Microbiome Abnormalities
The Pharmaceutical Epidemic
Vagus Nerve: The Gut-Brain Microbiome Axis
The gut is the first brain, where 90-95% of our serotonin is produced in the intestinal tract [Strandwitz]. Serotonin relays signals between neurons, regulating their intensity. Serotonin regulates bowel function and movements, and plays a vital role in reducing appetite while eating. Food is communicating with our DNA and telling our body what to do. The three metrics for health is classified by a highly diversified microbiome, hormonal balance, and immune system
Fungal abundance and microbial dysbiosis promotes an inflammatory shift in the microbiome, promoting behavioral disorders such as Alzheimer's, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD, autism, neural immune, insomnia, and abnormal cognitive ability [Alonso][Forbes][Leclercg][Li,Q][Li,Y][Petra][Rogers][Strati]. Having a diverse microbiome is the only way to suppress fungal growth and reverse illnesses. Drug therapies will create an imbalance in microbes necessary to make a full recovery, as they tend to only focus on the symptoms of the disease rather than the fundamentals of what is promoting inflammation in the first place, our inflammatory diets.
Gut Inside: Intestinal Microbiome Diagnostics
Behavioral disorders, such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, learning disorders, and others are also associated with a physical imbalance of the microbiome. This imbalance can be detected, but often go undiagnosed and untreated, as the pharmaceutical approach tends to focus on the symptoms and not the root cause for the illness. Gut Inside uses an algorithmic machine learning to detect the imbalances and determine a diagnosis associated with them.
Antibiotic Abuse
Antibiotics wipe out all bacteria, the good and the bad. It is crucial that these microbes are replaced. When we eat, we are feeding the microbes in our body. Insufficient biodiversity in the oral cavity and intestinal tract hinder our digestive capabilities and immune response. Over-distribution of antibiotics is creating more and more bacteria with antibiotic resistance, creating a global crisis [Aslam]. Alternative approaches should be considered, such as probiotic, herbal supplement, and vaccines for preventative care.
Fungal infections are one of the most undiagnosed illnesses on the entire planet. Fungal strains grow in abundance when fungi eating microbes are no longer available [Sam]. Hospitals spend more than $1 billion in reoccurring liver cirrhosis patients alone.
Viruses are Opportunistic
Coupled with the antibiotic abuse epidemic, viruses thrive during the hosts weakened immune system. Viruses are opportunistic and contagious, they associate themselves with the host in two various cycles.
Lytic Cycle: otherwise known as the replication cycle. A virus will take control of cellular machinery in order to replicate its own DNA over and over again, until cell lysis or bursts, releasing a multitude of viruses to continue the replication process. This cycle is best expressed during a hosts weakened immune system.
Lysogenic Cycle: or latent phase, is when a virus lays dormant. Viruses have the ability to integrate themselves within a hosts DNA when conditions threaten their survival. This may include a strengthened immune system consisting of a hosts innate immune system, or active immune system with specified viral targeting antibodies. While viruses lay dormant within the hosts DNA, their DNA code will mutate and be continually copied within the hosts cellular division. Viruses are opportunistic, when conditions are available, a new genetic variant of the virus unfamiliar to the immune system will enter the lytic cycle, and begin hijacking the immune system as before.
Genetic variants are a common feature among viruses, but in a pandemic scenario, it is heightened and supported by the large number of susceptible subjects—mostly unvaccinated—offering the virus more chances to mutate and prospective selection of variants, in particular those with an increased transmissibility and immune-escape potential capabilities [Angius].
Vaccines and Immunological Memory
Vaccination ultimately aims at the generation of immune memory to avoid expansion of pathogens by dual inhibitory mechanisms: (1) providing antibodies continuously and (2) maintaining memory cells which induce rapid recall responses [Sarkander]. Many infectious diseases are preventable if your body already has created and stored long term antibodies. When an infectious disease triggers an antibody response, production of antibodies takes time. Antibodies that are not readily available must first locate the target binding site for attacking the pathogen directly without harming the host. Vaccines allow the antibodies to be already present within the humoral immune memory, allowing the antibody to amplify its response much faster and earlier to prevent the foreign body from getting out of control, as shown in the figure [Corrado].
Viruses are opportunistic, but they can also mutate. Vaccines for one strain of virus may not be able to prevent others, which explains the variation of flu every year and other reoccurring viruses [CDC Influenza]. These variants undergo small genetic changes and are referred to as seasonal, which is why flu shots are recommended for the elderly because previous vaccinations will not be able to prevent mutated variants.
Viruses and other pathogens can also be transferred from animals species to human populations, called zoonoses [Parrish]. These antigens have mechanisms that allow for variations in evolutionary pathways, allowing for transmissions from animal to human. Some of these traits may even allow for human to human transmissions.
The complete list of ingredients for vaccine stability and efficacy can be found on the CDC website. The schedule based on age for vaccinations can also be found on the CDC website. Numerous diseases have been extinct in the U.S. due to herd immunity for decades, such as polio and measles that is making a comeback due to immigration and lack of immunization. Be ready
What patients are being prescribed Seroquel?
Quetiapine (Seroquel) the antipsychotic 'sleeping pill' linked to overdoses
Alzheimer's Disease
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Depression
Dementia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Anger Management
Mood Disorder
Schizophrenia
Sleeplessness/Insomnia
Drug Costs a Hard Pill to Swallow?
The Pandemic of falsified medicines as it relates to falsified (counterfeit or falsely labeled) medicines has greatly increased. The obstacles combating falsified pharmaceuticals include
1.) Lack of consensus on definitions
2.) Insufficient quantities of reliable and scalable technology to detect fakes before they reach patients
3.) Poor global and national leadership and accountability systems for combating scourge
4.) Deficient manufacturing and regulatory challenges
With the price of insulin skyrocketing, many have resorted to rationing. The underlying root cause has not been addressed, and patients are more at risk then ever of not being able to receive affordable health care. The ketogenic diet may reverse type 2 diabetes, and moderate blood sugar for diabetics [Cox].
Microbiome-Drug Interactions
Throughout the lifespan of a humans life, the microbiome will change multiple times. The microbiome sensitivity to prescription drugs, immunotherapies, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial drugs can illicit inadvertent changes to drug tolerance [Wilkinson]. By analyzing the intestinal microbiome over time, called longitudinal analysis, personalized medicine is achievable to improve drug efficacy and safety [Guthrie]. Drugs are relatively prescribed as a "one size fits all" with relatively few options.
Drugs can either be addictive, too potent, or the body may be too tolerant to the interactions. Understanding the individual microbiome will allow us to customize diets, herbal supplement regimes, probiotics, drug therapies, among others. When treating an illness, it is crucial we focus not just on the symptoms, but the root issues as well.
Caffeine and Heart Disease
Caffeine and Adenosine have similar biochemical make-ups and attach to the same nerve receptors. A healthy person will build adenosine up over the course of a day, and when levels are high enough, the adenosine binds to receptors that causes nerves to release inhibitory signals that lead to drowsiness and sleep.
Adenosine also causes a dilation of blood vessels to the brain, to provide more oxygen and nutrients to cells needing to be replenished. Caffeine does the opposite.
Heart disease is the number 1 cause of illness in the entire world, and caffeine significantly increases blood pressure for a short duration. Long term caffeine use increases risks of total cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, blood pressure changes, or hypertension [Turnbull]. Caffeine shunts oxygen away from the brain, affecting the cerebral blood flow and preventing your mind from being able to concentrate [Addicott]. This may also cause migraines, anxiety, and result in sleep deprivation [Lee].
A great alternative stimulant is the herb, Rhodiola. It's a supportive stimulant to your muscles and mind without the oxygen shunt and blood vessel constriction. You can find this herb in the "Daily Herbal" product in the medicine cabinet.
Opioid Addiction
Opioid's are being distributed at an alarming rate, and overdoses have accrued 68% of all drug overdoses in the United States [CDC Opioid]. Living with pain can be a horrendous experience, and recovering after a serious injury could be catastrophic for your microbes if you develop a dependency. There are alternatives to taking prescription drugs for less severe cases. For instance, substitutions using CBD (cannabidiol) products can be more effective, safer, non-psychoactive, and non-addictive [National Academies of Sciences]. CBD therapeutics can be effective in the management of pain and microbial rejuvenation for chronic illnesses such as cancer, chemotherapy related nausea or vomiting, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, glaucoma, dementia, anorexia, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, PTSD, and recovery from addiction.
Weaning off harder drugs can be more difficult, but the process of healing should always consider incorporating an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation is a precursor for pain, and pain is usually a result of chronic inflammation. CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and can stabilize the cannabinoid receptors that are present in pain circuits [Russo]. Our bodies do not have an opioid system, but we do have an endocannabinoid system. By modulating sensitivity (nociceptive) thresholds, pain can be relieved, and a reduction of inflammation over time can provide long lasting relief.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Drugs like Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, and Motrin are doing more harm then good. Labeled as a "first line of defense" against pain, these drugs will degrade the lining of your small intestines, also known as "leaky gut" [Bhatt]. NSAIDs disrupt the microbial balance of the small intestines. If they actually worked the way we would hope for, they would be anti-inflammatory to our small intestinal tract as well, but unfortunately, this is not the case.
These anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with a risk for high blood pressure, kidney blockages, liver disease or failure, and stomach ulcers [Heleniak], increasing the risk of heart attacks and organ failure.
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Make Peace with Warfarin
Warfarin is used to treat and prevent blood clots that might result in heart attack, stroke, or death. It's also used for blood clots in atrial fibrillation, heart valve replacement, venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.
Warfarin is a common prescription drug, the treatment should be reduction of plaque. Many patients experience internal hemorrhaging [Ozturk], and acute overdoses are more likely.
The blood-thinning molecule arises when a fungus causes mold to react and create a substance called "coumarin." Coumarin is used as a popular rat poison, and was discovered by feeding moldy hay to cattle that lead to their death. The production of this compound is inhumane and creates complications in humans by preventing their blood from clotting properly.
Mac Attack - Sarcoidosis
Comedian Bernie Mac died of a mysterious disease called sarcoidosis, a condition in which there is an abnormal collection of inflammatory cells that form clumps in the lungs, skin or lymph nodes. This results in persistent dry cough and shortness of breath. Researchers that have used 16S, a bacterial identification diagnostic method, were unable to indicate discrepancies in microbial diversity within sarcoidosis tissue [Becker]. However, researchers using metagenomic analysis indicated an abundance of Aspergillus fungi [Clarke], including several microbial lineages detected in Kveim and spleen, including Cladosporium.
Glucose vs. Fructose Insulin Response
Eating foods with a high glycemic index will produce a chronic insulin response because it is readily available as glucose sugar. Fruits, on the other hand, are made up of almost exclusively fructose. Fructose takes longer to enzymatically break down into glucose, creating a small, steady rise in blood glucose that is much more manageable for your body to compensate for with insulin. Eating fruit is a great way to relax and maintain ketosis.
Chronic Blood Sugar Spikes
Foods that contain a high glycemic index will promote a spike in blood sugar, which needs to be met by a chronic insulin response. High glycemic foods are typically > 55, with the exception of fruit and honey because of their antioxidant properties, and also having a high concentration of fructose instead of glucose (in fruit).
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that elevates the level of blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because the cells of the body do not respond to the insulin that is produced. Low GI foods help diabetics maintain better control of their blood sugar levels by reducing the rate at which sugars are absorbed by the body.
Sugar is Just as Addictive as Cocaine
"It's just a cookie" is just a LIE! Sugar is a drug, and food corporations are adding it to everything so you will continually buy their products. Sugar inhibits neural function and is extremely addictive, as addictive as cocaine in fact [Lenoir]. There is a huge difference between the sugar that is found in fruit, called fructose, and chemically processed sugar, called refined sugar. See the "Glycemic Index" list to find out which ingredients on food labels require complete abstinence.
Citations
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Alonso
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Angius
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