Why am I so sick?  Have you ever asked yourself this question?  If so, it's high time you explored the connection between the brain, the gut (digestive system), the endocrine system (various hormonal systems), and the immune system. 

The body should function like a world-class orchestra that is being directed by a famous maestro --- the brain.  As long as it is all working together, life flows forth like beautiful music.  But just like a musician who is playing a wrong part, body systems that are out of synch with other body systems throw the entire body into disarray.  The once-beautiful symphony can become an unlistenable cacophony of mere noise.

The fact that humans recognize a precision balance within the body is nothing new.  It was the Psalmist, David (yes, the same David that killed Goliath), who wrote, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made".  Whether creationist or evolutionist, today's highly educated medical community realizes this as well.  The problem is that they are all too often asking the wrong questions.  For example, sometimes it is quite simple to look at a blood test and make a diagnosis of "hypothyroid" (increased blood levels of TSH).  The real question though is why?  What is it that is causing TSH levels to increase?  Restoring health has to be understood in terms of uncovering underlying causes, not just treating symptoms. 

Yes, modern medicine realizes that the patient above is loosing Thyroid function.  But "why" is the fundamental question that seems to remain perpetually unasked.   And while it's true that replacing hormones will sometimes restore blood levels of certain hormones to so-called "normal" values, this approach does not address what is causing the gland(s) to malfunction in the first place.  The best approach involves attempting to figure out why the gland is malfunctioning, and move forward from there.

It's easy to prescribe hormones, ANTIDEPRESSANTS, pain pills, NSAIDS, or cortico-steroids, but are these really addressing the unerlying things that can suppress (or rev up) endocrine or immune system function?  What about some of the things that are known to adversely effect the neuro-endocrine system?   Viruses, mold, yeast, bacterial overgrowth / lack of good bacteria (Dysbiosis), autoimmunity, immune system imbalance, various anemias, Leaky Gut Syndrome, food sensitivities / intolerances, chemical exposure, toxicity, heavy metals, etc, etc, etc........?    All these things cause various degrees of endocrine dysfunction --- some of them debilitating.  If you have dealt with chronic health problems of any sort, you probably realize that many of the things on this list are all but ignored by today's medical establishment.  But should they be?

Dr. Aristo Vojdani wrote in the foreword to Dr Datis Kharrazian's "Thyroid Book" that, "The idea that environmental factors, in particular, infectious agents, may cause severe thyroid disorder has been in the literature since the 1940's".  Wow!  If Drs. Vojdani and Kharrazian are correct in their premise that "environmental factors" and "infectious agents" can in fact cause severe disorders of the body's various endocrine glands (including thyroid), can the vast number of Americans suffering with their vast array of Chronic Conditions ever hope to gain relief and restore health within the confines of the "Medical Box"?   In order to answer this question, stand in a public place and simply look around you.  Despite untold amounts of public and private monies being spent on healthcare; and despite billions upon billions of dollars being poured into medical research, the answer to this question is painfully obvious.


WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE INFORMATION IN TODAY'S POST?
I will warn you. The information in this website will be a shock to many of you.  For others, it might provide a small glimmer of hope.  But the question remains, what will you do with it?  There are several different paths you could follow. 

• Some of you will play the "Ostrich Game" and bury your heads in the sand.  It's just easier to keep moving in the same old direction.  I understand ---- change is far too difficult. 
  
• Some of you will discount what you are reading outright.  After all, it's being written by a durn chiropractor --- an Ozarker at that! 
  
• Some of you will question your doctor.  Great.  I tell everyone to question anything and everything that any doctor tells them ---- including me!  Just be aware that unless your doctor is actually staying current with the latest cutting edge research, he / she will not likely agree with much of this.  That's OK because....
  
• Some of you will do your own research.  Great!  I not only suggest you do this; I provide some excellent resources as well.  Knowledge is power, and if you want to have any hope of regaining your health, you will make yourself an expert on your particular problem.  I truly love patients who research.
  
• Finally, there is a small group of you who will embark on a journey ---- a journey that will start moving them out of the "Medical Box" --- the box they have been living, floundering, and suffering in for far too long.  Tremendous!  I applaud their courage!  These individuals will soon start to see the singularity of the Nervous System, Endocrine System, Gut, and Immune System.  A "singularity" simply means that these all related and intertwined at such a deep level, you cannot always tell where one system ends and the other begins.  Thus, the odd name of this Blog Post, Endogut.
  

Digestion is a big deal.  Fail to properly digest food, and you end up with more health problems than you can shake a stick at.  All of the problems you will read about shortly (Hypochloridia, Dysbiosis, H. Pylori infection, etc), can severely hamper digestion.  And if digestion or absorption of the food you eat is hampered, your brain will send messages that you are starving and need to eat more food.  What does this cause you to do?  Can anyone say "overeat"? 

Unfortunately, this is all too common here in America.  But your weight is only of many aspects of your health ---- albeit a visible one.  As you read this website, you will quickly recognize that Dysregulation of Blood Sugar --- Dysglycemia (an inability to keep blood sugar in a very narrow range) is the root of all kinds of health problems.  In fact, some of the most cutting-edge research on the planet is now pointing to the fact that Dysglycemia is not only the root of most endocrine / gut problems, it is the root of most health problems period (HERE)!

• Secretion: Delivery of enzymes, mucus, ions and the like into the lumen, and hormones into blood.
• Absorption: Transport of water, ions and nutrients from the lumen, across the epithelium and into blood.
• Motility: Contractions of smooth muscle in the wall of the tube that crush, mix and propel its contents.

OVERVIEW OF DIGESTION
Digestion is simply the process of food being broken down into small enough particles so that they can be absorbed by the body.  Digestion is a somewhat different process for the three types of foods.
PROTEIN DIGESTION               FAT DIGESTION                  CARB DIGESTION

Don't panic.  We are not going to go into a lot of crazy detail here.  Just remember a few simple facts.  Like that the products of digestion (Amino Acids, Glucose, and Fatty Acids) are then used by the body as building blocks for everything it makes.

• AMINO ACIDS:  Amino Acids build proteins.  Things like muscles, collagen, many hormones, neurotransmitters, immune system antibodies, etc, are made of proteins.  In fact, proteins are what the majority of the inside of your body's cells are made up of.

• GLUCOSE:  Glucose is the simple sugar that your body uses as energy.  The Glycemic Index measures the speed at which various carbohydrates are broken down into glucose.  25% of your body's entire glucose production is used by the brain.
  

• FATTY ACIDS & LIPIDS:  Fatty acids & Lipids can be broken down into glucose, but are chiefly used to make cell membranes as well as things like nerve sheaths, steroid hormones, cholesterol, (not the demon it's usually portrayed as) and others.  Cell membranes are made up of a lipid bi-layer (a double layer of fatty acids) that is selectively permeable. This means that it lets certain things in the cells while keeping other things out.  It is important to remember that Trans Fats create "stupid cell membranes" --- membranes that are no longer as "selective" as they should be.

How and where does digestion occur?
THE MOUTH
Digestion begins in the mouth. Chewing breaks food into smaller particles so that chemicals and enzymes can begin to work on the food. Enzymes in saliva begin to digest starches, and mucous helps lubricate and hold the chewed food in a clump called a bolus. The tongue then pushes food to back where it can be swallowed. Swallowing is accomplished by reflexes that close the opening to the trachea (the windpipe).

THE STOMACH
The food hits the stomach and triggers “stretch receptors” that tell your lower brainstem (Medulla Oblongata) to begin secretin Gastrin. Gastrin begins mixing with Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) and tells the stomach to start making digestive juices. This mixture is churned by the muscular walls of the stomach into a mixture called “chyme”. Be aware that HCl is what makes the stomach acidic ---- extremely acidic. As I said on the previous page, it is virtually impossible to have too much or too strong stomach acid.

Strong stomach acid (it should be between 1 & 2 on a pH scale --- HERE) does several things. It helps protect you from bacteria, virus, molds, yeasts, parasites, etc. It also converts something called pepsinogen into the chief digestive enzyme for digesting proteins --- pepsin. Be aware that the stomach has a mucous lining that keeps you from getting burned (ulcer) by HCl.

Ulcers are caused by gastric juices and Hydrochloric Acid penetrating the mucous lining of the stomach or duodenum and actually beginning to digest the stomach itself. It is now known that ulcers are caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria cannot live in the extremely acidic environment of the stomach. However, when the acidity of the stomach begins to wain and its pH goes up, the bacteria can take hold and even thrive. Once the colony of bacteria is large enough, it takes over portions of the stomach lining, preventing it from secreting mucous. Like I said earlier, the stomach itself becomes susceptible to the digestive action of pepsin.

DUODENUM
Chyme then enters the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) in tiny spurts, through the Pyloric Sphincter. At this point, proteins and carbohydrates are only partially digested and fat digestion has not really started. The pancreas kicks into high gear. It produces both Pancreatic Juice & Insulin.

Pancreatic Juice is dumped into the duodenum and neutralizes the acid from the stomach.  It contains digestive enzymes (Amylase) that are used to break down starch. Pancreatic Juice also contains the Digestive Enzymes, Trypisn and Chymotrypsin for the digesting of proteins, as well as an enzyme (Lipase) for breaking down fats. The Duodenum is also where the bile that is manufactured in the Liver, but stored in the Gallbladder, is dumped into the system. Bile "emulsifies" fats (creates more surface area by separating large globs into lots of tiny droplets) so that it can mix with water and be acted upon by enzymes.

DUODENAL HORMONES

• The hormone, “Secretin” is stimulated by acid chyme from stomach. It's twofold function is to stimulate the pancreas to produce sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acidic chyme. It also stimulates the liver to secrete bile.

• The hormone “CCK” is produced when the presence of food stimulates production. It then stimulates the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to produce pancreatic enzymes.

• Food in the duodenum stimulates certain endocrine cells to produce GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Peptide). It has the opposite effects of gastrin; it inhibits gastric glands in the stomach and it inhibits the mixing and churning movement of stomach muscles. This slows the rate of stomach emptying when the duodenum contains food.

THE LIVER

• The liver detoxifies blood from the intestines that it receives via the hepatic portal vein.
• The liver stores glucose as glycogen (animal starch) and breaks down glycogen to release glucose as needed. This storage-release process maintains a constant glucose concentration in the blood (.1%). If glycogen and glucose run short, proteins can be converted to glucose.
• It manufactures blood proteins.
• It destroys old red blood cells and converts hemoglobin from these cells to bilirubin, a component of bile.
• Ammonia produced by the digestion of proteins is converted to a less toxic compound (urea) by the liver.

SMALL INTESTINE
The small intestine is approximately 27 feet long. To create more surface area (just like in the stomach), it contains numerous ridges and furrows (wrinkles). These wrinkles contain numerous finger-like projections called villi that function to further increase the surface area of the intestine. Individual villus cells are also covered with finger-like projections microvilli which greatly increase absorptive surface area. Digestive enzymes are embedded within the membrane of the microvilli. The total absorptive surface area of the Small Intestine is equivalent to 500 or 600 square yards. Each villus contains blood vessels and a lymph vessel, as this is the point where digestion ends, and absorption begins.

By the way, the junctions between the individual cells in the small intestine are said to be “tight”. If for any reason they are not tight (usually a product of Inflammation run amok), partially digested food particles, bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, and all sorts of other "nasties", hit the blood stream. This is called Leaky Gut Syndrome and is practically endemic in modern America (more to come in a bit).

Absorption is a critical function of the small intestine. Glucose and amino acids are actively transported into the intestinal cells, where they are picked up by capillaries (small blood vessels). Glycerol and fatty acids produced by the digestion of fat enter the villi by diffusion, and are then reassembled into fat (triglycerides).


LARGE INTESTINE (COLON)
The colon receives nearly 3 gallons of water per day. Half a gallon comes from food and the rest comes from the various secretions into the gut. Ninety Five percent of this water is reabsorbed. Be aware that even slight dehydration can adversely affect digestion.

The large intestine also absorbs sodium and other ions but it excretes other metallic ions into the wastes. It also absorbs vitamin K produced by the good bacteria (flora) that live in the gut. The last 8 inches of the large intestine is the rectum. Feces is composed of approximately 75% water and 25% solids.  Believe it or not, one-third of the solid mass is intestinal bacteria.   The rest is indigestible food (fiber).

It is important for the person dealing with Chronic Conditions to at least have a general understanding of digestion / absorption.  Knowledge is power, and if you really want to have any hope of getting better, you have to take the bull by the horns and become proactive.  Taking charge of your health has to be something that YOU do for yourself.  Not something that you let your doctor do FOR you.

If you are trying to get healthy, yet failing to address what is going on in your gut ---- Fuhget about it.  It's impossible! 

Your gut contains 80% of your body's Immune System.  In case you were on autopilot when you read the last sentence, let me repeat it.  Your gut contains 80% of your body's entire immune system!  I had been hearing this statistic bantered around for years, so I decided to find out where it actually came from.  In 1999, a group of three Australian doctors from University of Melbourne's Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology published a scientific paper in a peer reviewed medical journal called the American Journal of Physiology. The paper was called, "The Intestine as a Sensory Organ: Neural, Endocrine, and Immune Responses". 

In the Abstract (I suggest you read it --- the first paragraph of the paper), the authors tell us something that the Scientific Community has known for decades.  That, "the gut immune system has 70– 80% of the body's immune cells".  As crazy as it sounds, the vast majority of your immune system lives in your digestive tract.  Poor digestive health means poor Immune System function.  Poor Immune System function leads to an array of health problems that can drain the life out of a person and sap their will to live. Some of these broad classes of disease include Autoimmunity, Fibromyalgia, all sorts of Endocrine Problems, as well as a long list of others. 


GUT BACTERIA
"HEALTHY FLORA"  -vs-  "UNHEALTHY FLORA"
Some of the most well known gut problems associated with poor flora ("Bad Bacteria") are IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Acid Reflux, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease (or Gluten Sensitivity), H. Pylori Infection (an overgrowth of the stomach with Heliobacteria Pylori --- the bacteria that causes Stomach Ulcers), and Dysbiosis (an overgrowth of the small intestine with bad bacteria). Autism and Schizophrenia are two brain disorders that have strong ties to gut flora problems as we will see shortly.

If you have followed my blog, you are aware of how important the "Good Bacteria" are when it comes to health (example HERE).  Your whole body contains about 100 Trillion cells.  Believe it or not, your gut contains about ten times that number of over 1,000 species of bacteria.  The majority of these bacteria are not only "Good", they are critical to your immune system function and overall health.  Let's see why your Gut Flora is sometimes called "The Forgotten Organ".

• THEY MANUFACTURE VITAMINS:  They make Biotin -- one of the B vitamins as well as Vitamin K.

• THEY PRODUCE ENERGY:  Good Bacteria can utilize energy from unused materials via the process of fermentation.  Some fermentation is great.  However, too much fermentation and you have a problem on your hands.  In a Dysbiotic Gut, food will tend to be fermented as opposed to digested.

• THEY "TRAIN" THE IMMUNE SYSTEM:   Research published in the Jan 2010 issue of Nature Medicine, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, shows us that the gut's good flora keep the immune system locked, cocked, and ready to rock. Senior author Jeffrey N. Weiser, M.D. likens this process to the performance differences between cold engines and warm engines. If the immune system is already warmed up by "good bacteria", it can better cope with the various attacks against your body.  As you might imagine, antibiotics prevent an immune system from "idling". 
  

• THEY PREVENT OVERGROWTH OF PATHOGENIC ("BAD") BACTERIA:  There are so-called "bad" bacteria that live in harmony with the good bacteria.  Keep in mind that we have to have certain amounts of all these bacteria in our system in order to stay healthy.  The problems start when the two sides get out of balance.  Too many bad bacteria is called Dysbiosis.  As crazy as it may sound, many medical experts are showing us that we are killing off our good bacteria so fast, we are wiping out entire species ---- forever (SEE HERE).  There are severe consequences for doing this!
  

• THEY PREVENT OVERGROWTH OF OTHER PATHOGENIC ("BAD") ORGANISMS:  There are a host of critters out there that we do not want in here.  Some of these include Yeasts (Candida is the biggie), Molds, Fungus, Parasites, Protozoa, etc.  Good bacteria actually keep these in check.  Women understand this better than anyone (vaginal yeast infections after using antibiotics).  The real problem, however, is not vaginal yeast; it's Systemic Yeast (blood-borne yeast infections).  What do you think happens when yeast (or the toxic chemicals yeast produces) get into the blood stream?  How about a Leaky Gut or some Fibromyalgia?
• THEY CONVERT 20% OF YOUR BODY'S INACTIVE THYROID HORMONE (T4) TO THE ACTIVE FORM (T3):  Hypothyroidism affects a minimum of 10% of America's population (some experts claim the number is double that).  Dysbiosis is a huge contributing factor in this THYROID EPIDEMIC.
• THEY DEGRADE METHYL MERCURY --- THE MOST TOXIC FORM OF MERCURY:  Mercury is the single most toxic non-radioactive element on the planet!  To get it out of your body, it must be converted into a form that cannot be stored in your fatty tissues.  Good Bacteria do this!
  

Although I heavily promote restoration of the Normal Gut Flora in my clinic ("Good Bacteria") by taking PROBIOTICS (HSO's -- Homeostatic Soil Organisms; the same bacteria found in organic soil), for many people, simply taking probiotics is not enough.  One of the reasons that it can be difficult (impossible) to think that you can simply take probiotics and restore good bacteria has to do with bio-films.  Bio-films are microscopically thin membranes that are thrown up by colonies of bad bacteria.  These membranes make it exceedingly difficult for the Immune System cells to get at them in order to kill them. 

There are natural treatments that can disrupt the biofilms enough to kill the overgrown pathogenic colonies, but some of these can be temporarily harsh and may provoke something known as a "Herxheimer Reaction".  This is the body's reaction to too many toxins being released into the system all at once.  No, it will not kill you, although it might leave you with cold-like (or even flu-like) symptoms for a few days.  The Herxheimer Reaction is caused by an overload of your body's filtration systems (primarily liver and kidneys) as it struggles to get rid of the toxic residue of quantum amounts of dead bacteria.  The bottom line is that an effective treatment of Dysbiosis could leave you feeling temporarily worse.


HOW DO PEOPLE DESTROY THEIR GOOD BACTERIA & END UP WITH TO MANY OF THE BADDIES?   ANTIBIOTICS!
Although there are numerous factors that cause imbalances in the Good Bacteria - Bad Bacteria ratio (NSAIDs {anti-inflammatory drugs}, the pill, HRT,  Systemic Inflammation, Chronic Stress, weakened Immune system, systemic infections {Dysbiosis, yeasts, molds, fungi, parasites, etc}, poor sleep habits, not eating healthy foods, vitamin / mineral deficiencies), the primary culprit is using Antibiotics.  And although Antibiotics start the process and get the ball rolling, the thing that feeds it and keeps the ball rolling is the massive over-consumption of processed carbs, grains, sugar, and even high Glycemic Index fruits.  For more on this topic, please read THE NUMBER ONE HEALTH PROBLEM IN AMERICA.

The Centers for Disease Control admits that as many as 45% of America's 150 - 200 million yearly antibiotic prescriptions are completely unnecessary.  Many experts say that the actual number of unnecessary antibiotics is higher than that --- much higher.  I have seen estimates that the number is closer to 90%. Antibiotics were invented as a stop-gap measure to save a life when all else failed.  The more you use antibiotics, the weaker you make your own immune system.  If you go online right now, you can find study after study that proves the scientific community is worried ("freaking out" might be a more accurate term) over the fact that we are causing extinction of various strains of good bacteria, and causing the rise of "Super Bugs" at the same time!  So why aren't the prescription habits of the doctors in your town changing.  Ask them! 

Just be aware that a huge component of numerous Chronic Conditions is Dysbiosis.  Once Dysbiosis gets a hand hold, other things can certainly feed it (sugar, for instance).  However, the match that lights the eventual bonfires of Fibromyalgia / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Migraine Headaches, and numerous others is frequently antibiotics.

Ever had butterflies in your stomach?  Had a "gut feeling" that something wasn't quite right?  Felt like you wanted to throw up before your drivers-ed test? Felt sleepy after eating?  All these are functions of something called The Enteric Nervous System (ENS).  and believe it or not, this specific part of your nervous system that is found in the lining of the gut contains more nerve cells than the spinal cord!

Hopefully your "gut feeling" on this matter is to pursue it.  Take 5 minutes and read this short article in our country's oldest and most prestigious Scientific Journal, Scientific American; "Think Twice: How the Gut's "Second Brain" Influences Mood and Well-Being" (HERE).

GUT / BRAIN CONNECTION:

• ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM CONTROL:  The Enteric Nervous System is the Digestive System's own private nerve system that regulates the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon.  It helps push food along with peristaltic contractions as well as controlling the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.  And, as we talked about previously, it protects the body against harmful bacteria, yeasts, parasites, fungi, undigested particles of food, heavy metals, and toxins of all sorts, that can enter the blood stream along with completely digested food. By the way, when the body can no longer control this situation, it is referred to as Increased Intestinal Permeability or Leaky Gut Syndrome,
  

• CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CONTROL:  The brain does not give up total control of the of "The Gut" (digestive tract).  One of the cranial nerves (Vagus) comes off the Medulla Oblongata of the lower brainstem to control the parasympathetic innervation (the part of the nervous system that promotes good bowel moments and good digestion) to the gut.  To see why this is important, read on.

• FIGHT OR FLIGHT -- SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE:  The body has two nerve systems --- sympathetic and the part we talked about in the previous bullet, the parasympathetic.  99% of the time, your body should be in parasympathetic mode -- relaxation.  Due to constant stress (emotional stress, dietary stress, physical stress, etc), many people end up with their Adrenal Glands in the "ON" position, and the body in a constant "Fight or Flight" (sympathetic) response.  The body will not only not digest food, it will either expel it (diarrhea / vomiting) or shut down the digestion process to the degree it can (constipation).  For more on this phenomenon, see HERE.

• THE GUT TRIGGERS ACUTE IMMUNE RESPONSES:  We are learning that the gut is important for immune response via the good bacteria that make a home there and provide 4 / 5ths of your body's Immune System power.  However, we must also be aware that the gut can trigger mast cells in the lining of the small intestine and colon to release histamine.  This causes an Inflammatory response that attracts immune cells from the blood stream into the area.

• NEUROTRANSMITTERS:  Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are all found in the gut. And not only are they found there, it is estimated that as much as 95% of the body's serotonin is made in the gut.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps give people "good" feelings of well-being. It plays a critical part in the communication between the brain and the gut (this is why people who take Prozac and other SSRI anti-depressants will often experience digestive problems like diarrhea or constipation that can be stimulated by excessive serotonin).  Oh, and yes, these neurotransmitters all affect your mood and well being.
  

Where do Food Sensitivities end and Food Allergies begin?  Technically speaking, a Food Allergy is a food (peanuts for instance) that provokes an immediate and intense Immune System Response.  A person must have been exposed to that particular food or substance at least once previously, but once the Immune System recognizes the substance as "foreign", it viciously attacks it every time it sees it.  These attacks can be capable of causing anaphalyactic shock and even death. Allergic reactions can be intense, are typically short-lived, and are usually limited to airways, skin, or the gastrointestinal tract (Gut).  They are caused by an intense IgE reaction in the Immune System, and about 1% of the population deals with these types of problems on some level.

A Food Sensitivity is frequently defined as being milder than an Allergy because it is said that the Immune System is not actually attacking the offending food.  This, however, is not true.  Food Sensitivities affect at least 1/3 of the population, and do so via Immune System reactions.  These reactions are not typically as immediate as they are in a Food Allergy, but they can be just as severe, affect any and all body systems --- often in ways that are seemingly unrelated, and last for days (even weeks).  Because they do not happen immediately, people will often live a lifetime suffering from a Food Sensitivity and never realize what it is.  Why?  How many doctors are talking about this?  Fortunately for the general population, a few are. The most common food sensitivities include:

• Milk

• Gluten (this is probably the most dangerous --- SEE HERE)

• Soy

• Peanuts

• Eggs

• Corn

• Yeast

Although I tend to use the words "Sensitivity" and "Intolerance" synonymously, this is not technically accurate.  Food Intolerances are best understood in terms of Lactose Intolerance.  People do not have the enzyme (Lactase) to deal with Milk Sugar (Lactose), so they react.  The reactions are typically characterized by bloating, loose stools, constipation, diarrhea, and gas.  Give people the proper enzyme and the problem is solved.

How do you know if you have Food Allergies, Sensitivities, or Intolerances?  There is only one way to know for certain.  You have to be tested.  If Food Sensitivities (or other triggers) continue unchecked, the result is going to be unbridled INFLAMMATION.  As you may know from things you have read, Inflammation is not simply swelling.  It is a group of chemicals that attacks your body from every conceivable angle.  One of the chief areas that is attacked is the Gut.

Any time the gut is over-run by inflammatory chemicals, you will have problems ---- big problems.  The leader of the pack, so to speak, is LEAKY GUT SYNDROME.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is characterized by an "Increased Permeability" of the mucosal layer of the small intestine.  Increased Intestinal Permeability (The medical community's word for Leaky Gut Syndrome) means that things that should not get into the blood stream do get into the blood stream.  When this happens, huge problems are created.

Leaky Gut Syndrome (along with Leaky Brain Syndrome, Leaky Lung Syndrome, and other similar "Leakies") are huge roadblocks to getting healthy.  When the Immune System chemicals that we collectively refer to as "Inflammation" build to critical mass, they start wreaking havoc on the body.  Not only are these chemicals the known cause of heart disease, they cause arthritic problems, cancer, disc problems, autoimmune disease, diabetes, as well as a whole host of others. 

When these "Inflammatory Chemicals" invade the Gut, they cause the "tight junctions" in the small intestine to become "lose".  The lose junctions allow things that should not be there (including partially digested food particles, viruses, parasites, and numerous others) into the blood stream.  The body recognizes these things as foreign and sooner or later begins reacting against them. Unfortunately, most of the medical community does not admit that Leaky Gut Syndrome even exists (even though there are nearly 10,000 studies on the effects of Increased Intestinal Permeability).  Why not?  Because they do not have a test or drug for it.  To see how Inflammation and Leaky Gut are major components of almost every disease process known to man, please read THIS POST.

Fortunately, there are now tests that tell you not only whether or not you have Leaky Gut Syndrome, but how severe a case you have.

By now you should be starting to realize that there is a connection between the gut and the brain.  However, this is just the beginning.  Not only does the brain and nerve system control all of the glands of the endocrine system, many of the glands of the Endocrine System are actually part of the brain itself and heavily involved with neurotransmitter.  There are three Endocrine System Glands that are part of the brain:

• THE HYPOTHALAMUS: 

• THE PITUITARY GLAND: 

• THE PINEAL GLAND:

The Endocrine System is complex.  No, I take that back.  It is really really complex!  Realize that although the pages in the above links are short, I do not expect you to remember all of the information.  I have these pages to show you what can happen when certain parts of the brain become imbalanced due to over or under-stimulation.  The result is a wide variety of all sorts of health problems due to stress, injury, illness, immune system compromise, chronic infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic), low levels of oxygen, poor diet, emotional trauma, etc, etc, etc. 

The focus of Brain Based Therapy is to find these areas and use Metabolic Testing and / or specialized neurological / metabolic management techniques to either slow them down or speed them up, according to what is needed. 

Although you may not have ever heard of the almond-sized Hypothalmus, it is a critical part of the Neuro-Endocrine System.  It's most important function is to connect the Nervous System to the rest of the Endocrine System via the brain.  While this might not sound like a big deal, the Hypothalmus.....

• Controls numerous metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system.

• Controls body temperature. 

• Controls hunger

• Controls thirst

• Determines fatigue

• Controls sleep and circadian cycles.

• Synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, often called hypothalamic-releasing hormones,

• Stimulates or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones.

The Hypothalamus makes a number of Endocrine System Hormones.  These include Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH), Dopamine, Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH), Growth Hormone Inhibiting Hormone (aka, Somatostatin), Gonadatropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH), Oxytocin, and Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH or Vasopressin)

The Pituitary Gland has several functions:  It is a tiny pea-sized protrusion from off the bottom of the Hypothalamus (weight: 1/50th of an ounce).  It has two parts:

• THE ANTERIOR (Front) PITUITARY, aka "Adenohypophisis":  The Anterior Pituitary makes eight different hormones.  These are Human Growth Hormone (HGH), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH), Beta-Endorphins, Prolactin, Leutenizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones (MSH's).  What I really want you to grasp here is the mechanism for increased Cortisol production.  Stress (emotional, dietary, chemical, immune system, etc) triggers the secretion of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) by the hypothalamus.  This, in turn, triggers the Anterior Pituitary to release ACTH, which is carried by the blood to the Adrenal Glands, where it triggers Cortisol Production. 

• THE POSTERIOR (Back) PITUITARY, aka "Neurohypohpisis":  The Posterior Pituitary makes two different hormones.  Oxytocin and Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH or Vasopressin).

The Pineal Gland gets its name because it is shaped like a tiny pine cone.  It produces melatonin from serotonin (10% of the body's serotonin is made in the brain -- 90% is made in the Gut.  Among other things, melatonin affects sleeping and waking patterns.  As you can see, a decrease in production of serotonin means that you will have a decreased production of melatonin as well.  Can anyone say "Depression & Insomnia"?

Regulating Blood Sugar is critical.  We are all aware that Dysglycemia (the inability to properly regulate blood sugar) leads to diabetes.  What most of us are unaware of is how many other problems (including problems of the Endocrine System) are directly related to blood sugar dysregulation as well. 

We know for a fact that most cases of Adrenal Dysfunction as well as the majority of Thyroid Dysfunction cases are rooted in an inability to control blood sugar.  If you cannot get blood sugar under control, you will never be able to get other problems of the Endocrine System (Fibromyalgia for instance) under control.  This also means that if you are not able to maintain an optimal weight, you are not properly regulating blood sugar, despite the fact that your blood may be within the range that your doctor says is fine --- a common situation in America. 

The pancreas is part of the Digestive System.  It secretes a digestive juice that contains digestive enzymes that helps to break down and digest the three types of food: fats, carbohydrates, & proteins. However, its most important function is as an Endocrine Gland that secretes several hormones. We are going to cover two of them; Insulin & Glucagon.

Just understand that these two hormones work in opposition to each other.  Insulin is a storage hormone.  When the body's blood sugar climbs too high, Insulin is released to help control it.  Insulin's job is to move excess sugar out of the blood and into the cells where it will either be burned for energy or stored as fat.  Be aware that when the pancreas cannot keep up with blood sugar, the Adrenal Glands will be asked to kick in and help.  When this cycle is repeated over and over again (people constantly overeating and eating a poor diet), you begin to see both the Pancreas and Adrenal Glands burn themselves out.   When the pancreas burns itself out, we call this Metabolic Syndrome and Type II Diabetes.  Also be aware that Fibromyalgia used to be called Adrenal Fatigue. 

Glucagon, on the other hand, works opposite to Insulin.  It takes stored fat and converts it into blood sugar that can be burned as energy.  Just remember, a failure to control insulin is the root of a huge percentage of the illness and disease that commonly affect Americans --- including numerous problems of the Endocrine System.  Just visit the Blog Post called, "America's Number One Health Problem".

The word "hypo" implies a decreased, lowered, or diminished function.  The majority of people in America suffering with thyroid  problems, have diminished function of their Thyroid Gland ---- thus, "Hypo-Thyroidism".  What are some of the most  common signs of hypothyroidism?

• Fatigue

• Weight Gain (even on a low cal diet)

• Morning Headaches

• Depression

• Constipation

• Hypersensitivity to Cold

• Poor Circulation or Numbness in Hands or Feet

• Muscle Cramps / Spasms

• Easily Sick / Difficulty Recovering from Illness
  

• Slow Wound Healing

• Tired all the Time / Insomnia

• Poor Digestive Health

• Dry or Brittle Hair / Dry Skin

• Edema / Swelling (especially facial)

• Loss of Outer Eyebrow

Your Thyroid Gland is a small gland in the throat region that controls metabolism.  As we talked about just a moment ago, the root cause of much (probably even "most") Thyroid Dysfunction is an inability to properly regulate blood sugar.  Note that this is likely true even if your doctor tells you that your fasting blood sugar is "normal".  This occurs because the blood sugar ranges that are considered to be normal by the medical community are actually far too liberal.  This same phenomenon is routinely seen in Thyroid Dysfunction as well.   

At least 10% of the population has thyroid problems.  I have seen estimates that actually double this number.  And interestingly enough, a huge segment of this group has "normal" thyroid levels on their blood tests.  This is because 90% of hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid function) is actually something called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis --- an autoimmune condition of the thyroid.  Be aware that treating Hashimoto's as a thyroid problem will frequently not bear good results --- at least over the long haul.  This is because autoimmune problems are not problems with the gland, organ, or tissue being attacked by your own immune system; they are problems with the immune system itself.  If you fail to address the immune system, you will never get the thyroid issue under control for the long term, and your symptoms (not to mention your blood work) will bounce around all over the place.

The Thyroid Gland is also intimately linked to Gut function.  A peer-reviewed Scientific Journal published a study in 2008 stated that at least 70 million Americans have Gut Dysfunctions.  The same article went on to say that besides Hashimoto's itself, Gut Dysfunction is one of the most overlooked medical problems in America. This begs the question, though, of why.  If Gut Dysfunctions are so rampantly out of control, why aren't doctors talking about this phenomenon?  The reason is twofold:

• #1.  Like I said earlier, many Immune System / Gut dysfunctions begin with antibiotics.  Medical Doctors tend to prescribe lots and lots of antibiotics, despite huge amounts of peer-reviewed scientific evidence to the contrary.  Fortunately, even the medical community is being forced to at least talk about this phenomenon (SEE HERE).
  

• #2.  In All honesty, it is the rare doctor that has any idea about what to do with the various problems that make up a Dysbiotic / Dysfunctional Gut.  In fact, many will deny that some of these problems even exist at all (Leaky Gut Syndrome for instance) because they do not show up on standard blood work or typical medical diagnostic testing.  Be aware that there is now enough medical research on both of these topics that the medical community is finding it increasingly difficult to ignore.
  

Let us take a moment and briefly review five of the most common Gut Dysfunctions.  These various Gut Dysfunctions often travel like wolves ---- in packs.   It is common for testing to verify several of the following in chronically sick individuals.

• DYSBIOSIS:   Understanding Dysbiosis is critical for Thyroid Health.  This is because 20% of the body's T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) is converted to the active form of thyroid hormone (T3) in the presence of "good" bacteria in the Gut!  The term "Dysbiosis" includes things like intestinal over-growths of yeast (Candida), molds, fungus, and "bad" bacteria --- often referred to as poor gut flora.  Be aware that poor flora actually creates toxins that can severely affect the liver, causing hydrogenation (creation of Trans Fats) of healthy unsaturated fatty acids.  Some of these toxins have some repulsive-sounding names ---- "Scatol" and "Cadaverol" are two that come immediately to mind.  As you might imagine, the smell produced by these two bacteria is absolutely disgusting.  Could be the reason that one of the most common symptoms of Dysbiosis is bloating and smelly gas ---- the kind of foulness that could gag a maggot!  If you have a true "Dysbiotic Gut", you will not be able to fix this by simply taking probiotics.  A perfect example is the bacteria Yersinia Enterocolitica.  Those who test positive are 14 times more likely than the general population to have the Autoimmune Thyroid disease we call Hashimoto's Disease.  To understand the scary reality of Dysbiosis from an MD's point of view, SEE HERE.  By the way, antibiotics are the known cause of Dysbiosis (they kill the good bacteria, allowing the bad buggers to reproduce unchecked and run rampant in your body!).  If you have had even one single round of antibiotics in your lifetime, you are at increased risk of Dysbiosis.  The more antibiotics you take, the greater your risk.  FYI:  Although HSO Probiotics are highly recommended by my office, a truly Dysbiotic Gut will not be fixed simply by taking probiotics.  In some cases, radical therapies are called for.  Just Google "Feces Transplant" and see what I am talking about!
  

• HYPOCHLORHYDRIA:  Several major studies cite poor digestion as a leading cause of Autoimmunity --- the very thing that causes 90% of this country's hypothyroidism.  Hypochlorhydria is decreased stomach acid.  Although most people are told that the reason they have indigestion, heartburn, gas, etc, is because they have too much or too strong stomach acid, the truth is probably 180 degrees reversed.  They do not have enough stomach acid or it is too dilute (weak).  The pH of normal stomach acid is supposed to be between 1 & 2.  You cannot go lower than 1 on a pH scale.  It is literally impossible, in an otherwise healthy individual, to have stomach acid that is too strong.  Weak stomach acid (or not enough stomach acid) causes a process the medical profession refers to as "Putrefaction".  This lovely sounding process is where improperly or partially digested proteins churn and boil around in your stomach, creating a bubbling mash of organic acids that can actually "reflux" up the esophagus like a volcano and burn the lips!  Because the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum) wants to work on fully digested proteins (as opposed to partially digested protiens), it tries to "block" the prtially digested food from leaving the stomach and entering the small intestine, thus backing up this undigested mess sometimes to the point of regurgitation.  Be aware that the "acididic" part of the "Acid Reflux" is actually from the putrefying food itself --- not from too much stomach acid!
  

• H. PYLORI INFECTION:  Heliobacteria Pylori is the name of one of the bacteria that lives in the gut and commonly overgrows the stomach.  There are ways to deal with this bacterial overgrowth that do not involve the thing that probably caused it in the first place ---- another prescription of antibiotics. 

• VARIOUS PARASITIC INFECTIONS:  We live in America.  We are clean.  We don't get parasites.  Wrong!  Parasites are common ---- dog common.  If you have an underlying parasitic infection, it could be completely derailing your health.  By the way, this is one of the common factors associated with developing Adrenal Fatigue (Fibromyalgia).

 

• LEAKY GUT SYNDROME:  Leaky Gut Syndrome is caused by out-of-control Inflammation, which itself is caused by many of the things above (particularly Dysbiosis and Parasites).  The various dysfunctions of the digestive system work together like a pack of wolves to attack from lots of different angles.  This can produce a vast array of problems in the gut (as well as the rest of the body) as particles of undigested food (or even small parasites) are allowed into the blood stream to be continually reacted against by the Immune System.  This causes massive Inflammation, which not only feeds the cycle but exhausts the Adrenal Glands and subsequently drags down Thyroid function.   When the "gut" and digestive tract are not working properly, how in the world is the rest of the body going to function properly?  It cannot!  No way!  Poor gut health is where numerous other health problems begin!
  

As we discussed earlier, imbalances in the adrenal system almost always have their root in the inability to properly regulate blood sugar (MD's refer to this as "Dysglycemia").  Part of this has to do with the fact that one of the Adrenal System's chief jobs is to control blood sugar when the pancreas has been overloaded (like it often is with the SAD --- Standard American Diet).  The Adrenal Glands deal with things that "stress" the body, and in America, one of the main stressors (daily, if not hourly for most people) is high blood sugar. 

When we were young, many of us think we can handle sugar overload (I CERTAINLY DID).  After all, we used to be able to eat an entire pizza, follow it with several Krispy Kremes, wash it down with a 55 gallon barrel of soda, and still maintain an acceptable weight.  If you are living like this, trust me; it won't last.  It can't.  When the pancreas is perpetually overtaxed, it recruits the Adrenal Glands to take up the slack. 

Have you ever noticed that you tend to get very tired after a heavy meal (particularly a meal high in refined carbs --- potatoes, pasta, bread, sugar, etc)?  This is due to insulin doing its job.  We eat a high carb meal, which rapidly increases blood sugar.  Because blood sugar must be kept in a constant range, the body releases insulin to move sugar out of the cells to be used as energy or stored as fat.  The result is often a rapid drop (sometimes more like a "plummet") of blood sugar.  It actually "reactively" drops below normal causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  This is "Reactive Hypoglycemia" and is always a sign of Dysglycemia ---- an early step on the road to diabetes.

Dietary stress also causes the Adrenal Glands to secrete Cortisol --- the body's chief stress hormone.  One of the many jobs of cortisol is to increase blood sugar.  The constant yo-yo'ing caused by meals or snacks high in sugar and refined carbs, not only burns out the pancreas (leading to Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, and Diabetes), it exhausts the Adrenal Glands as well.  On top of that, increased cortisol levels can actually shift active thyroid hormone (T3) back to the inactive form (T4), causing further symptoms of Hypothyroidism.  It also exhausts the brain's control centers for cortisol production (chielfly the Hypothalamus and Pituitary).

CONSISTENTLY HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS CAUSE:

• Diminished Immune System Function

• Frequent Infections / Colds / Illness / Ulcers

• Hypothyroidism/ Low Energy Levels
  

• High Blood Pressure

• High Blood Sugar & Reactive Hypoglycemia (subsequent rapid drop in blood sugar)

• Obesity (particularly abdominal fat and the upper back -- like a "hump")

• High LDL Cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)

• Increase Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease (heart attacks, strokes, etc)

• Female Hormonal Issues

• Depression / Anxiety

• Muscle Weakness

• Osteoporosis

• Increased Pain Sensitivity

• Acne

IMPORTANT NOTE: Most of the time, we are not talking about full-blown Cushing's Syndrome --- a diagnosisi easily made via standard blood tests.  Cushing's Syndrome is a condition caused by dramatically elevated Cortisol levels in the blood whose symptoms are similar to those seen above and include elevated blood pressure, diabetes, pink / purple stretch marks on the abdomen, fatigue, depression, moodiness, and accentuated fatty tissue on the face and upper back. Women with Cushing's Syndrome may develop irregular menstrual periods and develop new facial hair growth, as well as a decrease in sex drive.  Sometimes the line between Adrenal Fatigue and Cushing's Syndrome is very thin


And here is the final kick in the teeth as far as your gut is concerned.  A 2007 issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology published a study that described a relationship between perpetually high cortisol levels and increased incidence of Chronic Inflammation, Chronic Infections, and Gut Dysbiosis.  That's right.  Even though the American medical community continues to play the "ostrich" and deny that Dysbiosis is a problem (or that it even exists at all), the Europeans are completely aware of this phenomenon and are light years ahead of us in trying to deal with it, as well as educating both their doctors and the general public about this crisis. 

Not only will increased dietary stress, lead to increased cortisol production, which leads to a weakened immune system; it leads to all sorts of other problems including Fibromyalgia (Adrenal Fatigue) and Obesity --- particularly "Central Obesity" (belly fat).  Trailing just behind our country's epidemic of Blood Sugar Regulation Dysfunction and Gut Dysfunctions; Adrenal Gland Imbalance is one of the most common (and least diagnosed) health problems facing Americans today.  Oh, if you want to find out how healthy or "burned out" your adrenal glands are; you need to get tested.   No; the medical community here in America does not have tests for these things.  However, there are currently tests available that are being used by the rest of the world to test for things like Leaky Gut, Dysbiosis, H. Pylori, Adrenal Stress Index, etc, etc. 

For more information on the ways that Adrenal Dysfunction and High Cortisol Levels specifically affect the body, visit our FIBROMYALGIA PAGE.

The Thymus Gland is the chief gland of Immune System function.  Although the Thymus is quite large in infants, throughout childhood and adolescence it shrinks to the point that as an adult, it is quite small.  This is probably why medical science has said for decades that the Thymus does not do anything significant in adults.  However, just like the erroneous belief that tonsils were just a mass of useless lymphoid tissue, we now know that this is far from the truth. 

The Thymus Gland sits between your heart and chest wall, and is made up of cells whose purpose is to both to produce and "train" T-Lymphocytes --- white blood cells that are otherwise known as T-cells.  These cells are part of what we call "Cell Mediated Immunity".  Cell Mediated Immunity is the part of your immune system that is involved with THE TH-1 PATHWAY, which is the part of the immune system that carries on the work of destroying invading pathogens. THE TH-2 SYSTEM is involved with making the antibodies that "mark" invaders for destruction by the TH-1 System. 

The T-cells made and trained by the Thymus Gland make up what we call the "TH-1 PATHWAY" and include....

• HELPER T-CELLS (AKA CD4 CELLS):  This class of cell is responsible for "helping" other immune system cells to mature, as well as with immune system processes.  Once activated, they divide rapidly and produce chemicals called "Cytokines", which are part of the body's natural Inflammation process.  Be aware that "Inflammation" is the name given to a collective group of Immune System chemicals.  In normal amounts these chemicals are not only good, but necessary.  When too much Inflammation is present it drives all sorts of ugly and debilitating health problems.
  
• CYTOTOXIC T-CELLS:  These cells go after cells infected with either Viruses or Cancer.
• MEMORY T-CELLS:  These cells hang around long after an infection is resolved.  Their job is to recognize (from memory) the pathogen that caused the problem in the first place, and then rapidly replicate itself into other T-cells capable of dealing with the pathogen. 
• REGULATORY T-CELLS / SUPPRESSOR T-CELLS:  This group of cell's duty is to both slow down or halt immune system processes, as well as suppressing T-Cells that have been deemed "unfit" by the Thymus Gland.
• KILLER T-CELLS:  These do exactly what their name implies; they kill pathogens.  These cells have aspects that make them similar to Inflammation.  

The bottom line, if your body's Endocrine System is malfunctioning, there is a chance that the two links between your Endocrine System and and your Immune System (The Gut & The Thymus Gland) are malfunctioning as well.  How can you tell?  Get tested!

Autoimmunity is a condition where the body recognizes one of its own tissues, organs, or glands, as "foreign" and starts to attack it.  This is serious stuff!  Although doctors always want to blame autoimmune conditions on hereditary factors, this cannot explain the recent and almost astronomical explosion of Autoimmunity in the American population.  Right now, at least 1 in 5 Americans (some experts claim that this number is closer to 50%) are dealing with some sort of autoimmunity issue.  FYI, if you have a thyroid problem, there is a 90% chance that it is Hashimoto's Disease ---- hypothyroidism caused by autoimmunity.  Why is Autoimmunity so rampant in America?  It is due to massive Inflammation and Gut Dysfunction caused by all of the things that I have spoken of so far:

• DYSBIOSIS:

• POORLY REGULATED BLOOD SUGAR:

• PARASITES:

• LEAKY GUT SYNDROME:

• FOOD ALLERGIES / SENSITIVITIES:

• CHEMICAL EXPOSURE:

• HEAVY METALS:

• ENDOCRINE DYSFUNCTION:

The key to understanding autoimmunity is firstly realizing that it is not a problem with the tissue, gland, or organ that is being attacked.  It is a problem with the immune system itself.  Secondly, you must realize that it is a scientifically proven fact that 80% of your entire Immune System resides in your Gut.  Re-read that statement.  Let it sink in for a moment.  Scientists in Australia proved something back in 1998 that much of the scientific community has postulated for decades.  Why do you think that if you go back forty or fifty years ago, every single person that was admitted to the hospital for any reason, first received an enema?  Doctors had not yet become totally brainwashed.  It was still known that cleaning out the bowel helped the Immune System work better and the patient heal faster! 

FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
A common trigger of autoimmune disease in women is pregnancy (remember that women suffer from autoimmunity at a 10 times greater rate than men).  During the third trimester a woman typically becomes TH-2 dominant, and then after having the baby, becomes TH-1 dominant.  When you combine pregnancy with the other risk factors commonly facing today's women (Gut Dysfunction, Antibiotics, crappy diets, Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, Hormonal Issues, Blood Sugar Dysregulation, etc), you have a recipe for disaster as far as autoimmunity is concerned.  Not only are autoimmunity and pregnancy intimately related to each other, infant autoimmunity is now thought to be at the center of the autism controversy as well. 

Many children are born with immune systems that are already so weakened by mom's poor habits that they simply need the trigger (Heavy Metals, Parasites, Vaccines, etc).  This is because mom got pregnant while dealing with one or more of these very problems herself.  The result?  A child that is born with Autism, eczema, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, food sensitivities, as well as a whole host of other problems.  If you want to see a list of Autoimmune Diseases, just go HERE.  Be aware that this list is in no ways comprehensive.

IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCE.  FIGURING OUT WHICH SYSTEM TO SUPPORT, AND WHICH SYSTEM TO POSSIBLY SUPPRESS (TH-1 or TH-2) CAN ONLY BE DONE VIA TESTING.  WITHOUT TESTING, EVERYTHING IS A GUESSING GAME, AND IF WE GUESS WRONG --- YOU GET WORSE! 

Female hormone imbalances are common.  Absurdly common. We see the same scenario that we have seen over and over and over again when looking at the Endocrine System --- women are affected at a far greater rate than men.  Much of this probably has to do with the Female Hormonal System. Much of this has to do with the fact that all of us are continuously swimming in a sea of Estrogen.  If you are having female issues, there is a high probability that you are also dealing with

• DYSBIOSIS

• MULTIPLE GUT DYSFUNCTIONS (Including DIGESTION, NEUROLOGICAL, & IMMUNE SYSTEM Functions)

• BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION PROBLEMS / SUGAR ADDICTION (Borderline Pathological ---- or maybe not so borderline)
  

• ADRENAL FATIGUE / FIBROMYALGIA

• THYROID DYSFUNCTION
• AUTOIMMUNITY

As men age, their bodies naturally decrease testosterone production.  It is also clinically proven that men with Blood Sugar Regulation Problems such as Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and High Blood Pressure, tend to have both poor sexual function as well as diminished testosterone levels.  How does this affect the rest of the Endocrine System?

For those who have not been keeping score, Dysglycemia is the starting point for most Endocrine System problems (HERE).  If you cannot regulate your blood sugar, eventually you are going to have problems --- with just about everything.  Although men do not generally have as hard a time with this as women, you can tell by the epidemic of Erectile Dysfunction, Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease, that American men are not regulating blood sugar very well either.