you avoid having to go through the process of reading tons of labels, the easiest way to know which foods to eat is to stay with plant based foods. No label, no guessing, only eat whole foods. Some may be concerned that elimination of dairy will cause a calcium deficiency. Look at all the whole foods that contain calcium and take into account all the cultures around the world that don’t con- sume nearly the amount of dairy Americans consume. Then think about how much dairy probably has to do with healthy bones and teeth. If there is still worry about calcium requirements, take a supplement. Other foods that should be excluded are sugar and red meat. There is also a group of vegetables called the nightshades, which are considered highly inflammatory, and should be avoided. These include peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. Arthritis patients seem to have the most problems with the nightshades.
Food Sensitivity Test
Food sensitivity tests are available to help patients determine which other foods might be creating issues. These differ from food allergy tests, which are used to deter- mine anaphylactic type reactions, because these sensitivity tests are used to show what are called ‘delayed reactions’. Delayed reac- tions to foods are difficult to track, because eating some kind of food one day, without reaction for several days afterward, creates an obscure correlation. It doesn’t make sense for these two to be related, but they can be. The only way to truly determine if it is a cer- tain food causing the problem is to eliminate that food for at least two weeks or prefer-
ably longer. A long term condition will not clear in two weeks of avoiding the possibly offensive food, but the patient will likely feel much better. That result is better than any test result. The reason I stress the importance of food is mainly due to the fact that anyone can get started today to make significant changes in their health without going to the doctor, looking up the research, waiting for test results, or waiting for further research. Having a completely healthy diet will make all the difference in how the patient feels as well as how the body handles the condition. If a patient can’t handle the diet changes on their own, they need to seek someone who can guide them responsibly. This is a very important part of anyone’s healthcare regardless of what other treatment options they choose.
Supplements and Other Treatments
When working with autoimmune patients it is important to remember that supplements, botanicals, homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, and the physical medicine selected for treatment of each pa- tient are each dependent on the patient and their symptoms. The modalities used by each practitioner can be very different as well. What this means is that there are many op- tions to look into when treating these condi- tions. Recent research on Vitamin D, DHEA, Omega fatty acids, and many others are available for treatment protocols. Again, the individual is the key component in which treatment protocol should be used. Part of the plan needs to include what the individual is able or not able to do. For
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example, if a patient is not able to make dietary changes to help with control of the condition, then there is likely a need for more nutritional supplements and protein fortified drinks. This will differ from a patient who can handle a nutrient rich diet, likes to juice their own fruits and vegetables, and eats only organic foods without excep- tion. Using other remedies usually requires professional direction. There are so many op- tions for patients that they should work with someone who can narrow it down to what works best for the individual. Otherwise, gaining their health could end up costing much more money and time for the patient, if they were to actually try each thing they read about to see if it works. After all, research can determine if a treatment or therapy will work for some patients but it won’t be universal for all patients, even with the same condition. Research also does not include the indi- vidual factor. DHEA may show promise for treatment but what about the patient whose DHEA is already too high? There is also the risk of having interactions with pharmaceu- ticals. Even when patients are working with both MDs and NDs they should be aware of which drugs could interact negatively with other remedies they are taking. Doctors see many patients every day and will not remember everything each individual patient is on. It is important for the patient to pay attention to what they are putting in their body. Many patients come into my office on pharmaceuticals and I always ask if they know why they are taking each prescription. Many times, they don’t know what all the prescriptions are for. Treat the causes not just the symptoms.
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