New Blog

Due to the fact that I have multiple AI conditions, and the idea I have behind my blog is to help all those with AI concerns, I have created a new blog that I will strive to keep updated with not only PBC, but all AI information I get.  I also plan to add a recipes section, as many often ask for various ideas.


Please take a look at the new Wellness in Autoimmunity: Trying to Create Health by Improving Nutrition Goals -  WATCHING blog.  Start watching what you put in your body, so that you may gain better health.  I hope it's helpful!!

New year, Renewed Commitment

I haven't updated in awhile.  I only see the liver doctor once a year now, but that might be changing.  I'll find out Tuesday.  I only get my blood work done every 3 months, though I only did it twice last year.  It was a super busy year, and I just didn't do as well as I'd hoped.

I've still remained 100% grain free of course, but some of my other good habits of working out and morning green drinks got inconsistent.  I've also been eating more sugar and legumes that I did before.  All these things combined, and my numbers are up, my symptoms are worse, and I have new symptoms now of joint pain, extremely dry mouth and eyes.  Not good.  So back to research I went.  I knew I had to step up my game in order to fight this.

So, I've decided to go to the complete AutoImmune Protocol (AIP).  It's pretty strict, but I'm not ok with dying sooner than I have to, I have a family that I'd like to see grow up/old.  I am engaged to be married soon and he and I have decided to do this together.  He already ate a fairly strict diet, much like I do, so the change isn't exceptionally hard on him (except not having spicy food), but I will say he is an exceptional man for doing it.  In fact, our whole house is AIP complaint for all meals.  We have 3 girls aged 6,8 and 9 and they will not be getting separate meals.
Grains are out completely, but we do allow them some nuts, seeds, chocolate and dairy in limited quantities for their school lunches and for treats.

Today completes the first week of the AIP for us.

The first couple of days without any coffee, sugar or chocolate were actually much worse than I would have thought they would have been.  Usually the worst addiction is wheat.  Many people don’t know this, but wheat can cross the blood brain barrier like opiates (heroine, morphine, oxycodone).  This is part of why it is so addictive.  And it can cause actual, physically painful withdrawal symptoms when taken out of your diet.  But I did that 3 years ago, and it honestly wasn’t that bad for me.  I also have a pancreas problem, Not AI, that caused me to have to eat very low carb for a long time.  So I haven’t eaten many wheat products for 16 years now (minus a short stent of thinking fresh, homemade whole wheat bread made the difference from the highly processed kind a few years ago, which it does not).

Those first few days I felt so tired, had headaches and generally felt like I’d been hit by a truck.  I hadn’t expected much of anything because I didn’t think this was such a HUGE change from our normal eating, so this was a bit tough for me to accept.  After about the 3rd day I started feeling better.  I actually made it to the gym this week too, which is pretty amazing.  Today I’m feeling pretty good as far as the diet change goes.  My hip and knees still hurt, but it is slightly less than it was.

I don’t expect miracles in just 1 week.

Generally the diet is fine.  Not having any chocolate or coffee is really the worst of it for me, but choosing life over coffee is an easy choice.  Our daughters haven’t really even noticed much of a change, I think, except that we've all talked about it.  We never had bread or any grains at a meal anyway.  Just now there’s also no dairy or legumes as well.  Those are 2 things we probably used fairly commonly.  Today was the first weekend morning breakfast to make.  We can’t have eggs, so instead we made homemade turkey sausage and sweet potato hash.  Turned out pretty good, but I think the girls would have preferred my grain free waffles or an omelet…Maybe in a few months.

Besides hopefully fixing, or at least preventing further damage of my liver, this diet has had some really cool side effects too.  My fiancé and I actually get to cook together now, not him cook and I bake.  We’re doing it together.  And it makes us feel closer.  This ‘thing’ we’re doing together, for us.  I REALLY like that.



So it’s been a week.  I’m feeling better from the initial drag, but we probably have many more weeks to go before other things improve, but I’m in it to win it - WE’RE in it to win it! :)

For all the people I know with AI, and for those I haven’t met yet- I plan to continue to update the progress of things.  There needs to be a better solution to AI diseases.  Taking a pill to (marginally) manage symptoms, and even cause worse side effects is just no way to live.  We exist, having moments of less pain where we can enjoy life, but that’s not enough. I actually want to FEEL better, to GET better.  With the AIP and other lifestyle changes, I hope to accomplish that.

=========
For those that don’t know what the AIP is, the short list.

Don’t eat:
* Grains
* Pseudo grains
* Legumes
* Nuts
* Seeds
* Sugars (including honey, maple syrup and artificial sweeteners)
* Dairy
* Night shades (here's a good list http://www.thepaleomom.com/2013/08/what-are-nightshades.html)
* Eggs

Do enjoy:
* Meat
* Seafood
* Sea vegetables
* Green leafy vegetables
* Cruciferous vegetables
* Fruit
* Gourds (squash, pumpkin, etc)
* Sweet potatoes
* Alliums (onions, garlic, shallots, etc)
* Spices as long as it doesn’t fall into a category above
* Coconut

We also have a green, blended drink ever morning with:
* Frozen fruit
* spinach
* kale
* carrots
* cucumber
* lime
* aloe cut from a plant
* aloe juice
* coconut water
* parsley
* avocado
* ACV
* Milk Thistle Extract

With the right fruit, the smoothie is delicious.


And for those interested, besides my liver meds, these are the supplements I take (some are for AI in general, some are due to my liver disease specifically):

Fat soluble vitamins / and because my liver doesn’t process them: A, C, D, E, K and Calcium/Magnesium
Gut healing: Probiotics, Digestive enzymes, L-Glutamine, NAC, Betaine HCL +Pepsin, slippery elm
For SIBO / Yeast overgrowth in the gut: Anti-microbial, Caprylic Acid
L-lysine
Krill Oil
Biotin (my liver meds make my hair fall out)


Some Good Resources:
http://www.AmyMyersMD.com
http://www.GlutenFreeSociety.org
http://www.thepaleomom.com/autoimmunity/the-autoimmune-protocol
Wheat Belly Book by William Davis, MD

My routine as of 09/18/2013

I said I would post this last week, sorry for it being late!   I've had people ask what I'm doing to help with my liver and overall health and I decided to write a post about it.

What I do is always evolving.  With new information everyday, I always see room for improvement.  And the fact is, I'm trying to fix something that's broken, so it's kind of trial and error for me.  Prevention is the key!!! This is why I try so hard with my daughter to prevent her from getting to this damaged point.  She's very susceptible to my diseases and to Celiac (see previous posts), so I'm really trying to teach her young what's safe for our bodies....

For now, I can say what I've been doing, but I worked up to these things.  I began with research.  I had a skin autoimmune disease (lichen sclerosis).  The ONLY thing my doctor told me to do was use this steroid ointment that in fact caused as many problems as it supposedly helped.  So I was searching for another way to actually HELP.  Then I was suddenly diagnosed with Stage 2 Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)- another auto immune disease, this time of the liver.  And I was also having other skin issues- turns out to be Eczema (suspected to also be AI).  All these combined along with major fatigue, I was feeling lost and out of control.  Not controlling your own body down right stinks and I felt like it was falling apart around me.

But I took my health into my own hands.  Many of the 'mainstream' doctors just prescribe a pill that doesn't actually fix anything.  Just lessens symptoms, but may cause other problems - but there's a pill for that as well...And so it goes.  But read my earlier posts on this blog and you will find link after link to studies that show it doesn't have to be this way.  There are doctors out there of both western and eastern medicine that agree that pills are not the answer.  Even highly esteemed graduates of top ivy league universities with an MD know that pills are not the answer.  It's not just a 'hippy' thing anymore.  It's becoming more and more mainstream, I would guess it won't be long before this way of life is not just for those 'radical' people.

Sadly, even once the information reaches the masses, there are, and will, still be people that poo-poo it.  "It's not scientific because it's not a pill, a man-made chemical.  There's no way that NATURE can possibly fix this, or prevent it.  There's no way that eating 'heart healthy' grains is bad for you! It's just not possible that my family doctor doesn't know what's best for me.  It's ridiculous to think that INCURABLE diseases are cured with a healthy lifestyle!  It just doesn't make any sense, and that way of life is too restrictive for me.  I want to be able to eat pizza, Eggo Waffles and Chips Ahoy cookies!  Just make a pill that fixes it so I can have my cake and eat it too."

It doesn't work like that.  That old saying 'You are what you eat' is so true.  If you put junk, chemicals and poison into your body- you will pay the price eventually.  Maybe you won't get liver disease or celiac.  Maybe instead it will slowly hit you over time and you will have dementia in your old age.  Or maybe it will hit you as lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetes or any of the other nearly 200 AI diseases out there.  There are studies that have shown major improvement and even CURING of these diseases.  I've talked to a girl here in my city that CURED herself of lupus after years of suffering by making lifestyle changes similar to what I do. It can be done, but it does take commitment.  This is the sticking point for many.  People have flat out told me they'd rather eat how they want and just pay the price later.  And if that's how you feel, then so be it, but make that choice with complete and full information and DO NOT force your choices on another person.  People partially don't change their lifestyle due to way it would 'appear' or the way people might talk about them and their extremist way.  Those people make me sick.  Choosing to eat healthfully is a good thing, no matter what.  Influencing your children to eat healthfully is a good thing, no matter what.

So what am I doing exactly?  And is it helping?

First, I think it is helping A LOT.  I am not so tired anymore and I am busier and more active than I've ever been.  I'm happier than I've been in so many years.  My outlook is positive and I believe I will be the healthiest I've ever been in the next couple of years- despite liver disease.  (And yes, even depression, anger issues and all sorts of mood issues have a strong link to your diet).  My liver tests are much better than they were and even my skin conditions RARELY have flare ups now.  Life is definitely better.  I virtually KNOW that I will not leave my daughter at a young age.  I am not worried that I cannot actively participate in life.  I know that I am a healthy and active mother and partner and I will continue this way for as long as I make it happen.  The key is to keep working hard on this.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"
----Albert Einstein


My Routine:
Every morning I make a green drink.  It comes out to about 24oz or so.  I blend some combination of the following (all organic):
Big handful of baby spinach or baby kale
carrot
cucumber
avocado
aloe vera (juice or freshly cut inner leaf)
whole lime (skin and all!)
banana
frozen berries or peaches (something frozen)
Alcohol Free Milk Thistle extract (very important for the liver)
fresh cilantro or parsley

I also eat an apple nearly everyday- very good for the liver.

I eat A LOT of salad (much of the same veggies in the drink)- sometimes even 2 in a day in addition to the drink.  Squeeze an orange for 'dressing' and get some extra vitamin C.  Fresh fruit and vegetables have to be the primary focus of the meals.  What I've read is that many times AI diseases trigger or are aggravated by vitamin or mineral deficiency- so this is where all the whole, raw foods come into play.

Favorite salad right now:
Baby spinach
avocado
tomato
uncured prosciutto
orange slices and some squeezed for 'dressing'

sometimes add one or two:
kiwi
dried cranberries
alfalfa sprouts
carrot shreds
nuts


Also, for veggies I cook, they are still very crisp.  Fresh asparagus just to the point of turning bright green is still very crunchy and the taste has developed.  Same for fresh broccoli or green beans.  Over cooked veggies lose so much nutrition.  Also, I don't steam or boil- all the vitamins are lost in the water.  I have waterless cooking pots (really any pot with a tight fitting lid will work).  Heat on low, no seasonings needed or oils or anything.  Just cook till color develops.  Try not to check too often, as natural moisture escapes every time the lid is opened.

I try to be sure my meat and eggs are pasture raised, wild caught, grass-fed: whatever is appropriate for that species.  Corn fed, factory farmed meat is not healthy.  It goes back to 'you are what you eat'- if the animals are eating poorly, so will their meat and eggs provide poor nutrition.

Of course, it's not about being perfect.  Most people stick with an 80/20 rule.  I am probably more like 90/10- While I'm 100% no grains, I do have sugar and other not completely healthy options sometimes...I do make occasional fun treats for my daughter (all grain free of course, but not necessarily super healthy- still healthier than the packaged junk tho!).  Having no fun will lead to wanting of the 'bad' stuff....Can't have that! You can eat healthy and still have a treat that is reasonably within limits.  We do go out to eat sometimes, just try to minimize the damage with good choices.

We absolutely eat no grains.  We limit potatoes, but do have a sweet potato occasionally and very rarely gold/yellow potatoes.  We limit refined sugar. No sodas.  VERY LIMITED juices.  Very limited soy.  We eat some legumes, but not all that much (though we do have peanut butter fairly regularly). Limited dairy (though my daughter tends to have cheese and milk).

I have been told it's too expensive to eat like this, but it's really not.  I get very few items in the inner aisles of the grocery store.  Not buying all those bags and boxes of "food", really opens up the budget for more fresh, whole foods.  Which is what most of my basket ends up being.

Of course food is only 1 aspect of health.  We also need to build a strong body.  So I do some hard workouts every week- like kickboxing, weightlifting, etc.  I also do pilates or yoga regularly to help with flexibility and building the core.  Running is great cardio that I incorporate on a regular basis.  But also, I find places to work in a few minutes here and there.  I bring extra shoes (I normally wear high heels at work) so I can get up and run the stairs a few times throughout the day.  I work on the 4th floor, so this can add up.  Also, our parking garage is 6 stories- that's 12 flights of stairs each way.  I try to do that 3 times a week, 3 trips each time (36 up and 36 down).  It only takes a few minutes each time, but it definitely seems to make a difference on my cardio performance.  Stairs are like jumping rope- you get a lot of bang for your buck time wise, but it requires less coordination!

I know it seems counter-intuitive, but forcing yourself to get up and exercise INCREASES your energy.  AI diseases are so good at zapping our energy, finding ways to increase it is so important.  And when you feel better, it is easier to keep going.  Objects in motion tend to stay in motion...

I also take a lot of vitamins.  My liver doctor helped to work out the doses; PBC especially makes it hard to absorb fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E, and K), so those need to be taken in larger doses.  I also take a lot of Vitamin C and B vitamins.  Additionally PBC puts me at risk of osteoporosis, so I take a lot of calcium.  Lastly, I take Alpha Lipoic Acid, slowly increasing over time.  ALA has actually cured AI liver disease in previous studies!  And I'm also taking Urso...For now.  I will continue to take it until I can have a solid history of my liver being healthy.  I'm only 1.5 years into this PBC journey, so it will take more time.  The good thing is that I only take it about 75% of the time now and already I have some hair regrowth! And my liver numbers continue to improve.

I'm a single mom of a 4 yr old, going to grad school, working full time, have an active social life and I have 3 AI diseases; yet I feel better than I have in years.  I really, really believe so many people could control or cure their chronic illnesses if they just had the right information and then put it to use.  It makes me so sad when I see people suffering and taking pill after pill and not getting any better.  I'm not against medicine, there are definitely times it's needed (especially for acute situations), but chronic diseases are not cured with a pill.  If they were, they wouldn't be chronic. They are managed, some better than others, but no pill will cure a chronic illness.

I hope I've helped those that have asked for my info.  Of course, I'm just one person and I'm not a doctor.  Talk to your doctor.  Get second and third opinions.  Go to alternative medicine doctors.  Read all the studies.  Take what I say with a grain of salt, make an informed choice that's right for you.  I can only just say what's working for me.  If you want more details, please message or comment.  I'll be happy to share!

PBC update October 26, 2012

First I just want to share a really good video that talks about gluten and children.  This is actually part 2 of a series.  Part 1 is more focused on infancy.  It's very informative. It gets a little static-y, but it's still good info.


On my front, I have been having quite a bit of liver pain lately.  I don't know whats up with that.  It's not debilitating or anything, but it's random sharp pains that are sometimes quite frequent.

Man I am just so sad for Zoe.  The thought that she'll get this, or celiac or some other auto immune disease is just so frustrating.  There's just so many complications with these diseases, in addition to the disease itself.

High risk of damage and/or cancer to just about every organ in the body.
Osteoporosis: I have to get a bone scan done every 2 years because people with auto immune diseases are at a very high risk of severe bone loss.
Chronic pain in just about any part of your body.

The list goes on and on and there is no cure for any of it.  This diet helps to slow progress or may even help to prevent future damage, but there is no cure.  There is no fix.  Once the immune system is triggered, there is no going back. What's done is done.  That is what makes me the saddest for Zoe.  When she is 15, 20, 30 - however old she might be when triggered- how will we look at her and say to her that we knew and didn't TRY to prevent?  I will be able to look at her.  I am doing everything in my power and I will continue to do so as long as there is breath in my body.  But not everyone in her life cares about this, and there's where the problem lies.  Prevention? Ha.  Is there a guarantee it will prevent? No? Oh, then I will not try.

That is equivalent to:

Does a seatbelt guarantee I will survive a car crash? No? Then I won't wear it. ::In fact, my mom was in an accident before seatbelts were mandatory and had she been wearing it, she would have been decapitated.  But does she wear one now? Yes.  Should we all wear one? Yes. Why? Because, MOST of the time, they are helpful, but no, there are no guarantees.
Does sunblock guarantee I will not get skin cancer? No? Then I won't wear it. ::In fact, lots of people get cancerous spots even if they diligently wear sun block, yet we do it anyway because there is a CHANCE it could help, or at least lessen the severity.
Does doing my best at whatever I am doing guarantee I will be successful? No? Then I won't even try.  ::In fact, we FAIL most of the time, and success usually only comes after MANY failures.



Perfection and guarantees are not feasible in this life in most instances.  We all live by odds and chances.  The only thing that almost always guarantees failure is NOT DOING ANYTHING AT ALL.  Other than that, it is left up to chances and odds.  We can, and should, do things to put the odds in our favor, but there is never a guarantee.

Not trying to help Zoe not get sick just because YOU have sentimental value to a particular food is down right irresponsible.  She DESERVES a happy, healthy life.  She DESERVES the chance to not have to worry about when her liver will fail or if she will have severe bone loss before she is even middle aged or any other of the myriad of problems that can come with this.  She DESERVES the chance to not have to worry about whether or not she will grow old.  She DESERVES the chance to look at food with the attitude of it being sustenance, instead of addiction or sentimentality.  She DESERVES our commitment to her health.

Sure, just eating the regular birthday cake at a party is easier.  Maybe getting to eat crackers and cookies off the shelf is easier, and some might label as fun memories.  BUT she has already demonstrated that she truly loves the gluten free, homemade, non-junk food version of many of those foods, with which she can have fun memories just as easily.  Yes, she likes some of the regular versions too, but why not just go with the version that is safer for her??

She didn't ask for this, I didn't ask for this FOR her, it just is.  And honestly, it's a fine and easy thing to change the way we eat in this way.  It's really not hard at all.  MUCH easier that breaking the addiction to stupid junk food.  And DEFINITELY much easier than fighting a disease.  No there is no guarantee that the disease will not trigger EVEN with the diet changes now, but there is a CHANCE.  Having a chance is worth it.  Doing something is better than just throwing caution to the wind and not caring till you are sick.  In this day and age, that's like saying: "I'll worry about watching my cholesterol AFTER I have my heart attack" "I'll worry about being morbidly obese AFTER I have caused permanent damage to my joints and I have diabetes" "I'll worry about wearing a helmet AFTER I have my motorcycle accident", so on and so forth.  It's insane and archaic.  Once upon a time those were things that people did, but in today's world we know so much more and it's plain ridiculous to ignore valuable information like this.   And, honestly, if something does trigger, at least she wouldn't have that emotional connection with things she can't eat...

But, unfortunately, this IS what people who 'care' for her think.  This IS the method they are using.  "Enjoy life and eat like you haven't a care in the world! Worry about it when you are diagnosed with an incurable disease that will cause you to eat this way anyway.  Oh yea, and I KNEW you had a very good risk this would happen and I chose to feed you lies and junk food because I cared too much about MY food issues to see how my choices could affect you".

Yea, that's how it's going.  And I try very hard to stop worrying about it.  I try hard to convince myself that at least she's not eating that stuff when she's with me, but that's like saying "Well if I put sunblock on her, all that sun she's getting when she's not with me won't cause her cancer"  "Well if I make her wear a helmet, those times that she's not wearing one will be canceled out", etc.  It doesn't work that way.  But I still try my best, if for no other reason than to TRY to help shape her view of what is safe and what isn't for her.  Or maybe, just maybe, it might SLOWDOWN the time till something is triggered.  Maybe she'll get a few extra years until this cannot be ignored.  It will be harder for her then.  She will have addictions and emotional connections with things she will have to give up.  She will have irreparable damage to contend with.  She will have to come to terms with having a completely different way of life, as opposed to just continuing on in the way she had been.

Think about it - If you got diagnosed with a disease and the treatment was to eat a particular diet, and that's what you already do, you will probably think "Ok, that's cool, I'm used to it".  OR if it is a complete overhaul you'll probably focus instead on what you CAN'T have "I have to give up THAT? I cant' have THAT anymore??!".  Big difference of perspective and we have all heard the saying "A situation is 10% the situation and 90% how we react to it".

Well, anyway, that's not something I can prevent.  I can be sad for her, but ultimately it will just be something she will have to deal with. People can either make it harder or easier on her.  I can only do what I can do...

Ugh, I always get so passionate about this.  I can't help it - she's such an awesome person, I want the very best for her.



It's Friday! Have a great weekend! I get to spend it with Zoe so that makes me happy!

Children and Gluten Videos

Here are 2 good videos about gluten and children.

The First Video is more about what is gluten sensitivity and the [For all those absolutists: Not every child/person has all or any of these symptoms, and not all of these symptoms are exclusively caused by gluten] possible symptoms children can have when exposed (Makes me extra happy Zoe was breastfed, never had infant cereal, mostly fed fruit/veggies! But I think my eating gluten is what maybe caused her colic...And since removing gluten, whenever she does get a good bit, she usually gets diarrhea/very soft stools and she asks me to rub her belly while she tries to go because her tummy hurts...). 

The Second Video is about how to help them and others get to be truly gluten free, genetic testing and some of the consequences, etc. 

They are kind of long, but if you have time, it's worth a listen.

Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac

“Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are subsets of gluten intolerance"

There is some debate whether a celiac is more likely to contract autoimmune disease than a gluten sensitive patient, but the jury is still out. I can only state that clinically I have seen many patients with autoimmune disease who were gluten sensitive.

We also know that gluten, in sensitive individuals, extends its negative effects far beyond the gastrointestinal tract. Cellular & Molecular Life Sciences 2005 reported: “celiac disease has also been termed gluten sensitive enteropathy because the small intestine is the main target of injury; however, the clinical manifestations are extremely diverse, suggesting the disorder is in fact a multi-systemic disorder.”

Hepatology Journal 2007 found: “liver blood test abnormalities affect patients with classical celiac disease or may be the sole presentation of atypical celiac disease.” “A gluten free diet leads to normalization of the blood in 75% to 95% of patients with celiac disease, usually within a year of adherence to the diet.” “Even more, celiac disease was found to be associated with an 8-fold increased risk of death from liver cirrhosis.”

http://www.celiaccentral.org/research-news/Celiac-Disease-Research/134/vobid--2264/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten_sensitivity

Prevalent Role of Gluten Sensitivity and PBC

57% of patients with acute liver failure have anti-transglutaminase antibodies suggesting a role of gluten sensitivity in primary biliary cirrhosis, and primary biliary cirrhosis is considerably more common in gluten sensitive enteropathy than the normal population


I know it's just wikipedia, just saying it's becoming more common knowledge!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_biliary_cirrhosis

PBC Familial Clusters Involve Mother-Daughter Pairs

Whether coeliac disease leads to severe liver disease and failure is the subject of ongoing debate. Patients with chronic liver disease have been found to have a higher prevalence of coeliac disease than the general population. A study of 327 patients with 'chronic liver disease' from Sweden found the prevalence of coeliac disease was increased at least 15-fold. Patients with severe liver disease were investigated in a study from Finland. In those considered for liver transplant for gross liver disease, coeliac disease was found in four and on a gluten-free diet a dramatic response ensued in the three compliant patients and in the fourth, a poorly compliant patient, a partial response followed. A related study of 185 Finnish patients who underwent liver transplantation found eight had adult coeliac disease; four to 10 times the expected prevalence. Seven of the eight adult coeliac disease patients were non-compliant long term. The liver biopsies showed a number of pathologies; autoimmune hepatitis (one), primary biliary cirrhosis (two), steatosis, primary biliary cirrhosis (one), primary sclerosing cholangitis (one), congenital liver fibrosis (one), chronic active hepatitis (one), secondary sclerosing cholangitis following cholecystectomy (one).

There are, moreover, numerous reports of a link to primary biliary cirrhosis with evidence of improvement on a gluten-free diet, leading to the recommendation that all patients with primary biliary cirrhosis be screened for coeliac disease.

There is evidence for links between coeliac disease, often silent, and a wide variety of liver diseases particularly a mild silent hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/500797_3

And if anyone doubts my worry for Zoe:

...data suggest that first-degree relatives of PBC patients have an increased risk of developing the disease. Most often, these familial clusters involve mother-daughter pairs, which is consistent with the female preponderance of the disease...

I am justified to worry!

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ad/2011/189585/

Is Gluten Intolerance The Cause of Autoimmune Disease

...There has been proof for many years that the intestine is not the only tissue targeted by the immune reaction to gluten...Now, more recent research reveals that perhaps a vast number of autoimmune diseases may also involve an immune response to dietary gluten...And potentially on and on it goes to include many of the 100s of autoimmune diseases afflicting millions of Americans. Can you now see why gluten has such far-reaching effects that damage other systems of the body?

Dr. Alessio Fasano performed a brilliant study on rats that were genetically predisposed to develop type 1 diabetes...This study was the first time that an autoimmune disease was prevented by blocking intestinal permeability...This study opens a new field of investigation into the relationship between the health of the intestine and the basis of many diseases. Imagine if the “unknown trigger” of autoimmune disease turns out to be gluten and its effect of creating a leaky gut!

A study from Italy showed that the longer gluten sensitive people eat gluten, the more likely they are to develop autoimmune diseases. They found that in childhood celiacs, the prevalence of autoimmune disease rose from a baseline of 5% at age 2 to almost 35% by age 20. Imagine if screening of all children for gluten intolerance resulted in reductions of future autoimmune diseases!

...have their children evaluated for gluten intolerance, especially if there is any incidence of autoimmune disease in their family tree...

...we do see some very exciting reversals in autoimmune disease symptoms once a patient has removed gluten from their diet...

http://www.healthnowmedical.com/blog/2011/07/05/is-gluten-intolerance-the-cause-of-autoimmune-disease/

Leaky Gut

 What is the Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS)?

Leaky gut syndrome is a term often used in complementary or alternative medicine circles and by the lay public that describes a collection of symptoms believed to be due to what medical researchers call increased intestinal permeability or altered intestinal or gut barrier function. This concept is increasingly recognized as one of the most important problems, if not the most important, in the prevention or development of various diseases such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease and various autoimmune disorders. An intact gut barrier is part of the innate immune system defense mechanism that is important for health and prevention of disease. The intestine is lined with a single layer of epithelial cells, called enterocytes in the small bowel and colonocytes in the large bowel or colon. These epithelial cells constitute the intestinal barrier or defensive wall from what enters our body when we eat.

Can gluten cause leaky gut with or without celiac disease?

Chronic gluten exposure has been shown to activate zonulin resulting in increased intestinal permeability (or leaky gut) even in the absence of celiac disease. ...

http://www.thefooddoc.com/leaky_gut

Study Sheds Light On Gluten Sensitivity - WSJ.com

Very interesting article. Like I keep saying- this information is still very new, but it's real!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200393522456636.html

Is gliadin really safe for non‐coeliac individuals?

"The data obtained in this pilot study support the hypothesis that gluten elicits its harmful effect, throughout an IL15 innate immune response, on all the individuals. This innate response is found in both patients with and without CD, although the triggering of an adaptive response is CD specific. We propose that somehow patients with CD need to be DQ2 and also have a lower threshold for triggering an adaptive TH1 response. This lower threshold could be mediated by the higher basal levels of immune mediators, like IFNγ mRNA, found in patients with CD, a defect in the CD permeability or even a higher IL15‐sensitive response under the same stimulus, which might be mediated by a higher density of IL15 receptor in patients with CD."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1954879/?tool=pmcentrez

Some Pet Peeves

So I've been reading various PBC support group sites and there are a few things that bug me.  But before that, I do want to preface this with the fact that overall I think these groups are awesome! And I am so thankful for having this disease in this day in age.  I feel like people that had this before the internet/infomation age were probably very misinformed and just felt totally lost...

OK, my pet peeves.  First, it's sort of a mixed one- MOST of the people on these boards are over 50 women.  There are some exceptions, but by and large, that's what's there.  I feel kind of out of place.  Like why the heck do I have this thing?!?!?! I'm too young! But it's mixed, because the few ladies I've talked to, make me feel better - like a mom or grandma looking out for you, so that's nice.

My other pet peeve is a little slogan most sites tend to have.  Something like "PBC doesn't have to be a death sentence".  So, ok.  Yes it MAY not kill you, but just because it doesn't directly kill you doesn't mean your quality of life is worth a darn.  In one breath they say it may not kill you and in the next they talk about all the aches, pains and disabilities caused by PBC.  So many people end up going on disability due to the extreme fatigue, joint pain, liver pain, etc...NOT SOMETHING I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO...And MOST of them all end up developing multiple autoimmune diseases.  Like PBC is the gateway autoimmune disease! :(

And then a post I read keeps playing over and over in my head - "My mom just died of PBC and now I've been diagnosed with it..." UGH! I don't want this to be my and Zoe's story!!!!!!

But I'm doing everything I can to prevent for Zoe and to heal me!  I WILL!!! ;) I will keep telling myself: I will beat this! I will have a long and happy life with my kid! I will help her to stay healthy through lifestyle and nutrition choices!  I WILL!!

Some videos concerning gluten and our health

So there are tons of things to find that will talk about gluten and how it negatively impacts our health.  I find more stuff all the time.

Here's a different mode.  Instead of giving more articles to read (which I will soon anyway :).  Here are some videos to watch/listen to.  Good info...I'm sure I'll find more soon.  They are all over the place. 


Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

A TED MED Presentation

Surprising how much stuff has gluten

TRUE Gluten Free Diet Guidelines – Avoid All of These…
Wheat
Barley (malt)
Rye
Oats
Sorghum*
Millet*
Teff*
Triticale
Spelt
Durum (semolina)
Einkorn
Emmer
Corn (maize)* (for a list of hidden corn ingredients, go here <<<)
Rice (does not include wild rice varieties but does include brown rice)*
Groat
Graham
Amaranth***
Buckwheat***
Quinoa***
*These grains are classically considered gluten free, but are not recommended on a TRUE gluten free diet.  If you would like to learn more about why these other grains should be avoided, watch the following video <<<
*** These items are technically not grains, but are at high risk for cross contamination and not recommended on a TRUE gluten free diet unless verification can be obtained.  These pseudo cereals are also very high in glutamic acid and should be discouraged as substitutes for patients with neurological symptoms.
Misc. Food Additives or Processed Foods That Can Contain Gluten
MSG
Modified food starch
Textured vegetable protein
Hydrolyzed plant protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Hydroxypropylated Starch
Pregelatinized starch
Vegetable gum
Vegetable protein
Extenders and binders
Maltodextrin (wheat or corn based)
Dextrin
Maltose
Non Dairy Creamer
Seasonings (check labels)
Natural Flavors
Smoke flavors
Artificial Flavors
Natural Colors
Artificial Colors
Caramel color and flavoring
Soy Sauce
Miso
Bouillon cubes or stock cubes
Candy may be dusted with wheat flour; ask.
Canned soups – Most are not acceptable.
Cheese spreads & other processed cheese foods.
Chocolate – may contain malt flavoring.
Cold cuts, Wieners, Sausages – may have gluten due to cereal fillers.
Dip mixes
Dry sauce mixes
Honey Hams – can be based with wheat starch in coating.
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt – check all dairy.  Cows are fed grains and many react to dairy for this reason.  Grass fed dairy recommended (or avoid dairy altogether).
Instant Teas & Coffees – cereal products may be included in the formulation.
Mayonnaise – check thickener and grain based vinegar ingredients
Mustard – Mustard powder may contain gluten
Oil, frying – Check for cross contamination or corn based oils.
Poultry and meats – Check out the flavorings and basting and inquire about meat glue
Sour cream – May contain modified food starch of indeterminate source.
Dry roasted nuts & honey roasted nuts
French fries in restaurants – Same oil may be used for wheat-containing items.
Gravies – check out thickening agent and liquid base.
Vitamin supplements (different brands contain grain based ingredients – check the labels carefully)
Baking powder (commonly contains grain – wheat or corn)
The Grasses -
Many people want to use wheat, barley, rye, and oat grass (not the seed) as a supplement in the diet.  Technically, these do not contain gluten as they are the grass part of the plant.  However; it is recommended that these be avoided to prevent the possibility of cross contamination.
Alcoholic Beverages that contain gluten-
Beer
Malted beverages
Grain based spirits (many claim that distillation removes gluten…Gluten Free Society recommends avoidance regardless)
Non Edible Items That May Contain Gluten (Read Your Labels)-
Stamps & envelopes
Toothpaste
Lipstick
Hairspray & Shampoo
Detergents
Pet Food
Medications & Vitamins
Lotions
Playdough
Makeup
Is There Gluten in Dairy?
Research has identified that gluten from mother’s milk passes into the dairy of humans.  A majority of gluten sensitive individuals do not tolerate milk or dairy based foods.  The staple diet for commercial dairy cows is grain.  Whether or not glutens from feeding cows grain crosses into dairy is still in question and has not been adequately studied.    That being said, common sense of the obvious should supersede the decision to use dairy.  Gluten Free Society recommends only dairy that comes directly from pasture fed cows if any at all.  For more in depth information on this topic, please listen to the following 2 part interview between Dr. Peter Osborne and Dr. Rodney Ford:
Part 1
Part 2
****Note – their is no such thing as a complete comprehensive list of food items that contain gluten.  Manufacturers regularly change their ingredients, mislabel, have product recalls, etc.  This is why Gluten Free Society’s stance is to avoid processed and packaged foods as much as possible as well as to avoid eating out as much as possible.  You cannot control the mistakes or ethical considerations of others.


My source:
http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/guidelines-for-avoiding-gluten-unsafe-ingredients-for-gluten-sensitivity/

A start to the gluten auto immune connection

So here is a website with tons of links to studies with information about gluten and auto immune diseases:

http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/gluten-and-the-autoimmune-disease-spectrum/


This is a video, it's free to watch- there's stuff on the page to buy info, but it's free to watch the video:

http://www.glutenology.net/glutenology-health-matrix-free-video/

That'll get ya started.  Many more to come!