Archives for April 2019

AUTISM TODAY AND SPRING CLEANING YOUR LIFE!

April is Autism awareness month; the perfect opportunity to discuss this incredibly important topic! Why is it important? Because, Autism is currently the fastest-growing neurodevelopmental disorder in the world. It is very interesting to see how much information about this condition is now available; the growing number of eye-opening scientific research being published, there to help us to understand why this disorder may affect people in the first place and, consequently, what can be done about it! Many scientists used to believe that genetics were responsible for up to 90% of all Autism cases. However, modern research suggests that environmental factors and life style play a much greater role in Autism development than the genetic factor. In fact, Autism is rarely genetic!

Studies of identical twins, who share nearly the same DNA, have demonstrated that in the majority of cases, only one twin develops Autism rather than both. We also know that, in many cases, children are born normal healthy babies and only start developing Autism a few months into their lives. So, what is happening and why can children who are born normal develop Autism?

Nowadays, we understand the clear and huge impact of environmental toxins, heavy metals, infections, malnutrition, stress, an inactive life style on a low immune system, chronic inflammation, gut disbalance and brain development. Different combinations of various environmental insults cause genetic mutations! Different toxic factors have the ability to switch our genes “on and off”. For this reason, we talk about genetic susceptibility rather than about genetic defects at birth.

Lead, mercury, nitric oxides, infections, plastic, toxic food additives and many more other toxins overload our children from the inside out, deplete their vitamins and minerals, slow down the work of different enzymes and set their brains “on fire”! Yes, we can now conduct genetic tests and see which mutations your child has and what is the best way to create a “by-pass” around these blockages. According Dr Lynch, there are seven main genes that affect everyone’s health, but especially the health of children with Autism.

For example, MTHFR is the methylation master gene. Methylation is a key process involved in the stress response, inflammation, brain chemistry, energy production, genetic expression, detoxification and other functions. Therefore, when this gene doesn’t work optimally, the child in question can experience depression, anxiety, migraines, autoimmunity, autism, cardiovascular conditions and other issues.

Another example would be the COMPT gene, which affects our mood, focus and also our ability to handle estrogen. Consequently, if this gene is modified, your child can experience insomnia, irritability, anxiety, impatience, addictions, various neurological conditions.

The good thing is that we can control the total toxic overload of our children’s bodies and, therefore, help their genes to function better. This is the very first thing we should consider when helping our kids! REMOVE THE TOXINS THAT WE CAN CONTROL! CLEAN THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT!

Main insults that we have to reduce:

sugar, excessive amounts of carbohydrates
processed food and drink,
unhealthy fats,
electro-magnetic pollution,
sedentary lifestyle,
lack of sleep,
physical and physiological stress.

START “CLEANING UP” YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN! This is the first and most vital step to becoming healthier. You can try other, more expensive ways of supporting your child, but if you do not “clean up” their environment, any other applied approaches will not be as helpful or as long-lasting as they could be!

Only after a “spring clean”, can the DNA test results be helpful in designing a specific individual supplementation plan, which would help to build the “by-pass” to overcome certain shortages at a biochemical level in your child.

To support you in this journey, I would like to offer you a VERY SPECIAL BONUS, valid only for the month of April – book the genetic test with me by the end of this month and receive a 50% discount for a follow-up consultation. You are welcome to book the test and consultation now and use them later – they will be valid until the end of 2019!

Please book by email: irina@liveright.eu!

CAN YOU READ YOUR SYMPTOMS?

Do you ever experience random headaches or migraines? Do you ever feel as though your tongue is swelling when you eat certain food? Or maybe you have skin rashes, eczema, diarrhea, itchy eyes, runny nose or congestions? When noticing such symptoms, many of us simply assume them to be seasonal allergies or caused by other minor reasons. However, one of the explanations behind such symptoms can be a condition called histamine intolerance.

What is Histamin Intolerance?

Histamine is a natural compound that can be found in different food containing the amino acid “histidine”. In addition to this, however, it is also an important amine produced by different cells of the immune, gastrointestinal and neurologic systems. Histamine is actually a signaling molecule that communicates information between cells and receptors in the body, stimulating many different processes.

A few other Histamine functions:

It is an element of the immune system and the body’s inflammatory reaction, making it a part of our protective mechanism against infection, insect bites etc.
It also works as a neurotransmitterin the brain and controls the sleep-wake cycle.
It regulates physiological functions in the gut and the production of gastric acid.

In a healthy person, once histamine has done its job, it is broken down by certain enzymes. In some cases, however, the body may be unable to deal with the histamine that it has generated or consumed. The enzymes may not be able to break down the molecule for a number of reasons, such as genetic mutation, reduced amount of enzyme activity, nutrient deficiency or simply an imbalance between the consumption of histamine-rich food or food that naturally blocks enzymes.

Interestingly, one of these important enzymes called DAO is produced in the gut. So, if intestinal function is compromised there may not be enough DAO to degrade the histamine normally. This is why, very often, people who have an issue with their gastrointestinal systems are also prone to other symptoms representing histamine intolerance.

Nowadays, it is also becoming evident that children with autism have a tendency towards histamine intolerance. Because the brain has cells that trigger the release of histamine as a response to neurotensin, this can cause autoinflammation leading to headaches, ‘brain fog’, and other neurological symptoms so often associated with ASD.

Note that histamine intolerance is not a true food allergy since it comes from the body’s inability to clear the cumulative buildup of histamine. Because of this, the symptoms may not be immediate and it may, therefore, be difficult to identify a particular food as the trigger. As the mechanism of histamine intolerance is different from any food allergy and is not mediated by antibody IgE, a standard allergy test will not able to recognise it.

If you think you may have histamine intolerance, a food diary is the essential tool necessary for exploring this possibility further.

You need to monitor the following:

Food rich in histamine
Food releasing histamine
DAO enzyme inhibitors such as alcohol, tea (black, green, mate), and various energy drinks

Food rich in histamine:

Fermented food: sauerkraut, kombucha, fermented dairy including yogurt, kefir, sour cream, soy sauce, fish sauce
Vinegar and Vinegar-containing food: pickles, olives, mustard
Cured meats: bacon, salami, hot dogs, sausage
Aged, dried, jerky, smoked and less fresh meat and fish, as well as anchovies and mackerel
Aged cheese
Nuts: Peanuts, walnuts, and cashews
Vegetables: avocados, mushrooms, aubergine, spinach, and dried tomatoes and tomato sauce
Dried fruit and citrus fruit
Long/slow simmered and roasted food: such as bone broths and pot roasts
Fermented alcohol: wine, beer, brandy, port, sherry, rum, champagne
Probiotic supplements

Food releasing histamine:

Bananas
Chocolate
Alcohol
Milk
Nuts and peanuts
Fruit: Papaya, Pineapple, Strawberries
Tomatoes
Shellfish
Artificial preservatives and dyes

If you notice a correlation between the consumption of the above products and your symptoms, I would suggest:

Trying a temporary low histamine diet.
Working on supporting and strengthening your immune system.
Working on your gut health.
Look into supplement support with your practitioner.
Adjusting your cooking methods to lower the levels of histamine in your food (cook your broth for a shorter period of time, avoid slow cooked food, eat fresh meat instead of frozen and avoid leftovers).

Should you have any questions or feedback, please email me your comments!

Irina

Photo by Alex Guillaume

“UNDIET” YOURSELF THIS YEAR AND GO WILD!

At the beginning of each new year, many people set themselves a variety of objectives, such as aiming to follow a specific diet as a part of their healthy eating plan. This is a wonderful initiative! Have you tried it before? Which particular diet did you try adopting? Vegan, Keto, Raw Food diet, Intermediate Fasting? Let me know how it went! The trouble is that many people give up on these resolutions very quickly, determining the specific diet attempted to be ineffective and seeing no point in continuing with it or trying it again. However, the truth is that the diet in question may not work for you simply because it is not the right eating pattern for your body at this current moment in time.

Each diet addresses specific health issues or eating needs. It is, therefore impossible to decide which specific diet you may need and how long you should follow it, without first understanding your own symptoms. Once your body’s needs have been addressed, the eating plan should be adjusted accord to your personal response. However, if you were to explore all the different diets, you would notice one factor common to them all – each diet suggests replacing eating rubbish with eating real food! This fundamental principle of eating healthy is encoded deep in our human genetics.

Therefore, today, I would like to share with you a very simple 7-step solution that will help you improve your health without needing to adopt any particular diet. So, here is your Healthy UNDIET Guide to fundamental and essential changes for the better!

“Eat real” as much as you can!

Simply do not buy any processed food, including sauces, biscuits and tinned products. You can start gently, reducing little by little, and eventually aim to eat 100% whole food that you know was made in your kitchen! This will help eliminate any unwanted components, that happen to be toxic, from your body and raise awareness about food and its nutritional value.

“Eat wild” and organic as much as possible!

Nowadays we mostly eat modified food that looks good and tastes better, but that, unfortunately, has lost many of its healing properties and contains fewer nutrients. For example, wild blueberries are much smaller and less sweet than big, commercially produced berries. However, despite their lesser size, they actually contain more useful micronutrients!

Drink more water!

This sounds very easy, yet, how many of us drink at least 2 litres of water a day, especially during the winter? Water is essential for the digestion, detoxification, energy level maintenance, healthy skin, blood pressure control and so much more.

Eat slowly and chew better!

Digestion starts in your mouth. Make sure you swallow properly liquified food. Even when you eat soup, do not rush and take your time ensuring that the enzymes from your saliva have had the chance to do their job in the oral cavity. This way you will also experience more flavours, textures and smells from the meal you eat, allowing you to enjoy it more!

Eat diverse food!

Any single food doesn’t contain all the essential nutrients that we require for health and well-being. Therefore, by eating a diverse, balanced, multicoloured range of ingredients, you can consume the necessary amount of micro-elements for normal body function.

Take a deep breath before you eat!

When you do diaphragmatic breathing 5-10 times before your meal, you reduce your level of stress, improve your digestion and increase your metabolism. Simple, but so powerful.

Stop counting calories!

A calorie is not a measure of health. The quality of the food consumed sets up your metabolism and is much more important than calories. It has been shown that counting calories can actually increase your appetite and cause weight gain.

Therefore, follow these 7 practical steps and let me know how they go! They may take some time to take effect, and that is OK. Work on them one step at the time and be patient! The aim is to live a rich and fulfilling life without any restrictions and to enjoy your food every day.

Please, do not hesitate to contact me for more information, advice or consultation.

Photo by Peter Wendt

Irina