You might feel fatigued after a long day of activities or a long night of poor sleep.

But if daily fatigue is your constant companion, the cause may be a condition that’s zapping your energy or a vitamin deficiency — or both.

There’s a large amount of research on the connection between vitamin D and fatigue — particularly, how low vitamin D levels can bring on the debilitating fatigue that is part of a range of conditions — including aging.

For that reason, a group of Italian researchers decided to dig into it and shed light on the mechanisms behind vitamin D’s connections to fatigue…

Peak Vitality^™

Peak Vitality^™ helps support and strengthen adrenal gland function for improved energy, hormone balance, mood and focus!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The energy vitamin

Vitamin D is not a cure. But a growing body of evidence has emerged indicating the vitamin’s involvement in various processes in the body.

So it’s not surprising that hypovitaminosis D — a deficiency or insufficiency of vitamin D — has been previously linked to heart trouble, neurodegeneration, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.

The Italian researchers accessed scientific studies in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science and reviewed factors that play a role in the genesis of fatigue, where the influence of vitamin D has also been demonstrated. 

Here are some of their findings…

Fibromyalgia. There’s no proof of a causal link between low vitamin D levels and the debilitating fatigue of fibromyalgia. Conversely, though, studies have shown a significant improvement in fatigue with higher vitamin D levels.

Autoimmune disorders. Studies offer mixed results regarding whether vitamin D improves fatigue in autoimmune disorders. However, researchers advocate testing their vitamin D levels since low blood levels are frequent among them, and treatment has resulted in a significant decrease in fatigue severity.

Most of the studies on vitamin D and autoimmune conditions have been on reducing the occurrence of autoimmune diseases.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Most of the research for review on CFS focused on reducing pain and that presented a challenge during the review. However, a meta-analysis revealed low blood levels of vitamin D present in patients with fibromyalgia, and another study clearly demonstrated that correcting the deficiency improved the fatigue symptom.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The researchers noted that a good response against fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients when supplemented with vitamin D has been documented.

Aging. This review uncovered a significant body of research supporting a correlation between correcting low levels of vitamin D and the improvement of fatigue in elderly patients. In fact, this correlation was greater than in any of the other conditions examined.

That may be due in part to vitamin D’s role in regulating the development of an anti-aging protein known as klotho. When we’re young, our kidneys produce lots of this protein. But as we age, that production slows.

Klotho exerts anti-aging effects by increasing oxidative stress tolerance and preventing ROS overproduction.

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Can vitamin D help your fatigue?

To sum up the review’s findings, Vitamin D affects fatigue through three main methods:

• it reduces the oxidative stress that’s associated with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and even aging.
• it regulates fatigue-related neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.
• it reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (small proteins that signal the immune system to produce inflammation)

Could vitamin D help fight fatigue levels if you’re relatively healthy? That’s an easy one…

Apparently, a lot of us complain about feelings of fatigue when we see our primary care physicians. So one such group was put to the test.

One hundred and seventy-four adult patients, who presented in a primary care office with fatigue and stable chronic medical conditions completed fatigue assessment questionnaires.

Low vitamin D levels were discovered in 77.2 percent of the patients who complained of fatigue. Those patients received supplement therapy for 5 weeks.

After their levels were normalized, their fatigue symptoms improved significantly!

Your doctor can check your levels if you’re unsure of your D status, but you should know that insufficiency is prevalent in about 45 percent of the adult population. Supplementing vitamin D, or vitamins in general, is effective and safe as long as you don’t take more than directed.

Sources:

Association between vitamin D supplementation and fatigue — News Medical Life Sciences

Vitamin D and Its Role on the Fatigue Mitigation: A Narrative Review — Nutrients

Effect of vitamin D3 on self-perceived fatigue — Pub Med Central

Correction of Low Vitamin D Improves Fatigue: Effect of Correction of Low Vitamin D in Fatigue Study (EViDiF Study) — National Library of Medicine

The post Vitamin D’s ties to autoimmune and age-related fatigue appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s a devastation I’ve seen first-hand, since my mom was diagnosed with the disease when I was still in elementary school.

However, she had been living with constant challenges for close to a decade before she was ever diagnosed…

For years, she was shuffled from doctor to doctor looking for answers to why she was so exhausted she couldn’t get out of bed, why she cried for no apparent reason or why her eyes bothered her.

It was almost a relief when she was diagnosed because at least there was a name for the issues plaguing her life.

And it meant that she could finally start looking for treatments that might help, rather than just trying to survive each day.

Now, researchers are revealing that not only does MS start sooner than doctors believed, but that there are three types of issues patients commonly experience that could help identify the disease and offer access to early interventions.

As it turns out, my mom suffered from all of them…

Peak Krill Oil^™

You probably already know how important omega-3s are to support heart and brain health. But there are five reasons you may be getting yours from a less than adequate source, starting with a powerful antioxidant that delivers DHA into your brain cells… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A vague confluence of symptoms

Researchers at the University of British Columbia started with the health and insurance data of more than 12,000 people. One thing stood out: People with MS began using healthcare services at elevated rates 15 years before their first obvious neurological symptoms appeared.

Some of the most common complaints they sought help for in the decade and a half leading up to a diagnosis included fatigue, anxiety and pain.

But because symptoms like these are considered vague, they’re often ignored or mistaken for other conditions.

Fortunately, because this study went further back into patient history, these findings may help doctors recognize early warning signs that could lead to earlier detection and intervention.

Compared to the general population, patients eventually diagnosed with MS had a steady buildup of engagement with healthcare providers that looked like this:

• 15 years before recognized symptom onset: Visits to general practice physicians increase, especially for symptoms like fatigue, pain, anxiety, dizziness and depression.
• 12 years before: Visits to a psychiatrist increase.
• Eight to nine years before: Visits to neurologists and ophthalmologists increase, possibly due to issues like blurry vision or eye pain.
• Three to five years before: Emergency medicine and radiology visits increase.
• One year before: Doctors’ visits reach a peak, with trips to neurology, emergency medicine and radiology.

“These patterns suggest that MS has a long and complex prodromal phase, where something is happening beneath the surface but hasn’t yet declared itself as MS,” said Dr. Marta Ruiz-Algueró, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC and the study’s first author.

“We’re only now starting to understand what these early warning signs are, with mental health-related issues appearing to be among the earliest indicators.”

Peak Urinary Tract^™

A natural daily cleanse to promote and maintain a healthy urinary tract, for men and women!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Get the support you need

If you recognize this pattern in yourself or a loved one, have a serious discussion with a doctor.

Though there is no single test for diagnosing MS, there are several that, together with patient history, can aid in diagnosis.

It’s unknown exactly what causes MS, but some researchers believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors triggers the disease. 

Some studies have found significant differences between the gut microbes of patients with MS and those without the disease. However, the mechanism through which these microbes may influence the disease is still unclear.

But research over the years has suggested ways to support your body against the ravages of MS:

• Supplements – Vitamin D, Omega 3’s, melatonin and antioxidants (CoQ10, vitamin E, quercetin and lutein-zeaxanthin) have been researched for positive impacts on autoimmune issues and some specifically on MS. Also, an acid found in fruit peel was found to reverse the myelin damage of MS in mice.
• A simple sugar – N-acetylglucosamine, a form of glucosamine that’s shown to be effective for joint discomfort and often used in supplements, was found to reduce multiple inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in MS patients in research done at the University of California, Irvine.
• Diet – Dr. Terry Wahls is a physician and also a patient with progressive MS. To fight back against the disease, she created The Wahls Protocol, in which she credits diet and lifestyle interventions with helping her leave her wheelchair behind.

Sources:

Fatigue, anxiety, pain? They might be MS in disguise — ScienceDaily

Early Detection and Treatment — National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The post 3 common complaints may be the earliest signs of MS appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In fact, a leaky gut lining could be behind your uncomfortable and even dangerous health issues and yet it could go completely ignored by your doctor.

Sadly, the incidence of undiagnosed celiac disease — an autoimmune condition that damages your gut lining and allows all of the bad stuff from your intestines to leak out — has skyrocketed in the United States over the past 50 years.

Luckily, researchers are now shining a light on just exactly how leaks form in the gut lining, which can provide hope for treatment that works.

Peak Digestion^™

Gas, stomach upset, loose bowels, stomach cramps, headache and fatigue. These are all symptoms of a problem more common than you may think: Gluten intolerance. It’s often linked to autoimmune issues. Instead of the body digesting the protein, it treats gluten as an… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The gluten connection to leaky gut

As you may already know, if a person has leaky gut syndrome or celiac disease, gluten is not their friend.

Here’s the issue…

Whether you’re enjoying a hearty sandwich, scarfing down a yummy doughnut or having a pancake breakfast, the gluten in the food you eat must be broken down into proteins by an enzyme known as tissue transglutaminase (tTG).

In people without leaky gut or celiac, these proteins are absorbed.

However, in those unlucky enough to have a real problem with gluten, things don’t work as they’re supposed to.

And that’s where the new research comes in…

Scientists from Bielefeld University found that because your body cannot completely break down gluten proteins if you have celiac disease, large gluten fragments, or peptides, can form in your gut.

This happens because a form of the tTG enzyme called tissue transglutaminase 2 (tTG2) modifies gluten proteins, forming structures or oligomers that then build up in the gut lining.

Once there, these large molecules, which the scientists are calling 33-mer deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) act as a key, opening the tightly closed junctures of the gut lining and leading to leaky gut syndrome.

What happens when your gut leaks?

According to the study, this is a dangerous prospect since, “If 33-merDGP oligomers are formed, they may damage the epithelial cell network, allowing gluten peptides, bacteria, and other toxins to pass massively into the bloodstream, leading to inflammation and, in celiac disease, autoimmunity.”

Just a few of the problems you can experience include:

• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Bloating and gas
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Itchy, blistery skin
• Elevated liver enzymes

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

In addition, a leaky gut can set off a cycle of weight gain, since endotoxins that escape the gut and enter the bloodstream interfere with the normal functioning of fat cells. Specifically, these toxins stop the browning process that turns bad white fat into calorie-burning beige fat.

Fighting back against leaky gut

Avoiding gluten is the best answer, but doing so is not easy, unless on the strictest of diets. Even ordering gluten-free at restaurants is a big gamble.

The good news is that you can help strengthen and support the health of your gut to reduce your symptoms and your risks.

My colleague, Virginia Tims-Lawson, has put together a list of five must-have supplements to repair a leaky gut.

It’s a list that includes probiotics, which you may get even more of a boost from, by choosing a supplement that’s spore-based.

Finally, be sure and check out this list of five sinister foods to avoid, along with five foods that can offer help leaky gut syndrome.

Sources:

Celiac disease: New findings on the effects of gluten — ScienceDaily

Celiac Disease — Mayo Clinic

Increased Prevalence and Mortality in Undiagnosed Celiac Disease — Gastroenterology

The post How this sneaky protein triggers leaky gut syndrome appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Fortunately, it was nothing serious. However, that experience taught me a valuable lesson: when it comes to my health, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

It’s possible to experience symptoms like headache, fatigue, and nausea and have nothing seriously wrong. Or, it’s possible that these could each be a symptom of one of the ten major health problems listed below.

What you learn here could save you a lot of pain and trouble. It could also quite possibly save your life.

Frequently misdiagnosed conditions and their symptoms

1. Cancer. Fatigue, weight loss and pain are symptoms that often go part and parcel with cancer. But they are also found in so many other conditions.

• Breast cancer is often written off as benign fibroids.
• Lung cancer can be mistaken for COPD, especially in smokers.
• Colorectal cancer has the same abdominal discomfort and bowel changes as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Prostate cancer can easily be mistaken for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a benign enlargement of the prostate.
• Bladder cancer shares symptoms with urinary tract infections, such as pain while urinating, frequent urination, and pelvic pain.

2. Heart attack. Age and gender play a huge role in the misdiagnosis of heart attacks. No one expects someone in their 30s or 40s to have a heart attack, and symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath and indigestion are often attributed to other conditions.

A woman having a heart attack may not present with chest pain or arm pain. She may simply be nauseous, fatigued, and/or have jaw or back pain. These atypical symptoms are prevalent in women and are often easily attributed to other causes.

3. Stroke. Again, it’s the less-than-classic symptoms of a stroke that cause it to be dismissed as something else.

Rather than classic symptoms such as sudden numbness in one side of the body, slurred speech, and confusion, some stroke victims (women in particular) may look like they’re experiencing migraine, vertigo or an anxiety attack. They’ll have atypical symptoms, including dizziness, nausea and headache.

4. Thyroid conditions. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause fatigue, weight gain and feelings of sadness or apathy, while hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) may cause anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Clearly, these symptoms occur in other disorders.

5. Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve running through the wrist. Misdiagnosis of CPT as tendinitis or arthritis can cause a patient to delay surgery until it’s too late, leading to permanent nerve damage and irreversible weakness and numbness of the hand that affects its use.

6. Appendicitis. The abdominal pain of appendicitis is not always severe and can be mistaken for gastrointestinal discomfort. Some people experience nausea, vomiting and a mild fever, while others do not. A delay in diagnosis can quickly become a medical emergency if the appendix bursts.

7. Celiac disease. Both celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) cause abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. But a person with celiac disease must eliminate all gluten from their lives or risk damage to the lining of the small intestine, which ultimately leads to malnutrition.

8. Lyme disease. The bite of the tick that causes Lyme often produces a “bullseye” rash. If the rash isn’t present, Lyme is usually misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, whose symptoms are similar (fatigue, joint pain, headaches and neurological issues).

9. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often misdiagnosed as other conditions, including fibromyalgia, ALS, migraines and Vitamin B deficiency. If you are experiencing a combination of muscle weakness, fatigue, vision problems, and balance issues, make sure to have your doctor evaluate you for MS.

10. Depression is challenging to diagnose, as it looks different for different people. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, and alterations in appetite can mimic other physical conditions, including hypothyroidism or vitamin deficiencies.

Becoming a self-advocate

I hope that the information I’ve presented here will turn you into a fierce self-advocate. Doctors aren’t infallible, and being informed helps when you talk to them.

Never leave your doctor’s office until you’re satisfied with the answer you receive. If you have an unusual symptom or if you’re not feeling comfortable with the explanation you get, don’t let a doctor dismiss it as “nothing serious.”

Source:

Top Ten Health Conditions That Are Easily Misdiagnosed osmosis.org

The post The 10 most frequently misdiagnosed conditions appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That was decades ago. So why am I thinking about this now?

Because it makes me susceptible to a painful condition that affects about ten percent of people who have had chickenpox — and you’ve probably guessed that I’m referring to shingles.

That may not sound like a big risk. But some research I’ve read lately has me thinking more and more about getting the vaccine, not only to prevent this condition, but also because of its fascinating connection to dementia…

Peak Blood Flow^™

Poor circulation can impact your eyesight, your ability to sleep and cause headaches, discomfort and swelling — among other more serious concerns. The tell-tale signs of a circulation problem are… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

What is shingles?

Like me, you may have had chickenpox as a child. If so, you now have a virus lingering deep in the roots of your nerves that can be reactivated at any time.

If that virus wakes up, it can cause you to suffer painful blisters and searing nerve pain, possibly even long-term nerve damage.

This is shingles, also called herpes zoster, after the virus that causes it.

In mild cases, a band of fluid-filled blisters that itch intensely will appear, most commonly around the left or right side of the body.

In more severe cases, though, the pain of shingles can be so intense that even a slight breeze or pulling a sheet over the body can cause unbearable pain. This pain can last months or even years and is known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

There are also several variations of shingles that have varying degrees of severity:

Ophthalmic shingles, or shingles of the eye, can cause complications including corneal ulcers, glaucoma and potential blindness.

Ramsey Hunt Syndrome is a form of shingles that can cause blisters in and around the ear and mouth on one side of the face. The virus attacks a central facial nerve and can result in loss of hearing, facial paralysis, ear pain and changes in the ability to taste.

Internal shingles happens when the virus affects the body but does not cause a rash. Symptoms may be mistaken for the flu: fever, headaches, muscle aches, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. If the virus attacks internal organs, pneumonia, hepatitis, or encephalitis can result. If you feel sick but have neurological symptoms, like numbness, tingling and burning under the skin, you need to get medical treatment immediately.

Peak Cardio Platinum^™

Clinically-Tested Nutrients Help Arteries and Cardiovascular Health!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Shingrix does more than we bargained for

Since 2006, a vaccine called Zostavax has been used to prevent shingles, and in 2018, a new shingles vaccine called Shingrix was approved.

Unlike Zostavax, it does not use live viruses and is considered safer for people with compromised immune systems. But here’s an interesting “bonus” to both these vaccines:

In July 2024, research published in Nature Medicine revealed that the original Zostavax vaccine was associated with reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. At the time, the newly approved Shingrix vaccine, which became the treatment of choice for shingles, reduced that risk even more.

However, in these previous studies based on health records, researchers could not account for a significant source of bias: Vaccinated people tend to be more health-conscious. Behaviors such as diet and exercise, for instance, are known to influence dementia rates, but are not included in health records — so it was hard to truly narrow the reduced rates of dementia specifically to the vaccine.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the findings of a seven-year “accidental experiment” published in Nature in April 2025 appear to have strengthened the vaccination’s impact on dementia even more.

Peak PS^™

Support Stong Cognition with One of the Most Tested Nutrients for Brain Health and Memory!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

An ‘accidental’ clinical trial

A fortuitous “natural experiment” in the rollout of the shingles vaccine in Wales that began in 2013 seemed to sidestep the bias. The vaccine used then contained a live-attenuated, or weakened, form of the virus.

How the vaccine rollout was designed — intended to ration the limited supply of the vaccine — meant that the slight difference in age between 79- and 80-year-olds made all the difference in who had access to the vaccine.

By comparing people who turned 80 just before Sept. 1, 2013, with people who turned 80 just after, the researchers could isolate the effect of being eligible for the vaccine.

The researchers compared the health outcomes of people closest in age who were eligible and ineligible to receive the vaccine, over seven years. By factoring in actual vaccination rates — about half of the eligible population received the vaccine, compared with almost none of the people who were ineligible — they could derive the vaccine’s effects.

By 2020, one in eight older adults, who were by then 86 and 87, had been diagnosed with dementia. But those who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia than the unvaccinated.

“It was a really striking finding,” said Pascal Geldsetzer, M.D., PhD., assistant professor of medicine and senior author of the recent study published in Nature in April 2025. “This huge protective signal was there, any which way you looked at the data.

“What makes the study so powerful is that it’s essentially like a randomized trial with a control group — those a little bit too old to be eligible for the vaccine — and an intervention group — those just young enough to be eligible.” 

They also found that protection against dementia was much more pronounced in women than men. This could be due to sex differences in immune response or in the way dementia develops, Geldsetzer said. On average, women have higher antibody responses to vaccination, and shingles is more common in women than in men. More women are also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia than men.

The circumstances, well-documented in the country’s health records, were about as close to a randomized controlled trial as you could get without conducting one.

Peak Prostate Support^™

10 Targeted Nutrients to Support a Healthy Prostate!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Over 60? You’re at higher risk

While it’s not entirely clear what the connection is between dementia and the shingles vaccine, scientists have two possible explanations.

Here’s one: When a baby is born, specific molecules that potentially could cause inflammation and accelerate aging are silenced. But viral infections like shingles can reactivate the production of these molecules, which could lead to dementia.

Another possibility is that certain viruses, like the one that causes shingles, have the potential to support the rogue form of Amyloid-β proteins that accelerate the onset of dementia.

It’s also unknown whether a newer version of the vaccine, which contains only certain proteins from the virus and is more effective at preventing shingles, may have a similar or even greater impact on dementia.

Geldsetzer looks forward to a large, randomized controlled trial, which would provide the most decisive proof of cause and effect. Participants would be randomly assigned to receive the live-attenuated vaccine or a placebo shot.

As effective as the vaccine seems to be at reducing the risk of developing shingles (and potentially reducing the risk of dementia), it’s not entirely risk-free…

It carries an FDA warning about Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder, considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the nerves. In some adults over 65, there was a slightly elevated risk for developing GBS within 42 days of receiving it. Researchers describe the risk as “about three excess GBS cases per million vaccinations.”

It’s a personal decision, and you may have many factors to weigh, including your family history or genetic risk for dementia.

Sources:

Study strengthens link between shingles vaccine and lower dementia risk — EurekAlert

New Shingles Vaccine Does Even Better Job of Delaying Onset of Dementia — Science Alert

The recombinant shingles vaccine is associated with a lower risk of dementia — Nature

Herpes Zoster Vaccination Reduces Risk of Dementia — nih.gov

Newer Shingles Vaccine Edges Out Its Predecessor — Jefferson Health

The post The connection between dementia and the shingles vaccine appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s a diagnosable condition that can make even the simplest of tasks feel like a monumental effort.

If you think you might have CFS, don’t let anyone tell you it’s “all in your head.” There are answers to be had. And research is uncovering more of them every day.

Peak CoQSol10 CF^™

Coenzyme Q10 is essential for good health. Our cells use it to produce energy the body needs for basic functions, including cell growth and maintenance. The problem is, you can start seeing declines in your CoQ10 levels as early as your 20s plus… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

What is chronic fatigue syndrome?

It’s a complicated disorder where you experience debilitating fatigue for at least six months, fatigue that can’t be explained by any medical condition.

Mental or physical effort increases this fatigue, but rest just doesn’t seem to make it any better. You wake up from sleep feeling just as tired as when you went to bed.

On top of the fatigue that makes it difficult to perform even basic tasks, a person with CFS may also live with:

• Memory and concentration problems
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Unexplained muscle or joint pain
• Dizziness, especially when going from lying down to sitting or standing (known as orthostatic hypotension).

What causes chronic fatigue syndrome?

The cause of CFS is unknown. Most experts think that it is triggered by a combination of factors, which could include viral infections and psychological stress.

Some experts believe that a person could be born with a predisposition for CFS and that it is triggered by any number of factors, including immune system problems, hormonal imbalances and emotional trauma.

But a common deficiency is beginning to make itself known among those with CFS…

Chronic fatigue patients have low CoQ10 blood levels

Research has shown that patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have abnormally low levels of CoQ10 in plasma and muscle tissue.

A Belgian study measured levels of the antioxidant CoQ10 in the blood plasma of 58 people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, and compared it with levels in the blood of 22 healthy participants.

Plasma levels of CoQ10 were significantly lower in people diagnosed with CFS. Nearly half of them (44 percent) had CoQ10 plasma levels lower than the lowest level found in the healthy group.

Peak CoQSol10 CF^™

Gives Your Cells the Energy They Need for Optimal Function!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

CoQ10 depletion activates inflammation

Also, people with extremely low plasma levels of CoQ10 suffered the most from memory and concentration issues.

Research into fibromyalgia, another condition that brings debilitating fatigue, has shown that a CoQ10 deficiency is strongly associated with the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Neither of these findings is surprising when you consider that CoQ10 can help protect our brains from the oxidative stress caused by environmental pollutants.

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who were given a daily combination of 200mg of CoQ10 and 20mg of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) for eight weeks reported significantly less fatigue than those who did not take the supplements.

NADH is a natural supplement that boosts energy in our mitochondria and is known to improve mental clarity, concentration and memory.

How to get more CoQ10

CoQ10 is often taken in supplement form. Here are a few things you should know when choosing a CoQ10 supplement.

But CoQ10 is also found in many foods, in a natural form that your body can absorb easily. These foods include:

• Soybeans
• Sesame seeds
• Pistachios
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Peanuts
• Liver
• Spinach
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Canola oil

Sources:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients Benefit from CoQ10 — Pharma Nord

Chronic fatigue syndrome —Mayo Clinic

Inflammation Causes Memory Loss and It Starts Sooner Than We Thought —The Ultrawellness Center

Systemic inflammation during midlife and cognitive change over 20 years — Neurology

The post Is CoQ10 the answer to chronic fatigue syndrome? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Research has pointed to the possibility that the keto diet could calm the overactive immune system responsible for these diseases.

Now, we have reason to believe this could be true.

And, like so many crucial things in our bodies, it comes from the gut.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

An important way keto changes the gut

On the Keto diet, carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, pasta, fruit and sugar are severely restricted, but you’re allowed unlimited fat consumption.

Without carbohydrates to use as fuel, the body breaks down fat instead, producing compounds called ketone bodies. Ketone bodies provide energy for cells to burn.

They can also change the immune system.

Researchers at UC San Francisco found that the keto diet attenuated symptoms of multiple sclerosis in experiments involving mice. The key was the production of two factors in the guts of the mice.

One of these is a ketone body called beta-hydroxybutyrate (βHB).

The researchers found that mice that produced more βHB had less severe disease.

But βHB alone didn’t cause the improvement. It merely set off a chain reaction that ended with fewer symptoms.

The presence of βHB triggered the bacterium Lactobacillus murinus, already present in the gut, to produce a metabolite called indole lactic acid (ILA).

In turn, ILA blocked the activation of T helper 17 immune cells, which are involved in MS and other autoimmune disorders.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Supplementing with BHB may be the answer

So, if βHB is the key to blocking immune cells from triggering autoimmune symptoms, what happens if your body can’t produce βHB?

The UCSF researchers have answered that question, too.

Some mice on the keto diet were unable to produce βHB in their intestines. Their inflammation was more severe. But when their diets were supplemented with βHB, the mice got better.

“What was really exciting was finding that we could protect these mice from inflammatory disease just by putting them on a diet that we supplemented with these compounds,” says Dr. Peter Turnbaugh, a UCSF Professor of Microbiology and Immunology.

But he cautions that the supplement approach still needs to be tested in people.

“The big question now is how much of this will translate into actual patients. But I think these results provide hope for the development of a more tolerable alternative to helping those people than asking them stick to a challenging and restrictive diet.”

Want to give the keto diet a try?

It’s not for everyone. But it is, at its core, an anti-inflammatory diet, and that could benefit pretty much anyone. You can find specifics about the keto diet here. Other anti-inflammatory diets include the Green Mediterranean diet and the Alkaline diet.

Beta-hydroxybutyrate supplements are readily available and WebMD reports they are typically used for dry eye, athletic performance, migraine, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson.

However, side effects may include stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, especially if high doses are used.

Lactobacillus murinus isn’t typically found in probiotics, but a diet that includes fiber and prebiotics should help the amount already in your gut thrive.

Sources:

How the Keto Diet Could One Day Treat Autoimmune Disorders — UC San Francisco

A diet-dependent host metabolite shapes the gut microbiota to protect from autoimmunity — Cell Reports

Ketogenic diets alter gut microbiome in humans, mice — Medical Express

Ketogenic Diets Alter the Gut Microbiome Resulting in Decreased Intestinal Th17 Cells — Cell

The post How the Keto diet may help treat Autoimmune Disorders appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

From food to books and everything in between, you can learn a lot about your family, friends and even yourself by their answers.

It’s why just the other day, I asked myself that same question when it came to supplements. I take several, so if I could only choose one, the answer, for me, is really quite simple…

If I were stuck on a desert island, the supplement I could not do without would be an omega-3. Preferably krill oil (fish oil gives me fish burps), but I digress…

If you’re down to just one choice, you want the nutrient science has consistently demonstrated can fight all inflammatory and metabolic disorders.

Starting with…

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

#1 – Inflammation

Doctors now consider inflammation to be “the root of disease.” The good news is that we already have omega-3s to yank out that root and preserve our health.

That’s because studies have shown that the unsaturated fatty acids in these omegas act to directly resolve inflammation. In addition to this direct action, they provide the additional bonus of competing with omega-6s (the kind found in refined oils) in your diet. This action inhibits the synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and shifts the balance toward a more anti-inflammatory state.

#2 – Obesity

Obesity, while usually seen through the lens of weight alone, is actually an inflammatory condition that kicks off a multitude of other dangerous diseases. But omega-3s can once again come to the rescue with their potent anti- inflammatory and adipogenic effects that occur right inside the fat tissue itself.

It’s no wonder, then, that studies have found that even mice fed an obesogenic (obesity-inducing) diet benefit from reduced fat mass accumulation when taking omega-3s. To top it off, researchers also discovered that a higher proportion of omega-3s in red blood cell (RBC) membranes has been associated with a lowered fat mass index.

#3 – Heart Health

As with their effects on obesity, larger amounts of omega-3s in RBC membranes support heart health by reducing inflammatory markers and lowering triglycerides.

Numerous prospective and meta-analytic studies have concluded that supplementing with omega-3s in your daily diet substantially reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 15 to 25%.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

#4 – Blood Sugar

In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3’s also have potent abilities in the fight against metabolic dysfunction, including blood sugar issues. In fact, research has revealed that these fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity by increasing adiponectin secretion, enhance glucose uptake through an increase in GLUT-4 content, and support pancreatic β-cell function, enhancing their insulin secretion capacities.

#5 – Liver Health

Fatty liver disease may also be no match for omega-3s. These fatty acids work to guard liver health by:

• Inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, leading to decreased transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced liver inflammation
• Reducing neutrophil infiltration and enhancing the clearance of apoptotic cells to resolve liver inflammation
• Blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the inflammation that comes with it and preventing the progression from simple steatosis (fat buildup) to steatohepatitis (with associated inflammation and liver damage)
• Inducing mitophagy of damaged liver mitochondria and reducing oxidative stress

A comprehensive cohort study even found that taking omega-3s regularly resulted in a 28% reduced risk of liver inflammatory disease, including alcoholic or non-alcoholic liver disease and liver failure.

#6 – Kidney Health

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is another downstream effect of obesity-mediated inflammation. Luckily, supplementation with omega-3s has been shown to increase the production of pro-resolving mediators, like RvE1 and RvD5, that result in an improvement in inflammatory markers and renal function.

Omega-3s also help improve renal hemodynamics and significantly reduce proteinuria in patients with CKD.

#7 – Autoimmunity

• Inflammatory bowel diseases – Omega-3s have been shown to reduce colitis-associated disease severity, colonic mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage infiltration of the tissue.
• Psoriasis – In psoriatic skin, omega-3s work to reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and skin thickening, with improvements in redness, scaling and itching.
• Rheumatic diseases – Omega-3s also provide powerful joint support by inhibiting IL-1β, one of the most active cytokines that leads to cartilage destruction and loss of collagen.
• Multiple sclerosis – Because omega-3s can cross the blood–brain barrier, they have been shown to directly impair neuroinflammatory processes. Research also shows they may decrease the activity and production of matrix metalloproteinase-9, which is implicated in blood–brain barrier breakdown in MS, while upregulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to enhance neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity.

Research has even shown that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids alone can reduce autoimmune disease rate by 15%.

Putting omega-3s to work for your health

Clearly, whether you end up marooned on a desert island or just want to stay healthy and keep inflammatory and metabolic disease at bay, omega-3s are a must-have in your diet.

So, what’s the best way to ensure you’re getting enough?

One solution is to adopt the Mediterranean diet. Not only is this diet packed with polyphenol-rich fruits, vegetables, and olive oil, but it is also rich in seafood, providing you with those essential omega-3s.

However, if you’re not able to reach the recommended two to three servings of fatty fish weekly, go easy on yourself and reach for a safe, sustainably sourced omega-3 supplement.

Sources:

Beneficial Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Obesity and Related Metabolic and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases — MDPI

How do Omega-3 and Vitamin D Play a Role in Autoimmune Disease? — Omegaquant

The post The ONE nutrient to fight inflammatory and metabolic disorders appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

When functioning normally, it efficiently defends against harmful invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. However, there are instances when the immune system becomes overactive or misdirected, leading it to attack healthy tissues and organs.

This misguided attack can result in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis (MS), among others.

Recent research has shed light on a fascinating connection between the brain and the immune system.

Scientists discovered that the brain and spinal cord produce special proteins known as “guardian peptides.” These peptides help regulate the immune response, ensuring that it remains balanced and does not harm the body’s own tissues.

This discovery opens up intriguing possibilities for treatment …

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

‘Guardian’ peptides help manage the immune system

There’s a constant conversation between the brain and the immune system to ensure adequate defense against threats while protecting healthy tissue.

Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis studied this relationship in mice and made significant findings regarding how these guardian peptides interact with the immune system.

According to Dr. Jonathan Kipnis, one of the leading researchers, guardian brain peptides actively monitor the immune system. They help to prevent potentially destructive immune responses by providing signals about threats.

For instance, when an immune cell detects danger, it displays a small protein fragment from that danger on its surface. This fragment serves as a warning to T cells, which evaluate whether the threat is significant enough to warrant an immune attack.

However, guardian peptides come into play to help regulate this process, attracting a subset of T cells that serve to calm down the immune response and prevent it from turning against the body.

The researchers found that in healthy mice, these guardian peptides were abundant and effectively managed the immune responses. However, in mice with multiple sclerosis, these protective proteins were significantly diminished. When the researchers introduced the missing brain-derived peptides into the spinal fluid of mice with MS, something remarkable happened…

It led to an increase in a type of T cell that suppresses immune reactions, resulting in improved motor function and a slowdown in the progression of the disease compared to untreated mice.

This research highlights an important discovery…

“We have found guardian brain peptides that actively engage with the immune system to keep it in check, possibly preventing destructive immune responses,” said Dr. Kipnis.

More research may lead to identifying protein signatures of other neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases that could lead to early diagnosis and potential treatment.

Peak D3^™

Gives You the Vitamin D3 You Can’t Get From Sunshine Alone!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Support can start with a common denominator

These findings may also provide reason to acknowledge the communication between the brain and another body part linked with autoimmune and neuroinflammatory diseases…

You may have heard of the gut-brain axis, also referred to as the gut-brain-immune axis in the scientific community. The immune system represents a key pathway of communication along this axis with the microbiome implicated in neuroinflammation.

A healthy gut microbiome helps orchestrate this connection and is involved in the production of neurotransmitters and other chemicals, including neuropeptides, that influence the immune system.

An imbalance in the gut microbiome can disrupt communication along the gut-brain axis, leading to the increased neuroinflammation that contributes to MS, Parkinson’s and even Alzheimer’s.

An example came to light in a study that found lactobacillus reuteri triggered lupus in mice and stimulated immune cells to worsen the disease process.

The benefits of probiotics are transmitted via the gut-brain axis. A healthy and balanced gut could support the gut-brain axis and immune response.

Sources:

Healthy brains suppress inappropriate immune responses — EurekAlert!

Endogenous self-peptides guard immune privilege of the central nervous system — Nature

The enteric nervous system is a potential autoimmune target in multiple sclerosis — Acta Neuropathologica

The Role of Gut Microbiota in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Insights and Therapeutic Implications — Cureus

Microbiota and gut neuropeptides: a dual action of antimicrobial activity and neuroimmune response — Psychopharmacology

The gut microbiota-immune-brain axis: Therapeutic implications — Cell Reports Medicine

The post The ‘guardians’ that balance immune system response appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

You can be feeling good, but suddenly, your symptoms flare up. Maybe you experience abdominal pain. But what if you know diarrhea is next?

There are times when this can be more than just inconvenient.

What if there were a way to predict your next flare-up so you don’t find yourself in that situation?

That’s the promise of a study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, who found that wearable devices may help sound the warning on IBD flares up to seven weeks in advance.

Getting ahead of uncomfortable situations and IBD flares

The researchers followed over 300 adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, who were equipped with wearable devices – including Apple Watch, Fitbit or the Oura Ring.

The devices certainly proved their value far beyond counting steps!

By measuring signals in the body associated with an imminent flare, the devices helped predict an IBD flare 7 weeks out. These signs included:

• Longitudinal heart rate (or changes in heart rate over time)
• Resting heart rate (the number of times your heart beats per minute at rest)
• Heart rate variability (the variation in time between  each of your heartbeats) or regularity
• Number of steps  (an indication of the amount of daily physical activity)
• Oxygenation (also known as pulse ox, which indicates how much oxygen the hemoglobin in your blood is carrying)

According to Rudolph Bedford, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist, these findings provide hope for IBD control, since up to this point, there has been no way to predict symptom flare-ups, unless you just so happened to get a stool or blood test right before one occurred.

But by leveraging these easy-to-use devices, “(IBD patients) may be able to make some changes in what they’re doing before that occurs, whether that’s an adjustment of medication or an adjustment of diet.”

Peak Krill Oil^™

Supports Heart Health, Immunity and Moods, Naturally!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Improvements for the long haul

Knowing when your next flare could occur could certainly help keep you from ending up in an uncomfortable situation. But let’s take it further…

Inflammation is a hallmark of irritable bowel disease. That means learning to lessen its grip could be a better tool for managing flares and improving your health over the long haul.

Following the autoimmune disease protocol (AIP), a diet focusing on foods that help tamp down inflammation, is a good place to start.

Begin with a six-week elimination phase, removing grains, legumes, nightshades, dairy, eggs, coffee, alcohol, nuts and seeds, refined sugars, oils and food additives from your diet. These foods are considered triggers for intestinal inflammation, microbiome imbalances and food intolerances.

In addition to avoiding these gut-irritating foods, choose more gut-supporting foods like fresh, nutrient-dense foods, bone broth and fermented foods.

After the elimination phase, you can add back foods one at a time to determine which ones adversely affect your

Finally, I recommend taking a krill oil supplement daily to provide your gut with the omega-3s it needs to douse inflammation without the stomach upset that comes with fish oil.

Research has demonstrated that higher levels of essential fatty acids can help guard against chronic or uncontrolled inflammation through two important mechanisms.

• First, high levels of omega-3s in cell membranes trigger the release of an elevated level of omega-3-derived metabolites. This helps switch off the inflammatory response and switch on the body’s natural healing powers.
• Second, these fatty acids positively influence the types and amounts of microorganisms that live in the gut, called the gut microbiota.

It’s a one-two punch to help knock out symptoms and avoid flares.

Sources:

Wearable devices like Fitbit can predict IBD flares 7 weeks in advance — Medical News Today

How can you tell if your IBD is getting worse? — UchicagoMedicine

Omega-3 Fatty Acids And Inflammation — You Are What You Eat! – NIH

The post Wearable devices help predict IBD flare-ups appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For that reason, anyone with MS is likely to make note of things that can trigger their flares, like:

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Infections (like a urinary tract infection)
• Increased body heat

It’s also not uncommon for certain foods to trigger MS flares. Typically, experts recommend avoiding saturated and trans fats, refined sugar and alcohol — all of which can contribute to inflammation. Dairy, gluten and salt are also suspect, though evidence is mixed regarding the connection between these foods and MS flares.

Within the scope of saturated fats are animal products like red meat and full-fat dairy. But many plant-based products contain saturated fat as well. Surprisingly, this is where we find a food trigger that is especially bad for people with MS…

Peak D3^™

Gives You the Vitamin D3 You Can’t Get From Sunshine Alone!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A not-so-benign oil

Palm oil is a vegetable oil made from the fruit of oil palm trees. It’s considered a high-yield/low-cost crop, so it’s used in more than half of processed and packaged foods — from pizza, donuts and chocolate to even deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste.

Previous research has looked at the toxic effect of a high-fat diet on the severity of MS symptoms. MS causes extensive damage to the myelin sheath that insulates and protects nerves throughout the body. Current MS treatments focus on controlling the immune system’s response.

However, the exact mechanisms that contribute to neurodegeneration in MS have remained poorly understood. That’s why a group of international researchers focused on how a diet rich in palm oil could impact neuronal health in MS.

They used the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of inflammatory demyelination. They found that a diet high in palm oil led to a more severe disease course in mice — and narrowed the reaction down to two enzymes present in neurons: ceramide synthase 5 and 6 (CerS5 and CerS6).

According to principal investigator Patrizia Casaccia of the City University of New York (CUNY), these enzymes convert palm oil into a toxic substance known as C16 ceramide, which is responsible for inflicting damage to the mitochondria. This damage then deprives the neurons of the energy they need to counteract inflammation in the brain.

Casaccia says the researchers subsequently explored whether inactivating these enzymes would be neuroprotective. They discovered that when they genetically deleted CerS5 and CerS6 in neurons, neurodegeneration was prevented in their experimental MS model. This was true even when the mice were fed a palm oil-rich diet.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

In short, the researchers have made a significant breakthrough by pinpointing a specific metabolic pathway through which dietary fats like palm oil can worsen MS symptoms. This knowledge empowers individuals with MS to make informed nutritional choices that can positively impact their health.

How to avoid palm oil

Hopefully, this research will expand to the development of MS therapies.

Right now, though, the best course of action for anyone with MS is just to obliterate palm oil from their diet.

But truthfully, anyone—period—may want to avoid palm oil…

Researchers in Spain discovered that a diet rich in palmitic acid triggers the spread of cancerous tumors. They found it makes these tumor cells more aggressive.

Of course, avoiding palm oil is not easily done. As noted earlier, palm oil is in hundreds of foods, making it a significant component of the Standard American Diet. The good news is the vast majority are prepackaged foods, so following a whole-food diet is the best course for eliminating palm oil.

It’s less likely that using personal care products containing palm oil has the same impact as ingesting foods made with palm oil. However, environmental reasons, specifically deforestation, have made palm oil-free alternatives more available — particularly oral care products such as toothpaste.

Sources:

New research identifies ways to protect neurons from the negative effect of high-fat diet on multiple sclerosis progression — ScienceDaily

Neuroprotective effect of neuron-specific deletion of the C16 ceramide synthetic enzymes in an animal model of multiple sclerosis — Glia

Managing Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis — National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Multiple sclerosis diet: Foods to eat and avoid — Multiple Sclerosis News Today

Worried About MS Flares? 4 Triggers That Can Worsen Your Symptoms — Everyday Health

8 things to know about palm oil — WWF-UK

The post Palm oil’s toxic trait that fuels MS appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Psoriasis manifests as scaly, red and itchy skin, but is far more than just skin-deep. It can cause unseen damage, affecting the joints, blood pressure and heart health.

And according to researchers at Uppsala University, psoriasis even has an invisible gut connection to Crohn’s disease.

Here’s how…

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Inflammatory activity, impaired intestinal barrier function and Crohn’s disease

The scientist studied 18 patients with mild levels of psoriasis, along with 15 healthy controls as subjects, comparing samples from both their small and large bowel.

According to the researchers, “It turned out that psoriasis sufferers had higher numbers of certain types of immune cells in their small intestine, and the cells showed signs of pro-inflammatory activity. Interestingly, we found the same type of immune cells in skin flare-ups from psoriasis patients, suggesting that the inflammation of the skin may have an impact on the gut, or vice versa.”

But that wasn’t all…

Half of the psoriasis patients in the study had increased intestinal barrier permeability, also known as leaky gut.

The problem with leaky gut is that when the intestinal mucosa, which is supposed to act as a protective barrier, isn’t functioning properly, it allows bacteria and harmful substances to leak through.

As these substances spread through your bloodstream, your body experiences widespread inflammation.

“Previous research has also shown that people with psoriasis have more gastrointestinal problems than the general population. However we didn’t know much about why this is the case. With our study, we can now show that people with psoriasis often have invisible inflammation in their small intestines, with an increased risk of what’s called leaky gut,” says Maria Lampinen, researcher at Uppsala University.

The researchers say these results are significant, stating that, “Given that the psoriasis patients in our study had relatively mild skin disease and showed no visible intestinal inflammation in a gastroscopy, they had surprisingly clear changes in their small intestine compared to healthy controls. These changes could explain why psoriasis sufferers often have gastrointestinal problems and an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease.”

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

Give your Body the Optimal Alkalizing Nutrients you Need for Healthy pH Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Reducing psoriasis symptoms and supporting the gut

This means that if you’re living with psoriasis, it’s vital to not only work to reduce psoriatic inflammation but also to promote a healthy gut.

Steps to take to slay psoriasis issues include:

• Losing any extra weight since higher BMI may contribute to increased inflammation of the skin
• Add in a vitamin D supplement because multiple studies have connected vitamin D deficiency to psoriasis
• Eat your way to clear skin with the diet that’s been shown to by eating the Mediterranean diet (which has been shown to reduce the likelihood of severe psoriasis symptoms by 29%), with its high levels of fresh fruits and veggies, olive oil and fatty fish

The Mediterranean diet also leans anti-inflammatory and nutrient-rich, making it a good choice for healing a leaky gut.

In addition to diet, these five supplements are the most recommended to help the gut lining heal. One, of course, is a daily probiotic.

Researchers at the University of North Texas found that people who took a spore-based probiotic benefitted from a 42 percent reduction in the amount of toxins that seeped into their bloodstream after meals.

I also have to give a shout-out to the black seed oil of the Nigella sativa plant. An immune system that overreacts is part and parcel of autoimmune conditions. The plant’s black seeds have anti-inflammatory properties and contain a compound called thymoquinone, considered to be an immune system modulator for a more balanced immune response.

Sources:

Inflammation may explain stomach problems in psoriasis sufferers – ScienceDaily

Gassy, bloated and tired? You’ve got a leaky gut – Easy Health Options

The one supplement that truly plugs a leaky gut – Easy Health Options

My psoriasis vanished when my extra weight did – Easy Health Options

The vitamin that squashes psoriasis symptoms – Easy Health Options

Don’t let psoriasis destroy your arteries – Easy Health Options

The diet that slays stubborn psoriasis symptoms – Easy Health Options

The post An invisible connection between psoriasis and Crohn’s disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful autoimmune disease that attacks the joints.  People with RA experience joint stiffness, swelling and pain. It can even lead to severe disability in cases where joints become so swollen and disfigured that you’re unable to use them.

What exactly triggers RA is still a mystery, though experts suggest it’s a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental and lifestyle factors.

Experts are certain about one thing: Inflammation, particularly when it is chronic, is a driving factor in autoimmune disease. That’s because inflammation is one of the first cues that the body gives the immune system.

Some past research has shown diet can help tamp down inflammation. For that reason, diet protocols have been designed for certain autoimmune conditions and have been suggested as preventatives as well.

In fact, a team of scientists at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom has recently discovered five diet options that they say can help lower the risks of developing RA or help manage it if you have it…

Peak D3^™

When you step out into the sunlight, your body begins the process of making vitamin D. But getting the ideal amount can be difficult because some of us can’t effectively absorb it. That’s just one of many reasons the vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Foods that impact rheumatoid risk

The researcher started with a systematic review of 30 different studies involving nearly 10,000 people with RA. Specifically, they sought to explore the relationship between 32 different food groups, drinks and nutrients and the risk of developing the disease.

Remember, even if your DNA predisposes you to a condition, epigenetics has proven that factors, including lifestyle, can alter how genes function.

Based on what they found, the researchers came up with some easy-to-follow dietary advice that could help stave off RA. Foods that were associated with a reduced risk of developing RA include:

• Oily fish
• Fresh vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole-grain cereals
• Beer

Yep, you read that last one right…

The team found that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption (specifically beer) was associated with a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Each two unit/week increase in alcohol linked to a four percent risk reduction.

However, it’s important to note that while lower alcohol intake was beneficial, the risk of rheumatoid began to rise once weekly alcohol intake surpassed about four pints of lower-strength beer/lager/cider per week or 3.5 standard glasses of wine.

According to research author Yuanyuan Dong, a PhD researcher in the university’s School of Food Science and Nutrition, “These findings offer a deeper understanding of how diet can impact rheumatoid arthritis risk and suggest potential dietary modifications for disease prevention and management.”

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

On the other hand, the team also discovered that certain drinks could actually raise your rheumatoid risk, including coffee and tea.

But they point out that the association was low, with tea consumption increasing risk of the disease by four percent per cup. And they say that the risk with coffee was even less.

So considering the numerous health benefits of the two, you might want to take the warning with a grain of salt.

In addition to those foods, the researchers say that vitamin D was also linked to a lower risk of RA. Considering what the VITAL trial found about the sunshine vitamin and omega-3s, like you get from fish oil or oily fish, I’m not at all surprised.

For advanced relief of symptoms, try a fish oil supplement taken with cranberry juice. Previous research determined drinking cranberry juice with fish oil supplements can boost fish oil’s beneficial effects in people with RA by decreasing disease activity and inflammatory biomarkers.

Sources:

Eating oily fish, fruits and cereals and drinking one pint of beer a week can cut risk of rheumatoid arthritis — EurekAlert!

The right food for real rheumatoid arthritis relief — Easy Health Options

The post Beer’s weird connection to rheumatoid arthritis appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It turns your body’s once-balanced immune system into an overactive nightmare that begins attacking your own healthy cells and organs.

It also sets off a cascade of inflammation that can take down joints, wreck your gut or destroy your nervous system.

Sadly, autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are on the rise – especially in those of us over 50.

Even worse, because of the way these diseases leverage the body against itself, they’re hard to treat, often leaving patients with few recommendations from their doctor except to learn to live with the symptoms as best they can.

However, that doesn’t mean that there’s no hope…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

In fact, researchers have delved into the world of autoimmune diseases repeatedly, often finding that the best options for care are natural.

These include things like vitamin D, the keto diet and even baking soda.

And now, there’s an old “new kid on the block” in the battle against autoimmunity and the inflammation it causes – ginger.

Targeting the neutrophils

Ginger has a rich history of healing that goes back more than 3,000 years. And it’s been proven time and again to help the body fight off some of the most common and worst health issues.

So a team of scientists from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus decided to see what the spice could do for autoimmunity.

Specifically, the researchers set out to measure the impact of ginger supplementation on a type of white blood cell called neutrophils. Overactive neutrophils can mean the type of out-of-control inflammation.

And according to senior co-author Kristen Demoruelle, MD, PhD., “There are a lot of diseases where neutrophils are abnormally overactive”

So did ginger live up to its 3,000+ year-old hype?

In the clinical trial, the researchers found that daily intake of a ginger supplement for just seven days (at a dose of 20 mg of gingerols/day) made the neutrophils of healthy individuals more resistant to NETosis. NETs are microscopic spider web-like structures that propel the inflammation and clotting that are a hallmark of numerous autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid and lupus.

Peak Thyroid Support^™

The thyroid’s main job is to make hormones that regulate the heart, brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, muscles and every other organ and tissue. But to function properly, it needs an adequate supply of iodine — something that gets harder to metabolize with age. That’s why… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The benefits were so clear that the researchers hope their findings will encourage healthcare providers and patients to discuss whether taking ginger supplements as part of their treatment plan could be beneficial.

“There are not a lot of natural supplements, or prescription medications for that matter, that are known to fight overactive neutrophils. We, therefore, think ginger may have a real ability to complement treatment programs that are already underway. The goal is to be more strategic and personalized in terms of helping to relieve people’s symptoms,” said senior co-author Jason Knight, MD, PhD.

Putting ginger to work

So if you’re ready to battle back autoimmunity with the power of ginger, what should you know?

Well, the first thing is that ginger supplements are easy to find, both in stores and online.

Next, be sure when choosing a supplement to grab one that explains the percentage of gingerols to mg. But always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for serving amount, unless otherwise directed by your physician.

Finally, fresh ginger root is also an option, although it’s harder to know if you’re getting enough gingerols this way.

Sources:

New research adds evidence to the benefits of ginger supplements for treating autoimmune diseases – Science Daily

The post 3,000-year-old spice battles autoimmune disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are a few things that can cause an underactive thyroid, but the most common cause is Hashimoto’s disease. This condition occurs when your immune system basically attacks and kills your thyroid gland so it doesn’t function the way it’s supposed to.

Hashimoto’s is believed to affect 1 to 2 percent of people in the United States. But some experts say it is not uncommon for it to be misdiagnosed for other conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, PMS or an anxiety or bipolar disorder.

Understanding the risks, causes and symptoms, as well as testing, is important for getting a proper diagnosis and relief.

Peak D3^™

When you step out into the sunlight, your body begins the process of making vitamin D. But getting the ideal amount can be difficult because some of us can’t effectively absorb it. That’s just one of many reasons the vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Causes and symptoms

The people most at risk of Hashimoto’s are women, in whom the disease is five to 10 times more common than men. And though it can occur at any age, it’s most often seen in middle age. Other risk factors for Hashimoto’s include having a close relative with Hashimoto’s or another autoimmune disorder.

What causes Hashimoto’s is unclear, though it’s believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Some potential non-genetic triggers for the disease include changes in sex hormones (particularly in women), viral infections, certain iodine-rich medications, exposure to ionizing radiation, eating large amounts of animal protein or foods that have large amounts of iodine — such as kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed — may cause hypothyroidism or make it worse. Iodine is a substance involved in the production of thyroid hormones.

One of the first signs of Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis, is an enlargement of the thyroid known as a goiter. Depending on how big the thyroid gets, it can cause the neck to look swollen and may interfere with breathing and swallowing.

Other symptoms of Hashimoto’s include:

• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Sensitivity to cold
• Weight gain
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hair thinning
• Pale, puffy face
• Slow heart rate
• Memory problems
• Dry skin
• Irregular periods

People with Hashimoto’s disease are at increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, vitiligo, Addison’s disease and pernicious anemia. Hashimoto’s can also significantly raise your risk of dementia.

Peak Thyroid Support^™

Specially Formulated with Essential Nutrients to Support Healthy Thyroid Function!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Testing and Management

If you suspect you may have Hashimoto’s, you should talk to your doctor about testing. However, don’t be surprised if your doctor says your tests came out normal.

Sometimes Hashimoto’s doesn’t show up on a typical thyroid hormone test, so make sure your doctor checks for other factors like an enlarged thyroid that could indicate Hashimoto’s.

Whether you have Hashimoto’s or not, it’s always a good idea to take steps to protect the health of your thyroid. As with most things health-related, it all starts with getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet. The green Mediterranean and keto diets in particular have been associated with reduced inflammation in the body.

This matters because the immune system attacks the cells in the thyroid gland over a long period, causing inflammation. So, overall, it’s important to avoid foods that can trigger excess inflammation, including processed foods, breads, sugars, snack foods and frozen meals high in preservatives and food dyes. If it’s got a name in its ingredient list that’s hard for you to pronounce, you should probably leave it on the shelf.

Another advisable step is to get tested for gluten sensitivity or cut down on gluten-containing foods. Gluten has been found to contain proteins that interact with thyroid antigens and may worsen symptoms. A gluten-free diet also reduces inflammation and decreases antibody levels.

Some supplements that support good thyroid health and lower inflammation levels include:

• Selenium, a trace mineral that helps convert relatively inactive T4s to the active thyroid hormone T3.
• Ashwagandha root, which works as an immune modulator to help regulate autoimmune inflammation that contributes to Hashimoto’s.
• Copper, which helps stimulate the thyroid and protect the boxy from too much thyroxine (a thyroid hormone) building up in the blood.
• Omega 3 fatty acids, which help manage inflammation and reduce your risk of developing autoimmune disease.
• Vitamin D3, another great inflammation fighter that lowers your autoimmune disease risk.

Sources:

Hashimoto’s disease — MedlinePlus

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: What you need to know — Medical News Today

The post Hashimoto’s: An often misdiagnosed thyroid disorder appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But that’s not all that the eyes can reveal…

It turns out that our eyes can provide a glimpse into what else can be going on in the body, including hints about many health ailments — and not just those affecting the eyes.

In some cases, they can even lead to life-saving early detection.

Here are 10 of them…

Peak Blood Flow^™

Poor circulation can impact your eyesight, your ability to sleep and cause headaches, discomfort and swelling — among other more serious concerns. The tell-tale signs of a circulation problem are… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Brain tumor

A simple visual field measurement can reveal abnormalities, but often patients are either unaware of them or consider them so benign that they don’t bother to report them. It’s important to make note of any visual field abnormalities because they can indicate brain tumors, such as pituitary adenoma.

Diabetes

Screening for diabetes is an area that’s ripe for improvement, especially since it often is not diagnosed until six to 13 years after its onset. An eye exam might speed that up — as well as prevent vision loss…

Lesions, characteristic of diabetes, can appear at the back of the eye before other symptoms are known. Slashing this delay is crucial because, within five years of diagnosis, 25 percent of patients with type 1 diabetes and 40 percent of those with type 2 diabetes who are treated with insulin will develop eye lesions that can have a major impact on vision.

Early identification and rigorous monitoring of eye health significantly reduce the risk of blindness, which can happen when diabetes goes untreated.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol

High blood pressure and high cholesterol can significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke. Yet high blood pressure, referred to as a “silent killer,” can go unnoticed until it’s a significant problem.

As strange as it might sound, the eye can be used to diagnose both of these conditions. This is because the eye is the only part of the body where blood vessels can be seen without requiring an incision or invasive techniques.

For instance, high blood pressure can be identified by unusual bends, kinks, or bleeding from blood vessels in the back of the eye, as well as definite signs on the retina. Hypercholesterolemia creates cholesterol deposits and atherosclerosis creates Hollenhorst plaques, both of which are visible inside the eye blood vessels. Cholesterol can also be seen in the cornea or the adnexa of the eye.

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Lupus

This inflammatory disease, in which the body attacks its own tissues and organs, can be indicated by dry eye, as well as by swelling in the white part of the eye, the middle layer of the eye or the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.

Lyme disease

This infection is transmitted by ticks and results in inflammation throughout the body. Many people with Lyme disease experience inflammation of the optic nerve, as well as an increase in “floaters,” small specks that drift across their field of vision, at the onset of infection.

Multiple sclerosis

About half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have optic neuritis, a condition in which the optic nerve becomes inflamed. Symptoms can include blurry vision, the sight of “washed out” colors and eye pain for a few days when you move your eyes.

MS can also be indicated by double vision or involuntary eye movements.

Cancer

Cancers that affect the eye, like retinoblastoma, can also cause metastases to the lungs and liver. The disease often develops without symptoms until it’s too late, so early detection is crucial.

Another cancer clue visible in the eye is congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CHRPE). It appears as a shape that looks similar to a bear’s paw and may be associated with colon cancer, which is often not diagnosed until the later stages.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Red eyes with deep, severe pain can be a harbinger of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This symptom indicates scleritis, a painful inflammation of the sclera, the white part of the eye, that requires treatment. Many people with RA also suffer from dry eye.

Thyroid disease

Hyperthyroidism can cause protruding eyeballs and retracted eyelids. This is most commonly caused by Graves’ disease, a condition in which the thyroid produces too much or too little hormone. This condition can also be accompanied by dry eye, blurry vision, or vision loss.

Get your eyes checked

If you have abnormal eye movements, asymmetric pupillary responses, sudden reading problems or the appearance of double vision, it’s time to visit your optometrist. They can help determine whether you need to be seen by an ophthalmologist for further diagnosis and treatment. Your ophthalmologist can refer you to another specialist if the condition extends beyond the eyes.

Sources:

Your Eyes Can Shed Light on Underlying Health Problems — Science Alert

MS eye and vision problems — MS Society

20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch — American Academy of Ophthalmology

The post 10 hidden health problems your eyes can reveal appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are now more than 100 autoimmune diseases — from rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s to lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. It was just a few years ago that we learned the chances of being diagnosed with one have gone up dramatically, especially if you’re a woman or over 50.

Research has known that autoimmunity happens via a trigger that creates havoc in your body, causing your immune system to suddenly attack itself — often one or more of your organs with varying degrees of damage.

They’ve also known inflammation fuels the flames of autoimmune disease. That’s why treatment has focused on easing symptoms with medications such as steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

But over the last couple of decades, one ingredient heavy in the standard American diet has been the subject of a lot of finger-pointing and blame. That would be gluten, the infamous wheat protein.

But in the medical world, the only disease blamed on gluten has been celiac. A debate has even raged on about whether people can be harmed by gluten who are only “sensitive” to it.

Now, finally, gluten is being put under the microscope and scientists are taking a closer look at the far-reaching harm it can do…

Peak Digestion^™

Gas, stomach upset, loose bowels, stomach cramps, headache and fatigue. These are all symptoms of a problem more common than you may think: Gluten intolerance. It’s often linked to autoimmune issues. Instead of the body digesting the protein, it treats gluten as an… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A proinflammatory inducer of autoimmunity

For years, naturopaths and other alternative medicine specialists have warned that eating gluten could lead to wide-ranging ill effects, including autoimmune problems beyond celiac disease.

I’ve read and heard many firsthand accounts from individuals who have seen major health improvements, from reducing joint discomfort to clearing brain fog, managing high blood pressure and overcoming type 2 diabetes, just from avoiding gluten.

However, this has largely been pooh-poohed by the traditional medical establishment.

The new research suggests, however, that gluten and one of its key components, gliadin, which is blamed for inducing the harmful immune responses seen in celiac disease, has a much broader role in inflammatory and autoimmune disease than has previously been accepted…

How gluten fuels autoimmune disease

The researchers nailed down multiple pathways by which the gluten protein leads to autoimmune problems, including:

• Inducing gut inflammation – According to the researchers, gliadin peptides found in gluten induce mucosal inflammation in the gut, causing epithelial damage (that’s damage to the cells in the gut lining) and intestinal dysbiosis (imbalance of the microbiome), which can lead to celiac disease.
• Sending inflammation body-wide – The scientists also found that gluten peptides can compromise gut permeability, allowing immunogenic molecules to leak out to the rest of the body and trigger autoimmune responses in remote organs. (This process describes what’s known as Leaky gut syndrome, a condition that hasn’t been widely accepted in the medical community.)
• Setting off an inflammatory cascade – This gluten-mediated inflammatory cascade is thought to be involved in a range of autoimmune diseases, including dermatitis herpetiformis, gluten ataxia, gluten allergy, and potentially other non-celiac auto-inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions.

The researchers’ conclusion?

Gluten is a pro-inflammatory molecule that plays a crucial role, not only in celiac disease, but also other chronic inflammatory, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders — and giving up gluten could help alleviate disease activity, making going gluten-free an actual treatment, not just a way to reduce symptoms.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Battling back against the autoimmune effects of gluten

The researchers recommend that if you’re living with autoimmune issues, choosing a gluten-free Mediterranean diet is the way to go. However, there’s one important thing to remember… gluten is everywhere.

It’s hidden in vegetarian meat alternatives and condiments ranging from soy sauce to salad dressings. It’s lurking in bacon bits and canned soups. It can be found in the milkshake you order at the drive-thru. It’s even used as filler for the medicines you get at the pharmacy.

That makes completely avoiding gluten nearly impossible and why I typically suggest the extra protection that proteolytic enzymes can offer. Proteolytic enzyme treatments were first used in Germany in the 1960s for inflammation, osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases and viral infections.

They usually contain a mixture of protein-digesting enzymes, including papain and bromelain, that promote digestive comfort and aid in the digestion of gluten peptides to guard against side effects like cramping, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas. Pineapple stem is a good source of bromelain and papain is obtained from the papaya plant and fruits.

For more tips on avoiding gluten see what my colleague Margaret Cantwell has to say about her 10 favorite ways to reduce inflammation and a little about her personal journey with gluten sensitivity. And if you’re not sure if gluten could be the root of your problems, consider an elimination diet. Here’s how.

Sources:

Gluten is a proinflammatory inducer of autoimmunity — EurekAlert!

Revitalize your brain – and joints? – with this one diet secret — Easy Health Options

Gluten: The “after-50” food allergy — Easy Health Options

The inactive ingredients in pills that trigger allergies — Easy Health Options

Autoimmunity indicators on the rise among Americans — Harvard Health Publishing

Autoimmunity Has Reached Epidemic Levels. We Need Urgent Action to Address It — Scientific American

Proteolytic enzymes — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The post Researchers conclude: Gluten’s harm goes way beyond Celiac   appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And while approximately 50 percent of people living with IBD can find relief from their chronic fatigue simply by taking vitamin B1 (thiamine), the other half are left to wonder why the treatment didn’t work for them.

But that’s all changed thanks to researchers at Aarhus University who discovered the gut secret that turns thiamine into an energy-generating machine for people with IBD.

Here’s what makes B1 work…

Peak CoQSol10 CF^™

Coenzyme Q10 is essential for good health. Our cells use it to produce energy the body needs for basic functions, including cell growth and maintenance. The problem is, you can start seeing declines in your CoQ10 levels as early as your 20s plus… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The single most important gut bacteria

“We know that about half of the fatigued patients benefit from treatment with vitamin B1, but we haven’t been able to find anything that distinguishes those who had an effect from those who did not,” said Professor Christian Lodberg Hvas, lead author of the study.

So his team of scientists set out to examine 40 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and chronic fatigue. Each patient received both vitamin B1 and a placebo in two periods of four weeks so that the researchers could determine if the vitamin treatment affected their exhaustion.

At the same time, the researchers analyzed every patient’s gut bacteria to see if a connection existed between specific gut bacteria and whether or not vitamin B1 worked to eliminate fatigue.

And sure enough, the team found exactly what they were looking for…

The scientists were able to determine that the only way a person with IBD could get relief from their fatigue by taking vitamin B1 was if their gut microbiome had enough of one single gut bacteria…

Known as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii or FP, “the bacterium is largely present in people with good health and only present in low numbers in people with chronic diseases. We don’t know if it’s just a marker for health or if it’s part of the reason why healthy people are indeed healthy,” explained Hvas.

“But the more studies that point to a beneficial effect of FP, the more it suggests that the bacterium is involved as a cause of health and not just as a bystander,” he added.

Peak Digestion^™

Protects You From Unwanted Effects of Gluten Ingestion, Calms Stomach Upset and Supports Digestion!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The path to a cure

Because of their results, the researchers recommend vitamin B1 treatment for anyone who’s living with IBD-caused fatigue.

However, as the study showed, only 50 percent of people (those who actually have the FP bacterium in the gut) will respond to the treatment.

Luckily, previous studies have shown that inulin-type fructans work to raise FP levels. Fructans are prebiotic fibers that work to nourish good gut bacteria.

You can get them from eating foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, including:

• Onions
• Leeks
• Garlic
• Bananas

Additional research shows that another type of prebiotic called human milk oligosaccharides or HMOs – specifically, the HMO, 2’-Fucosyllactose — is capable of boosting the stool count of FP in adults. 2’-Fucosyllactose is also easy to find in supplement form online or at your local vitamin store.

So, by boosting FP and taking vitamin B1, people with IBD still looking for relief from fatigue may find it.

Finally, anyone who suffers from IBD should be aware that researchers recommend taking your diet plant-based with plenty of fiber. If you’re not a believer, be sure to read this man’s story, since by changing his diet, he was able to experience a complete and total absence of symptoms.

Sources:

Vitamin B is an effective cure for many intestinal patients with chronic fatigue — EurekAlert!

Dietary Factors and Modulation of Bacteria Strains of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: A Systematic Review — NIH

Oral supplementation of healthy adults with 2′-O-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose is well tolerated and shifts the intestinal microbiota — NIH

The post The vitamin-bacteria combo that beats IBD fatigue appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Research and treatments zeroed in on beta-amyloid proteins, substances that build up as plaques in the brain and are believed to trigger Alzheimer’s.

But recent studies are exploring other potential causes of Alzheimer’s. And some of them are indicating this devastating condition may not be what we think it is…

Peak Krill Oil^™

You probably already know how important omega-3s are to support heart and brain health. But there are five reasons you may be getting yours from a less than adequate source, starting with a powerful antioxidant that delivers DHA into your brain cells… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Alzheimer’s as an immune disorder

In 2022, a key research paper from 2006 that identified beta-amyloid as the cause of Alzheimer’s was exposed as having potentially been based on fabricated data.

Given that at least one treatment for Alzheimer’s, aducanumab, targets beta-amyloid, this could be an important revelation. Aducanumab has already been slated to be discontinued by its manufacturer.

Even before these events, some scientists have gone beyond the beta-amyloid hypothesis to investigate other potential mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s. In fact, one laboratory at the Krembil Brain Institute, part of the University Health Network in Toronto, has devised a theory that Alzheimer’s could be a disorder of the immune system within the brain.

In other words, they think Alzheimer’s is an autoimmune disease.

Beta-amyloid: the brain’s friend and foe

The immune system is found in every organ in the body and jumps into action to repair injuries and protect against foreign invaders.

This is true of the brain as well. When there is head trauma, the brain’s immune system is activated to help repair the damage. And when bacteria are present in the brain, the immune system fights them off.

What the Krembil scientists believe is that beta-amyloid is a normally occurring molecule that is part of the brain’s immune system, rather than an abnormally produced protein. When the brain needs to defend against injury or invaders, beta-amyloid is a key contributor to the brain’s immune response.

Unfortunately, there are similarities between the fat molecules making up both the membranes of bacteria and the membranes of brain cells. These similarities mean beta-amyloid can’t tell the difference between invading bacteria and host brain cells. Thus, beta-amyloid attacks the brain cells it’s supposed to be protecting.

This leads to a chronic, progressive loss of brain cell function, ultimately culminating in Alzheimer’s and/or dementia.

It’s a dilemma: beta-amyloid performs a central function in the brain’s immune system, but beta-amyloid is also causing the deterioration of brain cells.

Peak D3^™

Gives You the Vitamin D3 You Can’t Get From Sunshine Alone!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Traditional autoimmune therapies not the answer

So what about traditional autoimmune therapies? Steroid-based therapies can be effective for many types of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. But the Krembil scientists say these therapies will not work against Alzheimer’s because the brain is such a complex organ.

Instead, they believe targeting other immune-regulating pathways in the brain will lead them to new and effective treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s.

This image of Alzheimer’s as an immune disorder dovetails with some studies that have linked the use of certain vaccines with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s. While it’s not clear exactly how these vaccines lower Alzheimer’s risk, one theory is that it has something to do with their activation of the immune system.

This immune disorder theory isn’t the only one that has emerged from recent research. Some experts believe Alzheimer’s is a disease involving the dysfunction of mitochondria in the brain cells. Mitochondria are the tiny factories that convert oxygen and glucose into the energy these cells require for thinking and remembering. Mitochondrial dysfunction is emerging as one of the key hallmarks of the aging process.

Other theories are that Alzheimer’s results from a specific brain infection that could be caused by bacteria from the mouth, or that it occurs because of an abnormal handling of metals such as zinc, copper or iron within the brain.

Peak Chelation+ Resveratrol^™

Helps flush harmful toxins from your body that interfere with vital functions!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Can fighting inflammation help?

Going back to the Krembil theory of Alzheimer’s as an autoimmune disease, the connection does seem strong. Especially when you consider that more than 80 percent of people with an autoimmune condition are women and about two-thirds of Alzheimer’s diagnoses are also women.

Chronic inflammation is the result of an overactive immune system and can exacerbate autoimmune disorders. So it makes sense that controlling inflammation could be a helpful step to support the brain’s immune system.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston looked to vitamin D and omega-3s — nutrients with inflammation-fighting credibility — to test their protection against autoimmune disease.

Participants who took both supplements for 5 years reduced the occurrence of autoimmune disease by 25 to 30 percent compared with those who got placebos only.

Also promising is that previous research has provided some indication that targeting brain inflammation can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Whether it can keep it from developing is yet to be seen, but there are benefits that go beyond brain protection that make it certainly worthwhile to avoid an overactive immune system and inflammation.

Sources:

Alzheimer’s May Not Actually Be a Brain Disease, Expert Reveals — Science Alert

Mitochondria research and neurodegenerative diseases: On the track to understanding the biological world of high complexity — Mitochondrion

The post Why Alzheimer’s may be an autoimmune disorder appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Inflammation is a characteristic of RA and a host of other diseases. One of those other diseases is heart disease, which people with RA are more susceptible to.

All this inflammation may be why people with RA are also twice as likely to develop blood vessel disease, which can lead to serious complications, as well as an increased risk of premature death.

One such blood vessel disease is atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, which occurs when sticky fatty plaques build up on the walls of the arteries, restricting blood flow. These blockages can also break free and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Researchers want to understand why RA patients are at a higher risk of these health problems so they can develop better treatments. One recent discovery they’ve made could mean there’s good news on that horizon…

Peak Krill Oil^™

You probably already know how important omega-3s are to support heart and brain health. But there are five reasons you may be getting yours from a less than adequate source, starting with a powerful antioxidant that delivers DHA into your brain cells… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The magic of molecule RvT4

To better understand the causes of blood vessel disease in people with RA, a team of UK researchers explored the role of a group of molecules called 13-series resolvins (RvTs). Studies in arthritis have found that levels of one of these molecules, RvT4, are significantly reduced, which indicates a higher degree of blood vessel disease.

In the study, the researchers treated arthritis mice with RvT4. This resulted in reduced blood vessel inflammation through the reprogramming of macrophages, a group of white blood cells accumulated in the diseased vessels, to release stored lipids.

The team observed these lipids were preventing the macrophages from doing their usual tasks of clearing dead cells and reducing inflammation in the blood vessels. Once they released these lipids, the macrophages were able to move and work more effectively to reduce the causes of atherosclerosis.

To put it simply, treatment with RvT4 could enhance the body’s natural defenses against atherosclerosis.

“The study is important because it identifies for the first time the loss of RvT4 production as a potential new cause of blood vessel inflammation in the context of arthritis, offering a mechanistic explanation on the cause of this important disease in RA patients,” says Jesmond Dalli, a professor at Queen Mary University of London.

Often, RA patients also have metabolic dysfunction, which is thought to make vascular disease worse. So, the researchers gave RvT4 to mice engineered to develop characteristics of metabolic dysfunction, advanced atherosclerosis and arthritis. And this led to an overall decrease in lipoprotein-associated cholesterol and an increase in the ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol.

This is a breakthrough in understanding the processes involved in atherosclerosis in RA patients and could lead to better treatments for people who have RA and are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Getting resolvins naturally

As exciting as this research is, it will be years before its medical potential is realized. Until research into this molecule discovery results in new treatments, you may find it helpful to add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.

One study found resolvins are formed from omega-3s and bind to a receptor called GPR32. This activates the receptor’s ability to counteract inflammation in blood vessels essentially switching off the inflammation and stimulating tissue repair and healing.

Omega-3s are primarily found in oily fish, like mackerel, sardines, salmon, herring and oysters. If you don’t or can’t eat seafood, you can also get omega-3s from flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and soybeans.

Unfortunately, you’d have to eat large amounts of these foods to get the recommended amount of omega-3s.

But supplementing is safe and easy, especially if it contains krill oil, which has a structure that makes it easier for cells to absorb, which also equates to little or no “fish burps.” Also, krill oil tends to be cleaner, lacking the high mercury levels and other contaminants often found in fish oil.

Sources:

Study finds new treatment to reverse inflammation and arterial blockages in rheumatoid arthritis — ScienceDaily

Resolvin T4 enhances macrophage cholesterol efflux to reduce vascular disease — Nature Communications

Rheumatoid arthritis — World Health Organization

Rheumatoid Arthritis — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The post The weird connection between RA and atherosclerosis appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But to make matters worse, having RA increases the risk of heart disease by 50 percent.

Scientists are trying to get to the bottom of this connection. One theory is that RA patients tend to have high levels of an amino acid known as homocysteine in their blood. Studies have linked high homocysteine levels to a higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Now, a team of Spanish researchers has taken a deep look into the molecular profile of RA patients to see who carries the highest risk and why…

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Drawing a molecular map

A first-of-its-kind study led by the University of Córdoba (UCO), the Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC) and the Rheumatology Department at the Reina Sofía University Hospital in Córdoba (HURS) has managed to establish the molecular profile of those patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have a higher risk of suffering cardiovascular (CV) events.

They analyzed 45 healthy donors and 387 RA patients (including 208 RA patients with established disease but without previous CV events). Their analysis established three different groups of patients with diverse inflammatory, oxidative and netotic profiles.

RA patients without CV events but highest CV risk showed inflammatory profiles akin to those with prior CV events. Those with the highest inflammatory profile were linked to a significant CV-risk score and a greater presence of atherosclerosis.

The authors suggest that CV risk in RA results from the activation of neutrophils, monocytes, and endothelial cells. Additionally, they stated that alterations in the composition and function of lipoproteins, increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction play significant roles in connecting RA and CVD.

Interestingly treatment with either TNFi, IL6Ri, and JAKi for six months restores normal inflammatory biomolecule levels, cutting-RA-related CV-risk.

“We have been able to demonstrate that molecular analyses are able to stratify patients who have a particular clinical behavior, such as an increased cardiovascular risk,” says Carlos Pérez-Sánchez, Ramón y Cajal researcher and member of the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology at the University of Córdoba.

“That we have been able to characterize this is an important result which, if validated, will allow the analysis of certain molecules to yield information about the likelihood of suffering a heart problem,” he adds.

Peak Organic Fermented Beets^™

Amazing “Can’t be Beet” Superfood Helps Keep Nitric Oxide Levels Up!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Reducing the heart danger of RA

These results could lead to personalized medical treatments made possible in the future through blood tests to identify RA patients who have different characteristics and levels of risk.

However, the involvement of immune cells and inflammatory molecules is no surprise.

Not only are these two factors part of the RA disease profile, but activated immune cells and inflammation can contribute to heart attack even in people without RA.

RA is a serious condition that usually requires a specialist to help manage — one who is hopefully aware of the importance of avoiding low folate levels.

This B vitamin has a known homocysteine-lowering effect. One study found that RA patients with the lowest levels of folate (below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter) had a 50 percent higher risk of dying from heart or blood vessel disease than patients with higher folate levels.

Antirheumatic drugs used to treat RA, like methotrexate, can deplete folate levels.

Specific foods have also been recommended by some researchers for lowering inflammatory cytokines and reducing joint stiffness and pain in people with RA. Many of the fruits on their list, particularly berries and pomegranate, can combat oxidative stress.

Exercise may not be easy for those with RA, but one form that isn’t hard on the body is Tai Chi.

According to the authors of a study that featured elderly women with RA, “Tai Chi exercise in elderly women with RA significantly improves endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness, which are known atherosclerosis precursors, useful indexes for early detection of CVD, and predictors for increased cardiovascular mortality.”

Sources:

The molecular profile of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients at increased cardiovascular risk is identified — EurekAlert!

Molecular Profile for Cardiovascular Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis — RheumNow

Personalized cardiovascular risk assessment in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients using circulating molecular profiles and their modulation by TNFi, IL6Ri, and JAKinibs — Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

The post The RA patients with the highest risk of heart trouble appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It keeps giving extreme exhaustion. It keeps giving muscle and joint pain. And it never seems to stop giving sleep troubles and problems with memory and thinking.

Even worse, it more often than not gives you friends, family and even doctors that believe the host of problems you experience are all just in your head.

That’s why, in 2016, researchers from the US National Institutes of Health launched a study to finally determine whether CFS is really all psychosomatic, or if the issues start much deeper.

Now, eight years later the results of this landmark study are finally in, proving that the syndrome is “unambiguously biological.”

Peak Vitality^™

Your adrenal glands support essential functions from metabolism to stress response. But when they become fatigued, problems with sleep quality, unwanted weight gain, moodiness, energy levels and more can take your vitality for a dive. Nutrients called “adaptogens” help restore balance and improve… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Pulling out meaningful differences

To deliver this proof, the researchers initially selected a group of 217 individuals with chronic fatigue. It was a number that they later whittled down to just 17 to make it possible to complete an incredibly rigorous assessment and get to the bottom of the differences between CFS sufferers and otherwise healthy people.

All in all the 17 final participants were put through a battery of tests over a week’s time, including brain scans, sleep studies, muscle strength and cognitive performance tests, skin and muscle biopsies and blood tests. The researchers even tested their gut microbiomes and spinal fluid.

To top it off, all participants were required to eat a very specific diet and spend time in a metabolic chamber. This allowed the scientists to measure their energy and nutrient consumption under stable conditions.

A systemic disease proven by physical symptoms

The results clearly showed that people who live with chronic fatigue did not actually show signs of muscle fatigue or problems on cognitive tests, they were suffering from a systemic disease.

In fact, compared to normal healthy individuals, participants with CFS were found to have:

• Higher resting heart rates
• Markers of a drawn-out and overstimulated immune response that exhausts T cells
• Less diverse gut bacteria
• Lower levels of catechols in their cerebrospinal fluid (catechols are chemicals that help regulate the nervous system)
• Less activity in the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) of the brain during motor tasks

So why these issues, but not the muscle fatigue that is such a hallmark of the syndrome?

Well according to the researchers, the answer likely lies in that last bullet point on the list.

That’s because the temporal-parietal junction is necessary to drive the motor cortex of the brain, which tells the body to move.

So less activity in the TPJ could actually change the way the brain exerts effort and therefore a person’s perception of fatigue and ability to tolerate exertion.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

In other words, because a person with chronic fatigue has a malfunctioning TPJ, every activity feels more difficult and wears them out much more quickly.

The takeaway?

As neurologist Avindra Nath, lead researcher of the study and clinical director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) says, “CFS is a systemic disease and the people living with it deserve to have their experiences taken seriously.”

Help for chronic fatigue

Past studies have shown how some natural solutions can improve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Optimizing thyroid function is important since chronic fatigue and thyroid issues can feed each other. Nutrients like copper, selenium, zinc and other thyroid-supporting amino acids and herbs can make a big difference in thyroid function.

Supplementing Coenzyme Q10 may be helpful. That’s because research shows that CFS sufferers are far more likely to have low CoQ10 levels and these low levels are associated with increased inflammation, which keeps the negative cycle going round.

Finally, although it may sound counter-intuitive, exercise is also important for anyone living with CFS.

The key is to use a graded exercise program that increases activity slowly and thoughtfully.

Sources:

Landmark Study Confirms Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is ‘Unambiguously Biological’ — Science Alert

NIH Study Provides Long-Awaited Insight Into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — JAMA Medical News

The post 5 symptoms prove chronic fatigue syndrome is ‘biological’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

As of this writing, there is no cure for MS. If treatment is started early enough in the progress of the disease, the effects can be minimized and progress slowed.

Unfortunately, research shows autoimmune conditions are 50 percent higher in older adults than they were 25 years ago.

But groundbreaking research has found that MS drugs and vitamin B12 have something in common — and that this similarity may provide hope for better and quicker MS treatment.

Peak Bladder Support^™

For women, age, childbirth, menopause and hormone fluctuations take a toll on healthy urinary function. For men, an aging body may result in the need for bladder support. Whatever the cause, occasional urinary urgency can… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How MS attacks the body

People deficient in vitamin B12 can experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, trouble walking, fatigue and increased heart rate. This isn’t new information.

But a B12 deficiency can also produce neurological symptoms that are startlingly similar to those of MS, including tingling/numbness in the hands and feet, vision loss, depression and cognitive problems.

For years, the reasons for this crossover in symptoms have remained unclear.

But recently, researchers have discovered that a novel molecular link exists between vitamin B12 and MS that takes place in astrocytes, which are important non-neuronal glial cells in the brain.

This overlap produces a chain reaction involving both B12 and the MS drug fingolimod.

It’s kind of like a game where you pass a ball down a line of people, from person to person.

Here’s how it works:

Fingolimod enters the B12 pathway, where it binds to S1P1 receptors, which elevate another type of receptor known as CD320.

CD320 grabs vitamin B12 from TCN2, a carrier protein that delivers B12 to different parts of the body, including the central nervous system.

“The shared molecular binding of the brain’s vitamin B12 carrier protein, known as transcobalamin 2 or TCN2, with the FDA-approved MS drug fingolimod, provides a mechanistic link between B12 signaling and MS, towards reducing neuroinflammation and possibly neurodegeneration,” said Dr. Jerold Chun, the study’s lead author.   

Peak Cardio Platinum^™

Clinically-Tested Nutrients Help Arteries and Cardiovascular Health!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Vitamin B12 and the future of MS therapies

Dr. Chung says “Augmenting brain B12 with fingolimod or potentially related molecules could enhance both current and future MS therapies.”

He and his colleagues witnessed how fingolimod “hitchhikes” by binding to the TCN2 protein as it delivers B12. They also found that restricting B12 made MS symptoms worse, and more quickly.

These new findings further support the use of B12 supplementation — especially in terms of delivering the vitamin to astrocytes within the brain — while revealing that fingolimod can correct the impaired astrocyte-B12 pathway in people with MS. 

And, there’s hope that this same B12 formula could help with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

In the meantime, there’s no harm in making sure you’re getting all the B12 you need every day — from foods like liver, beef, tuna and clams, fortified cereals or soy milk.

Previous research from Johns Hopkins found that a nutritious diet and lifestyle can cut MS symptoms by 50 percent. More proof of that is research by Harvard that found low levels of vitamin D increase the risk of developing MS.

All this suffices to stress the importance of nutrients that are coming to the forefront of disease prevention and treatment.

Sources:

Similarity between vitamin B12 loss and multiple sclerosis revealed — Science Daily

FTY720 requires vitamin B12-TCN2-CD320 signaling in astrocytes to reduce disease in an animal model of multiple sclerosis — Cell Reports

B12 Deficiency and Multiple Sclerosis Share Intriguing Similarities — Neuroscience News and Research

Why It Pays to Start Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Treatment Early — Healthline

Similarity between vitamin B12 loss and multiple sclerosis revealed — Sanford Burnham Prebys

The post Vitamin B12’s impact on multiple sclerosis treatment appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Frequently, fibromyalgia symptoms begin after an infection, surgery, stressful events or some type of physical injury. However, it can also strike with no obvious cause.

But a study at York University in England shows that doing yoga exercises can help reduce the physical pain of fibromyalgia, and here’s why…

Peak Vitality^™

Your adrenal glands support essential functions from metabolism to stress response. But when they become fatigued, problems with sleep quality, unwanted weight gain, moodiness, energy levels and more can take your vitality for a dive. Nutrients called “adaptogens” help restore balance and improve… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A needed boost of cortisol

According to scientists, yoga influences what is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).

The HPA axis consists of a cascade of endocrine pathways that respond to specific negative feedback loops involving the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland and adrenal glands. One role of the HPA axis centers around the release of the hormone cortisol.

Studies show that women with fibromyalgia have below-average cortisol levels. Those reduced levels make them much more sensitive to stress, pain and fatigue.

It’s been proposed that adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency is part of the cause behind fibromyalgia.

The adrenal glands are small glands that sit atop both kidneys. They’re your “lifesaving” organs — a  nickname they earned because they act as a control center for our “fight or flight” response by secreting hormones that kick in during stressful situations.

However overworked adrenal glands become fatigued and function much less effectively, resulting in insufficient output of cortisol.

The research shows that doing 75 minutes of yoga twice a week for at least two months can beneficially increase your cortisol levels and help the body produce cortisol at the correct times of day.

“Ideally, our cortisol levels peak about 30-40 minutes after we get up in the morning and decline throughout the day until we’re ready to go to sleep,” says researcher Kathryn Curtis. “The secretion of the hormone, cortisol, is dysregulated in women with fibromyalgia.”

She adds that “Hatha yoga promotes physical relaxation by decreasing activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which lowers heart rate and increases breath volume.”

Peak D3^™

Gives You the Vitamin D3 You Can’t Get From Sunshine Alone!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Give Hatha yoga a try

Hatha yoga is a term that encompasses most types of yoga practiced in the Western hemisphere, including vinyasa, believed to open up the body’s energy channels and let the energy flow more freely.

In fact, in my experience, yoga and other types of strengthening and balancing exercises can also improve your mood and sense of well-being by demonstrating how you can shape your mind and body for the better. No matter what physical problems you may suffer, whether it is fibromyalgia or some other chronic issue, yoga can often help you cope with its symptoms more effectively.

Although today’s conventional doctor seems to feel as though almost every problem should be treated with medication, exercises like yoga, and even vitamins and herbs that reduce pain, demonstrate that you have the potential for aiding your own wellness — and that’s healing that a doctor can’t provide.

There are several easy-to-follow yoga videos available on youtube.com if you don’t have a local yoga studio in your community. But if you do live near a studio, I would highly recommend you go. Part of what makes yoga a soothing, healing experience is personal instruction.

The post Boost this hormone to banish fibromyalgia pain appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The exact reasons why women make up about 80 percent of the more than 24 million Americans afflicted with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, and especially lupus, have been unclear.

Science has posed many theories but no real explanations.

But Stanford researchers are hopeful they may finally have one that will lead to earlier detection and better therapies…

Peak Krill Oil^™

Supports Heart Health, Immunity and Moods, Naturally!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A ‘double trouble’ fail-safe that doesn’t always go as planned

There have been two long-held theories about why women are more prone to AD. Both involve chief differences among the sexes: hormones (estrogen and testosterone) and X chromosomes — of which women have two.

The latter theory is known as incomplete inactivation of immune-related genes on the X chromosome. This theory did not fully explain why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases — but has led to a third theory that just might…

Having two X chromosomes, as women do, creates a lethal risk: the production of twice the amount of myriad proteins specified by the X chromosomes. That’s why there is a fail-safe — the Xist gene.

When the gene is activated, Xist molecules coat long sections of one of the X chromosomes — cutting its output to practically zero. That leaves the other X chromosome to produce the RNA-encoded instructions cells need to work.

But in the process, some odd combinations of what’s called “collaborator proteins” and DNA can stick together, creating “complexes” that generate antibodies to a woman’s own tissues.

Dr. Howard Change, senior study author, realized that many of Xist’s collaborator proteins were known to be associated with AD and wondered might the X-chromosome inactivation be triggering the notoriously high rate of autoimmunity in women.

The answer? Yes, but not without help…

In experiments with female mice and bioengineered male mice, they saw that not just activation of Xist, but also some kind of tissue-damaging stress, like inflammation, is required “to get the autoimmunity ball rolling.” They also saw genetic background as a necessary player for autoimmunity to develop.

Peak Thyroid Support^™

Specially Formulated with Essential Nutrients to Support Healthy Thyroid Function!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Screening that could detect AD before symptoms emerge

Autoantibody tests help identify antibodies targeting one’s own tissues or cells. There are several reasons these findings will greatly improve those screenings- — and one that’s rather surprising…

Close examination of blood samples from about 100 patients showed autoantibodies to many of the complexes associated with Xist. Some were specific to one or another autoimmune disorder and could help identify emerging disorders before symptoms were even seen.

Additional autoantibodies to Xist-associated proteins spanned several disorders, designating them as possible common markers of autoimmunity.

But this part may very well shock you, considering how skewed autoimmune diseases are to women — and how long that has been a known…

“Every cell in a woman’s body produces Xist,” Dr. Chang said. “But for several decades, we’ve used a male cell line as the standard of reference. That male cell line produced no Xist and no Xist/protein/DNA complexes, nor have other cells used since for the test. So, all of a female patient’s anti-Xist-complex antibodies — a huge source of women’s autoimmune susceptibility — go unseen.”

Symptoms, risks, VITAL supplements and diet

Right now it can take an average of 4.6 years to be properly diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Being aware of common symptoms and risks can help women advocate for themselves. Watch for: 

• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Joint pain and swelling
• Skin problems
• Abdominal pain or digestive issues
• Recurring fever
• Swollen glands

Risk factors include:

• Medications. Antibiotics and blood pressure medications can trigger drug-induced lupus. Statins can trigger myopathy. Always speak to a physician before stopping medications.
• Smoking is linked to lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism and MS.
• Already having one autoimmune disease.
• Exposure to mercury, aluminum, dioxin, pesticides, asbestos, trichloroethylene, and many other industrial and environmental toxins.
• Weight: Being overweight raises the risk of rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. Fat tissue makes substances that encourage inflammation. Extra weight may stress or damage joints.
• Infections.

Inflammation was central to a VITAL study that connected supplementing vitamin D and omega-3s with reducing the occurrence of AD by 25 to 30 percent.

“Given the benefits of vitamin D and omega-3s for reducing inflammation, we were particularly interested in whether they could protect against autoimmune diseases,” said JoAnn Manson, co-author and director of the VITAL trial at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Dousing inflammation is also the directive for the autoimmune protocol diet (AIP). AIP is an elimination diet that replaces certain foods known for being inflammatory triggers with nutrient-dense foods to improve gut health and hormone and immune system regulation.

Sources:

Stanford Medicine-led study shows why women are at greater risk of autoimmune disease — Stanford Medicine

Stanford study could explain why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases — San Francisco Chronicle

Xist ribonucleoproteins promote female sex-biased autoimmunity — Cell

What Are Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease? — Johns Hopkins Medicine

Autoimmune diseases — Cleveland Clinic

Exposure to Environmental Toxins and Autoimmune Conditions — Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal

The post A step closer to solving women’s autoimmune connection appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Over ten years, we watched as my active, funny, loving dad shrank more and more into himself, both physically and emotionally, until he could no longer communicate with us, and recognized none of us, except for my mother.

Research into the origins of Parkinson’s is ongoing, in the hope that we can stop it before it starts.

Now, there’s been a unique discovery that holds out hope for doing just that…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A brain attack that starts in the gut

Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder. However many researchers believe that it may get started far away from the brain, years before any tremors or other neurological signs appear.

They believe it may get its start in the gut.

Graduate students at Columbia University have been adding to the evidence that supports this theory.

They’re showing that the gastrointestinal changes that precede Parkinson’s could actually be a misdirected attack by the immune system, a malfunction that’s relatively easy to correct.

In Parkinson’s, a protein known as alpha-synuclein becomes misfolded, accumulates inside neurons and slowly poisons the cells.

Columbia researcher Dr. David Sulzer and his graduate students have collaborated with immunologists at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology in California to show that these misfolded proteins can also appear outside of neurons.

When this happens, the neurons are a sitting duck for attack from the immune system.

And this misguided immune attack ends up doing more damage to the neurons than the deposits of alpha-synuclein resting inside them.

“The blood of Parkinson’s patients often contains immune cells that are primed to attack the neurons,” Sulzer says, “but it’s not clear where or when they are primed.”

Peak D3^™

Gives You the Vitamin D3 You Can’t Get From Sunshine Alone!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

An autoimmune reaction?

Dr. Sulzer wondered if the immune system’s attack on neurons was beginning in the gut.

This seemed a likely possibility since the gut contains the same neurons, and because constipation is an early symptom for most Parkinson’s patients, years before brain symptoms emerge or the disease is diagnosed.

Dr. Sulzer and his team created a mouse that could display pieces of misfolded alpha-synuclein on cell surfaces (normal mice do not have this ability).

They then injected the mice with alpha-synuclein and monitored what happened in the brain and the gut.

They did not see any signs resembling Parkinson’s disease in the brain. But they did see that an immune attack on neurons in the gut resulted in constipation and other gastrointestinal effects resembling the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease.

“This shows that an autoimmune reaction can lead to what appears to be the early stages of Parkinson’s and is strong support that Parkinson’s is in part an autoimmune disease,” Dr. Sulzer says.

Stopping Parkinson’s in its tracks

More research is needed to determine how big a role the immune system plays in the brain of people with Parkinson’s.

One possibility is that the immune cells in Dr. Sulzer’s mouse model aren’t reaching the brain because the animals are young and still have a strong blood-brain barrier.

She doesn’t say, but with what we know about intestinal permeability, the integrity of the mice’s gut barrier may also prevent what’s happening there from overtly affecting the rest of the body.

But it’s exciting to think about the possibility that early detection — and interruption— of an immune response in the gut could prevent a later attack on the brain’s neurons and stop Parkinson’s in its tracks.

What can you do now if you have a family history of Parkinson’s? Well, research has shown a hormone secreted during exercise appears to stop a key trigger of the disease.

And if Parkinson’s does prove to be an autoimmune disease, at least in part, research has pointed to key nutrients that reduced the occurrence of autoimmune disease by 25 to 30 percent.

Of course, maintaining the health and integrity of your gut should also be at the top of your list. You can begin improving your own gut health right away by taking these steps.

Sources:

Study adds to evidence that Parkinson’s starts in the gut — Eureka Alert

Interaction of an α-synuclein epitope with HLA-DRB1∗15:01 triggers enteric features in mice reminiscent of prodromal Parkinson’s disease — Neuron

The post Parkinson’s: The gut-brain link grows stronger appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Another reason for the attention is that the National MS Society reports that more people are being diagnosed with MS today than in the past.

Some people with MS (like a cousin of mine) can live a normal, active life for years. Others live the majority of their lives wheelchair-bound, and that can be a long time. The average lifespan of MS sufferers is 76 years.

Currently, there is no cure for MS.

That’s why the first clinical trial of a safe, natural substance that seems to reverse the effects of MS has raised so much excitement in the medical community…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Better than the approved drug therapy

Researchers at the University of California Irvine have found that a simple sugar, N-acetylglucosamine — a form of glucosamine that’s shown effective for joint discomfort and often used in supplements — may be a gamechanger for people with MS.

“Our previous studies in mice and humans implicated N-acetylglucosamine in suppressing brain inflammation, promoting the re-growth of the myelin sheath and slowing brain degeneration,” said Michael Demetriou, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at the UCI School of Medicine.

Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. In MS, the myelin is destroyed in many areas. This loss of myelin forms scar tissue called sclerosis. These areas are also called plaques or lesions.

In this latest research, the N-acetylglucosamine used in the study was obtained from a supplement company, Wellesley Therapeutics in Toronto and was provided as a powder in pre-measured sachets of 2g each that dissolves quickly in water.

Peak Bladder Support^™

For women, age, childbirth, menopause and hormone fluctuations take a toll on healthy urinary function. For men, an aging body may result in the need for bladder support. Whatever the cause, occasional urinary urgency can… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The researchers tested two dosage levels in two separate groups. One group took 2 g three times daily (6 g total) and the other took 4 g three times daily (12 g total), dissolved in 6 ounces of water each serving for a total of four weeks. Mild but tolerable gastrointestinal side effects observed at the 12 g but not 6 g dose.

After analysis, they found that N-acetylglucosamine was safe and reduced multiple inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in MS patients despite the patients already being on the FDA-approved immunomodulatory therapy Glatiramer Acetate, known to impact these pathways outside the brain.  

“We also observed a sustained reduction in neurological disability in 30 percent of the patients, an activity which has not been observed with current FDA-approved therapies,” said Michael Y. Sy, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology, UCI School of Medicine. “They at best slow progression, not improve function.”

Peak Vision Support^™

Unique Dual Nutrient Formula Supports Healthy, Clear Vision and Protects Eyes from Blue Light!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

A supplement with the potential to reverse MS

“Future studies demonstrating that N-acetylglucosamine can restore neurological function in MS patients would be a game changer and provide something that no other current therapy can do,” says Dr. Demetriou, Professor of Neurology and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at the UCI School of Medicine.

This is great news for people suffering with MS and for anyone over the age of 50. That’s because research shows autoimmune conditions are 50 percent higher in older adults than they were 25 years ago.

Other research into reducing autoimmune disease has found that study participants who took both vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplements for 5 years reduced the occurrence of autoimmune disease by 25 to 30 percent compared with those who got placebos only.

Regarding MS in particular, a study that included 800,000 women from Finland found that 58 percent of women who eventually developed MS had low vitamin D levels nine years before they were diagnosed with the disease. But only 52 percent of women who didn’t develop the disease had low vitamin D levels.

So hope is certainly on the horizon as researchers keep trying to wipe out or at least reduce the damage of this debilitating disease.

Sources:

UCI researchers announce publication of an open-label clinical trial suggesting that N-acetylglucosamine restores neurological function in Multiple Sclerosis patients — Eureka Alert

N-acetylglucosamine inhibits inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in multiple sclerosis: a mechanistic trial — Journal of Neuroinflammation

Glucosamine-like supplement suppresses multiple sclerosis attacks, study suggests — Science Daily

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) — Johns Hopkins Medicine

The post Joint supplement ingredient fights MS better than approved therapy appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

One of the worst is chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS.

It’s an illness that leaves many women with overwhelming fatigue, no matter how much rest they might get. It can bring with it symptoms ranging from the inability to concentrate to pain, dizziness and trouble sleeping.

Sadly, according to the world’s largest study of the disease, women aren’t just more likely to live with CFS, but women who suffer long-term — more than 10 years — are likely to experience increasingly severe symptoms with age…

Peak Thyroid Support^™

The thyroid’s main job is to make hormones that regulate the heart, brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, muscles and every other organ and tissue. But to function properly, it needs an adequate supply of iodine — something that gets harder to metabolize with age. That’s why… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome gets progressively worse

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh followed a massive population of 17,000 people with CFS, finding that the experiences of women with chronic fatigue (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME) differ greatly from those of men.

Not only did they discover that women with CFS tend to have more symptoms and co-occurring conditions than men, but after living with it for more than 10 years, they’re more likely to experience much harsher symptoms.

Let’s break down what they found…

First, it’s important to note that the study once again confirmed the fact that yes — chronic fatigue is more common in women than men, with women making up almost 84 percent of CFS patients in the study.

Additionally, the study showed that more women with CFS than men (66.7 percent compared to 52.7 percent) also suffer from a co-occurring condition.

The most common conditions that women with CFS live with are:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (41.3 percent)
• Clinical depression (32.4 percent)
• Fibromyalgia (29.5 percent)
• Anemia (14.1 percent)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (12.8 percent)

The researchers also found that in general, women experienced more problematic symptoms with CFS. On average, women complained of 42 separate symptoms, while for men that number was 36.

The most common symptoms included brain fog, poor sleep and muscle pain.

Finally, the study showed that after a decade of living with CFS, women are more likely to suffer from a worsening of their symptom intensity.

Peak Vitality^™

Your adrenal glands support essential functions from metabolism to stress response. But when they become fatigued, problems with sleep quality, unwanted weight gain, moodiness, energy levels and more can take your vitality for a dive. Nutrients called “adaptogens” help restore balance and improve… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Finding an answer for chronic fatigue

Fortunately, research into CHS in recent years has helped draw attention to this very real condition, whereas in years past, doctors and even family and friends of those afflicted wondered about its validity.

However, there is still no specific diagnostic test or cure — but it may be possible to manage symptoms.

In 2016, researchers at Cornell University identified biological markers of the disease in gut bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood as well as possible links to leaky gut syndrome capable of triggering an autoimmune response.

Though it’s hard to know which may have come first, both hypothyroidism and IBS (two of the most commonly reported CFS symptoms) share a possible root cause—an imbalance of bacteria in the gut.

For some going gluten-free can provide some relief. Researchers have reported a link between chronic fatigue and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. But giving up gluten can be difficult. It’s far easier to support the gut’s microbiome with probiotics and prebiotics.

Optimizing thyroid function may help as well. Chronic fatigue not only can go hand in hand with a thyroid condition, it can simulate it in many ways. This makes making sure your thyroid is optimal through the use of nutrients that benefit thyroid activity vital, including selenium and iodine.

Lastly, consider a graded exercise program. A gradual increase in activity over a 12-week period has been shown to greatly benefit CFS suffers. Just make sure not to push too hard, or too fast. Post-exertional malaise is a delayed dramatic worsening of symptoms following minor physical effort that affects people with CFS.

Sources:

Women more severely affected by ME/CFS, study shows – EurekAlert!

The post Women and the long-term effects of chronic fatigue syndrome appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

“Long-haulers” are people previously infected with COVID-19 who continue to live with symptoms like fatigue, headaches, brain fog, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

Recently, yet another troubling symptom has come to the attention of researchers.

It involves a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

Peak Organic Fermented Beets^™

Amazing “Can’t be Beet” Superfood Helps Keep Nitric Oxide Levels Up!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

You on ‘autopilot’

Have you ever wondered how your heart knows to keep beating? What makes your lungs take in air without consciously thinking about it? Why food digests instead of just sitting like a lump in your stomach?

Well, you can thank your autonomic nervous system for all of that.

The autonomic nervous system controls all the involuntary functions of our body. This includes our blood flow and blood pressure.

When this system malfunctions, it’s known as dysautonomia, a condition that has been known to occur following a viral infection, like mumps, Epstein-Barr and hepatitis C.

So it’s not all that surprising that dysautonomia seems to be behind a strange, new symptom for COVID long-haulers.

“Why are my legs turning blue?”

Doctors at the University of Leeds in England reported the unusual case of a COVID survivor who began showing symptoms of acrocyanosis, a painless, bluish discoloration of hands or feet caused by spasms of small blood vessels.

Dr. Manoj Sivan, Associate Clinical Professor and Honorary Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine in the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine, calls this “a striking case of acrocyanosis in a patient who had not experienced it before his COVID-19 infection.”

A minute after standing, the man’s legs began to redden and became increasingly blue over time. After ten minutes the color was much more pronounced.

Within two minutes of sitting down, the man’s legs returned to their natural color.

He was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a form of dysautonomia that causes an abnormal increase in heart rate on standing.

A diagnosis of POTS is not uncommon in COVID survivors. But since symptoms vary from person to person, there has been little awareness of this.

“Patients experiencing this may not be aware that it can be a symptom of Long Covid and dysautonomia and may feel concerned about what they are seeing. Similarly, clinicians may not be aware of the link between acrocyanosis and Long Covid.” 

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Awareness can make blue legs syndrome less alarming

Dr. Sivan points out that POTS is also seen following other conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

“We need more awareness about dysautonomia in long-term conditions; more effective assessment and management approaches, and further research into the syndrome,” he says.

The takeaway: if you have recovered from COVID-19, or if you are a “long-hauler” and start to have this “blue leg” syndrome, don’t panic.

See your doctor right away. Perhaps you’ll want to take this post with you. Many doctors are still not aware of this symptom of long COVID. It could help you get a proper diagnosis and treatment for your condition.

You may also want to talk to them about transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation. In previous research with COVID long-haulers, the therapy appeared to rebalance the autonomic nervous system and resulted in an improvement of symptoms.

Sources:

Raising awareness of Long Covid ‘blue legs’ symptom — Science Daily

Raising awareness of Long Covid blue legs symptom — University of Leeds

Acrocyanosis — Merck Manual

The post Blue legs syndrome: The latest long COVID symptom appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Perhaps because, until recently, most experts believed the thymus’ contributions to our immune health occurred in the womb and didn’t extend into adulthood.

But investigators have found that theory to be incorrect. A recent study revealed the thymus continues to produce and release powerful immune cells to help fight infection and disease as we age.

Unfortunately, when we grow older, the thymus begins to shrink and fold in on itself. By the time we hit the age of 65, the thymus often is unable to produce any new T cells.

This deterioration of the thymus has made medical professionals believe we can live just fine without it. However, they weren’t just wrong — they were dead wrong…

Thymectomy can increase premature death and cancer risk

Often during cardiothoracic surgery, the thymus is removed in a procedure known as incidental thymectomy. That’s because the small gland is inconveniently located in front of the heart, and since convention held it was inconsequential, it made sense to surgeons just to get it out of the way.

But, thankfully, a team of researchers decided to look deeper…

They set out to compare patients who had nonlaparoscopic cardiac surgery with thymectomy at Massachusetts General Hospital from January 1993 to March 2020 against patients who had the same cardiac surgery but left the operating room with their thymus intact.

First, they excluded patients who died within 90 days after the procedure or who had cardiac surgery within 5 years after the procedure, as well as patients who had heart failure before the surgery.

Then, of those patients left, researchers did blood tests of a subset of both groups of patients to measure their T cell production and plasma cytokine levels. They found that thymectomy patients:

• Had reduced production of newly formed T cells compared with the control group.
• They also had more than 10 times the level of inflammatory cytokines. You may remember hearing about cytokines during the pandemic and how they contribute to dangerous inflammation.

They also found that the rate of autoimmune disease was 12.3 percent after thymectomy compared with 7.9 percent in those who did not have their thyroid removed.

But that wasn’t the most shocking finding…

Results showed adults who had their thymus removed had at least double the risk of all-cause mortality and cancer at 5 years post-surgery compared with those without thymectomy.

The study also compared the thymectomy patients to the general population and found all-cause mortality and death from cancer were both higher in the thymectomy patients.

In an editorial accompanying the study, Dr. Naomi Taylor of the National Cancer Institute Pediatric Oncology Branch called the research a “landmark” study that strongly argues against total thymectomy in cardiothoracic surgery if it can be avoided.

The researchers cautioned that because of the retrospective and observational study design, causality of the findings could not be determined. However, the evidence of an association between thymectomy and adverse outcomes strongly suggests that when possible, preserving the thymus should be a clinical priority.

Nourishing your existing T cells

If you still have your thymus, there’s a lot you can do to support its continued health even as you get older. I’ve listed some of the steps here.

However, if you’ve had your thymus removed, you may want to take action to supercharge the T cells you already have.

• Make sure your diet has plenty of selenium, a trace mineral that studies show helps increase the effectiveness of T cells.
• You may also want to try cat’s claw, a plant native to South America that may turn on T cells.
• You can energize your T cells by getting 10 to 20 minutes of daily sunlight, preferably around midday. One study indicates sunlight directly activates key immune cells by increasing their movement.
• Lastly, get adequate vitamin D. Even with daily sunlight, our skin doesn’t synthesize vitamin D as well as we get old—so you may need to take a supplement. A study in the journal Nature Immunology reported that vitamin D can increase T-cell responsiveness by 750 percent.

Sources:

Routinely Removed Organ Linked to Increased Mortality, Cancer Risk — MedPage Today

Health Consequences of Thymus Removal in Adults — The New England Journal of Medicine

The post The consequences of removing the thymus (and why doctors routinely do) appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But studies have shown that genetics, dysregulated immune responses, imbalanced gut microbiota and environmental factors can trigger these serious chronic inflammatory conditions.

And if you take a little dive into food additives, it’s easy to see that the last factor may be the hardest to avoid…

Of the 36 food dyes approved by the FDA for use in the United States, nine are artificial color additives used in foods and beverages. And of those nine, the three most commonly used are Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6 and Red No. 40, also known by the brand name Allura Red AC.

You would think that because Allura Red is FDA-approved that it’s perfectly safe. But the dye is banned outright in several European countries, including France and Germany, along with five other food additives that are making Americans sick.

But there are no such restrictions in the U.S., where Allura Red is the most commonly used artificial coloring in grocery items — and may very well be the reason for growing rates of IBDs…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How Allura Red can impact health

Research shows Allura Red is linked to certain ADHD symptoms, such as hyperactivity, in children. Kids who ingest the red food dye may also experience other neurobehavioral effects.

Studies in mice have linked Red No. 40 to immune system tumors and several types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One study found mice with an impaired immune system that consumed food containing Red 40 and Yellow 6 dyes developed colitis.

A more recent study by researchers at McMaster University in Canada specifically focused on Allura Red. Using experimental animal models of IBD, they discovered long-term continual exposure to Allura Red promotes inflammation and can trigger IBDs, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — both considered autoimmune conditions.

Researchers found the dye directly disrupts gut barrier function and increases production of serotonin, a hormone and neurotransmitter found in the gut. This leads to increased susceptibility to IBDs like colitis.

“What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs,” says McMaster University professor and researcher Waliul Khan, senior author of the study. “These findings have important implication in the prevention and management of gut inflammation.”

He adds that previous literature suggests consuming Allura Red also affects certain allergies, immune disorders and behavioral problems in children.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Avoiding Allura Red and saving your gut

Prof. Khan observes that the Western diet, with its plethora of processed foods, includes large amounts of various additives and food dyes like Allura Red.

The best way to delete these dangerous dyes from your diet is to focus on whole foods and minimize the amount of processed foods you consume, starting with:

• Breakfast cereals
• Sodas/soft drinks
• Condiments
• Puddings
• Dairy products like ice cream, sherbet, flavored milks and frozen yogurt
• Baked goods
• Chocolate candy
• Fruit juices and gummy snacks
• Sports drinks
• Jello

Sadly, many of the foods containing Allura Red are aimed squarely at children, among them Nacho Cheese Doritos, Skittles, Twizzlers, M&Ms and Pepsi Blue and Mountain Dew Code Red sodas.

The good news is that food companies are required to list these dyes on the labels of their products. So if you’re looking to erase food dyes from your diet, you just need to do a little label reading.

Given its potential health issues, Allura Red or Red No. 40 is a great place to start. It can be found under a number of different names on food labels, including Allura Red AC, FD&C Red No. 40, INS No. 129, E129, CI Food Red 17 and CAS No. 25956-17-6.

A balanced gut microbiome and immune system can also be a strong ally against environmental sources that can cause dysregulation and lead to problems with your gut.

Sources:

Common food dye can trigger inflammatory bowel diseases, say McMaster researchers — McMaster University

Chronic exposure to synthetic food colorant Allura Red AC promotes susceptibility to experimental colitis via intestinal serotonin in mice — Nature Communications

Allura Red AC — chemeurope.com

Red 40, a food dye found in snacks like Pepsi and Doritos can trigger inflammatory bowel disease — Public News Time

101 Series – Food Dye — Michigan State University

17 Surprising Foods That Contain Chemicals & Food Dyes — Eat This, Not That!

Food Dye in Twizzlers, Doritos, & More Foods May Trigger Bowel Diseases, Study Finds — Eat This, Not That!

Is there a link between red dye 40 and ADHD? — Medical News Today

Allura Red AC — IACM

Red Dye 40: Is this Common Food Additive Bad for Your Health — GoodRx Health

The post The food additive triggering inflammatory bowel disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

While between 80 and 90 percent of people with lupus will likely have a normal lifespan, the disease can raise the risk of cancer or infection and can even prove fatal in some cases.

Like other autoimmune diseases, lupus causes the immune system to go haywire and attack the body’s tissues and organs. Its symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Kidney issues
• Joint pain
• A butterfly-like facial rash
• Swelling around the eyes

If untreated, it can lead to irreversible damage to major organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain.

Many of the symptoms of lupus are heightened during “flares,” periods that can be triggered by any condition that puts physical stress on the body, like illness, injury, exhaustion, surgery or pregnancy. Other triggers include emotional stress and exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Since exposure to sunlight can cause lupus to flare up, people with lupus are cautioned to avoid the sun as much as possible. This can lead to vitamin D deficiency, a condition that can cause another set of health problems in those with lupus…

Peak Krill Oil^™

Supports Heart Health, Immunity and Moods, Naturally!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Low vitamin D can lead to heart risks in lupus patients

People with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, who have lower vitamin D levels are more likely to have metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance — conditions that can raise the risk of developing heart disease.

The good news? Researchers believe boosting vitamin D levels may provide greater control of these cardiovascular risk factors, as well as improve long-term outcomes for those with SLE.

With the sun being a key trigger of lupus flares, the researchers note the low level of vitamin D in SLE patients is likely due to a combination of staying out of the sun, using high-factor sunblock as protection and living in northern countries that don’t get as much sun. Patients with more severe SLE also had lower vitamin D levels.

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and obesity. People with metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke and other blood vessel disorders.

Patients with SLE have a cardiovascular risk of up to 50 times greater than that seen in people without the condition, one that cannot just be attributed to traditional cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure or smoking.

“This is the largest-ever study examining associations between vitamin D levels and metabolic syndrome in SLE,” observes study co-author Dr. John Reynolds, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Rheumatology at the University of Birmingham. “It also has the advantage of being an international cohort with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, generating results that will be applicable across many settings.”

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Getting enough vitamin D (and other nutrients)

In addition to potentially lowering these cardiovascular risk factors, maintaining healthy vitamin D levels can help lupus patients protect the health of their bones and kidneys. But since getting vitamin D from sunlight isn’t a good option, it’s best if those with lupus add a vitamin D supplement to their daily regimen.

The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for healthy adults is 600 IU for people under 70 and 800 IU a day for those over 70. But those amounts, already considered inadequate for adults in general, may be especially inadequate in people with lupus…

One reason: steroid medications — of which prednisone is one commonly taken to combat the inflammation associated with lupus. People taking oral steroids are twice as likely as the general population to have severe vitamin D deficiency — a double whammy for lupus sufferers.

But studies in lupus patients have shown daily oral doses of vitamin D3 at 4000 IU daily to be safe and well-tolerated, following 8 weeks of administration of a high-dose capsule to correct a deficiency. Talk to your doctor to see if this is an option for you. Once a deficiency is corrected, many experts recommend a therapeutic dose of 5000 IU daily.

Other nutrients can be helpful in managing the health impacts of lupus…

Because steroid use is also harmful to the bones, people with lupus need to get at least the daily recommended amount of calcium (1,200 mg a day for women over 50). Good sources include low-fat dairy products, green leafy vegetables and sardines. It’s typically best to get calcium from food unless your doctor recommends supplementing.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to improve sleep and reduce flares in people with lupus, and are naturally heart protective. To increase omega-3s, try eating at least two eight-ounce servings of fish like salmon, tuna or trout every week. If you decide to go the supplement route, make sure you choose one that’s free of toxins.

Also, investigate the differences between fish oil and krill oil if you plan to supplement your omega-3s…

According to rheumatologist Kyriakos Kirou, MD, the omega-3 fatty acids in krill are bound to phospholipids, which significantly helps your body’s cells absorb the omega-3s better. Considering lupus sufferers are also deficient in omega-3s, this could be a game-changer.

Plus, krill oil also contains vitamins D and E. Fish oil contains insignificant levels of vitamin D. Cod liver oil, however, contains vitamin D since the vitamin is concentrated in the liver of fish.

Sources:

Vitamin D deficiency linked to metabolic changes in patients with lupus – study — EurekAlert!

Lupus facts and statistics — Lupus Foundation of America

What is a lupus flare? — Lupus Foundation of America

Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart — Mayo Clinic

7 Easy, Drug-Free Ways to Live Life Better with Lupus — Easy Health Options

The post Living with Lupus: The vitamin deficiency you can’t afford to ignore appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Scientists are worried about the increasing number of “extreme heat events” and the major health risks they pose to people living in intensely hot environments like the southwestern U.S. states.

Spending a lot of time in the sun and heat can cause your body to overheat and lead to sunburn, dehydration and life-threatening conditions like heatstroke.

But one thing you may not be aware of is the impact heat can have on pre-existing health problems. Here are five medical conditions that can be made worse by exposure to too much heat…

Peak Organic Fermented Beets^™

It may not be a household word, but nitric oxide has been recognized in over 130,000 published scientific papers as a vital signaling molecule that keeps blood vessels healthy so they can perform as the body needs. But as you age, your cells produce less and… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Arthritis

While many people experience a flare-up of their arthritis in cold and rainy weather, others see their symptoms increase in hot temperatures. One theory as to why this occurs includes changes in barometric pressure, which can cause joint stiffness, swelling and pain.

Also, dehydration caused by excessive heat can reduce the lubrication in your joints, increasing pain and inflammation.

Autoimmune conditions

If you have an autoimmune disorder like multiple sclerosis (MS) or lupus, heat exposure may cause your symptoms to flare up.

For instance, even small increases in core body temperature can worsen MS symptoms such as vision problems, weakness, pain and confusion. The effect of heat on MS is common enough that experts have named it the Uhthoff phenomenon. Once a person with MS cools down, the symptoms typically decrease in severity or possibly cease, at least temporarily.

Lupus flares can be triggered by extreme heat or exposure to UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Both of these factors decrease the clearance of dead skin cells, promoting the body’s immune response.

Heart disease

Your body works to get rid of excess heat by rerouting blood flow to the skin, so your heart is forced to pump harder whenever you’re in hot conditions. In fact, your heart may circulate two to four times as much blood in the summer as it does during cooler seasons.

In short, excessive heat puts a huge strain on your heart, which could quickly become life-threatening if you already have heart disease. Also, if you have atherosclerosis, your blood flow may be limited, which makes it more difficult for your heart to circulate blood when you’re overly hot.

If that wasn’t bad enough, some medications used to treat heart disease, like diuretics and beta-blockers, remove fluid from the body, increasing your risk of dehydration in extreme heat. Other drugs may interfere with heat regulation by blocking sweating, slowing the heartbeat or causing photosensitivity, a negative skin reaction to sunlight.

Migraine

Did you know heat makes you more susceptible to headaches? According to a Harvard study, your chances of a headache increase by 8 percent with every 9-degree increase in temperature.

Migraine is the most common type of headache that occurs during the hot months of summer. Exposure to a hot environment makes the blood vessels in your head expand, which can lead to the throbbing pain of a migraine.

Dehydration because of excessive sweating can also trigger migraine. Oddly enough, so can overcompensation by drinking too much water. Try to find a happy medium.

Respiratory conditions

Excessive heat can aggravate certain respiratory conditions. Harmful air pollutants tend to build up when the heat and humidity rise and this can exacerbate breathing problems caused by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and allergies. Pollen also tends to be high in the summer, which is another trigger for respiratory conditions.

Peak Bladder Support^™

Unique Formula Helps Reduce Urgency or the Immediate Urge to “Go” and Decreases Nighttime Bathroom Visits for More Restful Sleep!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Tips to protect yourself from the heat

The easiest way to avoid hot temperatures is to stay indoors where there’s air conditioning. This is especially important between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun and heat are at their strongest.

If you absolutely have to be outside, stick to shady areas as much as possible and take frequent breaks if you’re being active. And if you don’t have access to air conditioning or a fan, using cold compresses or ice on your forehead and neck, or taking a cool shower or bath, can help lower your body temperature.

You can also eat foods that help your body produce the nitric oxide it needs to increase blood flow to the skin to help you cool faster. Beets or beetroot juice is an excellent choice.

If you suffer from arthritis or an autoimmune disease, light activity like walking is important for managing your symptoms. But that can be difficult to manage when the mercury rises. Try to time your outdoor activities for early in the morning or close to sunset, when the temperatures aren’t so extreme.

One of the most important ways you can protect your health in hot weather is to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. And don’t forget about electrolytes. Sweating causes you to lose both water and salt, so it might be a good idea to alternate water with sports drinks like Gatorade. If you enjoy milk, you may like to know it’s an excellent choice for rehydration, beating out sports drinks.

Be sure to limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine, since they’re diuretics and can lead to further dehydration.

Sources:

How the summer heat can affect your health—and ways to stay safe — The Checkup By SingleCare

The Effects of Heat on Your Heart — Tenet Health

5 ways you can get rid of that annoying summer headache — India Today

Managing Arthritis During the Summer — Carolina Arthritis

The post 5 health conditions made worse by summer heat appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But if your immune system response goes overboard, it attacks your body as if it were the enemy.

When this happens, autoimmune problems can develop. And one of the worst of the worst is rheumatoid arthritis.

Sadly, because no one knows exactly why one person’s immune system works perfectly, while another’s sets out to destroy their joints bit by bit, treatments that work have been few and far between.

This is especially true if you’re looking for a treatment where the side effects aren’t worse than the condition itself.

Now however, there’s hope on the horizon with research from Osaka University revealing not only a protein complex responsible for promoting the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, but also a natural extract with the power to block that complex — and possibly rheumatoid itself.

Peak Cardio Platinum^™

Clinically-Tested Nutrients Help Arteries and Cardiovascular Health!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Where rheumatoid starts

The protein complex the researchers found to be behind the painful march of rheumatoid is made up of two separate proteins, known COMMD3 and COMMD8.

“We had previously shown that the COMMD3/8 complex potentiates the humoral immune response, yet its role in autoimmune diseases remained unclear,” said study senior author, Kazuhiro Suzuki.

So the team created a mouse model that allowed the expression of one of the proteins — COMMD3 — to be switched off.

And the celebration began.

The researchers found that deleting COMMD3 caused the second protein, COMMD8, to degrade and the protein complex itself to completely disappear. And when the complex disappeared, the immune response driving autoimmunity disappeared too.

In fact, in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis, the researchers showed that blocking COMMD3 as soon as the mice exhibited symptoms stopped the progression of the disease.

Peak Blood Flow^™

Poor circulation can impact your eyesight, your ability to sleep and cause headaches, discomfort and swelling — among other more serious concerns. The tell-tale signs of a circulation problem are… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

From cause to potential cure

But they didn’t stop there…

“Once we had established the importance of the complex in autoimmunity, we set about identifying a compound that could interfere with the formation of the complex,” explained Suzuki.

And they found it in an extract from the root of a medicinal plant, known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, commonly called the “Thunder God vine.”

“Our chemical screen identified celastrol as the most potent inhibitor of the COMMD3/8 complex,” said Suzuki.

The study showed that celastrol actually binds to COMMD3 and prevents the formation of the COMMD3/8 complex, halting an immune system gone haywire and blocking the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

Because of this, the researchers believe that celastrol is a particularly exciting lead for developing treatments against rheumatoid arthritis and even other autoimmune diseases.

This means that hopefully, not too far in the future, autoimmune problems could be a thing of the past.

Sources:

A herbal compound to fight autoimmunity – EurekAlert!

The post The plant extract that halts rheumatoid progression appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That’s why when people think of Parkinson’s symptoms, they usually picture shaky hands and stiff, jerky limb movements. But often these symptoms don’t manifest until years after the onset of the illness.

But in working to identify the earliest signs of Parkinson’s — researchers are finding that some signs appearing years before an official diagnosis is made are, surprisingly, not neurological in nature…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Some unusual signs of early Parkinson’s

During their research, scientists analyzed German outpatient health insurance records from 2011 to 2020. They separated the records into two groups: patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s and a control group that was Parkinson’s-free. Each patient was tracked for an average of 6 years.

As expected, when comparing the two groups, the patients with Parkinson’s were much more likely to have known Parkinson’s signs such as tremors, restless legs syndrome, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. And these symptoms occurred anywhere up to 10 years before their official disease diagnosis.

But some surprising connections surfaced during the study — non-neurological signs of Parkinson’s that may emerge as many as 6 years before diagnosis…

Changes in skin sensation and associations with inflammatory skin conditions: According to the researchers, the early presentation of patients with Parkinson’s disease with skin disorders may reflect early deposits of alpha-synuclein in the skin, inflammatory disposition, and perceptual changes early in the disease process. Links also emerged with inflammatory skin conditions, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Some patients also experienced seronegative osteoarthritis — also an inflammatory condition.

Diabetes: A new relationship discovered was with type 1 diabetes, which has never been previously reported as a risk factor in patients with Parkinson’s disease or before diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes was also linked to Parkinson’s, solidifying an association seen in previous research.

Gastrointestinal conditions: Gastroesophageal reflux and gastritis, were found to be more prevalent in those who received a Parkinson’s diagnosis later on.

Previous studies have found other unexpected early signs of Parkinson’s including depression, loss of smell, dizziness, fatigue, pain and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, a condition where you flail or kick in your sleep, and a link between metabolic syndrome and Parkinson’s.

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

More than a neurological disease?

These odd combinations of symptoms may have a lot to do with findings in the scientific community that Parkinson’s is both a neurological and autoimmune disease.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition and some believe seborrheic dermatitis may be as well. Type 1 diabetes is considered an organ-specific autoimmune disease caused by the autoimmune response against pancreatic β cells.

Information found at the LaJolla Institute for Immunology reveals that in a 2020 study, the LJI team shed light on the timeline of T cell reactivity and Parkinson’s disease progression. T cells are part of the immune system meant to attack foreign invaders, but play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions when they begin attacking the body.

They found that the T cells that react to alpha-synuclein (a protein that collects in clumps in Parkinson’s patients) are abundant when patients are first diagnosed with the disease. But these T cells tend to disappear as the disease progresses, and few patients still have them ten years after diagnosis. This research shows that signs of autoimmunity can appear in Parkinson’s disease patients years before an official diagnosis.

This may also help explain the involvement of inflammatory and gut-related conditions as well. Even though inflammatory bowel disease isn’t technically an autoimmune condition, it is caused by an abnormal immune response.

While there’s no way to prevent Parkinson’s, there may ways to reduce the risk…

• Research shows that people exposed to high levels of pesticides have a higher Parkinson’s risk.
• Research shows that people who exercise in their 30s and 40s have a 30 percent lower risk of getting the disease. 
• People who eat more peppers have a lower risk of the disease. Other foods with a proven ability to lower Parkinson’s risk include berries, apples, oranges, fish and green tea.
• Some vitamins and nutrients have shown to be helpful, especially those in foods that help douse inflammation.

Sources:

Early Signs of Parkinson’s May Be Seen Years Before Diagnosis — MedPage Today

Widening the Spectrum of Risk Factors, Comorbidities, and Prodromal Features of Parkinson Disease — JAMA Neurology

What is Parkinson’s? — Parkinson’s Foundation

The post Unusual early signs of Parkinson’s disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Immune cells usually stay outside the brain and spinal cord. But in MS, activated immune cells infiltrate the brain and spinal cord and destroy nerve fibers.

We also know:

• Women are more prone to developing MS.
• It’s likely the Epstein-Barr virus plays a role in MS development.
• Various environmental factors can also increase MS risk, including smoking, stress and vitamin D deficiency. In fact, one study shows that each time a woman raised her vitamin D levels to 50 nmol/L, she effectively lowered her MS risk by 39 percent.

Another of those environmental factors in MS risk involves the gut microbiome — the trillions of gut bacteria living in the human intestinal system.

Evidence points to significant differences between the gut microbes of patients with MS and those without the disease…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Certain gut bacteria could help MS

A Danish study confirmed that MS patients do not have the same gut microbiome as healthy people. And the composition and function of the bacteria in their intestines differ depending on whether their illness is active and if they are being treated.

“Some groups of bacteria occur more frequently in people with multiple sclerosis, and other bacteria groups are more frequent in people without MS,” says Finn Sellebjerg, a professor at Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen and one of the study researchers.

The researchers used genetic analyses to identify the different types of bacteria and their effects. They identified a link between some of the changes in the bacteria of MS patients and the occurrence of inflammatory reactions in the body.

Specifically, two types of health-promoting bacteria that were more prevalent in MS patients whose disease was inactive were Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens. These two species reduce an over-reactive immune system by producing certain fatty acids our bodies can’t create themselves, as well as a substance called urolithin.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Supporting your gut’s MS-fighting power

These findings and previous ones indicate a link between diet, bacteria and MS disease progression. Next, the group hopes to confirm their findings in independent studies and then initiate treatment trials.

Until then, Prof. Sellebjerb says, “We can’t do much about some of these things. We can’t remove the Epstein-Barr virus. We can’t change genetics. But we can stop smoking and take vitamin D supplements, although these aren’t the strong risk factors. However, we are now starting to identify some bacterial strains which have a beneficial effect. Perhaps in the long term, patients will be able to take dietary supplements that promote development of the right intestinal bacteria, or we can take intestinal bacteria that promote a favorable metabolism in the intestine.

“Our results have given us a handful more pieces in the 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of multiple sclerosis, but there are still large gaps. The great difference is that the pieces we have found are starting to reveal systems that we can manipulate without the side effects some medicines can have.”

Diet can help manage the inflammation associated with MS flare-ups.

Studies have also shown that isoflavones like those found in soybeans, peanuts, chickpeas and other legumes can offer some protection against inflammatory MS symptoms. However, the person in question needs to have the right gut bacteria to break down these phytoestrogens and release their protective properties.

Also when foods like turkey that contain tryptophan, ar eaten, the microbes in the gut break it down into components that can cross the blood-brain barrier and help immune cells quell inflammation in the brain. These components do so by accessing a special gut-brain “pathway” that’s been linked to MS and Alzheimer’s disease.

Sources:

1. Intestinal bacteria may be an important piece in the jigsaw puzzle of multiple sclerosis — Rigshospitalet

2. The gut microbiota in multiple sclerosis varies with disease activity — Genome Medicine

The post Gut bacteria: The missing piece of the MS puzzle appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

MS affects the central nervous system and eventually leads to severe physical and cognitive disabilities. Nearly 1 million adults in the U.S. are currently living with MS.

Blair, who is now 50, was diagnosed with MS in her late 40s, though she believes she was experiencing symptoms for several years before that.

Fellow actress Christina Applegate also has opened up about her struggles with MS and her fears it may end her acting career. Applegate, who is now 51, was diagnosed only a year or so ago, though she too says in hindsight she was showing symptoms a few years earlier.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Autoimmune diseases on the rise in 50-plus year-olds

Both Applegate and Blair are squarely in the demographic that’s showing a sharp rise in autoimmune diseases like MS. Autoimmune diseases are a wide-ranging group of illnesses caused when the immune system starts attacking the body itself.

While researchers don’t know exactly why this increase is happening, they have a few theories. We’re all exposed to hundreds of chemicals in our environment every day, our diets include far more processed and fast foods, we spend more time indoors, and we don’t move nearly as much as we used to.

Another possible contributing factor could be the increase in prescription drug use. Many of us, especially as we age, end up having to take one or more medicines to help manage conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and asthma. And it turns out at least one of these medicines may contribute to increased MS risk…

In fact, scientists at the University of Arizona Health Sciences have discovered a link between the anti-hyperglycemic class of type 2 diabetes medications and elevated risk of MS in people older than 45.

Could diabetes medication be a contributor?

There is growing evidence of an association between metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and MS. The common link between the two appears to be an increase in autoimmunity.

“Our findings reinforce the need for a precision medicine approach to preventing MS in these vulnerable populations,” says lead researcher Dr. Kathleen Rodgers, associate director of translational neuroscience at the Center for Innovation in Brain Science.

Interestingly, anti-hyperglycemic exposure in people younger than 45 reduced MS risk.

“Previous research has shown a neuroprotective effect of anti-hyperglycemic medications in Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias,” Rodgers says. “For MS, we wanted to further examine age and sex differences, particularly among men and women under 45 with type 2 diabetes.”

The researchers found men older than 45 had a slightly significant increase in MS risk, while women over 45 showed a significant increase in MS incidence after exposure to anti-hyperglycemic drugs. Exposure to insulin was associated with a greater increase in MS risk.

But why did women fare worse?

The researchers speculate immune system changes that occur during the perimenopause to menopause transition may be the reason more women develop MS. Two important points from the study:

• With the fall of estrogen at menopause, there is an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases in immune cell activity.
• It is known that diabetes, similar to MS, is linked to a pro-inflammatory state and that symptomatic worsening in female diabetics occurs during menopause due to loss of estrogenic control of insulin sensitivity and resistance.

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Can women lower their risk?

While no woman can avoid the transition from perimenopause to menopause and beyond, there are steps you can take to that might help reduce your risks of developing MS.

First and foremost, live a lifestyle to make type 2 diabetes less likely. That includes a healthy diet, exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

Secondly, consider supplementing specific vitamins shown to affect the immune system and even decrease the risk of developing an autoimmune condition.

Vitamin C has been shown to help boost the health of certain cells that play a key role in immune system regulation. This could help prevent or possibly even reverse autoimmune disease.

Vitamin D is another key nutrient in the fight against autoimmune disease. Research has linked low vitamin D levels to an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. And Harvard investigators have found that women with low vitamin D levels are 43 percent more likely to develop MS than women with adequate levels.

The VITAL trial gives even more credibility to vitamin D. In that study researchers followed 25,871 adults and found that participants who took both vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplements for 5 years reduced the occurrence of autoimmune disease by 25 to 30 percent compared with those who got placebos only.

One good way to boost vitamin D levels is through careful exposure to the sun. In one study, participants who spent an average of 30 to 60 minutes outdoors every day had a 52 percent lower risk of MS compared with those who spent an average of less than 30 minutes outdoors daily.

Supplementing is certainly a good option. Just be sure to choose vitamin D3 over D2. The most important thing you need to know about the two types of vitamin D is this: The scientific community has recognized that vitamin D3 is not only superior to D2 but has proven effects on your health.

Sources:

New Study Identifies Connection Between Diabetes Medications, Multiple Sclerosis — The University of Arizona Health Sciences

Age and sex differences on anti-hyperglycemic medication exposure and risk of newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis in propensity score matched type 2 diabetics — Heliyon

Christina Applegate is ‘pretty convinced’ ‘Dead to Me’ will be her last acting gig amid MS — USA Today

Christina Applegate and MS: The Early Warning Signs She Says She Missed — Healthline

Selma Blair’s Multiple Sclerosis Timeline: Her Diagnosis, Leaving ‘DWTS,’ And Service Dog — Women’s Health

The Rising Toll of Autoimmune Diseases in Older People — AARP

Oral Antihyperglycemic Drugs — Medscape

The post Diabetes medications and more: Why MS is on the rise appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The downside of this is that lots of little things can go wrong. Some are annoying, while others can wreak havoc with our daily lives.

Very often, we blame ourselves for things like fatigue, skin rashes, or joint pain. Maybe I stayed out in the sun too long? Maybe I’m working too hard?

The fact is that many of these “little” mishaps are caused by problems with the functioning of the immune system.

The immune system 101

Your immune system is a complex network of cells and organs that protects the body from infection by recognizing and destroying “intruders”, i.e., the bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause disease.

The organs of the immune system are found throughout the body and include the lymph nodes, bone marrow, tonsils and spleen. They all have a role in producing lymphocytes, the white blood cells that fight intruders, and in sending them where they are needed.

As you might imagine, such a finely tuned system can malfunction sometimes.

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

When your immune system is out of whack

An immune system that isn’t working properly can cause more problems than it cures. Your immune system can be weak and underactive, but it can also be overactive, or even attack your body by mistake (as in auto-immune diseases are on the rise in those of us over age 50).

Immune system problems can cause a range of symptoms, allergic reactions or persistent illnesses.

Here are 10 signs your immune system is in trouble:

Dry or gritty eyes. In Sjogren’s syndrome, your immune system dries up the tears that are meant to keep your eyes moist. Not only does this lack of moisture make the eyes feel dry and gritty like there’s sand in them, but it can lead to cornea damage.

Depression. An immune system that’s not working properly can send proinflammatory cytokines to the brain. Research has linked depression with an increase in cytokines in the body.

Skin rashes. It may surprise you to learn that both eczema and psoriasis (including psoriatic arthritis) are diseases linked to a faulty immune system. Your immune system attacks your own skin cells with inflammation, causing redness, flakiness and pain.

Stomach or bowel problems. These may sometimes be a sign of an immune system problem. For example, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease are all driven by the immune system and have ties to leaky gut syndrome (a condition believed to make people more susceptible to autoimmune diseases).

Cold hands and feet. If your hands and feet turn white or blue in the cold, it could be that your thyroid gland is underactive and that your immune system is causing it. This condition is known as Raynaud’s disease.

Hair loss. We all see hair come out in our comb or brush, but if you’re losing patches of hair whenever you brush, you could have alopecia areata, caused when your immune system attacks and damages your hair roots. This is also a symptom of underactive thyroid.

Joint pain. Joints that become suddenly painful, swollen and stiff for no apparent reason could be a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, in which your immune system inflames the tissue lining your joints.

Slow-healing wounds. A healthy immune system is quick to send nutrients to a wound to promote healing. With a sluggish immune system, on the other hand, even minor cuts, burns or scrapes could take a long time to heal.

You’re sick all the time. Everyone gets a cold now and then. But if you have four or more yearly ear infections, chronic sinus infections, pneumonia twice in one year, or you need antibiotics twice a year or more often, you could have an immune deficiency.

Fatigue. Extreme fatigue is often a tip-off that your overactive immune system is triggering inflammation. If you’re often feeling wiped out after simple physical activity, or feel like you can’t walk across the room, your immune system could be to blame.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How to support your immune system

When it comes to strengthening you immune system for a healthy response there are two things to focus on: boosting and balancing.

Boosting the immune system is fairly easy. The two most effective ways to do that is via the right foods (nutrients) and exercise.

I’ve compiled a list of a dozen delicious foods that contain nutrients with well-researched impacts on the immune system.

As far as exercise’s impact on your immune system, it really doesn’t take that much. A 2005 study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise revealed that walking briskly for 30 minutes increased the number of natural killer cells, white blood cells and other important immune cells circulating in the body.

But balancing — or modulating — the immune system may take a little more work. An immune system that overreacts is part and parcel of autoimmune conditions. The black seeds of the Nigella sativa plant contain a compound called thymoquinone, considered to be an immune system modulator. In fact, in Egypt, the seeds are commonly used as medicine, spice and nutritional supplements.

Sources:

Symptoms of Immune System Problems Web MD

The post 10 signs your immune system is sending an S.O.S. appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In people living with scleroderma, their immune system tricks tissues in the body into thinking they’ve been injured.

As a result of the inflammation this causes, the body goes into overdrive, producing too much collagen, which leads to fibrosis — or a buildup of scar tissues — that hardens the skin and damages blood vessels and internal organs.

And like with other autoimmune conditions, there currently is no cure.

However, thanks to research at the University of Michigan, there may be a way to slow, or even walk back, the damage and help scleroderma patients everywhere live better…

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

It’s called the SAD diet for a reason

The western diet most Americans follow has never topped the list of healthy diets. Also known as the standard American diet (SAD diet), it’s been linked to everything from a high risk of sepsis to heart disease.

And because the diet is linked to metabolic diseases that also impact blood vessel health, Michigan researchers began to wonder how it may also impact the damage scleroderma does to the body’s blood vessels.

And they found a connection — a metabolite produced in the guts of people who eat a Western Diet.

The compound, called trimethylamine N-oxide, or TMAO, actually has the power to cause changes to cellular processes in scleroderma that trigger fibrosis or scarring, inflammation and vascular injury.

Scary, right?

Well, here’s where it gets worse…

You see, TMAO is formed in your liver when your gut metabolizes nutrients like choline and carnitine, which are abundant in our meat-heavy Western diet.

When that happens, TMAO goes to work, reprogramming cells in the body to become scar-forming myofibroblasts, which leads to the scarring of the blood vessels.

Now, this happens whether you have scleroderma or not, to a degree. TMAO has already been linked to cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

But if you’re already living with the autoimmune disease, things get much worse fast…

That’s because the enzyme responsible for the formation of TMAO, called FMO3, is elevated in patients with the autoimmune condition.

In other words, your body is already primed to produce TMAO, putting you at an even higher risk for vessel damage if you choose the wrong diet.

Not surprisingly, people with scleroderma are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.

Peak Krill Oil^™

You probably already know how important omega-3s are to support heart and brain health. But there are five reasons you may be getting yours from a less than adequate source, starting with a powerful antioxidant that delivers DHA into your brain cells… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The two-step approach to beating back the damage of scleroderma

So where’s the good news in all the bad?

Well, the first answer is pretty obvious…

If a Western diet accelerates the damage caused by scleroderma, embracing a diet that’s the complete opposite, such as the Mediterranean diet, may offer hope for keeping blood vessel scarring, as well as the other ravages of the disease, at a minimum.

This means avoiding foods that are common in the Western diet, like red or processed meats, refined grains and oils, and instead eating more:

• Fruits and veggies
• Nuts, seeds and legumes
• Whole grains
• Seafood
• Extra virgin olive oil

That last one might be the most important food item to consume more of. Here’s why…

When asked about the study and what their next steps will be, John Varga, M.D., senior author of the paper and chief of the Division of Rheumatology at University of Michigan Health had this to say: “We will next examine whether drugs, or food products like virgin olive oil, can be used to block formation of this compound in the gut to treat fibrosis.”

Yup, the researchers think that adding more olive oil to your diet could be the answer to relieving the scarring caused by scleroderma.

And they could be on to something: Previous research has shown that dimethyl butanol, a compound found in olive oil, was capable of reversing the arterial damage caused by TMAO, and possibly even blocking its production.

So if you’re living with scleroderma, or simply want to protect your blood vessels, ditching the SAD Western diet for a Mediterranean way of eating, with plenty of blood vessel-loving olive oil could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Sources:

 Scleroderma — Mayo Clinic

Scleroderma — NIH

10 Facts and Statistics About Autoimmune Diseases — Scleroderma News

How the western diet and gut bacteria can lead to scarring, vessel damage in scleroderma — ScienceDaily

The post Scleroderma: The autoimmune – heart disease diet link appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And whether the issue is rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or another disease, the rate of autoimmunity is rising rapidly, especially among those over 50.

In fact, research shows these conditions are 50 percent higher in older adults than they were 25 years ago.

Now, research is delivering some disturbing news for all of us who are victims of these autoimmune problems…

Autoimmunity and heart disease go hand-in-hand.

Peak Thyroid Support^™

Specially Formulated with Essential Nutrients to Support Healthy Thyroid Function!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Elevating your risk of every type of heart problem

The research, by a team of scientists from KU Leuven, involved an in-depth and thorough epidemiological investigation into possible links between nineteen of the most common autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular disease.

And when I say thorough, I mean thorough.

The researchers actually combed through an incredibly large database of patient records involving approximately one-fifth of the current UK population or about 22 million patients. They then narrowed everything down to a select group that had been newly diagnosed with any of those nineteen autoimmune disorders.

And after all their hard work, the results were clear…

If you’re living with an autoimmune disease, heart disease could be just around the corner.

That’s because their study showed that patients with autoimmune disease have a substantially higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than people without an autoimmune disorder – between 1.4 and 3.6 times higher depending on which autoimmune condition.

It’s an excess risk at the same level as that of type 2 diabetes, a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Autoimmune problems that posed the highest heart risk included:

• Systemic sclerosis
• Addison’s disease
• Lupus
• Type I diabetes

And the team was able to show that having an autoimmune condition increases your risk across the whole spectrum of heart disease, including infection-related heart disorders, heart inflammation and even thromboembolic and degenerative heart disorders.

Sadly, the increased risk was highest among patients with autoimmune disorders under 55. According to the researchers, this finding shows the significant role autoimmune disease plays in the development of premature cardiovascular disease.

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Guarding your heart by reducing autoimmunity

Clearly, if you want to protect your heart, protecting your body from the ravages of autoimmune disease is a vital step.

Fortunately, we already have some great resources at our fingertips to do just that…

These include taking vitamin D, which can help prevent the inflammation that leads to autoimmune development. A big plus with vitamin D is that it’s also been associated with keeping veins, arteries and your heart young. So, this solution is a definite BOGO.

You can also use ginger, which has already been shown to slow lupus, and therefore could be helpful against other autoimmune conditions.

And adding fiber to your diet can also help ward off autoimmunity by enriching the good bacteria in your gut and causing the secretion of short-chain fatty acids that suppresses the growth of bacteria that would otherwise lead to autoimmune disease.

Finally, avoid foods that are high in mercury, like king mackerel, swordfish and tilefish, which may increase the risk of autoimmune difficulties. And instead, consider switching to the keto diet, which quells disease-causing inflammation to keep autoimmune issues at bay.

Sources:

Autoimmune disorders increase risk of cardiovascular disease – ScienceDaily

The post The autoimmune disorders that quadruple heart problems appeared first on Easy Health Options®.