HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

When I went to nutrition school, the three top killers were cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. I just returned from a medical seminar where they now list autoimmune disorders as the third top killer in this country, with 88 ailments associated with the disorder. The presenter added a new word "Inflammaging," coined by the Italians to describe the intersection of inflammation and virtually every disease associated with the aging process.

I am not sure I understood all of his talk — something to do with NF{kappa}B and other kinase pathways and nutraceuticals that modulate out-of-control inflammatory responses (selective kinase response modulators). He pointed out that 16,000 people die annually from properly prescribed and used NSAIDs, so this whole issue is not insignificant.

At the foundation of preventing or treating chronic inflammation, particularly autoimmune disorders, is a healthy diet. Are you surprised? I am not, because in working with many, many people over the years, I find that everyone feels better on an anti-inflammatory diet.

When considering an antiinflammatory, first think "gluten free." Gluten is, according to many clinicians, the "most common lifelong disorder," affecting virtually every part of the body. Some doctors routinely test for celiac disease or do other types of allergy/intolerance panels and there is good rationale for those tests. But considering how prevalent wheat-sensitivity is, I recommend that everyone avoids gluten for the rest of their lives (or as long as they want to

stay pain-free).

Antibodies are messengers from the future. Researchers have learned that auto-antibodies (predictors of autoimmune disease) are present in the blood years before the symptoms appear. SLA antibodies appear 7-10 years before clinical diagnosis; Scleroderma 11 years, RA 14 years, Hashimoto's thyroiditis 7-10 years, type I diabetes 14 years, Crohn's colitis 3 years, and celiac disease 7 years.

Imagine how important this information could be in preventing these serious diseases. According to an article in the peer-reviewed journal, Lupus, "Individuals who are at risk to developing an autoimmune disease should be advised to refrain from activities and lifestyle which endangers their health and quality of life."

— Ms. Simontacchi is a certified lifestyle educator at the offices of Dr. Alan Gruning in Fort Myers and owner of the Island Nutrition Cente r on Sanibel.