Food is Information

Food imprints our cells with information

• Health food:  cells work properly

• Unhealthy food:  poor cellular function that can damage the body, such as inflammation

• Chemicals, additives and toxins change cell function

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Functional Nutrition

• Food is much more than calories.  "All calories are not created equal". 

• Look at food an nutrients in terms of function. 

• Immune cells are especially sensitive to dietary compounds.

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Phytonutrients

• Phyto = Plant

• Example:  Resveratrol activates longevity gene

• Example:  Berry components such as anthocyanins protect your genes from damage

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Immune System Basics

Immune cells, inflammation, and Food Sensitivities

• An army of cells that defend your body from invaders of any kind

• Microbes:  bacteria, yeast, parasites, spirochetes like lyme

• Toxins

• Anything that looks foreign, including food

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The immune system is divided into 2 parts:

1.  The innate immune system:  First line of defense, ready to go

   • Physical barriers:  tight junctions in the skin and mucus membranes​

   • The intestinal lining:  most important barrier for preventing food sensitivities

2. The adaptive immune system:  Is primed by the innate immune system, needs time to respond (hours to days), and has memory

   • B lymphocytes:  antibody producing cells​

     • Antibodies are like "bullets" to kill invader​

     • 4 kinds of antibodies:  IgG, IgE, IgA, IgM​

   • T lymphocytes: cytotoxic killer cells

     • "hand to hand combat"​

     • Creates lots of inflammation

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What is inflammation?

• Release of chemicals and proteins from immune and other cells

• Role:  Defend the body and attack the foreigner

• But also irritates and can cause damage to your tissue

• Brief:  supposed to turn on and then off again when "danger" is over

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Chronic Inflammation

• Effects every cell in your body

• Local:  Pain in muscles (Fibromyalgia) and joints (Arthritis)

• Systemic inflammation:

  • Symptoms:  brain fog, fatigue, feeling puffy​

  • Examples:  Fat cells

  • Find the source:  rule of tacks

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Can Food Cause Inflammation?

• You bet!

• Food triggers release of:

  • Inflammatory molecules​

  • Antibodies IgE, IgG, IgA ("bullets")

• Food allergy vs Food sensitivity:  different kinds of immune reactions

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