Back Clinic Health Team. The level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans, it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological, and social changes in an environment. Dr.Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T, a clinical pain doctor who uses cutting-edge therapies and rehabilitation procedures focused on total health, strength training, and complete conditioning. We take a global functional fitness treatment approach to regain complete functional health.
Dr. Jimenez presents articles both from his own experience and from a variety of sources that pertain to a healthy lifestyle or general health issues. I have spent over 30+ years researching and testing methods with thousands of patients and understand what truly works. We strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total health programs.
These programs and methods are natural and use the body’s own ability to achieve improvement goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs. As a result, individuals live a fulfilled life with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight, and education on maintaining this way of life.
Lectins found in plant-sources are a defense mechanism that can trigger a negative response in humans because they can attach to cell membranes, ultimately affecting your health and wellness. Research studies have found that some lectins can cause nerve damage, lead to cell death, and even promote inflammation while others can change blood viscosity, interrupt endocrine function, and even affect gene expression. In the following article, we will discuss if lectins are good or bad for your health and wellness.
Lectins and Health Overview
Although it is almost impossible to avoid eating lectins because they can be found in many foods, following a lectin-restricted diet may be beneficial if you are struggling with inflammation, an autoimmune disease, or any other chronic health issue.
Grains, legumes, beans, and members of the nightshade family, such as peppers, eggplants, and potatoes, are well-known foods with harmful lectins. However, properly soaking and cooking as well as sprouting and fermenting foods with high amounts of lectins can help make them safe to eat, according to research studies. Utilizing a pressure cooker is also ultimately beneficial for beans.
Lectins may be an underlying source of weight gain and other health issues, even if you follow a proper diet. Scientists have associated lectins with inflammation and autoimmune disease. Moreover, many lectins are harmful to your cells and nerves. Several types of lectins may also change your blood viscosity, disrupt your endocrine function, and even affect your gene expression.
As previously mentioned above, if you are struggling with inflammation, an autoimmune disease, or any other chronic health issue, you will need to be careful with the amount of lectins you consume and you may ultimately benefit from following a lectin-restricted diet. However, it is almost impossible to avoid eating lectins. Scientists do not recommend following a lectin-free diet because you may miss out on antioxidants and other essential nutrients found in foods with lectins, including many types of vegetables.
Instead, research studies recommend to make sure you only eat lectins occasionally and pay attention to how they affect your health and wellness. If you are constantly experiencing gas, bloating, and even joint pain after eating grains, legumes, beans, and members of the nightshade family, such as peppers, eggplants, and potatoes, to name a few, your body may be reacting to lectins.
Properly preparing foods with high amounts of lectins and using a pressure cooker can help make these foods safe to eat. If you’ve been following a whole-food diet and you’ve experienced weight gain and other health issues, you may want to limit lectins.
What are Lectins?
Lectins are a type of protein found in a variety of plant- and animal-sources that can attach to cell membranes. Scientists consider them to be a low-level toxin. Lectins are a defense mechanism that trigger a negative reaction in predators that are commonly found in grains, raw legumes, and beans as well as in the part of the seed that becomes the leaves when a plant sprouts, known as the cotyledon, and on the seed coat. Lectins are also commonly found in several different types of vegetables and dairy products.
There are a wide variety of lectins. Scientists believe that plants developed these natural pesticides and repellents to protect themselves and their seeds from predators. They may have also developed lectins as a way for seeds to remain intact as they passed through predators’ digestive systems. Lectins are resistant to human digestion and they enter the blood unchanged.
According to research studies, it’s this “stickiness” of lectins that makes them attach to cell membranes. Furthermore, the same stickiness may be the main reason why eating too many lectins can cause digestive health issues and many other problems.
How Lectins Can Affect Your Health
Because lectins are resistant to human digestion, they are considered to be anti-nutrients and they can ultimately affect your gut microbiome and even impact the balance of your bacterial flora. According to research studies, one of the most “harmful” lectins is believed to be wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) which is commonly found in wheat and other seeds in the grass family.
Research studies have also found that several lectins from plant-sources are associated with a leaky gut because they can attach to intestinal mucosal cells, ultimately affecting the absorption of nutrients accross your intestinal wall. WGA has also been found to cause heart disease in animal models. Because of their negative inflammatory and autoimmune effects, lectins are especially toxic for people with an autoimmune disorder. People with autoimmune disorders may want to reduce their intake of foods with lectins.
Another way that lectins can affect your overall health and wellness is through molecular mimicry. By way of instance, lectins can trick the body into attacking the thyroid gland and can even lead to rheumatoid arthritis by mimicking proteins in your thyroid or joints. This can also cause lipopolysaccharides, known as endotoxins, to penetrate your gut wall and cause an immune response.
Should You Avoid Eating Foods with Lectins?
If you are struggling with inflammation or if you have an autoimmune disease or any other chronic health issue, you may need to be careful with foods that have high amounts of lectins, such as grains, legumes, beans, and nightshade vegetables. Lectins can cause diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, autoimmune disease, and even dementia. A lectin-restricted diet may ultimately help with:
Are All Foods with Lectins Bad for Your Health?
In small amounts, however, lectins can provide valuable health benefits. Lectins play a fundamental role in body fat regulation, cell growth and cell death, as well as immune function. It appears that the majority of problems occur due to overconsumption or continued consumption, even in small amounts, of certain lectins that your body simply cannot tolerate.
From a healthcare professional’s perspective, it would be a mistake to assume that all lectins are bad for your health and wellness. As a matter of fact, avocados, contain the lectin agglutinin (persea Americana agglutinin), and these are considered to be a super food. Research studies have found that the agglutinin found in avocados actually interacts with proteins and polyamino acids.
Although tomatoes are also part of the nightshade family and they are often listed among the most harmful foods with lectins, cooking them can have some positive benefits. The antioxidant lycopene found in tomatoes develops an enhanced bioavailability due to heating which can make tomatoes healthy in other ways. Lectins found in beans, however, can ultimately have much more potentially toxic or allergenic effects. Besides their high amounts of lectins, beans are also high sources of net carbs.
The choice to eat or avoid lectins focuses on the particular food in question and the effects these lectins may have on the consumer. Although controversial, lectins in foods are by no means a sole determinant of the overall value of a particular food in your diet.
Lectins are a type of protein found in plant- and animal-sources that can be harmful to an individual’s overall health and wellness because they can attach to cell membranes. According to research studies, eating too many foods with high amounts of lectins can cause nerve damage, lead to cell death, and even promote inflammation while others can change blood viscosity, interrupt endocrine function, and even affect gene expression. However, healthcare professionals argue that eating some foods with lectins can be beneficial as long as these are cooked and consumed properly.� – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.�
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
References:
1. Bulletproof.com, Revenge of the Beans
2, 9, 17, 18, 22. Precision Nutrition, All About Lectins: Here’s What You Need to Know
3. Healthline April 1, 2015
4. Authority Diet, Dietary Lectins: What Are They and Should You Be Concerned?
5, 8. My Domaine June 25, 2017
6. Krispin.com October 18, 2017
7. Gundry MD May 23, 2017
10. Carbohydrate Research February 1980; 78: 349-363
11. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology 2000; 20(4): 293-334
12. Krispin.com October 18, 2017
13. Superfoodly October 8, 2017
14, 15, 16, 19. Gundry MD May 23, 2017
20, 21. U.S. Food and Drug Administration August 20, 2015
23. Youngmeagher.com, InstaPot Review 2017
24. Today’s Dietitian September 2012; 14(9): 22
Podcast: Metabolic Syndrome Explained
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that can ultimately increase the risk of developing a variety of health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other problems. Central obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL are the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Having at least three of the five risk factors may suggest the presence of metabolic syndrome. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja explain the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, in further detail, as they recommend diet and lifestyle modification advice and guidelines to help people with metabolic syndrome improve their overall health and wellness. From eating fiber and staying hydrated to exercise and better sleep, Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja discuss how diet and lifestyle modifications can help improve the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome to ultimately prevent the risk of developing a variety of other health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. – Podcast Insight
Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural ZoomerTM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus is designed to assess an individual�s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention.
Food Sensitivity for the IgG & IgA Immune Response
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate health issues associated with a variety of food sensitivities and intolerances. The Food Sensitivity ZoomerTM is an array of 180 commonly consumed food antigens that offers very specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. This panel measures an individual�s IgG and IgA sensitivity to food antigens. Being able to test IgA antibodies provides additional information to foods that may be causing mucosal damage. Additionally, this test is ideal for patients who might be suffering from delayed reactions to certain foods. Utilizing an antibody-based food sensitivity test can help prioritize the necessary foods to eliminate and create a customized diet plan around the patient�s specific needs.
Gut Zoomer for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate gut health associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The Vibrant Gut ZoomerTM offers a report that includes dietary recommendations and other natural supplementation like prebiotics, probiotics, and polyphenols. The gut microbiome is mainly found in the large intestine and it has more than 1000 species of bacteria that play a fundamental role in the human body, from shaping the immune system and affecting the metabolism of nutrients to strengthening the intestinal mucosal barrier (gut-barrier). It is essential to understand how the number of bacteria that symbiotically live in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract influences gut health because imbalances in the gut microbiome may ultimately lead to gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms, skin conditions, autoimmune disorders, immune system imbalances, and multiple inflammatory disorders.
Formulas for Methylation Support
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly,�Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic�Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link. *XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All of the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Modern Integrated Medicine
The National University of Health Sciences is an institution that offers a variety of rewarding professions to attendees. Students can practice their passion for helping other people achieve overall health and wellness through the institution’s mission. The National University of Health Sciences prepares students to become leaders in the forefront of modern integrated medicine, including chiropractic care. Students have an opportunity to gain unparalleled experience at the National University of Health Sciences to help restore the natural integrity of the patient and define the future of modern integrated medicine.
Stomach pains, burning, or aching, 1-4 hours after eating?
Digestive problems subside with rest and relaxation?
Unpredictable abdominal swelling?
An overall sense of bloating?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then something might be wrong in your body, especially in the gut. Why not try to add some thyme into your food.
Thyme
In the culinary world, thyme is usually associated with savory dishes that compliment the flavors. This leafy herb can be combined with chicken and can give food dishes like stuffing, sauces, stews and soups a boost in the flavor department. Even though thyme is a culinary herb, surprisingly, there is some history with this leafy herb that not everyone knows about yet. History shows that thyme was used as an embalmment by Ancient Egyptians, while Ancient Greece was using thyme as incense for their temples. History even showed that thyme has a �purifying� aroma that helped people ward off nightmares in the Middle Ages. In today’s world, thyme is well-known for its ability to enhance the flavors in the cooking world. However, it is even better known for its medicinal purifying properties for functional medicine.
Studies have found out that about approximately 1/3 of all deaths in the world are due to infectious diseases. In contrast, an alarming number of microorganisms have now become resistant to antibiotic therapy. Surprisingly though, scientists are trying to find ways to look for alternative antimicrobial therapies with thyme. Since plants have a natural defense mechanism that is built into them since they can protect themselves from harsh environmental factors. So, with thyme being a Mediterranean herb, its health properties are beneficial for the body and can dampen the effect of harmful bacterial pathogens.
Beneficial Properties Thyme Possess
Some of the beneficial properties that thyme has to offer are amazing since it has been used for medicinal usages. Thyme has a naturally occurring class of compounds known as biocides. Studies show that these compounds are known to destroy any harmful organisms like infectious bacteria, while also having powerful antimicrobial properties. In a 2010 research study, it suggested that thyme can reduce bacterial resistance to some of the common drugs, including penicillin. Some other beneficial properties that thyme presents include:
Blood Pressure
Thyme has been found to help reduce high blood pressure in individuals. Researchers in Serbia have found that wild thyme can reduce the individual�s blood pressure through animal studies. It even showed how rodents are similar to people when they are dealing with hypertension in the body. While another study found out that thyme extract can reduce a raised heart rate while also lowering the bad cholesterol. The study even showed that thyme had been used for treating a variety of various diseases that can harm the body in traditional medicine. It is even possible for thyme to be used as a substitute for salt for food.
Prevent Intestinal Infections
Studies have found out thyme can neutralize certain enteric bacteria that have been associated with some intestinal diseases. In a 2017 research study, scientists have discovered that when subjects have been in contact with the Clostridium perfringens, a harmful bacterium that can harm the intestines, can be treated with thyme. The result shows that the subjects had fewer bacterial infections in their intestines while also having fewer lesions and fewer C. perfringens related deaths.
Boost the Immune System
Even though everyone can try to live a healthy lifestyle, sometimes it is hard to get all the vitamins that the body needs to maintain itself both inside and out. Research has shown that thyme can provide the body a healthy dosage of vitamins C and A. Whenever it is the cold or flu season, thyme can be beneficial to anyone who wants to prevent the cold or flu from happening or at least dampen the symptoms. One of the beneficial properties that thyme can also do for the immune system is that it can be a good source of minerals like copper, fiber, iron, and manganese that the body does need in order to function properly.
Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties
Thyme has antimicrobial and antifungal properties that are beneficial to the body. A Portugal study had found that thyme can provide anti-cancer activity properties to people who have colon cancer. The study even showed that thyme�s chemical constituents could identify the colon cancer cytotoxicity activities and shortening its process to become worst. Another study found in Turkey showed that wild thyme could have a positive effect on breast cancer activity. The study found that wild thyme extract can be used in novel therapeutic drugs for breast cancer treatment.
For antifungal properties, studies have found that thyme can be beneficial to combatting fungal bacteria in the body like yeast infections. Researchers in Italy have found the fungus Candida albicans is common to cause yeast infections in the mouth and vaginal area. Another study found that thyme essential oil can significantly enhance the destruction of C. Albicans in the body and preventing the fungus from spreading. The results showed that the fungal strands had a biofilm production, and only thyme oil was the only one to be the most inhibitory oil to affect biofilm production of the fungal strands.
Conclusion
There are many beneficial properties that thyme can posses to help not only the body but also the immune system and the gut system as well. It is truly amazing that this herb can have purifying effects on the body and even enhance the flavors of food dishes.�Since more people are using thyme in their culinary dishes, it is no wonder that thyme is a truly, magical herb that can help the body achieve an overall sense of health and wellness. Some products that can be beneficial to the body, including the immune system, by providing support to the intestines for greater stability, bioavailability, and digestive comfort.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Laboratories, Medical Oncology Research. �Effects of Thymus Serpyllum Extract on Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis and Epigenetic Events in Human Breast Cancer Cells.� Taylor & Francis, 19 Nov. 2012, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01635581.2012.719658#.Ul_MYWTk-z5.
Team, Biotics Education. �Thyme for Gut Health.� Biotics Research Blog, 2017, blog.bioticsresearch.com/thyme-for-gut-health.
Alamgeer, et al. �Pharmacological Evaluation of Antihypertensive Effect of Aerial Parts of Thymus Linearis Benth.� Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25272894.
Fanous, Summer. �9 Health Benefits of Thyme.� Healthline, 5 May, 2016, www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-of-thyme.
Felman, Adam. �What Are the Benefits of Thyme?� MedicalNewsToday, 23 Aug. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266016.
Gordo, Joana, et al. �Thymus Mastichina: Chemical Constituents and Their Anti-Cancer Activity.� Natural Product Communications, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23285814.
Khan, Mohd S A, et al. �Sub-MICs of Carum Copticum and Thymus Vulgaris Influence Virulence Factors and Biofilm Formation in Candida Spp.� BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, BioMed Central, 15 Sept. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25220750.
Kim, Gil-Hah, et al. �Chemical Composition, Larvicidal Action, and Adult Repellency of Thymus Magnus Against Aedes Albopictus.� Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, The American Mosquito Control Association, 1 Sept. 2012, www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2987/12-6250R.1.
Palaniappan, Kavitha, and Richard A. Holley. �Use of Natural Antimicrobials to Increase Antibiotic Susceptibility of Drug Resistant Bacteria.� International Journal of Food Microbiology, Elsevier, 13 Apr. 2010, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160510001868.
Team, WHO. �The Top 10 Causes of Death.� World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 24 May 2018, www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/.
Wong, Cathy. �The Use of Thyme in Alternative Medicine.� Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2020, www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-thymus-vulgaris-88803.
Yin, D., Du, E., Yuan, J.�et al.�Supplemental thymol and carvacrol increases ileum�Lactobacillus�population and reduces effect of necrotic enteritis caused by�Clostridium perfringes�in chickens.�Sci Rep�7,�7334 (2017). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07420-4
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then you might not have been consuming enough fiber. Why not try incorporating these seven high-fiber foods in your diet.
The Importance of Fiber
Surprisingly everyone knows that a healthy diet plays a critical role in the overall human health. With a healthy diet, anyone can feel better, have more energy, and can maintain a healthy weight. However, sometimes people do get carried away with carbohydrates, proteins, and fats but often forget the most important nutrient that the body needs, which is fiber. Even though there are multiple studies and evidence that are linked to dietary fibers and how they have a variety of health benefits, studies have shown that most Americans are still falling short by taking the recommended amount for daily fiber intake. For males, they should be consumed at least 38 grams, and for females, they should at least consume 25 grams of fiber.
Throughout the years, fiber has been traditionally known to be considered as a mere roughage that can simply add volumes to digested foods, and the science has been proven and revealed that fiber does play a significant role in the body. Studies have shown that fiber nourishes the gut microbiomes, therefore aiding the digestion and improving the overall gut health. There have been more studies that have been shown that fiber has been linked with disease prevention, while also reducing the risk factors of a variety of conditions that can affect the body like knee arthritis, food allergies, and even type 2 diabetes.
Since fiber is essential to the body than most people realized, it can help people obtain the minimum in their diets. Since it is critical to a person’s overall health and wellness, there are many ways that fiber can do more than just help the gut system. Fiber can help the body in more ways than the gut. Here is the list of the top 7 fiber-laden foods that can do so much more for the body than being a bulking item for a healthy food diet.
Chia seeds
In the natural health community, chia seeds are very popular. These seeds are highly nutritious and can be added to a variety of foods like smoothies, healthy puddings, and salads, just to name a few. Research shows that chia seeds are probably one of the best sources for dietary fibers in the world. Chia seeds pack a whopping 34 grams per 100 grams and contain high amounts of soluble fibers. Research even shows that when chia seeds absorb water and form a gel-like substance, the contents can expand in the stomach, therefore increasing the feeling of a person being full and, of course, helping them eat less.
Studies have been shown that chia seeds can help individuals suppress their appetites. Chia seeds are beneficial to patients who have type 2 diabetes by managing their body weight, control their visceral obesity, and help to prevent obesity-related risk factors from entering the body while maintaining good glycemic control as well. Another study has found that chia seeds are excellent in reducing blood pressure. The study mentioned that when individuals consume chia seeds, its contents can help the individual�s body by improving the major and emerging cardiovascular risk factors in their body, thus preventing type 2 diabetes. All in all, chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber for anyone who may have diabetes or is trying to maintain a healthy weight.
Almonds
Almonds are another source of fiber that is widely popular like the chia seeds, but they are a highly underrated nut.� Almonds are rich with nutrients that the body needs as they contained magnesium, manganese, vitamin E, protein, and healthy fats that are excellent for the body. The almond nut itself has about 12.5 grams of fiber per 100 grams in each nut. Almonds are pretty remarkable due to improving gut health due to its sizable fiber contents.
Studies have found that when people consume almonds, their oxidative stress is reduced. The study explained that almonds are a good source of antioxidant nutrients that can diminish the biomarkers of oxidative stress in individuals and even enhanced the antioxidant defenses. There are more and more studies about almonds and their amazing properties like lowering the bad LDL cholesterol, hunger reduction, and even aiding in weight loss for the body.
Flax Seeds
Surprisingly, flax seeds are continuing to be one of the leading sources of dietary fibers with 27.3 grams of fiber out of every 100 grams of the seed. Studies have found out that flax seeds not only have fiber, but it contains high amounts of protein and omega-3 fatty acids as well. While other studies showed that flax seeds have a plethora of health benefits from improving gut health, reducing hunger cravings to preventing diarrhea and constipation that can happen to the body.
Popcorn
Popcorn is not only a great snack to munch on when a person is watching tv or enjoying a movie in the theaters, but it is an excellent source of fiber. What is interesting about this popular snack is that it can be air-popped and contains about 14.5g/100g per serving of fiber. Studies have found that air-popped popcorn can be as filling as a bag of potato chips while also helping with weight management.
Oats
The best way to incorporate fiber into a healthy diet is to have oats as part of a healthy breakfast. Research shows that oats have a high fiber count, and they contain beta-glucan, which can aid the regulation of blood sugar and cholesterol in the body. Not only that, but oats have amazing health benefits that can help prevent LDL oxidation and surprisingly, reduce the risk of childhood asthma. By incorporating oats into a healthy diet, can even make a person feel full in a good way and can be used in smoothies, overnight oatmeal, while also be served hot or cold.
Dark Chocolate
Consuming chocolate can be a bad thing for anyone who is watching their sweet intake; however, dark chocolate is one of those perfect delicacies that does not harm a person’s health. For dark chocolate to have the fiber content, it has to be at least 70 to 95% of cocoa content, and then the fiber content would be 10g per 100 grams. Studies have shown that dark chocolate has chock-full of health benefits from reducing insulin resistance to improving brain health.
Chickpeas
Most people would look at chickpeas and see that this legume plant has protein contents, but it can be a great source of fiber. Studies have shown that chickpeas have about 7.6g/100grams of fiber that can promote the feeling of being full and can prevent a person from eating junk food. Some of the health benefits that chickpeas can provide can range from weight loss from improving the body’s bowel function. Not only that, but chickpeas can be used in salads, soups, dips, and possibly desserts.
Conclusion
With these seven high fibers being incorporated into a person’s diet, the body can benefit the fiber-rich food’s properties and start healing in the process. By eating these fiber-rich foods, not only will the gut feel better and can make a person feel full but can help the body prevent harmful pathogens that enter the body, thus causing ailments that the body does not need. By incorporating fiber into the body, the benefits can dampen the harmful effects and can bring back a person�s overall wellness and health altogether. Some products are here to help the body and provide support to the gastrointestinal system with phytonutrients, metabolic precursors, and enzymatic cofactors.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Team, Biotics Education. �7 High-Fiber Foods That Do More than Help Your Gut.� Biotics Research Blog, 17 Mar. 2020, blog.bioticsresearch.com/7-high-fiber-foods-that-do-more-than-help-your-gut.
Alfredo, V�zquez-Ovando, et al. �Physicochemical Properties of a Fibrous Fraction from Chia (Salvia Hispanica L.).� LWT – Food Science and Technology, Academic Press, 23 May 2008, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643808001345.
Chen, Chung-Yen, et al. �Avenanthramides and Phenolic Acids from Oats Are Bioavailable and Act Synergistically with Vitamin C to Enhance Hamster and Human LDL Resistance to Oxidation.� The Journal of Nutrition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2004, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15173412.
Francis, S T, et al. �The Effect of Flavanol-Rich Cocoa on the FMRI Response to a Cognitive Task in Healthy Young People.� Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16794461.
Grassi, Davide, et al. “Blood Pressure Is Reduced, and Insulin Sensitivity Increased in Glucose-Intolerant, Hypertensive Subjects after 15 Days of Consuming High-Polyphenol Dark Chocolate.” The Journal of Nutrition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18716168.
Hanif Palla, Amber, and Anwarul-Hassan Gilani. �Dual Effectiveness of Flaxseed in Constipation and Diarrhea: Possible Mechanism.� Journal of Ethnopharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 July 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25889554.
Kim, Shana J, et al. �Effects of Dietary Pulse Consumption on Body Weight: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.� The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27030531.
Li, Ning, et al. �Almond Consumption Reduces Oxidative DNA Damage and Lipid Peroxidation in Male Smokers.� The Journal of Nutrition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18029489.
Murty, Catherine M, et al. �Chickpea Supplementation in an Australian Diet Affects Food Choice, Satiety and Bowel Health.� Appetite, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19945492.
Nguyen, Von, et al. �Popcorn Is More Satiating than Potato Chips in Normal-Weight Adults.� Nutrition Journal, BioMed Central, 14 Sept. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22978828.
Nwaru, Bright I, et al. �Timing of Infant Feeding in Relation to Childhood Asthma and Allergic Diseases.� The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23182171.
Oliva, M E, et al. �Dietary Salba (Salvia Hispanica L) Seed Rich in ?-Linolenic Acid Improves Adipose Tissue Dysfunction and the Altered Skeletal Muscle Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Dyslipidemic Insulin-Resistant Rats.� Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24120122.
Vuksan, V, et al. �Salba-Chia (Salvia Hispanica L.) in the Treatment of Overweight and Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.� Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases: NMCD, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28089080.
Vuksan, Vladimir, et al. �Supplementation of Conventional Therapy with the Novel Grain Salba (Salvia Hispanica L.) Improves Major and Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.� Diabetes Care, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17686832.
Wanders, A J, et al. �Effects of Dietary Fibre on Subjective Appetite, Energy Intake and Body Weight: a Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.� Obesity Reviews: an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21676152.
Whitehead, Anne, et al. �Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Oat ?-Glucan: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.� The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, American Society for Nutrition, Dec. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25411276.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
Excessive belching, burning, or burping after eating a meal?
Excessive usage of antacids?
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then you might be experiencing Crohn�s disease and how it is affecting your gut system.
The human body and the gut microbiome have a wonderful connection as they help balance each other out. The human body protects the organs and the systems from harmful factors that are from the outside, while the organs and the systems help make sure that the body is functioning properly. With the gut system, it helps the body by providing food to be digested and can help transfer hormones from the gut to the brain. Even though the gut can help make sure the body is functioning correctly, it can be prone to dysfunctions from factors that can harm the gut system. Inflammation, intestinal permeability, and other harmful factors can cause the gut not to work properly. It can cause many problems that can hurt the body, and if it is not treated, it can turn into chronic illnesses.
Crohn�s Disease and The Gut
A recent study that was published in 2019, researchers have discovered that there is a critical link between IL-1? (interleukin-1?) and the gut microbiome. What IL-1? is, is that it is a protein that controls the inflammation in the gut. Researchers were shocked about this information and were able to find that by blocking the IL-1? protein since it is a pro-inflammatory protein in the gut, it can cause a significant decrease in the severity of intestinal inflammation of Crohn’s disease.
Surprisingly there are some more research and information about the effects of anti-ILalpha treatment for helping out the body. The research shows that a study was being controlled by changing the body�s intestinal microbial ecosystem and even correcting mucosal dysbiosis. What this treatment does is that it decreases the ratio of Proteobacteria to be Bacteroidetes, while also decreasing the Helicobacter species as well as increasing Mucispirillum schaedleri and Lactobacillus salivarus. With these microflora modifications being linked, they can provide similar biological effects that steroids have been able to produce in the body, thus considering to be the gold standard for treatment.
With these findings, they show the diversity and balance of how the gut microbiome plays a huge role not only in gastrointestinal health but also playing a role in the health of the immune system and the inflammatory response in the body. Even though this study has been tested on subjects and further research is still needed, it gives many researchers hope for finding some therapeutic targets for any patients that may be suffering from any of these deliberating conditions. The findings can provide the rationale for medical researchers to help conduct a clinical trial for blocking IL-1? for patients that have IBD.
Studies on Crohn�s Disease
Studies have shown that IBD, Crohn�s disease, and ulcerative colitis, are autoimmune conditions that causes multiple triggers that will chronically stimulate the immune system over a long period in the body. These autoimmune conditions can cause the immune system to become overburden and be unable to function properly. What comes with these autoimmune conditions is chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has become the result of function loss, thus leading the body to have chronic gastrointestinal ailments.
These can be characterized by diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and other crippling manifestations that can greatly affect a patient�s quality of life and overall health and wellness. Studies have shown that there is no surprise that the microbial composition of the GI tract can play a huge role in the development of IBD. The studies found that imbalance or dysbiosis are associated with an increase in intestinal inflammation that may cause IBD. Research has shown that the intestinal microbiome can greatly impact the body�s immune health since 70% of the immune system lies within the GI tract.
Studies have demonstrated that there are events, both chemical and molecular, that can shift the microbiome and exacerbate disease activity in patients that have IBD. Although there is a contrast for healthy individual’s gut microbiomes that are shown to be much more stable. Furthermore, the science shows that E. coli can proliferate in IBD during flare-ups in the body. When this happens, it can further contribute to the patient’s symptoms and the progression of the disease.
When a person is trying to get healthier, the best way to do it is by avoiding pro-inflammatory foods that can cause the gut to have inflammation. Studies have found that processed foods, sugars, and trans fats can cause inflammation. The best way to be healthy is to increase the intake of an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in antioxidants, have high omega-3s, and have a high dosage of prebiotic and probiotic supplements. With these healthy options, they can assist with the inflammatory response within the GI tract to help reduce the IBD flare-ups. With certain bacteriophages, they have been shown to infect and inhibit the growth of E. coli, which surprisingly has also been shown to help reduce the symptoms and can even potentially slow the progress of IBD.
Conclusion
With more and more research discovering the link between Crohn�s disease and the gut system is truly remarkable as researchers and scientists are finding ways to calm down and even prevent inflammation from happening. By eating healthy, nutritious food that contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can help the body dampen the effects of inflammation and improve the overall health and wellness of the body. Some products are here to help the body and provide support to the gastrointestinal system.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Demonstrates Fasting-Mimicking Diet Reduces Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathology.� Designs for Health, 15 Mar. 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/974.
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Demonstrates Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Can Reach Remission with Diet Alone.� Designs for Health, 4 Jan. 2018, blog.designsforhealth.com/si-42214/new-study-demonstrates-patients-with-inflammatory-bowel-disease-can-reach-remission-with-diet-alone.
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Identifies How the Microbiome Is Disrupted in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.� Designs for Health, 7 June 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1036.
Matsuoka, Katsuyoshi, and Takanori Kanai. �The Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.� Seminars in Immunopathology, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Jan. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4281375/.
Menghini, Paola, et al. �Neutralization of IL-1? Ameliorates Crohn’s Disease-like Ileitis by Functional Alterations of the Gut Microbiome.� PNAS, National Academy of Sciences, 26 Dec. 2019, www.pnas.org/content/116/52/26717.
staff, Science X. �Researchers Discover Critical Link to Controlling Inflammation in Crohn’s Disease.� Medical Xpress – Medical Research Advances and Health News, Medical Xpress, 16 Dec. 2019, medicalxpress.com/news/2019-12-critical-link-inflammation-crohn-disease.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter.
Team, DFH. �Discovery of a Critical Link between Crohn’s and the Gut Microbiome.� Designs for Health, 5 Mar. 2020, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1208.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
If you are experiencing any of these situations, then it might be something that may be attacking your immune system. Why not try to add some beta-glucan into your diet and overall health.
Throughout the last several years, beta-glucans have been gaining much attention due to the emergence of medicinal mushrooms in Western cultures. Across the country, studies have found that beta-glucans have been ubiquitous in the health food stores due to their immunomodulatory properties and cancer-protective effects. Since edible fungi have been known as the main source for beta-glucans, surprisingly though beta-glucan can be presented in a variety of foods like oats, barley, seaweeds, and yeast. Beta-glucan can also be found in dietary supplements for the body to consume.
Beta-glucans
Beta-glucan is technically a non-starch polysaccharide, a prebiotic fiber that is formed by ?-1,3 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds. With beta-glucan, it can possess numerous health benefits depending on the molecular structure of each type of bond. Studies have shown that beta-glucans that are found in cereal grains can help lower cholesterol levels and can effectively bind serum cholesterol. Beta-glucans can even play a beneficial role in obesity, metabolic disorders, and other chronic non-communicable diseases. Since beta-glucans are a prebiotic fiber, research shows that they can play a significant role in promoting a healthy microbiome in the body. It means that beta-glucan can stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria species, mitigating pathogenic ones, and even modulating inflammation to optimize the gut environment in the body.
Beta-glucans for Immune Support
In a 2019 study, it stated that �the relationship between immunity and nutrition is considered to be completely interconnected.� More studies have shown that beta-glucan can act on several immune receptors that can stimulate immune cell activity. This includes T-cells, macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells. One of the studies showed how beta-glucans could pose modulatory effects on both the innate and adaptable branches of the immune system. One of the protein receptors is known as dectin-1; this protein receptor is on the surface of macrophages and dendritic cells.
What dectin-1 can do is that they can initiate and regulate the innate immune response by insoluble binding ?-1,3, and 1,6 glucans, plus it has become essential for controlling infections in the body. While water-soluble ?-glucan can bind to the CR3 receptors, thus triggering the adaptive immune response to the body. With ?-glucans, they can enhance phagocytosis while also triggering the release of various interleukins and cytokines, thus possessing cytotoxic anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that TNF-?, IFN-?, and NF-??, can help to support the regulation of the T-helper cell 1 and Th-2 balance for immunological homeostasis for the body. Surprisingly in other articles, they talked about how yeast-derived ?-1,3/1,6 glucan can be delivered as an oral supplement for the winter months. The article study showed how it demonstrates its protective effects against upper respiratory tract infections in the body. The study even showed how it could reduce the upper respiratory tract infection symptoms that are already in older adults that have been infected. Another study showed that ?-glucan have cytoprotective abilities from viral infections and provide immunomodulatory properties to the body and the immune system.
With the population of many individuals, it turns out that the elderly population can benefit from the ?-glucan compound. With this compound, everyone can have a healthy immune system, especially during the cold and flu season. Having a healthy immune system is important because that way, the body can protect itself from harmful pathogens through functional medicine, healthy nutritious food, and supplements. By using these options, the body can heal itself and can dampen the effects of cold and flu symptoms.
More Research on Beta-glucan
Research studies have shown that ?-1,3 glucan from the fungal cell wall is one of the key ingredients for vaccines. The research shows as well that ?-glucan can produce robust humoral and cellular immune responses for the body when it is exposed to antigens. What is interesting is that ?-glucan is known to exert antioxidant activities in the body. With their reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging abilities, they can exert the antioxidants into the circulatory system and the mucosal immune system. There is a study that shows that ?-glucan in barley can possess a higher total of antioxidants significantly at a better capacity than oats and yeast. The study showed that ?-glucan could be subdivided into two groups depending on whether specific receptors are involved or not. It also stated that ?-glucan could be validated as a functional food ingredient.
Conclusion
All in all, ?-glucan is an amazing non-starch polysaccharide prebiotic fiber that has amazing properties that can help the body. ?-glucan can be found in mushrooms and a variety of other foods like seaweed and oats. This compound can help boost up the body’s immune system and can dampen any harmful pathogens effects that the body has come in contact with. This compound�s beneficial properties are amazing for anyone that consumes it and even added it to their daily diet. Some products combined with ?-glucan can support the immune system with hypoallergenic nutrients and targets amino acids.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
Bacha, Umar, et al. �Nutraceutical, Anti-Inflammatory, and Immune Modulatory Effects of ?-Glucan Isolated from Yeast.� BioMed Research International, Hindawi, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5587958/.
Chan, Godfrey Chi-Fung, et al. �The Effects of Beta-Glucan on Human Immune and Cancer Cells.� Journal of Hematology & Oncology, BioMed Central, 10 June 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2704234/.
Fuller, Richard, et al. �Yeast-Derived ?-1,3/1,6 Glucan, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection and Innate Immunity in Older Adults.� Nutrition, Elsevier, 23 Mar. 2017, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900717300539.
Jurgelewicz, Michael. �New Study Demonstrates Novel Yeast-Derived Beta-Glucan Provides Immunomodulatory Effects in Older Adults.� Designs for Health, 21 Oct. 2018, blog.designsforhealth.com/si-42214/new-study-demonstrates-zinc-supplementation-improves-clinical-outcomes-from-traumatic-brain-injury.
Levitz, Stuart M, et al. �Exploiting Fungal Cell Wall Components in Vaccines.� Seminars in Immunopathology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329074/.
Nakashima, Ayaka, et al. �?-Glucan in Foods and Its Physiological Functions.� Euglena, Co., Ltd., 14 Aug. 2017.
Nakashima, Ayaka, et al. �?-Glucan in Foods and Its Physiological Functions.� Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29491277.
Team, DFH. �Modulators of Immune Health: Beta-Glucans.� Designs for Health, 26 Mar. 2020, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/1219.
Team, DFH. �Mushrooms for Nutritional Medicine.� Designs for Health, 14 Feb. 2019, blog.designsforhealth.com/node/952.
Vetvicka, Vaclav, et al. �Beta Glucan: Supplement or Drug? From Laboratory to Clinical Trials.� Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, 30 Mar. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6479769/.
The University offers a wide variety of medical professions for functional and integrative medicine. Their goal is to inform individuals who want to make a difference in the functional medical fields with knowledgeable information that they can provide.
Methods in treating inflammation are the focus of this video. Dr. Alex Jimenez presents a discussion of natural ways to treat inflammatory cascades. Knowing what are the best supplements are presented. This is a safe alternative that is well researched.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
PODCAST: Dr. Alex Jimenez and his crew focus on making several facts about the COVID-19 pandemic clear. Currently, there is no definitive cure for COVID-19. But what can we do then you may ask? Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and his crew presents Antiviral Strategies that have scientific substantiations from healthcare professionals around the world. In a moment where information is spread without scientific support, we must look into the research studies that have sound science evidence in order to understand non-fiction from what the true science has presented. These are difficult times and very scary times. We present a body of information present from the works of Dr. Alex Vasquez. His information at time cryptic and found in his writings do shed some light and direction which many of us can take in order to prepare for optimal support from our own immunity. The scientific community is clear. Again, at this time there is no cure for COVID-19. This does not mean we must not look at a way to optimize our immunity. Specifically, since there is much that has been studied in the ways the Antiviral Stategies can prepare our bodies. Dr. Alex Jimenez and his crew continue to discuss Antiviral Strategies and how these can improve our immune system. – Podcast Insight
If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way please feel free to subscribe and share us.
Thank You & God Bless.
Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
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