High Temperature Cooking
A little known culprit which seems to be at the root of many inflammatory ailments is apparently due to the high-heat process that manufacturers use to cook grains that make up the majority of cereals, breads and flours available at your local grocery store. The milling/grinding of these grains generates intense heat which adversely affects the grain by oxidizing the kernel, causing loss of Vitamins B & E. Most of the bran and germ is removed to control rancidity to allow for a longer shelf life. The resulting product that you ingest ends up wreaking havoc in your digestive system, which manifests itself through a wide variety of inflammatory diseases.
Glycotoxins
A similar process also occurs in your own kitchen when unsaturated fats like Omega 3 & 6 are exposed to high heat, the light and oxygen from frying causes a chemical reaction that not only encourages inflammation in the body, but also allows carcinogens to form, especially in oils containing 20% or more Omega 6 fats (baking does not allow this process to occur) – see the discussion about Oils. This chemical reaction causes new compounds to form called Glycotoxins. People suffering from various types of inflammatory diseases have high levels of glycotoxins in their system. Here’s a partial list of some of the foods containing high levels of glycotoxins:
- Pork Bacon
- Chicken
- Kraft Parmesan Cheese
- Big Mac
- Grilled Steak
- Roast Beef
Also, bare in mind that, due to the high content of grain fed to mass-produced beef, pork, chicken (and therefore eggs) etc… to fatten them up quickly, the resulting Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio in the meat/eggs is 20 to 1 instead of the 3 to 1 required by our bodies! This excess Omega 6 plays a huge role in creating inflammation.
Quick Tips to Reduce Inflammation
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Replace your consumption of sugary foods with healthy proteins & fats
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Avoid bad fats containing Omega 6 but no Omega 3
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Stay clear of hydrogenated & patially-hydrogenated oils
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Stop consuming all white sugars, white flours/pasta/rice and artificial sweeteners
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Get a rainbow of antioxidants by regulary eating a variety of fruits & vegetables
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Make sure you get decent quality sleep every night, a good 8 hours is best
PARTIAL TO COMPLETE REMISSION was achieved by those with the following diseases by following “The Hypotoxic Diet” as developed by Dr. Jean Seignalet:
- Acute anterior uveitis or iridocyclitis
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Angioedema
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis
- Behcet’s disease
- Canker sore
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Cystic acne
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- Dyspepsia
- Endogenous depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Gastric reflux disease
- Gastritis
- Hay fever
- Hives
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Inflammatory rheumatism
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Overweight
- Parkinson’s disease
- Polymyalgia
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Recurrent ENT infections
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Spasmophilia
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Tendinitis
- Tension headache
- Tonsillitis
- Unexplained tiredness
*If you don’t see your particular condition listed here, don’t despair! There are way more diseases that responded favourably to this diet (too many to mention here) but you can check out the list on the late Dr. Seignalet’s website.
The Hypotoxic Diet
- eliminate all animal dairy products and their derivatives: butter, milk, cheese, yogurt etc…
- elininate all cereals containing wheat, barley, corn, rye etc…
- elininate whole grains and their flours
- it’s OK to consume buckwheat (which is actually a member of the rhubarb family), rice and sesame
By following this diet AND avoiding meats and processed foods, you will likely experience some amazing results in how you feel. Of course, your success rate will depend on how strictly you follow the diet. And your motivation will likely depend on the level of pain and suffering you are willing to endure as a result of your condition. However, this diet is not a cure and must be followed indefinitely for positive results to continue.
For temporary inflammation due to injury, here are some tips that may be helpful:
- initially, stop using the affected joint and bath the area in Epsom salts
- take Probiotics
- consume flaxseed oil, omega 3 fatty acids (fish sources include salmon, herring & sardines), borage oil, evening primrose oil, vitamin E, beta carotene, vitamin C, selenium, magnesium
- consume chili peppers, basil, cinnamon, turmeric, whole grains, fish, walnuts, avocado, extra-virgin olive oil, fruits & veggies, blueberries
- consume lean protein, nuts & seeds
Helpful Supplements:
- Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) can help reduce inflammation
- Curcumin should be the “free” type, NOT “metabolites” for best absorption
- Devil’s Claw (needs more research)
- Estrogen deficiency due to menopause increases oxidative stress which has a pro-inflammatory effect on the body
- Ginger (needs more research)
- Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate: it’s better to just use glucosamine as chondroitin just gets broken down to glucosamine in the stomach without absorption
- MSM reduces pain & swelling but not joint stiffness
- Natural Eggshell Membrane which contains collagen (a protein that’s an essential component of connective tissue), glucosamine & chondroitin (which are both important parts of healthy cartilage) and hyaluronic acid (which is present in synovial fluid and helps cushion joints). This combination provides joint pain relief, is free of side effects and may work as quickly as within 7 days of use
- Orange cauliflower has high levels of beta carotene which lowers inflammation & LDL
- Resveratrol (from red wine) is anti-inflammatory
- S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) stimulates cells in joints to make cartilage and works as well as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) without side-effects
- Serrapeptase is the most potent and effective of all anti-inflammatories; it is capable of dissolving atherosclerotic plaque
- sleep deprivation activates pro-inflammatory cells which increases inflammation
- Thyme inhibits pro-inflammatory enzymes in the body and helps with heart disease & rheumatoid arthritis
- Turmeric (Curcumin) is good for short-term use to relieve pain and inflammation from arthritis
- Vitamin B3 Niacinamide; slow-release Niacin can damage the liver so better to use Niacinamide (max 1,500 mg/day)
*Inflammation can be an underlying issue for illnesses like atherosclerosis and psoriasis.
Check out the book “Meals that Heal Inflammation” by Julie Daniluk for recipes that will help your condition.
You may also want to read “The End of Pain: How Nutrition and Diet can Fight Chronic Inflammatory Disease” by Jacqueline Lagace