The AutoImmune Elimination

Manual

We have a fast paced world that taxes our bodies to perform and produce all day long.

We devalue the importance of rest and continue to drive hard towards our goals. We

load up on caffeine and energy drinks to keep cranking so we “can get everything out

of life.” As a result, we have an epidemic of adrenal fatigue, hormone dysregulation,

autoimmunity and chronic inflammatory conditions.

This guide is designed to help you understand how autoimmunity develops, what

some of the hallmark signs are and how you can tone your immune system more

effectively so you can get well naturally. You will find there are many high quality

visual aids to help you understand the information and strategies within the manual

and throughout the program.

In addition, this program goes over how your body adapts to stress and our goal is

to teach you strategies to adapt more effectively. We know that the hallmark of a

successful life and healthy aging is our ability to adapt to the demands of our

environment.

So how are you adapting to the stressors in your life? Chances are you are not

adapting as well as you could and this is costing you to function at a lower level and

settle for less than optimal health and possibly costing you a lot of unnecessary

suffering.

My prayer is that this guide will help you stop the inflammatory stressors in

your life, adapt stronger and live better.

Table of Contents:

Table of Contents 1

Introduction 2

Chapter 1 AutoImmune Epidemic 3-6

Chapter 2 How We Destroy Our Digestive Systems 7-13

Chapter 3 7 Major Factors in AutoImmunity 14-20

Chapter 4 12 Areas To Address For AutoImmune Disease 21-23

Chapter 5: 7 Benefits of an Elimination Diet 24-28

Chapter 6: The AutoImmune Elimination Diet 29-36

Chapter 7: Identifying Your Food Sensitivities 37-41

Chapter 8: ReIntroduction and Food Scoring 42-44

Chapter 9: 25 Advanced Strategies to Reduce Auto-Immunity 45-49

Chapter 10: Beneficial Supplements 50-58

Introduction

My obsession with digestive health and autoimmunity all started when I went through

my own challenges with irritable bowel syndrome and small intestinal bacterial

overgrowth (SIBO). You will read about my health journey in chapter 2. For years after

my major struggles, I continued to battle with persistent yeast overgrowth and psoriasis

outbreaks on my knees that has at times sapped my energy and made life unpleasant.

By following this program, finding my food safe zone and intentionally venturing out

with awareness to how my body responded to the new foods I was adding, I have been

able to overcome these health issues and improve my digestion, energy, brain function,

immune system, skin & overall quality of life.

As my life and health began to take off, I started attracting clients from all over the

world that were suffering with debilitating autoimmune conditions. I found that most

of the time, these cases had severe leaky gut syndrome as an underlying root cause.

In order to help more people get well in a quicker and easier fashion, I had to

develop this program. Over the years, I have changed so many things in my never

ending quest to perfect a general program that will help the vast majority of the

clients I work with.

Everyone Will Have Unique Results:

Your own genetic makeup, microbiome and biochemistry is unlike anyone else

on the planet. Therefore, you will have your own unique results from this

program.

This program comes from 10+ years of obsessive study, learning from the top experts

in digestive health, immunology, functional nutrition and functional medicine. If you

follow this diligently you will have a greater than 90% chance of overcoming your

autoimmune disorder and improving your overall quality of life.

It won’t always be easy though, as the program requires a rigid food restriction plan for

a period of time. You won’t be able to eat many foods you always thought were

healthy for you and that you loved so much! You will have to stay away from

processed foods, sugars, breads, dairy and desserts. You will either fall in love or hate

bone broth and chicken soup!

But if you take advantage of all the information and strategies in this booklet along with

the rest of the AutoImmune Elimination program, you will give yourself the greatest

chance to change your microbiome, balance your immune system and maximize your

life energy!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not

intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or

have a medical condition, consult your physician before doing any of these health strategies.

*This information is based on Peer Reviewed published studies and all references can be found on DrJockers.com

What is an Autoimmune Disease?

Over 250 million people all around the world suffer from autoimmune diseases. There

are 80 known autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis,

systemic lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and many more.

Autoimmunity is defined as a condition that is characterized by the body’s own

immune system attacking various cells in the body. In the instance of rheumatoid

arthritis, it is the joints and connective tissues of the body. In the case of MS, the

immune system attacks the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve cells of the body.

The major factors involved in the development and progression of autoimmunity

include genetic predisposition, intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome,

chronic nutrient deficiencies, environmental toxicities and chronic stress.

Many factors may trigger an individual’s immune system to function inappropriately

such as infectious agents like bacteria or viruses, genetics and lifestyle factors. You may

not be able to change any genetic predisposition that makes you more susceptible to an

autoimmune disease, but you can change your lifestyle habits beginning with nutrition.

The Immune System

The human body is naturally designed to detect foreign agents in the body such as toxins

or cancer cells. Antibodies are created to seek and destroy these harmful invaders flagged as

a potential threatening agent called an antigen. Although these foreign antigens are looking

to fit in, once the

antibody recognizes them as invaders they alarm other cells to attack and

remove the antigen immediately.

When the immune system confuses normal compounds such as gluten with harmful

antigens, its defense mechanisms maintain the body in a chronic state of inflammation. A

cascade of destructive physiological effects occurs, which potentially leads to abnormal

tissue growth or organ dysfunction

Common Autoimmune Disorders

The following is a list of the most common autoimmune diseases and autoimmune related

disorders compiled by the National Institute of Health. There are many others that are not

listed here but fall into the autoimmune category. Chances are that you may suffer from

one of the following disorders yourself or you know someone who does.

Celiac disease Type 1 diabetes

Addison’s disease Systemic lupus

Multiple sclerosis Grave’s disease (Hyperthyroidism)

Rheumatoid arthritis Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Psoriasis Ulcerative colitis

Sjogren’s Syndrome Scleroderma

Crohn’s disease Chronic Lyme Disease

Do You Have Any of These Symptoms?

Depending on the disease, symptoms of autoimmune dysfunction involve inflammation

in the body that may manifest itself in a variety of ways. The most commonly affected

organs and tissues include red blood cells, blood vessels, muscles, joints, endocrine

glands (thyroid gland, ovaries and testes for example), connective tissue (such as

tendons and bone) and the skin.

The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate your immune system is not

functioning properly:

Fatig

ue

Reoc

curri

ng

fever

Joint pain

and

stiffness

Skin rash

Abdominal pain or discomfort perhaps associated with irritable bowel

syndrome (IBS) Anemia or any known vitamin or mineral deficiency

Mood changes

Heal with Dietary Lifestyle Changes

Many of these autoimmune complications are treated using immunosuppressive

medications which can put the body at greater risk of harmful infections.

Fortunately, more evidence shows that dietary lifestyle changes can decrease the

severity of these symptoms, halt the progression of disease and possibly prevent the

problem from occurring from the start.

We are going to start by understanding the role of the digestive system and how damage

to the intestinal lining is the initial insult before the development of autoimmunity. We

will also discuss the role of food, stress, toxins and posture on the body’s immune

system and ability to recognize safe vs unsafe compounds and antigens and how to

retake control of our immune system.

Chapter 2

How We Destroy Our Digestive

Systems

I was born in 1981 and grew up in a time when we were told by public health authorities

that fat was evil, and we did whatever we could to consume more carbohydrates and less

fat. My family, like most people in those days, thought that foods like orange juice,

cheerios, pasta and potatoes were “health” foods.

My mom was very vigilant about keeping sugar and candy out of the house and never

really spoiled us with sweets. We were considered the “healthy” kids and my mom was

thought to be radical for restricting processed meats and sugary foods from the family.

The only animal products we regularly consumed were fish, eggs and dairy with a little

bit of poultry from time to time.

This was my Typical Diet:

Breakfast: Bowl of corn flakes with low-fat milk and banana and glass of orange juice.

Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread, pretzels and an apple.

Dinner: Pasta with tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and garlic bread or vegetarian

burritos with flour tortillas, refined beans, veggies and processed cheese.

As I developed, I became very interested in health and performance. I was an athlete

through high school and my mom taught me that nutrition played a big role in my

performance. I began to ask for kale, garlic, fruit, peanut butter and canned tuna (for

protein) and lots of pasta and bread (for carbs).

My Body Was Breaking Down on the Inside:

In my early 20’s, I was a personal trainer and extremely active and fit. However, on the

inside, I was struggling.

I would have periods of tremendous intestinal cramping that would leave me lying on

the ground squirming in pain. I struggled with constant bouts of diarrhea and

constipation that were unpredictable. But I thought this was normal and no big deal.

Especially, since I was living a much healthier lifestyle than just about anyone that I

knew.

I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian and never ate what I considered “junk food” like candy,

fast food or pastries. I exercised daily and looked great on the outside, so I thought I

was doing everything right…but I really had no knowledge of how to truly care for

my body.

By ignoring these smaller problems, I was allowing them to get worse and worse, and

eventually spiral out of control. That is when the “little things” completely disrupted my

life.

My Typical Diet Plan as a Personal Trainer:

Breakfast: Bowl of Quaker Oatmeal squares, berries, skim milk, dry roasted peanuts,

whey protein (processed – not the raw, non-denatured that I currently recommend).

Lunch: Salad – spinach, cucumber, onion, tomato and processed soy burger or tuna fish

with olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano and table salt and pepper.

Snack: Nuts, fruit or processed protein and energy bars.

Dinner: Farmed salmon with veggies and olive oil or soy burger with whole wheat bun

and salad with olive oil.

Before Bed: Protein Shake with skim milk, berries and whey protein.

You can see that this diet was much better than my childhood diet – I was consuming

more vegetables and nutrients, but I still took in a lot of carbohydrates and processed

foods that were dressed up as “health foods.”

Both of these diets were highly inflammatory and, in my case, the lifestyle factors I will

describe going forward, destroyed my digestive system. This led me to have low energy,

cramping, bloating and constipation. I was also sleepy all the time with major brain fog.

Here Were Some of the Issues:

Drinking Water:

I was drinking tons of water (which we all know is healthy) at least a gallon a day, but

unfortunately the water was not filtered very well and contained chlorine and fluoride,

which both have a detrimental effect on our gut microflora and intestinal lining.

Artificial Sweeteners:

I knew better than to eat a bunch of sugar, but at the time I didn’t realize how bad

Splenda was. Splenda contains chlorine molecules that damage our gut microflora and

irritate the gut lining. I never purchased Splenda directly, but I used processed protein

bars and whey proteins that contained this dangerous ingredient.

Pasteurized Dairy:

I would consume a lot of skim or low-fat milk, yogurts and cottage cheese.

Unfortunately, most of these products were not organic. These animals are given

hormones and antibiotics, which make their way into both their meat and dairy products.

Subsequently, I ended up consuming extreme amounts of hormones and antibiotics,

which are both dangerous chemicals that damage the microbiome and gut lining.

The cows are fed grains to enhance the production of their milk, but this grain-feed

contains high levels of omega 6 fats which increase inflammatory activity in our bodies.

In addition, if the meat is not

organic, then it contains pesticides and herbicides from the genetically modified

(GMO) grains that were given to the cows.

Farm Caught Fish:

I would have salmon and tuna all the time because I thought they were healthy.

Unfortunately, like most people, I ate a low-quality farm-caught variety that I would

purchase because I didn’t know the difference between farmed and wild caught.

Farmed fish is fed GMO grains that are laced with pesticides and herbicides that damage

the gut lining. These fish are very sickly and are made to look pink through a synthetic

dye that is applied to them to “freshen” up their look for the supermarket.

Gluten and Grains:

I would eat oatmeal or Quaker oatmeal squares every morning. I would use whole wheat

breads and pastas and lots of brown rice. I thought this was super healthy, but grains in

general are inflammatory and the lectin components can be extremely hazardous to gut

health and the overall nutritional status of the body.

Soy Products:

One of soy's primary isoflavones, genistein, has been shown to inhibit the enzyme

tyrosine kinase in the brain. The highest amounts of tyrosine kinases are found in the

hippocampus, a brain region that is essential to learning & memory.

High soy consumption actually blocks this mechanism of memory formation. Processed

non-organic soy is also genetically modified, which makes it quite hazardous for a

number of reasons explained below.

Processed Proteins:

I was a huge fan of processed protein bars, protein shakes, getting shakes at smoothie

places, etc. I remember that I would even drink Ensure – because I liked that it had

protein and vitamins/minerals in it.

Unfortunately, these products were all synthetically created and had tons of

dangerous additives, preservatives, artificial flavorings, etc. All of these add to our

toxic load and inflame the body and damage the gut lining and the microbial

diversity in the digestive system.

NSAIDs:

I suffered with headaches all throughout my childhood and would frequently take

Ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). When I played high

school sports, I took more to

control pain and help with injuries. Unfortunately, NSAIDs place a lot of stress on the

liver and kidneys and wear down the stomach and intestinal lining.

My System Was So Overwhelmed:

By the time I got into graduate school, my system had been overwhelmed. I dropped 30

lbs in a 6 month period of time (from 165 lbs to 135 lbs) and I looked very thin. My

parents and colleagues were

concerned. My blood pressure was extremely low and I would get dizzy every time I

stood up too quickly.

I finally realized that I had leaky gut/irritable bowel syndrome and needed a drastic

change. So I went about removing all the possible toxins from my diet and lifestyle, and

in a year I had gained the muscle weight back and felt significantly better.

This is when I realized that digestive health is foundational to overall health.

The Digestive Dysfunction Epidemic:

I could go on and on about all the things well-intentioned people are doing every day

that damage and inflame their bodies. I should know, because I was one of them for so

many years! Did you know that research indicates that 61% of the Unites States

population alone is dealing with at least one symptom of digestive dysfunction?

You name it — gas, bloating, heartburn, abdominal pain, candida, constipation,

diarrhea — the statistics say that YOU are more than likely experiencing one or more

of them, right now at this very moment.

Digestive Problems and Chronic Inflammation is the New

Normal:

Living with digestive problems has become the new normal. Typically, they begin as

minor complaints

— a little indigestion here and there, the occasional tummy ache or bout of heartburn.

Over time, they get progressively worse. The signs are relatively silent at first and then,

BAM, you get hit with some horrible symptom out of nowhere!

THIS is what’s so confusing to people, as hundreds of millions across the globe are

wondering why they don’t feel well. The truth is that “modern day” medicine has fallen

as much as 17 years behind the latest research. In other words, almost two decades will

pass before your doctor recommends what actually works. Chances are, your doc is

unaware of the growing number of research studies demonstrating these alarming

findings:

– The toxicity of persistent constipation may cause common, everyday symptoms like

fatigue, attention deficit, and brain fog.

– Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and

multiple sclerosis are almost always rooted in digestive dysfunction and chronic

inflammation.

– The inflammation from gut dysfunction can spread throughout the body, causing

inflammation in the brain, joints, and other important organs.

– Chronic inflammation is a characteristic of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and

neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia.

By the way, inflammation in the gut may also shut down your body’s ability to burn fat.

Most doctors are either unaware of this information or don’t care to know. Meanwhile,

people like you and I have paid the price with unnecessarily suffering and many have

even had to go into debt because of medical bills! This HAS TO STOP!!!

What Is the Solution?

The solution is to make lifestyle changes that are in alignment with our body’s natural

genetic code. We were made to enjoy and assimilate nutrients from real foods. Foods that

have been consumed for thousands of years by people all over the world are naturally

bioavailable and easily assimilated by our bodies.

This ancestral approach to food consumption is rich in nutrients and low in

environmental toxins. It works in harmony with the body and frees up vital energy for

all of our basic functions. The food provides for our various cravings due to the good

fats that are smooth and creamy, the hearty proteins and the flavorful herbs. This is the

nutritional plan for optimal lifelong energy and vitality!

Chapter 3

7 Major Factors in Auto-Immunity:

Based on twin studies, we now know that 25% of autoimmunity is genetics, and

the other 75% is environment (1).

I personally believe there are 7 main environmental factors that contribute to

autoimmunity: Gluten Sensitivity, GMO’s, Gut Dysfunction, Neurological Stress,

Toxins, Stress and Infections. Every one of these is a piece of the pie–for some, one

piece may be bigger–but all play a role to some degree.

As a clinician, I focus in on addressing all 7 of these areas to help people overcome their

auto-immune challenges. Here is the rationale and some research support for each area.

Gluten Sensitivity:

Gluten is the common protein found in wheat, barley, kamut, spelt & rye. Gluten is a

sticky, storage protein that is challenges the digestive tract. Gluten often binds to the

small intestinal wall where it can cause digestive and immune system disorders.

Full-blown gluten allergies create destruction of the small intestinal villi (pockets that

allow for nutrient absorption). This condition is called Celiac disease but is not officially

diagnosed until there is severe enough damage to the intestinal tissue to qualify for the

diagnostic criteria of Celiac.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is an epidemic that is a major contributing

factor with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. For these individuals

consuming gluten creates a chronic stress response that hyper inflames different

regions of the body.

NCGS is highly associated with inflammatory disorders of all kinds (2). It is also a

contributing factor in many autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, rheumatoid

arthritis, type I diabetes, neurological disorders, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, autoimmune

cardiomyopathy, lymphoma, and dermatitis herpetiformis (skin disease) among others

(3,4,5). It is also linked as a contributing factor in asthma, allergies, & eczema (6,7).

GMO’s:

In their position paper, the AAEM sites several animal studies that indicate extreme

health risks associated with genetically modified (GM)) foods. Some of the health risks

include infertility, immune dysfunction, allergic reactions, accelerated aging, insulin

dysregulation, organ malfunction and digestive dysfunction (8).

The AAEM quoted in their paper, “There is more than a casual association between GM

foods and adverse health effects. There is causation, as defined by recognized scientific

criteria. The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is

confirmed in several animal studies” (8)

Gut Dysfunction:

The gut plays a role in over 70% of the immune system and has a direct connection with

the brain through the vagus nerve. Poor bacterial balance or dysbiosis is associated with

every digestive tract disorder as well as auto-immune conditions and psychological and

behavioral issues. The health of the body and mind are especially dependent upon the

health of the human microbiome.

When the digestive system is damaged it leads to improper nutrient absorption and an

increase in toxic substances in the body (9). This is one of the leading causes of chronic

disease. For example, excessive yeast produces toxic substances that can pass through the

blood-brain barrier and alter neurological functioning causing “brain fog,” behavior

problems and learning difficulties.

Neurological Stress:

The nervous system and immune system are hardwired and work together to create

optimal responses for the body to adapt and heal appropriately. Neural dysfunctions due

to spinal misalignments are stressful to the body and cause abnormal changes that lead to

a poorly coordinated immune response. (10, 11, 12)

Birth trauma, consistent bad posture and other traumas such as car accidents and falls

affect and stress the spine. In particular, these things can damage the vulnerable upper

cervical spine which is extremely stressful to the body. The ramifications of increased

stress hormones in the body include overworked adrenal glands, lowered immunity,

decreased digestive functions, fatigue, & blood pressure disturbances.

Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and

irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body. Subluxations are an

example of physical nerve stress that affects neuronal control. According to researchers,

neurological stress leads to altered measures of immune function & increased

susceptibility to a variety of diseases (13, 14).

Toxins and Detoxification Ability:

The modern world is full of environmental toxins. It is estimated that there are over

80,000 toxic chemicals used regularly in the US. There are over 500 chemicals stored in

our body and the average individual has at least seven pesticides tested in their urine

(15). It is imperative to have a daily detoxification strategies to get these unwanted

toxins out of our system.

The body has a built-in metabolic detoxification system to address this problem by

converting fat soluble toxins into inactive water soluble metabolites. This process is

carried out by a series of enzymes that transform, conjugate (attach) and transport

the toxins out of the body.

Many individuals have genetic polymorphisms that hamper their ability to detoxify.

Others have had their detoxification systems overwhelmed resulting in low glutathione

and methylation elements. Without these key factors, the individuals are unable to adapt

and detoxify, and therefore, stress and inflammation are amplified.

Stress and Hormones

Chronic, low-grade stress is a modern day epidemic that creates sluggish metabolism,

chronic inflammation and abnormal immunity. This stress depletes the body of critical

nutrients and causes oxidation of various cellular elements. Elevated stress hormone

levels can create digestive problems and leaky gut syndrome, increased appetite, weight

gain, thyroid disorders and accelerated brain degeneration (16).

These are common findings in the brains of those with anxiety disorders, depression

and other psychological disorders. Many auto-immune conditions have chronically

elevated stress hormone production as a catalyst for this abnormal immune response

(17).

Living in a state of fear is extremely destructive to human physiology. Fear drives

stress hormones which utilize all the key resources in the body and leave the system

drained after a period of time.

Infections:

Chronic parasitic infections are linked with intestinal permeability and leaky gut

syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, irregular bowel movements, malabsorption,

gastritis, acid reflux, skin disorders, joint pain, seasonal and food allergies and decreased

immunity (18, 19, 20).

Other major infections include Herpes, Human Papilloma Virus and Cytomegalovirus, H

Pylori, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Candida. There are many

others but all of these drain the immune system and cause abnormal reactions that can

result in auto-immunity.

Chapter 4

12 Areas to Address For Auto-Immune

Disease

Chronic inflammatory disorders and auto-immunity are characterized by a hyper

responsive immune system. There are 12 key factors that must be addressed to regulate

and better coordinate the immune system.

1. Poor Blood Sugar Stability: Blood sugar imbalances cause immune

dysfunction and malcoordination. Stable blood sugar is critical for a

healthy immune response.

2. Low Vitamin D Levels: Individuals with low vitamin D3 levels (below 40 ng/ml) are

at significant risk for developing chronic inflammation and auto-immunity (10).

3. Gut Dysbiosis: Poor microbial balance in the gut microbiome leads to leaky gut

syndrome and chronic inflammation (11). The gut must be addressed in order to get

well.

4. Mitochondrial Dysfunction: The mitochondria are the energy producing organelles

in each cell of the body. They are extremely important in the body’s ability to handle

oxidative stress. Dysfunction in the mitochondria leads to increased free radical and

oxidative stress which creates immune alterations. Many researchers believe that other auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis

are primarily a mitochondrial disease (12).

5. Low Glutathione Levels: Glutathione is the major anti-oxidant within every cell of

the body. It is critical for white blood cell (WBC) function as the WBCs encounter

tremendous amounts of free radical and oxidative stress every second of the day. Low

glutathione leads to chronic inflammation and in many cases; it will lead to auto-

immunity (13).

6. Poor Omega 6:3 ratio: The average person has significantly more omega 6 fats than

omega 3 fats within their diet and cellular makeup. The increased omega 6 fatty acids

stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory mediating prostaglandin molecules. This is a

key factor in the development of chronic inflammation and auto-immunity (14).

7. Upper Cervical Subluxation: The bottom of the skull (occiput) and the first bone (atlas)

play a significant role in the coordination patterns of the brain and immune system.

Dysfunction at this joint torques and compresses the top of the spinal cord and increases

inflammatory activity in the body (15).

8. Environmental Toxins: Exposure to high levels of infectious microbes,

environmental chemicals such as plasticizers, pesticides, herbicides, personal care

products, heavy metals and mold wear down the body's glutathione levels, alter the gut

microflora and increase inflammatory activity in the body (16, 17, 18).

9. High Stress and Poor Breathing Habits: High mental and emotional stress increases

stress hormone production which induces inflammatory activity within the body. Short

and shallow breathing habits can simulate chronic mental and emotional stressors on the

physiological level (19).

10. Lack of Sleep: Poor sleep promotes immune dysfunction and increased

inflammation. Good sleeping habits and optimal melatonin secretion reduce

inflammation and promote improved tissue healing (20).

11. Methylation: Methylation is a key process that protects DNA, turns on and off

genetic traits and helps to detoxify environmental chemicals. Many individuals have

certain genetic polymorphisms that limit their ability to appropriately methylate.

Methylation plays a very important role in T cell function and poor methylation status is

associated with the development of auto-immunity (21).

12. EMF Exposure: Electromagnetic frequency exposure has been shown to alter the

function of the immune system and increase one’s susceptibility to developing an auto-

immune condition (22)

Nutritional Support:

This program teaches you how to improve all of these major areas. The nutrition

program works specifically on the following:

Blood Sugar Stability Improves the Microbiome to Correct Gut

Dysbiosis

Supports Mitochondrial Biogenesis Improves Glutathione Levels

Balances Omega 6:3 Levels Reduces Exposure to Environmental Toxins

Supplement to Support the Following:

We also provide specific training in functional supplementation for:

1) Probiotics for the Microbiome 2) Glutathione Support for Oxidative Stress 3) Mitochondrial support 4) Methylation support 5) Detoxification support 6) Omega 3 fatty acids 7) Vitamin D 8) Anti-inflammatory agents

Advanced Healing and Detoxification Strategies:

This program also provides advice and training on lifestyle strategies to improve

detoxification, enhance mitochondrial biogenesis, reduce inflammation, support healthy

EMF levels, improve sleep, posture and breathing and reduce mental and emotional stress

levels.

Chapter 5

There is growing interest in the role of the gut microbiome and its effect on human

health. We are discovering that how we feed our gut microbes plays an enormous role in

the level of inflammation and quality of life we experience. This understanding has

opened the door to experimental use of a food elimination diet to improve various health

problems.

An elimination diet is an eating plan that eliminates specific foods that can be

contributing to inflammation and other reactions. Following this restricted diet for a

period of time leads to a reduced level of inflammation and improved self-healing

capabilities.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that supports the use of an elimination

diet for a wide variety of health issues.

1. Helps to Heal Leaky Gut Syndrome:

Leaky gut or intestinal permeability syndrome is a condition in which the gut lining is

damaged. In this condition, large food particles, bacteria and environmental toxins are

able to seep into the bloodstream (1). Roughly 70% of the immune system is held within

our digestive tract, so when the gut is irritated, it will drive up inflammation throughout

the body.

Every autoimmune disease and chronic inflammatory condition has some association

with leaky gut syndrome. The development of leaky gut not only increases whole

body inflammatory levels but it also leads to malabsorption of key nutrients such as

zinc, iron and vitamin B12.

A food elimination diet reduces the inflammatory provoking foods which tones down

inflammation and allows the body to heal and seal the gut lining more effectively. Once

the gut is sealed, the individual will experience less food sensitivity reactions and less

overall inflammation.

2. Improves Auto-Immune Conditions:

Food intolerances are known to provoke auto-immune conditions and worsen their

severity. Many case reports have shown that individuals can see huge relief from these

conditions by commencing on an elimination diet.

One such report, published in 2010, showed a 42 year old woman with Sjogren’s

syndrome (autoimmune disease) and premature ovarian failure have a restoration of

normal menses after using an elimination diet protocol. Her menses had ceased 3 years

earlier and after 4 months of eliminating gluten, beef, eggs, dairy, nightshades, refined

sugars and citrus fruits her menses returned (2).

Another study of a 50 year old woman who had suffered with ulcerative colitis causing

diarrhea with mucus and blood, abdominal pain, thinness, anemia and lowered immunity

for over 30 years showed dramatic results on an elimination diet. She came off of gluten,

dairy and eggs for 1 year and her stools were normal, she had gained healthy weight, no

longer had anemia and their was no longer any presence of antibodies to her colon tissue

(3).

A 1997 study showed that 30-40% of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis could see

significant improvement within 10-21 days of beginning an elimination diet (4). A 2004

review of the literature discussed systemic lupus as a possible masquerade for an extreme

gluten sensitivity that does not cause digestive complaints (enteropathy) but instead

causes auto-immunity to skin and connective tissue.

There is also an enormous amount of research on the connection between gluten

intolerance and auto-immune thyroid conditions and how the removal of gluten can

potentially reduce thyroid antibodies and improves thyroid function (5).

From a clinical perspective, I have seen so many people with autoimmunity thrive when

placed on an elimination diet. I have witnessed such great results with this that I now

use this protocol as my front-line treatment for all auto-immune cases that I consult

with.

3. Reduces Gastrointestinal Symptoms:

A 2006 study at the University of Kansas Medical Center showed that all 20 patients with

irritable bowel syndrome experienced significant improvements in their digestive symptoms

using an

elimination diet (6). That was 100% of the participants in the study that reported

noteworthy changes in their GI complaints!

The individuals in the study followed the elimination diets for 6 months and took

probiotic supplements before being reassessed. The researchers noted that not only

were the individuals GI symptoms greatly improved but all of them had increased

levels of beneficial bacteria present in their gut flora.

4. Improves Skin Irritations:

There is a strong clinical relevance between conditions like acne and eczema and

unknown food intolerances. One large study involving over 13,000 adolescents

showed that those with acne were more likely to experience gastrointestinal

symptoms such as halitosis, constipation and acid reflux.

In particular, abdominal bloating (a common symptom of a food intolerance) was 37%

more likely to be associated with acne and other skin related disorders such as eczema

and rosacea (7).

A specific study out of Rome looked at 15 adults with eczema that went onto an

elimination diet.

Nuts, eggs, milk, tomatoes and cereal grains were removed and 14 of the 15 individuals

saw significant improvements in their skin condition (8).

5. Reduces Migraine Headaches:

Many people who suffer migraines have noticed an association between foods

they eat and the frequency or severity of their symptoms. Others have not been

clued into this connection.

The gut and brain communicate through a series of messages and any increase in

inflammation in the gut can cause the inflammation and vasospasms associated with

headaches and migraines.

An elimination diet can be profoundly beneficial for a migraine sufferer. A 2013 study

took 21 migraine patients and put them on an elimination diet after doing an IgG

antibody test to assess for food intolerances. The majority of these patients experienced

significant improvements with a reduced frequency and severity of migraine attacks on

the elimination diet. (9)

6. Discovering Your Food Intolerances:

There are many people who consume a healthy diet, yet still deal with ongoing

health challenges. What they often don’t realize is that they are consuming one or

more foods regularly that they are sensitive too and that food is provoking

inflammation and preventing them from healing properly.

A 2014 study took 52 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, which is a disorder of the

esophagus that is triggered by food and airborne allergies. In this study, the patients

removed dairy, gluten, eggs and legumes from their diet for a 6 month period (10).

The results were astonishing as 70% of the patients went into remission in this time

period. In 65-85% of the study participants, just one or two food triggers were

responsible. These patients had had years of previous pharmacological treatments and

hadn’t responded favorably. They never knew they struggled with these foods until they

began the food elimination diet.

7. Can Prevent or Improve Learning Disorders:

Many individuals have noticed improvements in their children’s learning ability and

behavior when they removed certain foods like gluten and dairy from the diet. Food

intolerances can lead to major nutrient deficiencies and chronic inflammation that

alters brain development in critical areas responsible for learning and behavior.

A 2012 study at the Children’s Memorial Hospital found that ADHD symptoms were

lower in children after dietary changes were made to reduce sugar, additives and

preservatives and omega 3 fatty acid supplements were given (11). Another group of

researchers at the University of Southampton found that children with restrictive

elimination diets had less ADHD symptoms than children on other types of diets (12).

Conclusion:

There is a large and growing amount of scientific literature that is demonstrating the

clinical efficacy of using a food elimination diet to improve many different health

conditions. The most progressive health practitioners are using some sort of elimination

diet as a foundational strategy to help their clients improve their health.

Chapter 6

The AutoImmune Elimination Diet

Do you ever feel poorly after eating certain foods? Perhaps you are experiencing

digestive complaints, chronic pain or eczema and haven’t been able to figure it out. Your

body may be having an inflammatory reaction to the food you are eating and it could be

of great benefit to try the autoimmune elimination diet.

An elimination diet is an eating plan that eliminates certain foods that can be contributing

to inflammation and other reactions. Over time, the level of inflammation reduces and the

body is able to heal and repair itself.

After this period of time, which could be anywhere from several days to a week, to in

some cases several years, the individual reintroduces some of the inflammatory

provoking foods. They then monitor how their body responds to this reintroduction and

that helps to give them biological feedback as to whether the food is making them weak

or strong.

Why and How Does an Elimination Diet Work?

Roughly 70% of the immune system is held within our digestive tract. Our gut and brain

have an intimate connection through what is called the enteric nervous system. The

enteric nervous system is a series of neurotransmitters that send chemical messages to

the brain in order to trigger the release of enzymes, hormones and inflammatory

responses.

Everything we put into our mouth travels through the digestive tract and impacts the

brain. This communication process helps us understand when we are hungry or full.

These same signals are also communicating messages related to food sensitivities,

microbial infections and nutrient deficiencies.

When you eat something that your body perceives as a threat, the immune system and

brain respond by creating an inflammatory reaction. During an elimination diet, the

individual takes out all the suspicious foods for a period of time (usually a month or so)

and then reintroduces them one by one to see how their body responds to them.

If the inflammatory response stops when the food is eliminated but returns shortly after

reintroduction then it is clear that food is not tolerated by the body and is causing more

harm than good. In these cases, it is best for the individual to remove this food again for a

longer period of time or indefinitely in certain cases.

I use a term called “fringe food” to label a food that has health benefits from the

nutritional components within it, but is a susceptible food for immune reactivity. An

example would be eggs, which are one of the healthiest foods on the planet from a

nutritional perspective. However, eggs are also one of THE MOST immune reactive

foods and many people are unable to tolerate them.

How to Do an Elimination Diet

Here are the steps to follow in order to effectively do an elimination diet:

1. Avoid eating all common allergen/sensitive foods from the list below for about three

weeks. 2. Be sure to read food labels and make sure you avoid even trace amounts of these

foods. You would be surprised how they get gluten and dairy in all kinds of things

you wouldn’t expect them to be in. 3. It is wise to keep a food journal during this period in order to assess how you feel.

This will be an important resource when you begin reintroducing foods in the future. 4. After a month, add back one fringe food at a time. Begin by pulse testing the food

as described in chapter 6. If your pulse doesn’t vary 4 or more beats per second then

you may attempt to add the fringe food back. 5. Eat the fringe food daily if you are able to for 3 days and record your symptoms.

Look for any changes in your symptoms between the elimination phase and the

reintroduction phase.

If you notice any symptoms returning after you begin consuming these fringe foods,

then try eliminating that food again. Be sure that adding that one particular food was

the only major stress on your body during that period. If so, then keep that food out

of your diet for at least another month before trying again.

Who Should Do A Food Elimination Diet?

As a clinician, I believe that everyone would benefit from doing a form of an

elimination diet at least once in their lifetime. Most people are going about their lives

creating unwanted inflammation that is provoked by many of the foods they are

consuming each day. An elimination diet can help remove these hidden sources of

inflammation and allow for a significantly higher level of quality of life.

I have seen a number of clients who suffered from headaches or skin conditions like

acne or eczema and chronic pain who have seen almost complete elimination of these

conditions after a food elimination diet. Even more importantly, they have realized

what foods were the major culprits and therefore they could predictably live free of

these symptoms throughout the rest of their lives.

People who can especially benefit from doing an elimination diet include the following:

● Anyone struggling with autoimmune disease or metabolic syndrome

● People with body aches and pains caused by inflammation

● People who struggle with headaches, sinus infections, allergies, snoring or sleep

apnea

● Those with skin irritations, acne, eczema, hives, blemishes and rashes

● Anyone with low energy levels despite eating a healthy diet

● People who struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night

● Women with premenstrual syndrome or menopausal struggles

● Anyone with known food allergies that is still experiencing symptoms (since

oftentimes one type of allergy, such as gluten, can be linked to other kinds of

sensitivities, such as dairy)

Foods To Eliminate During an Elimination Diet:

Individual people can react to any food and everyone is different so the elimination diet

could look different based on the uniqueness of each person going through it. The best

way to start is to eliminate the foods that research has shown to be most immunoreactive.

Research has verified that 8 major foods account for 90% of all allergic reactions.

These are milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat/gluten, soy, nuts, fish and shellfish (2). The

elimination diet that I use takes out all of these other than fish. Here are the foods I have

found the most clinical success removing first:

You may also have had some additional sensitivities with foods that are normally

allowed on the elimination diet. Some individuals struggle with citrus, seeds, berries,

onions, certain meats, etc. that are all allowed on our general autoimmune elimination

diet.

Additionally, some people respond very poorly to higher FODMAP veggies. These

individuals should follow my Digestive Health Restoration plan, which eliminates the

higher FODMAP veggies.

It is variable and different for everyone. The autoimmune elimination diet gives you an

excellent starting place, but that may not be enough. You may discover through either

lab work, pulse testing or just intuitively based on how you felt that one or more of these

foods were causing problems. Hopefully, you have eliminated them through the 40-day

program and then you can test those as well.

To be on the safe side, our meal plan eliminates fish, berries and red meat and adds these

back in during week 2-4. In week 2, you add in salmon and/or sardines. In week 3, you

will add in berries. In week 4, you will add in red meat (lamb, bison, grass-fed beef).

How To Follow This Plan:

It can take 4-6 weeks for the gut lining to heal, so we recommend you stay on the

Auto-Immune elimination diet for a 40 day period to allow for this healing process to

have its best effect.

Once you finish this period, you can begin adding back some of the foods we eliminated.

We include a food reintroduction schedule in Chapter 8.

Foods to Include During the Elimination Diet:

As you go through the elimination diet, you should aim to consume lots of raw,

steamed or sautéed vegetables, clean protein sources and healthy fats. Look for

organic sources of both meat and vegetables whenever possible.

Some of the best healing vegetables include cruciferous veggies like cauliflower,

broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, watercress, bok choy, radishes, collard greens

and artichokes. We love to include cruciferous sprouts such as broccoli or kale sprouts

which are an extremely rich source of liver detoxifying agents.

Other great vegetables to include are celery, fennel, cucumbers, lettuces, squash,

pumpkin, sweet potato, mushrooms, snow peas, green beans and sea vegetables like

kelp. The best fruit to include would be low-glycemic versions such as berries,

grapefruits, lemons, limes and granny smith apples.

You will enjoy healthy proteins such as organic poultry for the first week and then we

add in wild-caught fish in week 2 and grass-fed beef, lamb and wild game in week 4.

This program allows for you to enjoy a variety of herbs and spices such as turmeric,

oregano, basil, thyme, cinnamon, ginger and more.

The staple calorie source is going to come from good fats such as coconut oil, coconut

butter, coconut flakes, coconut milk, grass-fed ghee, olives and olive oil and avocados.

You can also have a moderate amount of sprouted pumpkin seeds, chia, hemp and flax

seeds.

Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, coconut water kefir, coconut yogurt

and apple cider vinegar are key additions to provide pre metabolized nutrients and

probiotics to heal the digestive system.

Preparation for the Elimination Diet:

People who spend the week prior to starting the program looking up recipes that are

elimination-diet friendly do far better than people that jump right into it.

Go Shopping:

Know how to cook the foods you will be eating and prep as much as possible in advance.

For example, making a large pot of veggies with a healthy protein and seasonings ahead

of time can help increase compliance during those times when you get hungry and have

few options nearby.

Clean Out Your Pantry:

Most of us aren’t all that great with willpower. Get rid of the foods that aren’t part of

your elimination phase (or hide them really well).

Keep a Journal.

Record your symptoms, energy and mood throughout the day to help identify any

patterns with food intake. Remember, this is a self-experiment. And every good scientist

needs a lab book in which they can keep their notes and experimental details.

Be Observant to How You Respond

As you begin on the elimination diet, it is advisable to keep a journal and record

how you feel throughout each day. You want to take note of any skin reactions,

digestive disturbances, trouble sleeping, increase in pain, etc.

If you notice a trend when you are consuming certain foods then look to eliminate

those as well for a period of time and see if your symptoms get better. People with

major digestive disorders will often need to remove things like high FODMAP fruits

and vegetables and red meats.

Although more rare than the foods eliminated above, some individuals are unable to

tolerate seeds, for others it is citrus and those with very low stomach acid really struggle

with red meat. Others will have their own unique intolerances that can only really be

found through pulse testing, lab testing or observing symptomatic changes when you

consume these foods.

To be on the safe side, our meal plan eliminates fish, berries and red meat and adds these

back in during week 2-4. In week 2, you add in salmon and/or sardines. In week 3, you

will add in berries. In week 4, you will add in red meat (lamb, bison, grass-fed beef).

Key Point:

The greatest doctor for your body is Within You! As a doctor, I do whatever I can to

help my clients understand the messages their body is giving them. It is up to you to take

the time to journal and listen to the messages within you and how you are responding to

the foods and the stresses you are under on a daily basis. Let the food elimination diet be

a guide to help you achieve your optimal health.

Chapter 7

Identifying Your Food Sensitivities:

Food allergies and food intolerances are two types of food sensitivities that can be very

destructive to the body. Food allergies are a very severe immune reaction to a particular

food that causes immediate reactions such as swelling, rash, itchiness and sometimes a

life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Food intolerances cause more subtle health challenges that make someone feel

uncomfortable without outward immune reactions. Food intolerances can often lead to

elevated levels of whole body inflammation that can cause fatigue, joint pain, brain fog,

digestive disturbances, headaches and other unwanted symptoms (1).

Many people go through their lives without ever understanding how food intolerances

can lead to these health challenges. They never suspect that the food they are eating every

day is silently killing them and their doctors never advise them to look at how they are

responding to their diet.

The Massive Increase in Food Sensitivities:

True food allergies are estimated to affect about 4% of adults and over 5% of children

these days. Clinicians and researchers are concerned about the increase in allergies in

children over the last 20 years. There has been an 18% increase in food allergies in

children since 1997 (2).

Over 25% of the population has subjectively reported that they have food intolerances

and due much better when they avoid consuming certain foods. The most common food

allergens and intolerances are dubbed “The Big 8.” These include

1. Wheat (or all gluten products including barley, rye, kamut and spelt) 2. Soy 3. Fish 4. Shellfish 5. Eggs 6. Dairy 7. Peanuts 8. Tree Nuts

It is advisable for people to avoid gluten, unfermented soy, peanuts and pasteurized dairy

as the health risks far outweigh any health benefits from these foods.

Food Sensitivities:

As a clinician, I see so many individuals that have food intolerances and sensitivities

that cause an inflammatory spiral and worsening health. This is primarily caused by

dysbiosis or a bad balance of microorganisms in the gut and resulting leaky gut

syndrome.

This destructive process leads to food particles entering into the circulatory system and

the immune system tagging and creating an inflammatory response in reaction this. The

body then becomes hard-wired to create inflammation every time we consume a

particular food.

Testing Your Sensitivity:

If you have a food intolerance or sensitivity, then the food will cause a stress response

when you consume it. This is because the body has identified it as a threat to your body

and will initiate a mild-moderate immune response when it is consumed.

When the body is under stress, it activates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic

nervous system. This signals a fight or flight response where the heart rate goes up, the

blood pressure goes up, etc.

Understanding this fight or flight response, you can use a simple pulse test that involves

biofeedback as a free non-invasive test to measure your level of sensitivity. There are

number of food sensitivity blood tests that you can have done as well if you want to

spend the money and have something more in-depth.

I have personally looked at hundreds of food sensitivity panels and I believe that using

an elimination diet along with biofeedback pulse testing is the best method for

identifying your personal immune reactive foods.

How To Perform the Pulse Test:

In order to do the biofeedback test, begin by sitting down and relaxing for a few minutes

and then take 3 long deep breaths and afterwards begin testing your resting pulse and get

a number. Let’s say it is 60 beats per minute (bpm).

Next take 3 long deep breaths again and take the food in question and place it on your

tongue and let it sit there for 20 seconds or so and do relaxed breathing and then test

your resting pulse again while in the same position. There should be no other variables

that would affect your heart rate.

Step 1: Sit down and relax for 5 mins

Step 2: Take 3 long deep breaths

Step 3: Test 60 second pulse rate and record

Step 4: Take 3 long-deep breaths again

Step 5: Put food item in question on your tongue and wait

for 20 seconds Step 6: Record pulse with food item still on

your tongue

Step 7: Check the difference between normal heart rate and food item challenged

heart rate.

Negative Response:

The food elicits no response or just a 1 bpm difference in your heart rate. If you eat a

certain food and it does not elicit a change in heart rate, you are probably not sensitive to

it. However, if you notice that you feel awful every time you eat it…then try avoiding

the food and see what you notice instead.

If you feel better and have less unwanted symptoms without it, you may have had an

underlying hidden intolerance. This is always a good general rule with all foods.

Gray Area Response:

The food elicits an increase in your heart rate of 2-3 bpm. Always retest if this happens.

Positive Response:

The food elicits a heart rate increase of 4+ bpm. Stop and retest. If this happens again the

food in question is causing a stress response and you should avoid this food for at least

four to six weeks before trying again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why do you take long deep breaths before each pulse recording?

A: You want to be in a relaxed state and take out as many variables as possible. It is

easy to have a stressful thought or to talk or do something that would naturally bring

up your heart rate. Taking 3 long-deep breaths helps restart your physiology in a

relaxed, parasympathetic dominant state.

If you didn’t feel right about the test and felt as though you weren’t fully set for the

challenge then, by all means, retest. The key is that you have as much

standardization and accuracy as possible when doing the testing.

2. Why do you put the food on your tongue? Why not just eat it?

A: Many practitioners do have the individual eat the food. If so, be sure to wait one

full minute before retesting pulse. The act of chewing and swallowing can bring up

the heart rate and cause a false positive.

Additionally, chewing and digesting a food you are sensitive too can cause an

increase in inflammation ranging from very mild to very severe. Putting the food on

your tongue for a minute and 20 seconds, won’t have quite this effect. I would prefer

my clients to avoid this potential inflammatory storm if possible.

Steps to Take:

Once you have identified any major food sensitivities you will want to be sure to avoid

these foods. If you continue to consume them they will lead to further destruction of the

gut membrane, adrenal burnout and chronic symptoms and accelerated disease

development.

You may be able to reintroduce some of these foods once your gut is healed and your

immune system has calmed down. Begin by following the autoimmune elimination diet

plan and avoid any additional foods on that plan that you may have a sensitivity too.

Begin applying additional advanced strategies such as intermittent fasting, fermented

foods

and probiotics to restore tone and balance to the digestive system. You will also

want to tone the immune system with anti-inflammatory nutrients and

supplements.

What Dr. Jockers Teaches:

I have most of my auto-immune clients begin on an auto-immune elimination diet. I also

have them do this pulse test with the other foods they will be consuming during this plan

to make sure they are able to tolerate them.

I then have them follow this diet for a minimum of 4-6 weeks and then begin to retest

certain foods.

Chapter 8

ReIntroduction and Food Scoring

As we move into the reintroduction phase, we want to be as intentional as possible adding

in new foods in order to understand how our body responds to them. The order of foods

you add in can be variable based on your past experiences with each particular food and

your personal preferences.

If you know you have a sensitivity to a certain food, then do not try reintroducing that

food right away. I would focus on the “fringe” foods that you have responded either

neutral or well too in the past. This means you should begin by reintroducing foods that

you have not linked to any increase in symptoms in your past history.

In order to ensure that your body can handle the particular food agent, we are

going to do a dual challenge. This includes a pulse challenge and a reintroduction

challenge.

ReIntroduction Steps:

Phase I: Do a pulse test on the particular food you want to add back to your

diet. If you get a negative response to the food, then you may add it back to your

diet for the reintroduction challenge. If you get a positive response, then keep

the food out of your diet for another 4-6 weeks before retesting.

Phase II: Eat the particular food with each meal for one full day and then do 2

days off and see if you notice any changes during this period. Rank how you are

feeling during this period.

Example: You want to reintroduce eggs so you have scrambled eggs and

coconut flour bread baked with eggs that day. Then you go back to your

safe diet for 2 days and see what you notice. Rank what you experience

using the scale below.

Rank This Food on a scale of 1-10

Score of 1: Creates noticeable gas, bloating, altered bowel habits, fatigue,

increased pain and inflammation, eczema, acne, insomnia, anxiety, brain fog,

mood changes, etc.

Score of 5: Moderate symptoms associated with

consumption. Score of 8: Mild, almost

unnoticeable symptoms with this food. Score of

10: Digests near perfectly and you feel great!

Scoring Sheet For Foods:

The foods that digest in the 8-10 range are the main foods you want to be consuming on

a daily basis. Foods that are in the 5-7 range you want to eat only on occasion. Anything

ranging under a 5 should be avoided completely for another month or so before retesting

again.

Each month you can try a lower scoring food and see how you respond. If you are

responding higher than you previously were, then you may be able to consume that food

either on occasion or if it scores high enough you may be able to have it regularly.

Sample Food ReIntroduction Schedule:

1. Bell Peppers 2. Tomatoes 3. Almonds & Almond Butter 4. Walnuts 5. Pecans 6. Pasture-Raised Eggs 7. Grass-Fed Cheese

8. Brazil Nuts 9. Pistachios 10. Quinoa

You may also have had some additional sensitivities with foods that are normally

allowed on the elimination diet. We discussed this in chapter 7, how some individuals

struggle with citrus, seeds, berries, onions, certain meats, etc. that are all allowed early

on in our autoimmune elimination diet.

Additionally, some people respond very poorly to higher FODMAP veggies. These

individuals should follow my Digestive Health Restoration plan, which eliminates the

higher FODMAP veggies.

It is variable and different for everyone. The autoimmune elimination diet gives you an

excellent starting place, but that may not be enough. You may discover through either lab

work, pulse testing or just intuitively based on how you felt, that one or more of these

foods were causing problems.

Hopefully, you have eliminated any of these troublesome foods through the

elimination diet process and then you can test those as well.

Chapter 9

Twenty Five Ways to Reduce

AutoImmunity

Keeping your gut healthy is absolutely vital to controlling auto-immunity and chronic

inflammation. Here are 25 steps and principles to help reduce inflammation, improve

digestive health and improve your body’s ability to heal and repair itself.

1. Avoid Processed Foods and Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Processed foods

contain dangerous environmental chemicals that alter the microbiome and favor

the development of bad bacteria and yeast species. These foods will cause of

vicious cycle of inflammation that will damage your gut lining and promote

autoimmune activity.

2. Drink Filtered Water: Only drink water that has been filtered – ideally through a

high quality carbon filter or even better, through a reverse osmosis (RO) system.

An RO system takes out all the chlorine, fluoride, disinfectant byproducts and

more.

One challenge with RO is that it also takes out key minerals. I recommend adding

¼ tsp of pink salt for every gallon of RO water to make up for minerals. Using

several drops of a good essential oil like peppermint or lemon/lime will also add

anti-oxidant components.

3. Chew Your Food Well: The more you chew your food, the less stress you will

place on your digestive system and the more nutrients you will extract. Aim to

chew each bite 30-40 times. This will be tough at first but the more aware you

become of the art of chewing, the natural it will become.

4. Consume Lots of Small and Medium Chain Fats: Small chain fats (SCFAs)

such as butyric acid and medium chain fats (MCTs) like capric, caprylic and lauric

acid are powerful support for the microflora. You will find butyric acid in grass-

fed ghee and caprylic/lauric acid in coconut oil.

I recommend cooking with coconut oil and melting grass-fed ghee on

steamed or sautéed veggies.

5. Anti-Microbial Herbs: Some herbs such as oregano, thyme, garlic, peppermint

and basil help to kill off bad microbes and favor the development of healthy

microbes.

Consume these generously in either a fresh, dried or essential oil form on a daily

basis. You can also use supplemental antimicrobials such as berberine, bayberry and

grapefruit seed extract. I have my clients use GI Regulator to reduce microbial

counts.

6. Practice Intermittent Fasting: Go a minimum of 12 hours between meals

overnight. Try to work your way to 16-18 hour daily fasts. Be sure to drink as much

clean water and herbal teas as possible in order to flush your system and stave off

hunger.

I typically drink 64oz of water (or herbal tea) from the time I wake up until my first

meal. This dramatically improves my energy and brain function and the water blocks

any sense of hunger so I feel excellent. You can also try putting some MCT oil,

coconut oil or grass-fed ghee to help produce ketones and improve your ability to fast.

7. Optimize Your Vitamin D: Be sure to increase your vitamin D through good

amounts of regular sun exposure and/or taking a high quality vitamin D3

supplement.

Vitamin D is one of the most important immune system modulators. This means that

it helps to coordinate the immune system to help it identify self vs non-self tissue.

This is a HUGE FACTOR in autoimmunity and research has shown that people with

autoimmunity are typically vitamin D deficient.

8. Improve Your Stomach Acid Levels: Stomach acid is critical for disinfecting and

killing off bad microbes and for optimizing protein digestion in the body. When the

body is unable to produce enough stomach acid, inadequate digestion and microbial

overgrowth occurs. One of the most important and underappreciated health

principles deals with optimizing our stomach acid levels. Be sure to read and follow

the strategies in the stomach acid guide.

9. Drink Herbal Tea with Ghee or Coconut Oil: Herbal teas contain powerful anti-

oxidants that favor the development of a healthy microbiome. Be sure to get organic

varieties and use MCT oil, grass-fed ghee and/or coconut oil in them in order to get

more of the small and medium chain fats.

Some of my favorites include ginger and turmeric tea, ginseng tea, peppermint tea

and green tea or some combination of herbs that includes these.

10. Improve Your Sleep: Sleeping a high quality 8-9 hours each night is key to

stabilizing the immune system and enhancing whole body healing. This is absolutely

critical to improving any form of auto-immunity.

Be sure to develop an evening wind-down strategy. Be in bed by 10pm, keep your

room as dark as possible and wear a sleep mask to improve melatonin secretion for

deep sleep. Keeping the room cool – under 70 degrees can also improve sleep quality

and using an overhead fan for circulating air can make a big difference. 11. Include Magnesium & B Vitamin Rich Foods: Magnesium is important for

blood sugar sensitivity, methylation and protecting the blood brain barrier. The

best magnesium and B

vitamin rich foods include dark green leafy veggies, pumpkin seeds, grass-fed

dairy and raw cacao.

If you can tolerate these foods (don’t have food sensitivities to them or problems with

oxalates or high histamines) consume them as staple parts of your diet. During the

30-day autoimmune elimination diet, we remove dairy and cacao, but you can still

consume dark green leafy veggies and sprouted pumpkin seeds.

You can also do Epsom salt baths to boost your magnesium levels.

12. Use a High Quality Probiotic Supplement: Taking a high quality probiotic on a

daily basis is especially beneficial to improve your gut health. I recommend

Probiocharge as a general wellness probiotic and Prescript Assist for challenging

digestive health conditions who are unable to tolerate lactobacillus strains of

probiotics. 13. Consume Healthy Prebiotic Foods: Research has shown that prebiotics have a

great effect at reducing inflammation and improving bowel health. They are the fuel

for a healthy microbiome. This includes dark green leafy veggies, asparagus, leeks,

carrots, onions, garlic, radishes, artichokes and jicama. Include these in your daily

diet.

If you have an increase in gas and bloating consider reducing certain FODMAP

groups. Read this article for more info.

14. Consume High Quality Probiotic Rich Foods: Using fermented foods such as

sauerkraut, kimchi, beet kvass, coconut water kefir and coconut yogurt can add

more live enzymes, acid metabolites and probiotic microbes to enhance digestion

and improve energy levels.

If you are new to fermented foods, start small with a tsp of coconut water kefir (that is

usually tolerated the best). If you tolerate this well, move up to 2 tsp and go up

gradually to about 6-8 tsps or a ¼ cup per day. Rotate the various fermented food

sources to see which ones your body does the best with. Over time, you will be able to

handle larger amounts of all different forms of fermented foods.

15. Move Your Bowels: You should be having 2-3 solid bowel movements daily in

order to flush out all the food you consumed the day before. You want to eliminate

food waste with a 12-24 hour period or the material becomes a breeding ground for

bad microbes. This will trigger immune reactions and inflammation.

Begin by drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily and

more if you are constipated. Often, drinking 16oz of water in between meals will

stimulate your bowels and lead to a bowel movement..

Using high doses of magnesium and vitamin C also work great. Try taking 500 mg –

1 gram of magnesium citrate or oxide. You can take vitamin C up until bowel

tolerance. Begin with 5 grams and go up until it induces a stool (it may be diarrhea).

This will clean you out and then you titer down until you find the right dosage that

helps stimulate healthy bowels without a diarrhea reaction.

16. Carminative Herbs: Carminatives are herbs that stimulate the digestive system to

work better. These herbs contain a high content of volatile oils that are effective at

expelling gas and easing griping pains from the stomach and intestines.

These herbs also tone the mucous surfaces & increase peristaltic action within the

esophagus, stomach. This peristaltic action propels food and wastes through the

system. The major carminative herbs include coriander, cinnamon, ginger, juniper,

anise, fennel, cloves, caraway, dill, peppermint, thyme and licorice.

These carminatives are often combined with aloe. Aloe is a cathartic herb that

increases intestinal transit time and is used to alleviate constipation. These herbs

help to tone down the powerful gripping effect that aloe often promotes in the gut.

This combination helps stimulate effective and comfortable stools for those with

chronic constipation.

17. Smooth Move Tea: Used for thousands of years to get your “movement” moving

again, senna works by gently stimulating your intestines and aiding your body’s

natural elimination process. If you are having trouble with constipation, this tea can

really help.

Smooth Move combines senna with the carminative herbs fennel, coriander and

ginger to reduce the potential for unpleasant feelings like cramping. Smooth Move tea

is best taken at bedtime to help improve bowel movements the following morning.

18. Ground Your Body: We are surrounded by cell phone, radio and computer based

electromagnetic frequency’s (EMF’s). These EMF’s increase stress within our

body and promote inflammatory activity. By going outside daily and walking

barefoot on grass, dirt or sand you absorb natural EMF’s from the ground that

balance your electrical rhythms. Follow the steps in this article here.

19. Take Time to Breathe Deeply: Improving your posture, seeing a high quality

chiropractor and optimizing your breathing patterns is highly recommended. Deep

breathing helps to reduce the stress response, turn on our parasympathetic nervous

system and enhance the digestive process and our bodies healing process.

Begin a practice where you take 3 long deep breaths upon arising in the morning,

before every meal and before going to bed.

20. Practice Oil Pulling: Oil pulling reduces the microbial load by binding to bacteria

and bacterial waste products in the mouth. This takes stress off of the immune

system and reduces inflammation levels throughout the body. Practice this 2 times

daily for optimal results.

21. Improve Your Liver and Gallbladder Health: Bile is an important digestive fluid

that is produced by the liver and stored in a concentrated form within the gallbladder.

Bile’s main digestive responsibility is to emulsify fats and create fatty acids that can

be readily absorbed and used by the body. When the body has metabolic problems

that lead to poor bile production and utilization it can cause serious health

disturbances. Be sure to read and apply the strategies in the gallbladder guide.

22. Use Essential Oils: The anti-oxidant content and aromatherapy benefits of essential

oils help to improve oxygenation and reduce the harmful effects of oxidative stress

throughout the body. Some of my favorites for reducing autoimmunity include

lavender, frankincense

and peppermint among others.

I recommend diffusing these in your house so you breathe in the anti-oxidant

compounds. In addition, apply them to your body with the help of a carrier oil such as

coconut oil. You don’t need much, 2 drops of each with a half a teaspoon of coconut

oil. Rub that on your thyroid, sore joints and other regions to reduce inflammation and

improve healing. 23. Improve Your Mitochondria: The mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of

every cell. When someone has an autoimmune disorder it is a clinical sign that

they have dysfunctional

activity going on in the mitochondria.

Support your mitochondria with clinical doses of CoQ10, L-carnitine, N-acetyl

cysteine

and Lipoic acid. The supplement I use with my autoimmune clients is Brain

Supercharge which has the clinically effective dosages of each of these key nutrients

and more.

24. Eliminate Your Food Sensitivities: Follow an elimination diet and use biofeedback

testing in order to determine what foods are causing inflammation and dysfunction in

your system and make it a goal to discover the foods you tolerate the best.

25. Use Activated Charcoal or Bentonite Clay: If you consume something that your

body is sensitive to, then take 1-2 grams of activated charcoal or bentonite clay as

these substances will bind with the inflammatory agents and help neutralize it. This

can be LIFE SAVING if you have severe food intolerances and can be a great

performance aid if you have mild sensitivities.

Chapter 10

Beneficial Supplements

This is an advanced supplement protocol to help someone break through

challenging issues with digestive health and autoimmunity.

Be sure to read the supplement descriptions and decide which ones you want to do. I

did my best to give a great description and to help you with dosages. It is hard to say

which are the most important for you, that really depends on your unique history.

Taking 5-10,000 IUs of vitamin D3 and a good quality omega 3 supplement can make

a major difference as well. I recommend these two along with a good probiotic as

everyday supplements to support optimal wellness.

Every Day Supplements:

Vitamin D3: 5-10,000 IU with your first meal of the day

Omega 3: 1-2 grams of EPA/DHA from a purified fish oil with first meal of

day

Probiotic: High quality probiotic every day, away from food. (First thing in

morning)

Gut Infection and Mitochondrial Support:

If you have a gut infection then you may want all the gut repair supplements as that is

designed to help reduce microbial overgrowths and help reset the microbiome. If you

don’t notice any serious issues with your GI system and don’t suspect an infection, you

may not have one and may do well with probiotics.

If you are struggling with auto-immunity, then you absolutely need some level of

glutathione support. This may just be for a short period of time as you follow the

elimination diet and the other tenants of this program. However, glutathione is SUPER

KEY for regulating the immune system and shutting down auto-immunity.

If you are on a tight budget, I would begin with vitamin D3 and 1-2 gut support

supplements and 1-2 glutathione boosting supplements for at least 30 days. This can

make a HUGE difference. I highly advise doing this as a baseline.

GI Regulator:

Various different forms of herbs have anti-microbial factors that reduce pathogenic

bacteria, yeast and parasites. These herbs can be used to reduce the microbial load and be

an important part of reestablishing a healthy microbial balance.

Normal Protocol: 1 cap – 2x daily

Advanced Protocol: 2 caps – 2x daily or as directed by your health care practitioner.

Gut Repair:

This is an incredible product that contains an anti-microbial to kill off bad microbes and

provide a good environment for the formation of a healthy microflora. It also has

ingredients such as L-glutamine and aloe vera that help to rebuild the gut lining and

improve the strength of the mucosal membranes of the stomach and intestines.

Normal Protocol: Take 1 scoop daily in water or shake

Advanced Protocol: Take 2 scoops -1-2x daily in water or shake or as directed by

your health care practitioner.

Daily Detox:

Toxins must go through a process of de-activation where they are transformed into a non-

volatile form and then elimination where they are carried out through the body. The de-

activation process takes place in the cells, the liver and the kidneys primarily and the

toxins are then eliminated through respiration, perspiration, urination and defecation.

There are many ways and many products that help the detoxification systems.

However, very few are targeted to address all 5 of the major areas with the essential

nutrients they need to properly de-active and eliminate toxins. The Maximized Living

Daily Detox supplies what my clients need to gently and effectively detoxify their

system.

Normal Protocol: Take 2 capsules of Cell Detox in the morning before eating and

take 2 capsules of body detox in the evening, 1-2 hours after dinner (and an hour

before/after other supplements or medications).

Advanced Protocol: Take 4 capsules of Cell Detox in the morning before eating and

take 4 capsules of body detox in the evening, 1-2 hours after dinner (and an hour

before/after other supplements or medications) or as directed by your health care

practitioner.

Acid ProZyme:

Hydrochloric acid is necessary for creating an acidic environment in the stomach to

digest protein and ionize minerals. This also helps to stimulate bile release from the

gallbladder to effectively metabolize fat in the small intestine. Without these key

functions working optimally we become at risk for anemia, thyroid problems,

osteoporosis and auto-immunity.

Low stomach acid in a very common problem especially in older individuals or those

who have suffered from various infections like H Pylori, been on antibiotics and other

medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Low stomach acid sets the stage for

damage to the delicate lining of the digestive tract and the formation of leaky gut

syndrome.

Normal Protocol: Take 1 capsule in the middle or at the end of each protein-containing

meal Advanced Protocol: Take 2-4 capsules in the middle or at the end of each

protein-containing meal or as directed by your health care practitioner.

Super DZyme:

Enzymes are extremely important for breaking down carbohydrates, protein and fatty

acids and prepare them for proper digestion and assimilation in the body. Individuals with

digestive challenges are often unable to produce sufficient quantities of digestive

enzymes and are unable to effectively digest the food they are eating.

Improper digestion causes significantly more stress and inflammation in the gut lining

that ultimately leads to the degradation of the mucosal membranes and the complications

of leaky gut syndrome. When the mucosal membrane is damaged it is then unable to

secrete the appropriate enzymes and we end up with a vicious cycle that causes more gut

inflammation.

Normal Protocol: 1-2 capsules with each meal

Advanced Protocol: 3-4 capsules with each meal or as directed by your health care

practitioner

Prescript Assist Probiotics:

Imbalances in the intestinal terrain may lead to or contribute to the propagation of yeast

overgrowth, parasites, and harmful bacterial growth. Introducing the right type of

probiotic strains of microorganisms on a daily basis is a powerful way to regulate your

gut health. This daily practice will improve your immune system, digestive system and

help improve hormonal and brain health.

Prescript Assist is a unique soil based formulation. This is especially helpful for

individuals that struggle with using other probiotics that contain lactobacillus

strains.

Normal Protocol: Take 1 capsule daily away from meals

Advanced Protocol: Take 1 capsule – 2x per day away from meals or as directed by

your health care practitioner.

Wobenzyme:

Systemic enzymes are used to break down the protein layer of biofilm that is produced

by bacteria to protect themselves. Biofilms are bacterial populations that adhere to

each other and other surfaces within a self-produced extra-cellular matrix. The biofilm

creates a pod-like intracellular bulge on the gut wall.

Biofilms offer bacterial species incredible survival advantages. These include the ability

to horizontally transfer genetic material, shelter from environmental changes, protection

from the host immune system, sharing of metabolic byproducts, tolerance and

adaptability to antimicrobials.

Proteolytic enzymes disrupt these biofilms and make the bacteria more

susceptible to the bodies immune system and the usage of anti-microbials and

antibiotics.

Normal Protocol: Take 3 caps in the morning on an empty stomach

Advanced Protocol: Take 6 caps in the morning on an empty stomach or as directed

by your health care practitioner.

*This product should be taken at least 1 hour before or after consuming food for best

results*

Gut Healing Protein:

The Gut Healing Protein provides high quality, hypoallergenic amino acids and

powerful anti-oxidants that help to improve liver function and strengthen the gut lining.

Additionally, Gut Healing protein contains 26 grams of protein and 0 grams of sugar in

each tasty serving.

Normal Protocol: Take 1-2 scoops in shake each day

Advanced Protocol: Take 2 scoops in 1-2 shakes each day

Activated Charcoal:

Activated charcoal is one of the world’s oldest detoxifying remedies with a history

going back over 3000 years. Charcoal has historically been used in a medicinal way by

practicioners of Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and western medicine as an

absorbent agent that binds and eliminates toxic substances.

Because activated coconut charcoal is mainly used to remove toxins from the body, it

is great to use when consuming food of unknown quality, eating out at restaurants, or

drinking alcohol. If you are feeling moody or suddenly tired, activated charcoal can

act as a detox and get you back in the game faster.

Normal Protocol: Take 1-2 caps, 1-2x daily away from meals for general detox or 2

caps after a meal if you notice a food sensitivity and inflammatory reaction taking place.

Advanced Protocol: Take 3-4 caps away from meals, 2-3x daily for general detox or 3-

4 caps after a meal if you notice a strong food sensitivity or allergic response and

inflammatory reaction happening.

Extra Thyroid-Liver-Adrenal -Mitochondria Support:

These are supplements that can help reduce autoimmunity and improve mitochondrial

function and overall detoxification status. Both of these supplements help boost

glutathione status and glutathione is our bodies master anti-oxidant. Autoimmunity is

associated with low glutathione status.

If you have autoimmunity, I would highly suggest taking one or more of these

supplements to improve your immune coordination. Additionally, supporting your

adrenal glands and your ability to adapt to stress may be necessary to reduce

inflammation and improve the healing process. My favorite adrenal support supplement

is called Adapt Strong. If you feel like you struggle with adrenal fatigue, this may be a

good option for you.

Thyro-Liver Protect:

Powerful array of glutathione boosting anti-oxidants, selenomethione which helps to

down regulate inflammation and anti-body formation and milk thistle which detoxifies

the liver. Healthy thyroid hormone conversion is dependent upon healthy liver function.

Normal Protocol: 1 cap – 2x daily with or without food

Advanced Protocol: 2 caps – 2x daily with or without food

Brain SuperCharge:

This is a super-high quality glutathione bosting anti-oxidant that helps to improve adrenal

output and improve circulation throughout the body.. It acts to boost mitochondrial

function to enhance brain function and energy levels.

Normal Protocol: 2 caps – 2x daily with food

Advanced Protocol: 4 caps – 2x daily with food

Super Glutathione:

This is an outstanding product for reducing anti-body formation, enhancing

detoxification and improving resistance to stress by improving intracellular anti-

oxidants and calming the immune system.

Normal Protocol: 2 caps – 1x daily (away

from food) Advanced Protocol: 2 caps –

2x daily (away from food)

This formula provides useful support for both hyper and hypofunction of the adrenals.

Hyperfunction is when the adrenals are overproducing hormones, such as cortisol, and

hypofunction is the opposite, when the adrenals are under producing.

Normal Dosage: 1 cap – 2x daily

Advanced Dosage: 2 caps – 2x daily

Remember, all of these supplements have tremendous therapeutic potential, but most

often take time to get to the point where you see quality of life changes. If you notice a

bad reaction, such as an increase in your symptoms, try cutting the dosage in half and see

if it continues. If so, try taking the supplement out and see if you get better.

Just like with the food, it is possible although rare, to have unwanted responses to high

quality, supplements. Trouble-shooting with dosages can help you navigate through this

so you get the desired benefit without aggravating any symptoms.

About Dr David Jockers DC, MS, CSCS

Dr. David Jockers is a functional nutritionist,

corrective care chiropractor, exercise physiologist and

certified strength & conditioning specialist.

He currently owns and operates Exodus Health Center

in Kennesaw, Georgia and runs one of the hottest

natural health websites in DrJockers.com

His experience working with thousands of individuals

has given him a level of expertise in the field. He has

had the privilege of traveling to London with the

Maximized Living wellness advisory council to

help the USA athletes win the gold in 2012.

He is the author of “SuperCharge Your Brain: The Complete

Guide to Radically Improve Your Mood, Memory and Mindset,” and the

SuperCharged Recipe book with over 180 full-color recipes to help you take

back control of your health.

He has developed 6 revolutionary online programs with thousands of participants.

These programs include E-guides, recipe guides, meal plans and video instructions

including “The Sugar Detox,” “The Cancer Cleanse,” “Navigating the Ketogenic

Diet,” and “The Digestive Health Restoration Program” and “The AutoImmune

Elimination Program” and the “Super Brain program.”

He is a sought after speaker around the country on such topics as weight loss, brain

health, functional medicine, natural detoxification and disease prevention. Dr

Jockers does local and long-distance consultations to help customize specific

lifestyle plans to improve performance and beat chronic disease.