage can be avoided. Improvements will begin almost immediately, but celiac sufferers should understand that the healing process takes time, and it may take up to two years for the small intestine to fully repair the damage it has sustained.

When you change the environment you change the outcome. All things are possible for those who believe.  Celiac sufferers can find relief form their symptoms and return their bodies to the total health God intended.

Candida albicans is naturally occurring yeast that can be found in the intestinal tract. Candida is normally kept in check by the beneficial probiotic bacteria within the body. When normal levels of probiotic bacteria are diminished by poor diet, or by an over reliance on antibiotics and other drugs, candida albicans is left to grow unchecked leading to chronic fatigue, skin infections, sinus congestion, depression, loss of concentration and immune system stress.

In extreme cases, candida yeast can penetrate the intestinal wall, leaking into the body and triggering the immune system into an overdrive that produces symptoms commonly associated with more serious autoimmune disorders. Many people deal with the chronic symptoms of an overabundance of candida albicans on a daily basis, never knowing what is causing their recurring health problems. Fortunately, by making a few simple changes to their diet, candida sufferers can return their bodies to a natural balance and gain relief from these chronic maladies.

Causes and Symptoms of Candida Yeast Syndrome

Candida syndrome can have many causes. The most common is an improper diet. Too much refined sugar, meats and overly processed grains can lead to a reduction in the healthy probiotic bacteria that keeps candida albicans in check. Certain drugs, such as oral contraceptives, steroids, anti-ulcer medications and antibiotics can also lead to an overabundance of the candida albicans yeast bacteria. The most common symptoms of Candida syndrome are:

• chronic fatigue
• stomach pain
• numbness and tingling in the extremities
• joint pain
• muscle weakness
• bloating, gas, and acid reflux
• constipation, diarrhea and gastritis
• anxiety and depression

Dietary Changes to Control Candida Albicans

Specific dietary choices can help to reduce the levels of candida albicans within the intestinal tract, and to help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria within the digestive system. First, certain foods need to be eliminated from the diet, or at the very least greatly restricted. Chief among these are foods with a high sugar content. This includes fresh and frozen fruits, and prepared foods that contain sucrose, fructose, glucose and sorbitol. Foods with a high yeast content, primarily baked goods and alcohol, should also be restricted. Foods containing gluten, such as wheat, barley, pasta, crackers and most sauces and gravies should also be removed from the diet.

A diet rich in organic vegetables, avocado, seeds, nuts and sprouts should be introduced in place of the foods that have been eliminated or restricted. All green vegetables including spinach and kale, garlic, summer squash and zucchini are good supplements to a Candida defeating diet.

The good news is that as the Candida symptoms disappear, patients can begin to reintegrate some of the eliminated foods back into their diet. An emphasis should be placed on balance, however, and patients should restructure their diets accordingly, and should consult a nutritionist to help them design a well-balanced nutritional plan.

Supplements for Candida Albicans

Some dietary supplements can be taken to help reinforce the Candida diet cleanse. Acidophillus, often found in probiotics, helps to control the growth of Candida by making the intestinal tract more acidic and discouraging the growth of candida bacteria. Garlic powerfully helps to control candida, and should be taken raw for maximum benefit. It can be taken in pill form as part of a regular nutritional regimen if necessary. Fiber supplements can also help to control the growth of candida, and patients may consider taking a tablespoon of soluble fiber in an 8 ounce glass of water twice daily until symptoms diminish.

Patients who are on a candida cleanse diet should also remember to drink plenty of purified water. As the body begins to shed the unwanted candida bacteria, it is vital that it be flushed out of the body before it can cause any further irritations. Between one half to one ounce of water per 50 pounds of body weight per day is necessary to flush the unwanted toxins out of the body.

It is sometimes hard to imagine something as small as a yeast being the cause of so many health disorders. Perhaps that is why so many symptoms caused by Candida albicans get attributed to more serious conditions. But with a well regulated Candida cleansing diet, and with the right choice of supplements, it is possible to return the body to its natural balance and enjoy total health once more.

It is estimated that at least 20 million Americans suffer with gallstones. That number is likely overly conservative, as many people with gallstones show no outward symptoms until a major flare-up occurs.
Gallstones are small, pebble like substances that are formed when the bile in the gallbladder contains too much cholesterol. The cholesterol crystallizes, and forms hard “stones” that can block bile ducts, restricting the flow of bile from the bladder to the digestive tract. This blockage can lead to infections and, in extreme cases, to a rupturing of the gallbladder itself.

People suffering with gallstones typically experience pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, pain between the shoulder blades, and sharp pains under the right shoulder. The most common treatment for gallstones is medication to shrink the stones, or surgery to remove the gallbladder entirely. Fortunately, by making some sound dietary and nutritional choices, it is possible to greatly reduce the risk of gallstones, and so avoid the need for costly, and often dangerous, conventional treatments.

Common Causes of Gallstones

Instances of gallstones in otherwise healthy individuals can be linked to the high fat, low fiber, and diets of the western world. Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, with diets consisting mainly of rich, overly processed foods are the primary underlying cause of gallstones. Research has shown a direct correlation between western diets and lifestyles with the occurrence of gallstones and gallbladder disease in general. Populations that depend upon more traditional diets, rich in vegetables and fruits have far fewer instances of gallstones and gallbladder disease.

Choosing a Healthy Diet

With diet being the primary contributing factor in the development of gallstones, it only makes sense that the right nutritional choices can help to maintain a healthy gallbladder. Transitioning to a high fiber, low fat, diet is the first step in avoiding the development of gallstones. Raw fruits and vegetables provide the fiber necessary to keep bile cholesterol from crystallizing and forming gallstones. It is important to change the fat intake from cooked animal fat to raw plant fat. The body needs some fat to function properly, and too little can also result in the formation of gallstones. A healthy balanced diet including “good fat” sources, such as avocado, olive oil, walnuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds and coconut oil will help to maintain a healthy gallbladder and to avoid the formation of gallstones.

It is very important to understand that the gall bladder secretes bile which helps in the digestion of fat and the detoxification of the liver through that bile. You need fat to stimulate the flow of bile and to detoxify the liver so reducing your total fat is not the answer but instead switching the type of fat. Raw plant fat does not aggravate the gall bladder whereas cooked animal fat and processed plant fats that are hydrogenated can cause stress to the gall bladder.

Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements

In addition to a balanced high-fiber, low-fat diet certain vitamins and nutritional supplements have been shown to have a positive effect on the health of the gallbladder. For example, recent research has revealed that Vitamin C helps to convert cholesterol to bile acids, reducing the chances that the cholesterol will crystallize and begin to form gallstones. A daily allowance of 200mg of Vitamin C can be taken to help guard against the formation of gallstones. Milk Thistle, which contains the compound Silibinin, can be taken to reduce the overall level of cholesterol in bile within the gallbladder thus helping to keep gallstones from forming.

Women are at a higher risk for gallstones, and calcium supplements should already be a part of their daily vitamin regimen. Calcium helps to bind bile acids, and greatly reduces the risk of gallstone formation. Women should consider consuming 500 – 700 mg of calcium in the form of green vegetables, seeds and nuts especially sesame seeds and almonds.

By making some sound nutritional choices, it is possible to greatly reduce the risk of having gallstones form within the gallbladder. Gallstones can lead to serious health conditions, and in many cases will result in surgery to remove the gallbladder. Switching to a high-fiber, raw plant fat diet, supported by all natural nutritional supplements, can help to keep the gallbladder healthy and to greatly reduce the risk of gallstones. As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder that causes an inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn’s typically manifests as a swelling in the lower intestine, though it can also affect other parts of the digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach and colon. The cause of Crohn’s disease remains unclear, but recent research suggests that it may be linked to immune system dysfunction. There also appears to be a hereditary component, with more than 20% of those suffering from Crohn’s disease having one or more blood relatives with the condition. The most common symptoms of Crohn’s are abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in the stool, reduced appetite and weight loss. Crohn’s disease can also lead to chronic fatigue, ulcers and anemia.

Conventional treatments for Crohn’s disease rely on anti-inflammatory medications, steroids and immune system suppressing drugs to control symptoms. In extreme cases surgery may be used to remove sections of the affected intestine. These treatments are invasive, and potentially harmful to the total health of the patient. Many people with Crohn’s disease are finding that natural therapies offer a greater relief from their symptoms, while avoiding unwanted side effects and life altering surgeries.

Probiotics and Crohn’s Disease

Recent research has shown the probiotics can be a powerful tool in the battle against Crohn’s disease. Probiotics are “friendly bacteria” that are similar to the beneficial bacteria in the healthy human intestinal tract. The ingestion of probiotics helps to restore the healthy balance of bacteria in the intestine and the gut, resulting in fewer flare-ups for Crohn’s sufferers. Recent studies have also shown that probiotics not only increase healthy bacteria, they reduce inflammation and help the intestinal tract begin to heal itself from the long term effects of Crohn’s disease.

Diet and Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s symptoms can be triggered by a number of different factors, not least of which is diet. Patients suffering with Crohn’s are often advised to keep a food journal, making note of what they eat and when they experience symptoms of the disorder. In this way patients can pinpoint what foods and eating habits correlate with the recurring flare-up of Crohn’s symptoms, and begin to eliminate those food choices from their diet. Trigger foods will likely differ amongst patients, which is why clinicians suggest a personal food journal be used to determine what foods adversely affect which patients. Be aware of big food offenders like dairy products, eggs, gluten which excludes most grains.

While there is not a specific diet determined to be beneficial to individuals with Crohn’s disease, there are some nutritional choices that make sense for people suffering with this chronic condition. Crohn’s is thought to be linked to a dysfunction within the body’s immune system, so a diet designed to boost the total health of the immune system is recommended. Emphasis should be placed on organically grown fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Meat and meat byproducts should be avoided, as should alcohol, refined sugars and other overly processed foods. Flax and hemps seeds should be added to the diet, as these are rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids which are so vital to a healthy immune system.

Stress and Crohn’s Disease

Patients suffering with Crohn’s disease understand the pain and anxiety that accompany the condition. Unfortunately, stress and anxiety are major triggers for the chronic symptoms associated with the disease and patients need to learn to manage their stress levels to avoid flare-ups. Exercise is always a recommended method for stress reduction. In addition to the obvious health benefits, regular exercise improves overall mental health, reduces anxiety and instills a feeling of control in the patient. Even a regular of routine of light exercise like rebounding for the lymphatic system, along with daily walks, can do wonders.

Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises and meditation on the Word of God, should be done daily to help manage the chronic pain associated with Crohn’s disease, as well as to reduce daily stress levels. A holistic clinician can be consulted for breathing exercises that can be used to control and eliminate stress and anxiety. Regular meditation on the scriptures, and participation in a prayer group, can also help Crohn’s patients reduce their stress and achieve an overall sense of wellbeing.

Natural therapies for patients with Crohn’s disease offer an alternative to the potentially toxic and sometimes invasive treatments of conventional medicine. With a combination of diet, nutrition, exercise and meditation Crohn’s patients can minimize their symptoms, and begin to return their body to total health.

The pancreas is a large organ, located in the abdomen that regulates the production and release of enzymes that aid in the digestive processes. It is also responsible for the production of insulin and glucagon, the two hormones that regulate blood sugar. Pancreatic disorders can result in inflammation of the organ, and an over production of hyper-activated enzymes. These enzymes, so necessary to digestion and the absorption of nutrients, begin to attack the surrounding tissue often causing acute and chronic pain. The most common symptoms associated with pancreatitis are abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen, nausea and a quickening pulse. Those suffering through bouts of pancreatitis know just how painful and intrusive these attacks can be, but with natural therapies they can soon find relief the relief they seek.

Common Causes of Pancreatitis

The most common causes of Pancreatitis are infection, injury, and excessive levels of calcium and triglycerides in the bloodstream. Lifestyle choices can play a large part in the occurrence of pancreatitis, with alcohol and tobacco being major contributors to pancreatic disorders. The chronic use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids and antibiotics, can also adversely affect the health of the pancreas. Pancreatitis can also accompany, or be caused by, certain other chronic conditions such as ulcers, gallstones and cystic fibrosis.

Whatever the underlying cause, patients suffering with pancreatitis share the common goal of obtaining relief from the painful symptoms that accompany the disorder. Conventional medicine can offer some relief in the form pain killers or anti-inflammatory drugs, but they can only do so much to alleviate the symptoms of pancreatitis and in many cases can bring unwanted health problems of their own.

Pancreatic Pain Relief the Natural Way

One of the most important ways to help relieve pancreatitis is to eat raw, blended plant food with digestive enzymes added. This greatly reduces the work the pancreas has to do to digest food. In essence it gives the pancreas a time of rest which is greatly needed in order to heal.

Many patients suffering with pancreatitis have found relief from their symptoms through the therapeutic use of natural herbal supplements. These herbal therapies along with alternative treatments have long been of help in ancient times up to today. Herbs such as milk thistle, red clover and garlic have been used over the centuries to provide much needed relief from the pain and inflammation caused by pancreatitis. Burdock root is often used to stimulate and support the overall health of the pancreas, while dandelion is particularly effective in cleansing the liver and blood stream of toxins that can contribute to the chronic symptoms of pancreatitis.

The use of more commonly recognized dietary supplements, such as selenium and beta carotene, also is proven helpful in the treatment of pancreatitis. These supplements, along with vitamins C, B3 and B5, contain powerful antioxidants  like glutathione, CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid help to maintain the health of the pancreas, while fighting free radicals that can damage the organ. Those suffering from disorders of the pancreas are also encouraged to add vitamin E in the form of sunflower seeds to their daily regimen. Vitamin E is essential to maintaining the health of all of the body’s organs, and can help to reverse the tissue damage caused by chronic pancreatitis.

Alternative Physical Therapies for Pancreatitis

In addition to a daily regimen of vitamin and herbal supplements, there are a number of alternative physical therapies and alternative treatments that offer a relief from the symptoms of pancreatitis. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is helpful when the pancreas is inflamed as is biophoton cold laser treatments. Colon hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage therapy help reduce toxic load which helps the pancreas to heal.

Prayer and meditation on God’s word can also be highly effective in helping patients manage the chronic symptoms of pancreatitis. Also through the combination of breathing exercises and mental discipline, patients learn to manage their pain without the use of drugs or chemicals. Prayer and meditation on God’s word focusing on the complete wholeness of body, mind and spirit can have a powerful healing effect on the body. Prayer and meditation on God’s word reduces both mental and physical stress, freeing the body to begin the healing process.

Pancreatitis can often lead to other more serious health conditions, including diabetes, malnutrition, kidney disorders and pancreatic cancer. Patients suffering from this disorder should speak with their holistic clinicians to design a suitable treatment program. Natural therapies can do more than simply alleviate the symptoms of pancreatitis; they can help the body repair much of the damage that has already been done. Through a holistic therapy regimen, people suffering with pancreatitis can find the relief they need from their painful symptoms, and take their first steps on the path to renewed health and vigor.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive disorder that manifests most commonly with cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas and alternating between constipation and diarrhea. It accounts for up to 70 percent of gastrointestinal complaints seen in general medical practice. One in five Americans, have symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. It occurs more often in women than in men, and it begins before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people.

At times IBS sufferers frequently have straining and cramping when trying to have a bowel movement but often they are able to eliminate only a small amount. If they are able to have a bowel movement, it can have mucus in it. Some people with IBS experience diarrhea, which is frequent, loose, watery, stools. With IBS, along with the diarrhea, there is frequently a feeling of an urgent and uncontrollable need to have a bowel movement.

Others with IBS alternate between constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes those with IBS find that their symptoms subside for a few months and then return in a never-ending cycle, while others have a constant worsening of symptoms over time. In addition, some with IBS feel the need to have a bowel movement after they have already had one.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome does heal naturally without medication or surgery if the condition is treated holistically meaning that one treats the body as a whole instead of focusing on the individual parts like the bowel.

To get to the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome you must think of all the systems in the body working together producing a symphony of total health of body and mind. In the order of importance, these systems must be balanced so to heal the source or cause of irritable bowel syndrome instead of treating the effects with medication that never heals the condition, only temporarily patches it up. Remember medications have between 7-500 side effects. This means they can negatively affect this many systems, organs, gland and tissues. Why would you do something that can potentially do so much harm? In an emergency and only for a very short time. To heal IBS we must heal the systems of the body and state of mind.

1. Nervous system- The brain, brainstem, spinal cord, spinal nerves control every other organ, gland and system in the body.
2. Immune system- This is actually a circulating nervous system. Most digestive disorders have a strong immune factor to them.
3. Hormonal system- This is how the nervous system speaks and controls the organs and glands. The pituitary, thyroid, thymus, pancreas, adrenal all have to be in balance to heal IBS and have a healthy digestive system.
4. Digestive system- If the other digestive organs like the stomach, pancreas and liver are not functioning at 100% then the bowel will suffer and IBS will not heal.
5. Elimination system- This is the detoxification system which moves the chemicals and toxins out of the body. If this system is malfunctioning then the irritable bowel cannot and will not heal.
6. Biochemical system- Unless the biochemical state is balanced with correct diet customized for one’s individual biochemistry, the IBS cannot heal.
7. Mental/emotional state- If the mind and emotions are overly active this causes stress in the digestive system and causes IBS to remain active.

Once you balance these systems, the body (and bowel) will do what God intended it to do- they will heal naturally.

Mayo Clinic researchers have uncovered a connection between celiac disease, a digestive condition triggered by consumption of gluten, and dementia or other forms of cognitive decline. Theories to explain the connection between celiac disease and cognitive decline include the following:

• Nutritional deficiency
• Inflammatory cytokines — chemical messengers of inflammation that could contribute to problems in the brain
• An immune attack on the brain that may occur in some patients with celiac disease

Study investigator, says that the reversal or stabilization of the cognitive symptoms in some patients when they underwent gluten withdrawal.

For celiac disease patients who have already developed cognitive decline, closely following a gluten-free diet may result in some symptom improvement.

Celiac disease occurs in 1 out of 133 people and predominantly affects Caucasians. Symptoms can include intermittent diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating, or no gastrointestinal symptoms at all. It can also manifest in weight loss, fatigue, anemia, general weakness, foul-smelling or grayish stools that may be fatty or oily, osteoporosis or stunted growth (in children only). The condition may also cause symptoms far outside of the gut. Nine out of 10 times, the disease is not discovered due to the vague nature of the symptoms.
– Fred Hutchinson Cancer ResearchCenter

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on link between celiac disease in cognitive decline.
What we want to draw from this study is that the cognitive decline( that means your mental function, your brain functioning, decline) within two years of the onset of celiac disease symptoms. Onset or worsening of the symptoms that were already there. What they have found is that celiac disease, which is defined as, symptoms including intermittent diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating, and one doesn’t even have to have gastrointestinal symptoms although it is a gastrointestinal disease. It could also manifest with weight loss, fatigue, anemia, weakness. All these things are part of the celiac disease.   What we want you to know about celiac disease is it is another manifesting of something that is called maldigestion/malabsorbtion or leaky gut syndrome. With celiac disease people do not tolerate wheat products, or gluten products. Gluten is in wheat, it is in most grains but the key in this is let’s not focus on the celiac, let’s just focus on the maldigestion/malabsorbtion, if we look at it that way we will get a bigger picture. So, the three theories to explain the connection between celiac disease in cognitive decline according to this study, and let’s just call this between maldigestion/malabsorbtion in cognitive decline are these:

• Nutritional deficiency, and how does that happen. Well if we eat the right food but don’t digest the food, we are going to become deficient and we don’t digest the food when we eat the foods in the wrong form or the foods that are eaten in the cooked form, that are eaten day in and day out. That’s why the number one and two allergies in America are dairy products and wheat products. Why? Because we eat these things day in and day out in a cooked form that can cause reactivity. So this can cause the low level inflammation in the intestinal tract, the leaky gut syndrome, which leads to inflammation in the body, the nutritional deficiency.
• Inflammatory cytokines. Again, this can go back to the brain and cause the cognitive decline, but what we see is the maldigestion/malabsorbtion is the greatest inroad for inflammation in the body and that inflammation can damage, destroy any cell of any gland, organ or tissue. So one of the greatest causes of all symptoms, conditions or diseases is maldigestion/malabsorbtion.
• Immune attack on the brain. This is the autoimmune disease where when the body is in a maldigestion/malabsorbtion state, it becomes hyper reactive because with the leaky gut syndrome, large food particles leak through the intestinal barrier, and these large food particles stress the immune system out because your white blood cells which were designed to eat bacteria, virus’s, parasites, candida and cancer cells, now they have to eat these large food particles, your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well if they’re eating your breakfast, lunch and dinner then they are not going to keep up with the cancer cells and the pathogens but also they are working so hard that it stresses the immune system and it goes into a hyperactivity so it starts fighting everything including your own cells, your own tissues. This is the autoimmune disease and what they are finding about it can affect the brain and the cognitive function.

This study also noted that there was reversal of the cognitive symptoms, where the symptoms went away when they just took the gluten out of the diet. But we’ll take it higher than that when you get away from anything that you don’t digest properly, gluten is a huge one. But when you take away dairy products, when you take away nondigestable, hard to digest toxic animal products, and when you get away from the grains that have been cooked, which turn into gluten, all which turn into the maldigestion/malabsorbtion biproduct. All these things will increase inflammation in the body and when you get away from them, you will increase your level of health.