Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases
June 20, 2009 – http://www.trivita.com

We are a people on fire!

Less than a hundred years ago the common health challenges we faced were infections. With the discovery of pathogenic bacteria and the advent of proper hygiene, death from these problems became less common. Inflammation has become the new epicenter of disease, disability and death.

Inflammation and the immune system

Our immune system uses heat to destroy invading bacteria. A specialized cell called a macrophage douses the invader with inflammatory enzymes (like acids) and the heat generated in this battle destroys the invading bacteria.

Sometimes our own healthy cells become the focus for disease. This often happens because of toxic exposure. When we eat, drink or breathe a toxin, or if it is absorbed through our skin, our detoxification system works to remove it before the poison can compromise our health. Unfortunately, many of today’s poisons are simply too strong and they overwhelm our detoxification system and enter healthy cells. These cells now become the target of disease, infection and inflammation. Our immune system must treat them as hostile and use heat to destroy them.

Autoimmune diseases arise when our immune system becomes so overworked that it can no longer tell the difference between healthy cells and sick cells. It attacks all cells of a particular type equally. This body system is never able to heal and chronic inflammation sets in.

The weakest link

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You are only as healthy as your weakest body system. How robust you are depends mostly on lifestyle choices, somewhat on your environment and a little on your genetics.

When a toxin overwhelms your detoxification process it will likely settle in your weakest system. The immune system melts these polluted cells in an effort to save healthy cells. This is acute inflammation. With chronic toxicity comes the opportunity for chronic inflammation. In the case of chronic inflammation, the immune system attacks any sick cell as well as any healthy cell that looks like the sick one. If the immune system attacks connective tissue we say a person has lupus. If it attacks the beta cells of the pancreas we say they have type 1 diabetes. If it attacks the joints we say they have rheumatoid arthritis.

These are only a few of the more than 200 autoimmune diseases. Yet they all share one common attribute: inflammation.

Putting the fire out

Inflammation arises because of:
Toxins
Injuries
Emotional distress
Nutrient deficiency
We simply must reduce our toxic exposure to reduce the chances of developing an autoimmune disorder. And we must also develop emotional coping strategies and have all of the nutrients we need in our body in the right quantity – every moment of every day. These are the first steps to reducing inflammation.

We can directly douse the fire with anti-inflammatory Betalains such as those found in TriVita’s Nopalea. Betalain is a protein-antioxidant complex found in certain plants grown in hot climates. The hotter the climate, the more Betalains the plant needs to survive and the more we can benefit.

Nutrient strategies

According to most authorities, everyone needs to be taking a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement every day. This is even more important for people trying to tame their immune system in an autoimmune flare-up. We also need to eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and take Omega EFA supplements. These fats not only reduce inflammation but they also make your immune system work smarter, not harder. Antioxidants are critical to putting out the fire of inflammation. Betalain “protein-antioxidants” are extremely powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients. Finally, Vitamin B-12 and adaptogens form a bulwark against the blues and physical stress.

We are a nation on fire. This is at the heart of the near epidemic of autoimmune disorders we are facing. Strategies of nutrients and nurturing will help us fight inflammation and help us with what we do best: heal!

Take Control of Your Health

Remove household cleaners from your living space
Keep clear of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides
Select certified organic foods when possible
Take a multiple vitamin/mineral supplement
Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids
Salmon, tuna, herring and other fatty fish
Walnuts (especially English walnuts)
Take an Omega EFA supplement
Help your body reduce inflammation with Betalains found in Nopalea
Protect yourself from emotional distress with B-12 and adaptogens

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

© 2009 TriVita, Inc.

The word betalain comes from the Latin name beet (beta vulgaricus). The deep red color of beets and several cacti result from the presence of betalain pigments. Betalains can be found in any part of the plant including the petals of flowers, leaves, stems and roots

According to the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, qualitative and quantitative analysis of betalains from 10 lines of Prickly Pear fruit grown in Mexico showed that the betalain pigments are responsible for the color of the fruit which is comparable to that found in red beet. As a result it was considered that betalains, water soluble nitrogen containing pigments would be a potential source of yellow and red natural colorants. These colorants would be excellent alternatives to artificial food colors such as tartrazine and quinoline.

The pigments of both the beet and the cactus pear have been found to have potent antioxidant activity. There has been a growing interest in the use of betalains Betalains, according to a report from Henrietta Azeredo in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology has stated that’s the relative scarceness of the betalains has made research more difficult but “some studies have indicated their potential as antioxidant pigments” Azeredo highlights the health benefits of these antioxidant pigments.

Wikipedia states that as well as being identified as natural antioxidants they may also exhibit anti cancer activity. Betalains from the prickly pear have shown considerable free radical scavenger properties.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews