Many of us have struggled with periods of extreme fatigue, unexplained weight change, rashes, allergies, mood disturbance, hair/skin conditions, poor endurance, IBS and indigestion,
Many of us also know people who have also been personally affected by diabetes, autoimmunity, heart disease, thyroid disorder, kidney failure, memory loss, depression, and cancer.
What do all of these conditions have in common? Inflammation.....
And I see it every day, in my practice. I often take care of the 'worse-of-the-worse,'--disease conditions that are SO far gone, long-unchecked, that they need surgery.
In general, inflammation is caused by a variety of factors, but optimal nutrition, can often improve unexplained health conditions and reverse disease.
In this post, we will discuss two MAJOR inflammatory pathways related to diet, and how we can hack metabolism to achieve immediate benefit, in as little as several days to weeks.
Arachadonic Acid, and Animal-based foods
Animal cells have a membrane bilayer that contains fats and cholesterol. Once consumed, these are converted into arachadonic acid and cytokines in our bodies, which generate inflammation.
The inflammation causes damaged blood vessels, resulting in atherosclerosis and clots. it leads to DNA damage resulting in premature cell death (apoptosis) and genetic mutations which cause birth defects, infertility, and cancer. It also leads to food intolerance, digestive problems, and unexplained health conditions.
Do all animal derived products contain arachadonic acid? No, just meat and fat-containing dairy products. Egg whites for example, are pure protein, without membrane lipids and cholesterol. Marine and bovine derived collagen also do not contain arachadonic acid. Fat-free yoghurt and bone-broth are other examples. Unfortunately even so-called "white" meat, poultry, and fish contain substantial amounts of lipids and cholesterol (see Animal proteins-RANKED).
Oxidative Metabolism and 'Carbs'
When the body breaks down complex carbohydrates, starches, and sugars, it produces oxygen free-radicals which create cell damage. The body's ability to "scavange" these free-radicals is directly related to its ability to ward off aging and disease . During periods of sickness, stress, sedentary lifestyle, the body 'ages' quite quickly. You may notice dark circles around the eyes, wrinkles, hair loss, and development of health problems. It rare for kids to develop these conditions, since they have such powerful, innate ability to clear free radicals. Adults however, must rely on good diet, proper exercise, sleep, and meditation to combat these effects. These mechanisms become ever more important as we age.
Unless you are on a pure keto diet, almost all foods contain some carbohydrates and sugars, including foods that are beneficial to overall health. Instead of avoiding these entirely, the best strategy is to reduce consumption of food, with very little heath benefit such as refined sugars, processed flour, and low-fiber starch. Examples include bread, pasta, sweets and potatoes. Trade these foods for high protein or high fiber alternatives (beans, legumes, quinoa, leafy vegetables etc.) It turns out that every successful diet for weight loss (Weight-watchers, Atkins, South-beach, Keto etc.) also follows this rule.
Full disclosure... this is something I struggle with all the time. I have a very big 'sweet tooth' and often eat 'on the go.' At the hospitals and clinics, invariably there will be food and "treats' brought to the office by colleagues, staff, and patients. Healthcare professionals are THE WORSE offenders of "eating for convenience," due to constrained shift hours, and limited food choices. I would encourage meal-planning, and food-prep in these cases; it's the only way to guarantee that you will eat nutrition rich foods throughout the day and not succumb to unhealthy cravings and snacking.
Lastly, there is a fascination with "superfoods" and supplements which contain anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, anti-oxidant properties. Examples include curcumin, boswelia, ginger, resveretrol and other polyphenols. My view is that these are powerful adjuncts, but cannot replace, a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Chanu Dasari MD
Always be true, and surround yourself with people who affirm your wellbeing. Find a doctor who will slow down and listen; find one who carefully considers your concerns; find one who cares.