Inflammation and diet

Sometimes its easier to prove a negative so a few months ago i continued the formula but stopped the peppermint oil and began a high lectin diet for a couple of weeks to see if i could induce a flair....I ate mostly high lectin or high fat foods and what i believe are my known triggers such as bread, pasta ,tomato sauces, beans.etc ..i began it by eating nothing but peanuts, 5 lbs.. a high lectin food for two to three days..this injured and prepared the small intestine...then consecutive days of bread, pasta tomato sauce beans etc to further inflame the intestinal wall...by two weeks i was flairing and that was while on the formula, adequate D and i believe, their immune modulating effects...so even then, the diet can produce adverse effects especially when the small intestine and intestinal tract has been consistently injured. Imagine how easy to do the same with active inflammation elsewhere, inadequate levels of D, poor diet etc....

Its my belief that any inflammation and an associated broken part of the immune response...and in this case it was an inflammatory response in the gut that caused

the flairing...

To any naysayers that diet and its associated inflammation is a fantasy or doesn't make a difference.... try it...but don't eat a normal diet which allows for some intermittent relief and self repair to the small intestine ...to prove this point in the short term, you have to go to an extreme and not give the small intestine a chance to protect itself .....and then results are obvious....

Going back on a bland or mild diet...it took about a week to two weeks to see the gut and flairing settle down, (the cells in the wall of the small intestine reproduce rapidly ) flora reestablish etc.. but it takes some time to get back to a less inflammatory condition.

The redness or angiogenesis with the flairs is a by product of his wound healing peptide ll37 and inflammation via the gut where the peptide also exists as well as in our lesions...by reducing the D to reduce the peptide, getting some uva (spring sun) and back on the peppermint( alter that gut permeability etc) i am pretty much back to normal...and can "cheat" a little on diet again...to a more normal one.

Peppermint oil revisited

I was thinking about the causation of flairs and other then an occasional infection...the only variable that changes day to day is our diet..so i began to read up on IBS and came across a number of studies where enteric coated peppermint is one of the few effective treatments..

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16121521

http://www.webmd.com/ibs/news/20081113/peppermint-oil-fiber-can-treat-ibs

and recalling that i had my most consistent and effective control was when i was taking the formula while habitually taking peppermint altoids..almost 15-20day...so it rang the proverbial bell and last july august i began the enteric peppermint and altoids..it helped considerably..others too got some positive results, especially hard over winter,

so looking further into it ..the menthol in the peppermint is the most active ingredient, In the research literature, there is a connection between menthol and high test D or calcitriol in the anti proliferation of some cells http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2654468/

Under the uvb radiation of sunlight we make small amounts of calcitriol or high test D in our skin and we may see similar anti-proliferative benefits.

...The menthol does a number of things in the small intestine by effecting the cells in the lining by a number of subtle ways......, increased bile flow,smooth muscle relaxation by calcium channel blocking perhaps effecting permeability and with it immune response.

In the IBS studies, the enteric coated peppermint oil proved safe and effective over many months...at doses of 200mg 2-3 times a day...The enteric coating makes them dissolve in the small intestine rather then the stomach so those with acid reflux should be ok...unlike the altoids which may exacerbate acid reflux.... peak serum levels are reached in an hour and the half life is two hours...

I take the 50mg and one or two before meals..other take the 200mg. I often forget or its inconvenient to take the peppermint capsule so i have altoids also..but if i eat a high lectin meal which i don't eat daily or often but i did last night..a large plate of ravioli in tomato sauce with italian bread...so i took the peppermint a half hour before and works,...If i ate like that daily i'd start injuring the wall of the small intestine then the level of inflammation increases..and it ramps everything up...and a flair insues ..at least that's how it seems for me.......today its simple brown rice and salmon...

as a footnote..we are talking about enteric coated peppermint oil..in many countries there are other forms such as essence of peppermint or fragances etc....these maybe too strong, or not effective at all..as menthol by itself can be toxic...so look for the enteric coated peppermint so it dissolves in the small intestine and not the stomach ...perhaps peppermint tea may also help..

Now, some of these brands are quite expensive if taken 3 times a day..but i have seen it for less then $3 for 90 capsules http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-14901-good-n-natural-oil-of-peppermint-50-mg-90-softgels

Spring and summer

spring and summer 2010

half of a multivitamin or none if you eat well
1000iu - 2000iu of vitamin D with meals
100-500mcg B12
200mcg Folic acid
100-200mcg selenium
one 200mg ibuprofen preferably in the evening
50mg-200mg enteric coated peppermint oil a half hour to an hour before meals
Or peppermint altoids...two before and after every meal and between meals.
500mg calcium with magnesium if a woman

and if moderate to severe
2-3 1000mg fish oil or
2 1000mg flax oil

a modest diet...low fat , low sugar and less or no gluten,wheat or flour and fewer high lectin foods (wheat, beans tomato and sauce, potatoes and for some corn or dairy.....at least reduce frequency (not on consecutive days) and volume.....take care of any infections..gum disease, sinus etc..

For some, lectins, gluten, dairy..or the diet in general are not an issue..but if flairs continue and there are no obvious infections..then the diet and resulting inflammation in the small intestine are probably the source..the peppermint will help with this... as well as some simple diet changes for the short run anyway. If you get some remission, this is less of a problem and you can again eat a a wider vareity of foods.

and very important, if possible, get some sun or light...uva, uvb, or tanning booth

Some changes...the multivitamin has been reduced in half to limit vitamin A because vitamin A can interfere with vitamin D.

The dose of vitamin D is dependent on how much sun you get , your latitude, and body weight...if you live in the south..1500iu and some sun should do it...if in the north, 2000iu...as spring turns to summer reduce the D to 1000iu or 1500iu and some sun... some in northern us , canada or the UK may still need 3000-4000iu as uvb from the sun doesn't arrive until april....but even now, the uva of sunlight or a tanning light can help.

To those asking for me to post in the NPF forum...As of a few weeks ago, I am no longer allowed to post in that forum.. their word was "never".. they claim its because i am selling a product. The owners are an odd bunch, but it's their party and we know who pays for it.

We have a good thread going in the UK forum http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=c697a43943b9b3874d0a7287ae5465de&

under "Whats the alternative"and the vitamin D/ibuprofen thread...its a good group of people with an interesting, no nonsense, but fun and informative discussion

So, if you have questions email me and glad to help bj@barneysformula.net

bj

Menopause and inflammation

50ish and trying to reduce inflammation...perhaps it's menopause which can be adding to ones levels of inflammation

http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/abstract/183/2/1393

How Much Calcium should we take?

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/What_you_need_to_know_about_calcium.htm

Vitamin D ...What kind?

Here is an interesting blog post from Dr William Davis. It deals with his experiences of Vitamin D in the soft gel vs the hard pill..

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-vitamin-d-form.html

This is both interesting and disconcerting as the barneys supplement is the capsule but not in oil as the softgel..and if the Vitamin D portion is as ineffective as a hard pill as the Doctor suggests?

I can only suggest to take vitamin D with a full meal containing some fat or oil.

A Lectin list

I'll try to put together a list of lectins in food that can be a problem for us and foods that are low lectin or lectin free. Some foods can be peeled, boiled or cooked to reduce and remove lectins. Some lectins may have benefits to us while others are inflammatory

so far, and i'll add to the list as i get more info...if anyone has any suggestions drop me an email..

no or lower lectin foods..

black pepper, cranberry, flounder, garlic ,kiwi,leek lobster, mung bean, some mushrooms, okra onion, pineapple, ,white rice brown rice,shallot, sole, oats.zuchini, aparagus,radish .chard sweet peppers,celery,parsley,apples,watermelon,grapefruit, lemon,orange,banana,orange,payaya,strawberries,plum,coconut walnut, hazel nut, i'll add as i find more and recheck the list as there is some contradictory information..

high lectin foods ..so try to reduce or eliminate

wheat, rye, barley,soy or soybean, fava bean, chickpea, corn, elderberry, pea, kidney bean, lentil, lima,wax and navy bean, peanut, pinto bean potato, pumpkin, rye, tomato, cocoa, black eyed peas,

again i'll add or change the list as accurate info comes..

the peppermint can help and once the small intestine heals, becomes less reactive etc, and a remission takes place then one can eat more of the lectin foods in moderation....its a balance of how often and how much..when beginning, i would not eat any.

here's an interesting article by a physician and gastroenterologist on the subject http://www.livingglutenfreecaseinfree.com/articles/inflammation/food-lectins-in-health-and-disease/

email me with any suggestions...bj

Why we flair? Lectins

When there is no obvious infection, no emotional trauma, or changes in diet then why do we flair?

Lectins may be the instigator....foods high in lectins,,,wheat, rye , potato tomatoes, milk beans, cucumber, peanuts, peas ..i will find a better and more complete list..

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=2009

http://ezinearticles.com/?Food-Lectins-in-Health-and-Disease:-An-Introduction&id=275056

This may be why some diets seem to help with inflammation,,,..its not that they give us added nutrition or are a powerhouse of vitamins..., but by their nature they don't include foods that contain inflammatory lectins in large amounts for a sustained period of time.

The paleolithic diet

http://www.earth360.com/diet_paleodiet_balzer.html

Some interesting video and sites

A picture is worth a thousand words

http://www.dermnet.org.nz/sitemap.html

Sugar, the bitter truth and the dangers of fructose

http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717 double click the video to enlarge video

The problem with gluten ....again double click video image to enlarge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLJSmJ0bMlk&feature=PlayList&p=DA6BBA260AF26321&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

For those on Barneys formula dietary supplement

Here is what I'm taking and it can be effective

One capsule Barneys dietary supplement

enteric coated peppermint oil between meals (50mg 3-4/day) and/or peppermint altoids (15/day)

one 200mg ibuprofen (in the evening)

100mcg selenium

an additional 1000iu-2000iu of D during winter for those in northern latitudes.

A multivitamin may be added to fill gaps in ones diet. Add additional calcium if your diet has little dairy or low in calcium rich foods.

If you are using the .2mL or 200mg enteric coated peppermint, then one a half hour before meals should work...this makes it about 3/day

Think about a lower sugar,lower fat and low or no gluten diet to reduce inflammation and get some control.

It might help to watch this medical school video on vitamin D dosage. Vitamin D is a good start but it will take a combination of things to deal effectively with the different causes of inflammation.

For those on the individual ingredients, the dosages are posted lower on this page.. .... it will be more pills daily but it gives people a choice.

Remember that both peppermint and ibuprofen or any nsaid are not for those pregnant, trying to get pregnant or children with asthma.If you are on a prescribed medicine then check with your doctor before taking enteric coated peppermint oil as it can possibly effect the absorption of some prescription drugs such as coumadin ,cyclosporin or blood pressure meds ..so mention it to your doctor.

email me at bj@barneysformula.net with any questions.

Barneys dietary supplement

I have created a single supplement for sale to take the place of most of the ingredients in the formula The menthol effects of peppermint are the last parts of a puzzle that i have been trying to remember for the last five years. So now another direction...with the new capsule.

In the past, I've received quite a bit of email from people who have had difficulty with dosages, getting the all ingredients and swallowing the number of pills. I decided about six months ago to contract with a US vitamin manufacturer to produce a vitamin supplement thats easier to take, has many of the necessary ingredients and is affordable at $7.50 a month .It meets my goals of simple, effective and inexpensive. The mulltivitamin consists of 2000iu of vitamin D, alpha- E, calcium, b12, folic acid and biotin I suggest also adding the selenium, the peppermint, ibuprofen and a small multivitamin. One can add their own supplements to it or take it alone. It can be swallowed whole or since it is relatively tastefree the capsule can be easily opened and the contents sprinkled on food such as morning oatmeal or a salad or a liquid

I have been taking this supplement with the peppermint and ibuprofen and am happy with the results. I also take extra vitamin D for winter, selenium a small multi, one or two fish oil and the peppermint.The formula works and the supplement can be a convenience to those who have difficulty with dosages and taking pills by reducing the number and allowing the capsule to be sprinkled on food. This does work. Email me with any questions.

Barneys formula dietary supplements have not been scientifically proven nor is it suggested that they can cure or treat any disease.