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Western Diet Impairs the Gut Immune System, Could Increase Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

AHA Publisher — Fri, 21 May 2021 07:00:34 +0000

Washington University in St. Louis via News-Medical – Eating a Western diet impairs the immune system in the gut in ways that could increase risk of infection and inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Cleveland Clinic. The study, in mice and people, showed that a diet high in sugar and fat causes damage to Paneth cells, immune cells in the gut that help keep inflammation in check. When Paneth cells aren’t functioning properly, the gut immune system is excessively prone to inflammation, putting people at risk of inflammatory bowel disease and undermining effective control of disease-causing microbes. The findings, published May 18 in Cell Host & Microbe, open up new approaches to regulating gut immunity by restoring normal Paneth cell function. “Inflammatory bowel disease has historically been a problem primarily in Western countries such as the U.S., but it’s becoming more common globally as more and more people adopt Western lifestyles. Our research showed that long-term consumption of a Western-style diet high in fat and sugar impairs the function of immune cells in the gut in ways that could promote inflammatory bowel disease or increase the risk of intestinal infections.” Ta-Chiang Liu, MD, PhD, Stydy Lead Author and Associate Professor of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University Paneth cell impairment is a key feature of inflammatory bowel disease. For example, people with Crohn’s disease, a kind of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia and fatigue, often have Paneth cells that have stopped working. Liu and senior author Thaddeus Stappenbeck, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic, set out to find the cause of Paneth cell dysfunction in people. They analyzed a database containing demographic and clinical data on 400 people, including an assessment of each person’s Paneth cells. The researchers found that high body mass index (BMI) was associated with Paneth cells that looked abnormal and unhealthy under a microscope. The higher a person’s BMI, the worse his or her Paneth cells looked. The association held for healthy adults and people with Crohn’s disease. To better understand this connection, the researchers studied two strains of mice that are genetically predisposed to obesity. Such mice chronically overeat because they carry mutations that prevent them from feeling full even when fed a regular diet. To the researchers’ surprise, the obese mice had Paneth cells that looked normal. In people, obesity is frequently the result of eating a diet rich in fat and sugar. So the scientists fed normal mice a diet in which 40% of the calories came from fat or sugar, similar to the typical Western diet. After two months on this chow, the mice had become obese and their Paneth cells looked decidedly abnormal. “Obesity wasn’t the problem per se,” Liu said. “Eating too much of a healthy diet didn’t affect the Paneth cells. It was the high-fat, high-sugar diet that was the problem.” The Paneth cells returned to normal when the mice were put back on a healthy mouse diet for four weeks. Whether people who habitually eat a Western diet can improve their gut immunity by changing their diet remains to be seen, Liu said. “This was a short-term experiment, just eight weeks,” Liu said. “In people, obesity doesn’t occur overnight or even in eight weeks. People have a suboptimal lifestyle for 20, 30 years before they become obese. It’s possible that if you have Western diet for so long, you cross a point of no return and your Paneth cells don’t recover even if you change your diet. We’d need to do more research before we can say whether this process is reversible in people.” Further experiments showed that a molecule known as deoxycholic acid, a secondary bile acid formed as a byproduct of the metabolism of gut bacteria, forms the link between a Western diet and Paneth cell dysfunction. The bile acid increases the activity of two immune molecules -; farnesoid X receptor and type 1 interferon -; that inhibit Paneth cell function. Liu and colleagues now are investigating whether fat or sugar plays the primary role in impairing Paneth cells. They also have begun studying ways to restore normal Paneth cell function and improve gut immunity by targeting the bile acid or the two immune molecules. To read the original article click here.

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Could Candida Be Causing Your Health Problems? Studies Link Multiple Diseases to This Pesky Yeast

AHA Publisher — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:00:21 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – Check your tongue – is it white? You may have Candida albicanswhich produces about 180 chemical toxins. These harmful substances are capable of causing any number of ‘unexplainable‘ health problems. A white tongue, lack of energy, or irritability are early warning signs of poor health. In fact, I would suggest that most people with chronic degenerative diseases like IBS, fibromyalgia, or autoimmune conditions suffer from Candida. Don’t ignore the signs. Why Has Candida Become a Modern-Day Problem? Candida is one of the 400 organisms that live in our mouth, digestive tract, and skin. Candida albicans is the main yeast in the human body and is normally kept in check by the beneficial bacteria within the intestines. In a healthy digestive system – Candida lives in approximately one Candida cell for every million bacteria. When the number of yeast cells grow out of the 1 in 1,000,000 ratio, a person is said to have a flora or yeast imbalance. It is estimated that over 80% of United States citizens have a problem with Candida. Naturally, the foods we consume – especially those loaded with overly-processed sugars – encourage yeast overgrowth. Let’s not forget the issue of chronic stress – which releases cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’) continually. Too much cortisol can turn off the immune system, raises blood sugar levels, and will kill off friendly bacteria within the gut. A Prescription for Sickness and Premature Death According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ‘skyrocketing rates of antibiotic prescriptions now suggest that as many as four out of five Americans may be getting antibiotics annually.’ You may be wondering – what’s this got to do with Candida? The overuse of antibiotics is clearly linked to the overgrowth of yeast in our digestive tract. Many natural health experts would agree that taking too many antibiotics is a major reason for this epidemic. I only wish more conventionally-trained physicians would consider that antibiotics wipe out most of the good bacteria leaving yeast unharmed. At the very least – they should all push their patients to consume probiotics – when being prescribed antibiotics. In the absence of any competition, yeast colonies grow into all the empty nooks and crannies of the small and large intestine, causing many unwanted health problems. What Else Promotes Candida Overgrowth? I’m glad you asked. Birth control pills, cortisone, steroids, and chemotherapy also kill friendly bacteria, such as street and pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, and lack of oxygenation through a sedentary lifestyle. Keep in mind that friendly bacteria actually feed on Candida, so anything diminishing their numbers can cause Candida to grow out of control. What Are the Symptoms of Candida? The typical Candida symptoms include jock itch, depression, anxiety, mood swings, heartburn, indigestion, fatigue, food allergies, joint pain, acne, migraine headaches, recurring cystitis, vaginal infections, premenstrual symptoms, foggy thinking, dandruff, athlete’s foot, ear infections, and eczema. Candida has been implicated in the impairment of the immune system along with the central nervous system. It has been investigated as the underlying cause of most conditions, including heart, bowel, thyroid disease, and arthritic and autoimmune conditions. Candida is known to be intimately involved in weight gain, Epstein-Barr, asthma, allergies, cancer, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorders, periodontal disease, and even autism. How Can We Test for Candida Overgrowth? A simple blood test can help. You’ll want to check your levels for IgG, IgA, and IgM Candida antibodies. These can be checked through most labs. High levels indicate an overgrowth of Candida. Stool testing can check for Candida in the colon. The lab can usually determine the species of yeast as well as which treatment will be most effective. Just make sure that your doctor orders a ‘comprehensive stool test’ rather than the standard variety. The urine Organix Dysbiosis test detects a waste product of Candida yeast overgrowth known as D-Arabinitol. An elevated test indicates an overgrowth. This test will determine if the problem is in your upper gut or small intestines. The spit test can be done at home. The first thing, when you wake up in the morning, is to put some saliva into a glass of water before you put anything into your mouth. If the saliva floats, it is fine, but if within 15 minutes you notice projections extending down into the water, it is said to be a sign that you are harboring the invasive form of Candida. If the water turns cloudy, your spit sinks to the bottom of the glass, or you see strings – you are looking at a Candida problem. What’s the Best Way to Treat Candida? Effectively treating Candida involves stopping the yeast overgrowth, restoring the friendly bacteria that usually keep them in check, and healing the gut. Addressing this overgrowth primarily requires a low sugar diet. Sugar is what feeds yeast, so eliminating sugar in all of its simple forms is a must. Cut out pasta, bread, baked cookies, muffins, bagels, and most, if not all, processed foods. Generally speaking, overeating creates a high residue of undigested food – which feeds opportunistic organisms such as Candida. And, don’t eat fast. Therefore, chew your food at least 30 times to produce the saliva that prepares the body for healthy digestion. The idea is to allow friendly microbes to breakdown all the food you eat. Obviously, using diet alone not only takes months for results but isn’t as effective as using a protocol – which includes herbs, probiotics, and natural antifungals such as caprylic acid in coconut oil. Here Are Some ‘Candida Killers’ Candida overgrowth has been tied, in part, to a lack of omega-3 fatty acids. There are plenty of omega-3 fatty acids to be found in flaxseed oil and walnut oil. In addition, you may want to take oregano oil, garlic, olive leaf, colloidal silver, raw apple cider vinegar, spirulina, grapefruit seed extract, neem oil, Pau D’Arco, and burdock root for its antifungal effect. Never forget – your first line of defense is always a strong immune system. This can only be achieved through a healthy lifestyle, which includes organic whole foods, fresh air, stress reduction, and exercise. Talk to an experienced healthcare provider and eliminate the threat of Candida – naturally. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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