Addressing Strange Health Conditions – Achieving A Healthy Balance
In order to address strange health conditions, it is crucial to identify the root cause of the problem. Our bodies require three foundational supports in order to restore good health. Finding a healthy balance free of disease can be likened to a 3-legged stool, where all three legs are necessary for stability and optimal health.
These three pillars include reducing our exposure to stressors like toxins, optimizing gut health, and encouraging desirable epigenetic expression. It is important to note that these factors are interconnected and must be balanced in order for optimal health to be achieved.
When one or more of these pillars are compromised, it often leads to strange health conditions and degenerative diseases. By addressing and strengthening these three foundational supports, our bodies are able to effectively heal.
1st Leg Of The Stool – Stressors
The initial support of a 3-legged stool and the primary catalyst for developing strange health conditions is linked to stressors. These encompass physical, emotional, or environmental causes that weigh heavily on the body.
Both the microbiome and epigenetic expression, the other two legs of the stool, are impacted by these stressors, making it crucial to minimize exposure to them. Fortunately, we have the ability to manage and reduce our exposure to these stressors.
Which Stressors Are Linked To Strange Health Conditions?
Processed foods, pesticides, GMOs, heavy metals, mold exposure, air pollution, hidden infections, medications like antibiotics are all toxic to the body. Additionally, toxins in a wide range of products like tap water, bottled water, body care products, cleaning products, and toxins in our house all stress the body, filling up our bucket of stressors over time.1
This leads to downstream health effects that manifest as microbiome dysbiosis, detrimental gene expression, and eventually, strange health conditions.
2nd Leg Of The Stool – Microbiome Dysfunction
The gut microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining overall health. The microbiome helps to educate immune cells so they don’t attack the body’s own cells, while also identifying and attacking foreign invaders. However, when the balance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms is disrupted, it leads to dysbiosis, a condition known to trigger a wide range of strange health conditions.2
One of the significant factors that affect the composition and diversity of our gut microbiome is diet. Studies have revealed that a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats leads to dysbiosis and increases the risk of developing autoimmune conditions. On the other hand, a diet rich in whole foods, fiber, and probiotic-rich foods promotes a healthy microbiome and reduces inflammation in the body.3
Fermented Food And The Microbiome
Fermentation is a natural process that involves the breakdown of sugars and carbohydrates by bacteria and yeast. This results in the production of beneficial enzymes, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics that are essential for maintaining a healthy gut.
Many popular fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, tempeh, and kombucha offer an array of nutrients and improve digestive health, boost immunity, and reduce inflammation within the intestinal tract. The probiotics present in these foods have been shown to regulate hormones responsible for appetite and food intake, optimizing body weight.
Beyond physical benefits, incorporating fermented foods into the diet also has a positive impact on mental health. The well-known gut-brain connection has shown that consuming these foods improve mood, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even enhance cognitive function.
To reap the maximum benefits from fermented foods, it is crucial to choose high-quality unpasteurized options, ideally homemade. It is also recommended to introduce fermented foods slowly into the diet to avoid any temporary digestive discomfort that may occur.4
Stressors And Their Effect On The Microbiome
Besides diet, other factors such as stress, environmental toxins, and antibiotic use also impact our microbiome’s health, as we discussed in the first leg of the stool. Chronic stress has been linked to changes in gut bacteria composition, while exposure to toxins disrupts the delicate balance of microorganisms in our body.5
Toxic substances decrease the number of Bacteroides fragilis in our gut microbiome, resulting in a reduction of Treg cells. Without enough Treg cells to regulate the immune system, autoimmune conditions and strange health conditions develop. This is why maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding stressors and toxins is crucial for ensuring a well-functioning gut microbiome and overall immune health.6
3rd Leg Of The Stool – Optimize Epigenetic Expression
Our genes, not necessarily our DNA, play a significant role in determining whether we will develop strange health conditions. In other words, having a specific gene does not automatically result in expressing that gene.
One effective way to achieve ideal genetic expression is by making lifestyle changes. This includes adopting a healthy diet, staying active, managing stress levels, reducing exposure to toxins, and prioritizing quality sleep. These factors have a direct impact on how our genes are expressed, influencing the activation or suppression of specific gene activities that contribute to diseases.7
How Toxins Affect Methylation And Epigenetics
Methylation is a vital process that occurs in our cells to regulate gene expression. It involves the addition of a methyl group (CH3) to DNA or certain proteins, which affects how genes are read and expressed. Toxins like lead and mercury disrupt this process by altering the activity of enzymes responsible for adding or removing methyl groups.
Toxins affect epigenetic mechanisms by modifying the way genes are expressed without changing their underlying genetic code. This leads to long-term changes in cell function and contributes to the development of diseases.
Some toxins have been found to directly interfere with enzymes involved in methylation processes, leading to abnormal gene expression patterns. For example, exposure to certain pesticides has been linked to changes in DNA methylation patterns.
Toxins also indirectly affect methylation and epigenetics by causing inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. These processes alter gene expression and disrupt normal cell function, leading to a wide range of health issues.8
Toxins Cause Generation Damage
Toxins cause certain genes to activate for up to four generations. This means that an individual’s genetic predisposition towards certain diseases or conditions is often passed down through multiple generations. However, it’s not the DNA that is the problem, it’s the epigenetic expression.9
R1 – Remove The Source Of Strange Health Conditions
The first step, R1, in the 5Rs approach involves identifying and eliminating sources of toxins in our environment. This is crucial for maintaining optimal health as exposure to toxins can lead to various health conditions. It’s important to make conscious choices such as avoiding tap water, products containing BPA, and opting for organic foods and natural products.
R2 – Regenerating The Cellular Membranes
Our cellular membranes play a vital role in ensuring proper bodily functions. However, they can become inflamed due to exposure to toxins and chemicals. By using nutraceuticals, we can repair and regenerate these membranes, allowing for better nutrient absorption and removal of toxins from our cells.10
R3 – Boosting ATP Production
Toxins can also hinder our cellular energy production, leading to a lack of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This molecule is essential for optimal cell functioning and helps in removing toxins. With proper supplements, we can increase ATP levels and support the production of glutathione, a vital antioxidant for detoxification.11 12
R4 – Reducing Cellular Membrane Inflammation
Even after removing toxins, inflammation in cellular membranes may persist due to the NO/ONOO cycle. To combat this, nutraceuticals are utilized to effectively reduce inflammation levels back to normal. By doing so, we can prevent the development of chronic conditions and promote overall health.13
R5 – Reestablishing Methylation
Methylation is a crucial biochemical process responsible for producing essential compounds like proteins, DNA, and neurotransmitters. Exposure to toxins can disrupt this process, leading to various health issues. However, with the help of methyl donors and proper supplementation, we can restore proper methylation patterns and support epigenetic regulation. This plays a significant role in determining gene expression and reducing the risk of degenerative diseases.14
To learn even more about the toxins that are linked to strange health conditions and my 5Rs, join me in my free webinar.
References
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2 Hrncir T. Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis: Triggers, Consequences, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options. Microorganisms. 2022 Mar 7;10(3):578. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10030578. PMID: 35336153; PMCID: PMC8954387.
3 Martinez JE, Kahana DD, Ghuman S, Wilson HP, Wilson J, Kim SCJ, Lagishetty V, Jacobs JP, Sinha-Hikim AP, Friedman TC. Unhealthy Lifestyle and Gut Dysbiosis: A Better Understanding of the Effects of Poor Diet and Nicotine on the Intestinal Microbiome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Jun 8;12:667066. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.667066. PMID: 34168615; PMCID: PMC8218903.
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6 Cheng H, Guan X, Chen D, Ma W. The Th17/Treg Cell Balance: A Gut Microbiota-Modulated Story. Microorganisms. 2019 Nov 20;7(12):583. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms7120583. PMID: 31756956; PMCID: PMC6956175.
7 Al Aboud NM, Tupper C, Jialal I. Genetics, Epigenetic Mechanism. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532999/
8 Menezo Y, Clement P, Clement A, Elder K. Methylation: An Ineluctable Biochemical and Physiological Process Essential to the Transmission of Life. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 7;21(23):9311. doi: 10.3390/ijms21239311. PMID: 33297303; PMCID: PMC7730869.
9 Interlandi, J. (2013, December 4). The toxins that affected your Great-Grandparents could be in your genes. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-toxins-that-affected-your-great-grandparents-could-be-in-your-genes-180947644/
10 Ammendolia, D.A., Bement, W.M. & Brumell, J.H. Plasma membrane integrity: implications for health and disease. BMC Biol 19, 71 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-021-00972-y
11 Vašková J, Kočan L, Vaško L, Perjési P. Glutathione-Related Enzymes and Proteins: A Review. Molecules. 2023 Feb 2;28(3):1447. doi: 10.3390/molecules28031447. PMID: 36771108; PMCID: PMC9919958.
12 Zolkipli-Cunningham Z, Falk MJ. Clinical effects of chemical exposures on mitochondrial function. Toxicology. 2017 Nov 1;391:90-99. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.07.009. Epub 2017 Jul 27. PMID: 28757096; PMCID: PMC6078194.
13 Pall M. L. (2013). The NO/ONOO-cycle as the central cause of heart failure. International journal of molecular sciences, 14(11), 22274–22330. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms141122274
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