Arthritis (specifically Rheumatoid Arthritis) affects millions of people worldwide and researchers have found a link to leaky gut syndrome.

Leaky Gut?  What’s that doc?

Well your intestines function as a selective barrier, meaning that they let in the “good” stuff while keeping out the “bad” stuff.  So when you ingest food, the job of the intestine is to absorb the nutrients while keeping out potential pathogens.

Sometimes, however, the “bad” guys get through the intestinal barrier and can stir up an immunological response.  When I use the term “bad” guys I mean relatively large particles.  So instead of absorbing amino acids (which are the smallest portions of protein), macropeptides (or long chains of amino acids) are absorbed.  Your body dislikes this kind of activity because absorbing large particles makes the immune system think a pathogenic invader has entered the system.  (A pathogenic invader can be a parasite, bacteria or virus which have protein coats on it).

So here’s the link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Leaky Gut: a heightened immune response due to absorption of large particles causes an auto-immune reaction where your body’s own immune system begins to attack itself.  The protein coats from pathogenic invaders is similar to the protein content of the joint in your body.  The immune system cannot distinguish between the two.

Predisposing factors for Leaky Gut:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Taking aspirin/ibuprofen/antibiotics/drugs
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Poor digestion
• Sluggish liver detoxification
• Stored Toxins
• Those who have bacterial/microbial infections or inflammation

Symptoms of Leaky Gut:

• Fatigue
• Arthralgia
• Myalgia
• Fever
• Abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhea
• Skin rashes
• Toxic feelings
• Memory deficit
• Shortness of breath

Nutrients and Herbs to repair Leaky Gut:

• Glutamine: this is the fuel for intestinal cells
• Lactobacillius bifidus: this probiotic helps to re-establish proper gut flora
• N-acetyl Glucosamine: prevents binding of harmful products to the intestinal lining
• Vitamins C and E, lipoic acid, zinc and ginkgo biloba: these antioxidants help to decrease free radical damage to the intestinal lining
• Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL): increases the lifespan of intestinal cells
• Slippery Elm: helps to calm the inflammation of the intestinal lining

Consumers are getting duped by the food industry, paying the price with their health. Acclaimed author and journalist Michael Pollan argues that what most Americans are consuming today is not food but “edible foodlike substances.” The whole reason why these foods don’t rot is that the enzymes within the natural food are killed (so that they don’t rot).

Many food manufacturers use various preserving methods to prolong shelf life all at the expense of our health. You are what you eat (or ate) and if you keep eating food that’s “dead” (no enzymatic activity) you’ll soon follow it’s path.

Why are enzymes so important?

Enzymes help to move all your chemical reactions along within your body. Without enzymes, biochemical processes would take a very long time. Digestion would almost be impossible. So if you remove or destroy these essential enzymes, your body has to work harder and produce more of its own enzymes to help digest your foods. Remember, you only have a certain available supply of these enzymes in your body. For more information on this subject, I highly recommend the book “Enzyme Nutrition”

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Did you know that 1 in 3 people in the U.S. are infected with parasites right now as you read this post? Parasites pose a huge threat upon your health and you may not even know that you are infected. Detrimental effects occur when you have a “subclinical” infection where you don’t have a full blown infection, but just enough to cause a disturbance in your body. Subclinical infections are where most people lie.

Symptoms of parasitic infections:

• Chronic inflammation
• Digestive disturbances (IBS, Crohns…etc.)
• Learning disorders
• Joint pains
• Autoimmune diseases
• Skin lesions
• Nausea

Natural Alternative Remedies:
Wormwood (Artemisia annua): a common remedy for the treatment of ‘parasitic infections.’ (Artemisia is the active ingredient in an anti-malarial drug made by Novartis)

Enzyme therapy (bromelain, papain, etc.): digestive enzymes are thought to eat away at parasites. You must take these enzymes away from food, unless they’ll just digest the food.

Garlic: helps to stimulate the immune system.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra): antiparasitic and antifungal

Grape Seed Extract: antiparasitic and antibacterial

Oregano oil: antiparasitic