Can Lyme


Disease Cause Food Allergies?


By Jessica Pizano


e live in Connecticut which is home to Lyme and, ironi- cally, Hadlyme. It seems there is not a person in the state who has not either had Lyme or at least known someone suffering from this brutal disease. It is an infection that brings with it a series of brutal symptoms that are both related to the actual Borrelia burgdorferi infection and secondary to our own immune response. There are so many schools of thought on this disease and how to both diagnose and treat it. Then there are the co-infections that must be contended with including Borrelia, Eh- rlichia, Anaplasma, Bartonella, Rickettsial infections and Babesia.


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Symptoms of Lyme Disease Of those with Lyme infections more than half have at least one co-infection and approximately 30% have two or more co- infections. For some, Lyme presents as an acute illness that presents with fl u-like symptoms such as fevers, fatigue, swollen glands, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, headaches, stiff neck, photophobia, bell’s palsy, neurological symptoms and the infamous bulls eye rash (Erythema migrans). Those with acute Lyme often respond well to antibiotics such as doxycycline. For some, this is enough to clear them of the infection.


Others either never present with an acute Lyme or they have


more chronic presentation. Chronic Lyme patients experience a laundry list of symptoms that may include: bulls eye rash (erythema migrans), neck stiffness with headaches, light and sound sensitivity, memory and concentration problems, vertigo, dizziness, diffi culty walking, tingling, numbness, burning sensations, fevers, sweats, chills, joint pain, dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic


nervous system), chemical sensitivities, infl ammation, sex hormone imbalances, hypothyroidism, adrenal dysfunction, depression, anxi- ety, psychosis, autoimmunity, food sensitivities, interstitial cystitis (bladder pain/frequency), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chest pain and allergies. One could continue listing symptoms forever with Lyme. No two cases are exactly alike and the number of symptoms that may be generated by B. burgdorferi are seemingly endless. The only common thread amongst all patients is the presence of infl am- mation.


Lyme Disease and Food Sensitivities A common problem in Lyme patients is having food sensitivi-


ties. This is because leaky gut syndrome is common in those with Lyme. This occurs often secondarily to antibiotic use which allows for overgrowth of pathogenic yeast such as Candida albicans, over- growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and decreased levels of good bacteria. In this process, the tight junctions which separate the small intestine from our blood vessels are broken open allow- ing partially digested food particles into the blood stream. Here, our body perceives the food as an invader rather than a source of nutrition and mounts an attack. After repeated exposures, our body develops IgG4 antibodies that can cause various symptoms includ- ing refl ux, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, headaches and other symptoms.


The 4R Program To combat intestinal permeability a 4R program should be


undertaken. This includes the steps Remove, Replace, Reinocu- late and Repair. Remove refers to the elimination of pathogenetic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, allergens, and toxins. In this step, it is important to use an elimination diet to help determine foods that may be problematic. At the very least, gluten and dairy should be removed. An autoimmune Paleo approach is often helpful. This includes removal of all dairy, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, high glycemic fruits, refi ned sugars, processed foods, pork, eggs, coffee, tea, caffeine and night shade vegetables. This is typically done for a six to 12-week period prior to reintroducing foods one by one to assess tolerance. For those who have histamine intolerance, this diet should be altered to decrease histamine levels (see below). If there are underlying infections in the gut this should be treated with appropriate natural antimicrobials.


Replace refers to replacing digestive


How You Eat Affects How You Feel Do You Suffer from Anxiety


Reduce Your Joint Pain Chronic pain is often caused by inflammation in the body. A poor diet will commonly contribute to joint aches and pain. Working with a nutri- tionist to improve your diet and lifestyle can greatly benefit how you feel on a daily basis.


Do You Experience Chronic Holly Niles, Clinical Nutritionist Call NOW!


860-519-1916 to schedule a nutritional consultation with a nutritional expert!


34 Jerome Avenue, Suite 305 • Bloomfield, CT 06002 • (860) 519-1916 Info@IntegrativeWellnessAndPT.com • IntegrativeWellnessAndPT.com


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Digestive Discomfort? Are you ruled by your gut? Do you experience bloating, gas, abdominal pain? How we eat and what we eat can greatly affect how we feel throughout the day and night. Our Nutrition Team can teach you how to eat healthy without ‘going on a diet’.


or Depression? Many people don’t know that most of our mood modulating brain chemicals are produced in our gut. If our gut is inflamed, our mood is often affected. By learning how to eat in a healthier and more nourishing way, we can improve our mental health.


Our Approach Our approach to nutrition is to help our clients find practical ways to enjoy making healthy changes in their life. Being on a diet is never fun and rarely brings about long-lasting changes. But learning how to change your lifestyle to include more whole foods can bring about huge benefits in how we feel.


enzymes, hydrochloric acid (HCL) and bile. This should be done with the guidance of clinical symptoms and, if available, the results of a stool analysis. Bile salts may be required for those without a gallbladder or for those with increased levels of fat in their stool.


Reinoculate is associated with the use of pre- and probiotics to help repopulate the gut. Finally, repair is associated with healing the intestinal permeability. Typical nutri- ents given to support this process include L-glutamine and zinc carnosine to heal the gut, antioxidant support, N-acetyl Cysteine/ glutathione, and inulin. Various botanicals may be used to help soothe the mucosal membrane. These include slippery elm, aloe vera and marshmallow root.


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