CHILD ABUSE AND ASTHMA

African-American women who grew up in abusive homes have a 20% higher risk of having asthma as an adult.

Constant stress uses up cortisol that would otherwise be used to control inflammation that can set off an asthma attack.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Science Daily

 

PREGNANCY AND ANTIBIOTICS

It’s a bad idea to take antibiotics during pregnancy.  Children whose mothers took antibiotics during pregnancy are more likely to develop asthma, as well as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, dyslexia, arthritis, allergies, depression, bipolar disorder, eczema, kidney problems, schizophrenia, acid reflux, colic and autoimmune disorders.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Dr. Joseph Mercola

 

 

PESTICIDES AND FOOD ALLERGIES

And here’s yet another reason to eat organic food:  pesticides might be causing your food allergies.  Dichlorophenols, such as the pesticide 2,4-D as well as moth balls and room deodorizers, kill bacteria, including the good bacteria in your gut and may thus contribute to gut dysbiosis.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Rodale News

 

Why Is Gut Dysbiosis So Bad for You?

Why Is Gut Dysbiosis So Bad for You?Gut dysbiosis is an imbalance of good vs. bad bacteria, yeast and other pathogens in your intestines. This is important because most of our immune system is located in our gastrointestinal tract, as most pathogens enter our bodies through our mouths.

Gut dysbiosis can cause lowered dopamine and lowered serotonin, as well as an inability to remember something in the short term, because most neurotransmitters are made in the intestines.

It can also cause leaky gut (intestinal permeability) which means that waste products that should be pooped out are not and are instead leaking out and causing an immune response.

Gut dysbiosis also causes nutritional deficiencies and can lower thyroid function, as well as cause lowered excretion of waste through the kidneys.

In addition, it causes increased ghrelin and lowered leptin, making you feel hungrier than you should, thereby contributing to weight gain.

Toxins produced by gut pathogens impairs your liver’s ability to detoxify, and because they are stressors, your adrenal glands will produce more cortisol, leading to fatigue and an inability to handle stress.

Gut dysbiosis causes inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as damage mitochondria, thereby increasing fatigue and lowering glutathione, the body’s powerful antioxidant.

 

ALLERGIES LINKED TO CHLORINE

Chlorine in tap and pool water has been linked to a rising number of people with food allergies.  Chlorine is an endocrine disruptor that also kills good gut flora.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Daily Mail

 

SULFATION: COMMON LINKS AMONG AUTISM, ECZEMA, ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA

The etiology of autism may be similar to that for eczema, asthma and allergic responses.  One of the reasons is sulfation, which affects the function of proteins and peptides, among other things.  Sulfate is produced by oxidation of methionine or cysteine, which are both sulfur-containing amino acids.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Autism File


THE AAP FINALLY RECOGNIZES THE LINKS AMONG AUTISM, INFLAMMATION, LEAKY GUT AND AUTOIMMUNITY

It’s something that biomedical doctors, functional-medicine doctors and naturopaths have known about for years, but the American Academy of Pediatrics is finally recognizing the links among autism and inflammation, leaky gut and autoimmunity.

In this article for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), Dr. Bob Sears gives a great play-by-play of a supplement to the November 2012 edition of Pediatrics.  Here are some of the highlights from Dr. Sears’ article:

  • “Clinical practice and research to date indicate the important role of GI conditions in ASDs and their impact on children as well as their parents and clinicians.”
  • “Gut-brain connection, immune function, and genome-microbiome interaction.” Yes, it actually said gut-brain connection!
  • “Increasingly, evidence supports a combination of changes in gut microflora, intestinal permeability (intestinal what?), inappropriate immune response, activation of specific metabolic pathways, and behavioral changes.”
  • “Endoscopic analyses of children with ASD and GI symptoms have revealed the presence of a subtle, diffuse inflammation of the intestinal tract.”
  • “Autoimmune responses in children with ASDs and a familial history of autoimmunity have been reported.”
  • “Autoantibodies could indicate the presence of inflammatory processes and/or an autoimmune component that could affect the integrity of the mucosal barrier and contribute to decreased mucosal barrier integrity.”
  • “Leaky gut.” Yes! It actually used those two foreign words that have been scoffed at for so long, and explains the research supporting this theory so that we general pediatricians can understand and begin to believe it.
  • “Nutritional status and nutrient intake are inextricably related in children with autism.”
  • A table on “Biomarkers as potential outcome measures” includes testing for: intestinal permeability to assess leaky gut, calprotectin for intestinal inflammation, celiac disease serology tests to assess gluten sensitivity, food allergy panels (not sure what for . . . maybe food allergies play some sort of role in all this?), organic acid testing for B12 or folate deficiency, and analysis of gut microbiota.”

ANTIBIOTICS LINKED TO ASTHMA

“Children whose mothers took antibiotics while they were pregnant were slightly more likely than other kids to develop asthma.

The results don’t prove that antibiotics caused the higher asthma risk, but they support a current theory that the body’s own “friendly” bacteria have a role in whether a child develops asthma, and antibiotics can disrupt those beneficial bugs.”  Read more…

SOURCE:  Reuters

PRENATAL POLLEN EXPOSURE AND ASTHMA

Babies born to moms with high levels of pollen exposure during late pregnancy have a higher risk of asthma.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology

A HIDDEN CAUSE OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

Having antibodies against the receptors for thyroid-stimulating hormone is a hidden cause of hypothyroidism, despite having “normal” TSH levels and taking thyroid medication.  Read more…

SOURCE:  Dr. Clark’s Brain Based Blog