waking up the nation, one reader at a time free public ...the time that one has developed a chronic...

Vol. 6, Issue 3 Investigating Lyme Disease & Chronic Illnesses in the USA March 2011

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Waking Up the Nation,One Reader at a Time...

F2IGH2T For Your Life:Moving Beyond Chronic Illness and Toward Optimal Health

by Scott Forsgren

In the world of chronicillness, it is not uncommon forone to fall into the dangeroustrap of becoming overlyfocused on a single cause for apresenting condition.Unfortunately, a chronic illnessalmost never has one cause, andthus it rarely has one solution.

As an example, mostpeople understand that diabetesis a condition resulting fromhigh levels of glucose in theblood, and those people wouldbe correct. However, this is avery simplistic view of a muchmore complex condition.Could it be that diabetes hastoxicity at its core? Could it bethat an underlying fungal over-growth plays a role? Could itbe that inflammation is a keyfactor? In approaching a condi-tion such as diabetes, one couldfocus solely on the manage-ment of blood sugar levels orone could step back and take abroader perspective; a perspec-tive which understands theunderlying factors and attemptsto address the actual cause ofthe problem rather than simplymasking the symptoms.

Similarly, with chronicLyme disease it is easy to focusone's attention on Borreliaburgdorferi as the causativeagent in the condition and over-look the many other factors thatare universally involved in thedisease. Toxicity most certain-ly plays a role but is rarelyinvestigated. Infections areclearly a factor, but the infec-tions involved go far beyondBorrelia or even the commontick-borne coinfections Babesia,Bartonella, and Ehrlichia.There may be significant emo-tional contributors to one's ill-ness. It is only through a com-prehensive treatment approachthat ultimate success may beachieved.

Dr. Garry F. Gordon,MD, DO, MD(H) has createdthe F2IGH2T Protocol as apowerful framework whichempowers each of us as wecontinue on our journey towardoptimal health. The protocolconsiders several key areas thatare almost always contributingfactors in any chronic illness.F2IGH2T offers real solutionswhich can be implemented toaddress the issues that may beholding us back from attainingour desired level of health.

The key areas in the F2IGH2TProtocol are:

F Food and FocusI InfectionsG GeneticsH Heavy Metals and

HormonesT Toxins

F - Food and Focus

"F" in the F2IGH2TProtocol stands for both Food

and Focus. The food that weconsume plays a significantrole in moving us toward aplace of health or a place of ill-ness. Dietary selections areentirely our choice.

The following should beconsidered in using Food toimprove one's health:

• Avoid foods that you knowto be or suspect to be sensitiveto.• Eat organic foods to avoidexposure to pesticides and othertoxins.• Incorporate foods that arehealth-promoting by reducingprocessed and "dead" foods andeating foods that have superiornutritional value.• Avoid Genetically-Modified(GM) foods.• Avoid cookware that mayleach toxins into your food andultimately into your body.• Support gastrointestinalhealth with probiotics and sup-portive nutrients.

Many people are sensi-tive to specific foods which,when eaten, become stressful tothe body. The immune systemmust then mount a response tothese substances each time theyare consumed. According toDr. Gordon, "40% of the popu-lation needs to be off all dairy,and 30% should eat a gluten-free diet". In people withchronic illness, these numbersare likely even higher.

When a person is sen-sitive to gluten, they willnegate all other efforts toreturn to health until glutenis removed from their diet.Eliminating stressful foodsallows the body to use its limit-ed resources to work onaddressing the many otherthings that have gone wrong bythe time that one has developeda chronic condition. Dr.Gordon believes that "every-thing becomes easy to treatwhen you eliminate wheat,dairy, and corn."

A major factor in foodintolerance is gastrointestinaldysbiosis. Dysbiosis is a termused when an imbalance of gas-trointestinal flora is present inthe gut. This may be an over-growth of yeast, parasites, orother pathogenic organisms. Itmay also represent a lack ofhealth-promoting beneficialflora, known as probiotics.Other factors which lead todysbiosis include stress, animbalanced diet, antibiotic ordrug therapy, suppressed immu-nity, and inflammation.

Food allergies can beboth a contributor to dysbiosisas well as the result of it. Whendysbiosis is present, Leaky GutSyndrome often developswhere larger than expected foodparticles enter the bloodstream,promoting an undesiredimmune response. Numeroussymptoms can occur throughoutthe body when dysbiosis or

Leaky Gut Syndrome are pres-ent.

Non-organic foods oftencontain high levels of pesticideswhich add to the already highbody burden of toxicity in mostpeople with chronic ill-health.For this reason, organic fruitsand vegetables should be con-sumed whenever possible; themore colorful the better. TheEnvironmental Working Group(http://www.ewg.org) has creat-ed a web site called "EWG's2010 Shopper's Guide toPesticides" which offers a print-able guide that can be found athttp://www.foodnews.org. Theguide lists the "Dirty Dozen"which are those foods generallyidentified to have the highestlevels of pesticides. Celery,peaches, strawberries, apples,blueberries, nectarines, bellpeppers, spinach, cherries,kale/collard greens, potatoes,and grapes are the foods thatare the most important to pur-chase organically in order toavoid pesticide exposure.

Processed and refinedfoods are generally absent ofany healthful qualities. Foodthat is processed in a factory isnot food; it provides onlyempty calories. White flours,sugars, fast foods, hydrogenat-ed oils, excitotoxins such asMSG, artificial sweeteners, andhigh-fructose corn syrup shouldbe entirely avoided. High-fruc-tose corn syrup (HFCS) isfound in sodas, candy bars,breads, salad dressings,ketchup, pizza sauce, fruitdrinks, and many other prod-ucts. It is often contaminatedwith mercury. Thus, HFCSmay contribute to our totalbody burden of toxicity, accel-erate aging, and increaseinflammation. Instead, organicfruits and vegetables, nuts andseeds, healthful fats such ascoconut oil and olive oil, andgrass-fed meats are far better,health-promoting choices. Dr.Gordon states that "the enemyis the fork, and what you put onthe end of your fork determineshow long you will live."

Our government subsi-dizes the production of wheat,soy, corn, and other unhealthyfoods. "A potato chip is not avegetable," says Dr. Gordon.Unfortunately, organic food ismore expensive, but "cheapfood will be paid for by yourheart transplant, your bypasssurgery, or your hip replace-ment," stresses Dr. Gordon.

The dietary balance ofOmega-3 and Omega-6 fattyacid is critical. Cows, whichare designed to feed on grass,are being fattened with inex-pensive corn which sets thestage for an unhealthy cow andunhealthy meat. More specifi-cally, the meat from animalsfed the wrong diet predomi-nates with Omega-6 fatty acid.Omega-6 is a pro-inflammatoryfatty acid; while Omega-3reduces pain and inflammation.

The key is to obtain the properratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3fatty acids, which is argued tobe somewhere between 1:1 and10:1. Our modern, unhealthydiets provide a ratio closer to30:1 in favor of Omega-6.Omega-3 supplementation canhelp shift this ratio in a healthi-er direction.

Genetically-modifiedfoods are becoming more andmore common. Unfortunately,these foods do not have to belabeled and, as a result, it isoften difficult to know whichfoods are GM and which arenot. It is becoming moreimportant than ever to consumeprimarily organic and locally-grown foods. The most com-mon GM foods include soy,corn, canola, and cottonseed.GM crops trigger immune reac-tions and may lead to a height-ened allergic response. Toillustrate, shortly after GM soywas introduced into the Britishdiet, allergies to soy had risenby 50% in a single year. More

recently, the FDA has been con-sidering the introduction of GMsalmon for American con-sumers.

Some GM foods includegenes obtained from the bacte-ria Bacillus thuringiensis whichmake the crop resistant toinsects by allowing it to pro-duce its own pesticide. Whilethis may sound appealing, thefood, which is later consumedby humans, may damage theintestines and negatively impactnecessary probiotic flora in thegastrointestinal tract. Thetopic of GM foods is brilliantlycovered by Jeffrey M. Smith inthe books Genetic Roulette andSeeds of Deception.

Sadly, so much of whatactually happens to our foodsupply is unknown to the aver-age consumer. In the movieFood, Inc., director RobertKenner looks inside the nation'sfood industry and exposesmuch of what was previously

“Dr. Gordon” ...cont’d pg 2

Dr. Garry F. Gordon, MD, DO, MD(H) has attained immensevitality at age 76 by employing the F2IGH2T Protocol

LEAP MRT Test Results may help identify foods which should be avoidedin an effort to return to optimal health

Public HealthAlert

The PHA is committed to research-ing and investigating Lyme Diseaseand other chronic illnesses in theUnited States. We have joined ourforces with local and nationwidesupport group leaders. These groupsinclude the chronic illnesses ofMultiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’sDisease (ALS), Lupus, ChronicFatigue, Fibromyalgia, HeartDisease, Cancer and various otherillnesses of unknown origins.

PHA seeks to bring informationand awareness about these illnessesto the public’s attention. We seek tomake sure that anyone strugglingwith these diseases has proper sup-port emotionally, physically, spiritu-ally and medically.

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hidden from consumers with theconsent of our government'sregulatory agencies. In the filmFoodmatters, James Colquhounand Laurentine ten Bosch lookat the health implications of thefood we eat. In it, nutritionspecialist Andrew W. Saul sug-gests that "¼ of what you eatkeeps you alive, and ¾ of whatyou eat keeps your doctoralive". He goes on to say that"if you want to know what'swrong, look down at the table.It's staring back at you."

Heating in cookwarethat leaches toxins into the foodadds to our total body burden oftoxicity. Flame-retarding poly-brominated diphenyl ethers(PDBEs), phthalates, polychlo-rinated biphenyls (PCBs), andperfluorinated acid (PFAs) arefound in cookware and in plas-tics used to store food items.Perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) isfound in Teflon and has beenassociated with thyroid disease,immune system damage, andliver abnormalities. Drinkingfrom plastic water bottles mayresult in exposure to BisphenolA which has been linked to can-cer, diabetes, and obesity.

There are numerousoptions for testing for the pres-ence of food sensitivities.Signet Diagnostic Corporationoffers the LEAP (LifestyleEating and Performance) MRT(Mediator Release Test) forevaluating food stressors thatmay be contributing to one'simpaired health. Anotheroption is the Food SensitivityIntolerance Test Panel fromALCAT or the A-95 Panel fromMeridian Valley Lab. TheSage-G-Test is available fromSage Medical Laboratory.While it is still possible forthese tests to miss foods that arecontributing to ill-health, theycan be helpful tools in identify-ing stressful food choices.

An elimination of allpotentially allergenic foods fol-lowed by sequential reintroduc-tion and logging of any returnedsymptoms is another approachone may use to determinewhich foods may be negativelyimpacting health. PatrickCarlisle's book The MedicalDetective: Memoirs of a MostUnusual Doctor explores theconnection between food aller-gies and the disabling symp-toms that may result throughoutlife for many people; neverdiagnosed until they followed amodified fast with careful rein-troduction of foods.

In looking at otherimportant techniques used inaddressing the Food aspect ofthe F2IGH2T Protocol, one maywish to consider:

• ACS 200 (AdvancedCellular Silver) daily to reducepathogenic organisms related togastrointestinal dysbiosis.

• Probiotic supplements withacidophilus such as Kyo-Dophilus 9® used daily both inchildren and adults. Probioticsmust be used continuously dueto our constant exposure to GMfoods which disturb normalbowel flora.

• Beyond Fiber™ to bothdetoxify the gastrointestinaltract and support the growth ofbeneficial probiot-ic flora.

As youmay recall, the"F" in theF2IGH2T Protocolalso stands forFocus. Focusrefers to the powerof the mind andthe significantbenefits of Mind-Body Medicine inour quest forhealth. This is anarea that requiresmuch personalexploration.

Focus goesfar beyond traditional positivethinking and into the realm ofquantum mechanics wherethoughts have powerful effectson our physiology. Dr. Gordonhas considered the teachings ofsome of the very best in thefield of Mind-Body Medicine.

Emotional FreedomTechnique (EFT) is a healingsystem that helps to reduce thestress which underlies manydisease processes. EFT wascreated by Gary Craig and hasbeen used successfully for avariety of different health chal-lenges.

Bruce Lipton's book TheBiology of Belief and morerecent work SpontaneousEvolution suggest that geneticsdo not control our biology.Instead, messages which origi-nate from our thoughts controlour DNA. These concepts arerelated to the emerging area ofscience called "epigenetics".Epigenetics suggests that exter-nal influences affect geneexpression and that geneticsalone does not tell the entirestory. This topic will be dis-cussed further in the Geneticssection later in this article.

In Soul Medicine,Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D.looks into the power of spiritualconnection and the ability toalter our body's energy fieldwith our intention. Bernie S.Siegel, MD is an expert in the

realm of Mind-Body Medicine.His most recent works include365 Prescriptions for the Souland 101 Exercises for the Soul.

Evaluation of the mentaland emotional factors involvedin chronic illness often yieldssignificant rewards.

I - Infections

"I" in the F2IGH2TProtocol stands for Infections.Nearly all chronically ill peoplehave a total body burden ofinfections far higher than whatthe body can adequately man-

age. When a tip-ping point isreached, our bod-ies manifestsymptoms andmove toward astate of "unwell-ness". First, we must

consider whetherinfections are thechicken or theegg. Why is itthat in today'ssociety infectionscontribute to seri-ous health prob-lems such asautoimmune dis-eases, arterioscle-

rosis, and even cancer? Thereis a clear correlation betweeninfection and toxicity. Today,we are born with over 1000times the amount of lead in ourbones than our ancestors hadjust 400 years ago. Children areborn already mercury toxic as aresult of the toxicity of theirmother. Toxins impair immunefunction and set the stage forchronic infections. [Editor:This relationship was coveredin more detail in the April 2009edition of the Public HealthAlert in the article "Microbes,Toxins, and UnresolvedConflicts: A Unifying Theory".]

Toxicity impairs theoptimal functioning of theimmune system which isresponsible for attempting tokeep our total body burden ofpathogens under control. Aconclusion can be quicklydrawn that detoxification is akey strategy in any conditioninvolving a chronic infectiousburden. The topic of toxicitywill be discussed later, but it isimportant to understand thatthere is a tight correlationbetween the two. "No one canachieve optimal health unlessthey work diligently over theirentire lifetime to continue get-ting the toxins out," says Dr.Gordon.

More than 25% ofdeaths each year worldwide arebelieved to be related directly to

infectious diseases. It oftentakes time for society to acceptthat many medical conditionshave chronic, usually unsus-pected and undiagnosed, infec-tions as a significant contributorto the illness. It took years forthe work of Robin Warren andBarry Marshall to be acceptedby mainstream medicine. In2005, they won the Nobel Prizefor identifying H. pylori as thecause of stomach ulcers. In thebook Plague Time: The NewGerm Theory of Disease, PaulW. Ewald makes the connectionbetween atherosclerosis andChlamydia pneumoniae, espe-cially in those that both smokeand carry the ApoE4 allele.

Cervical cancer has beenassociated with several types ofHuman Papillomaviruses(HPV); Lyme disease withBorrelia burgdorferi, AIDSwith HIV, various liver cancerswith Hepatitis B and C, andmore recently, it has been pro-posed that Chronic FatigueSyndrome may be associatedwith XMRV/HGRV which haspreviously been associated withprostate cancer. Not only canmicrobial infestations be corre-lated with physical symptoms,but connections are continuingto be made between microbesand various psychiatric disor-ders and developmental prob-lems.

Dental pathogens are asignificant source of the body'stotal burden of pathogens. Noprogram aimed at improvinghealth can ignore addressingdental infections.Actinobacillus actinomycetem-comitans is a common oralpathogen which not only causesperiodontitis but also raises therisk for cardiovascular diseaseand stroke. Another commondental pathogen, the spirocheteTreponema denticola, has beenfound in atheroscleroticplaques. Periodontal diseaseleads to inflammation of theblood vessels which may pro-mote metabolic syndrome,increase C-reactive protein,increase fibrinogen, and makedetoxification much more diffi-cult. It may even result ininsulin resistance and initiatethe destruction of cells in thepancreas setting the stage fordiabetes. Dr. Gordon says,"The mouth is a cesspool. Thehuman bite is worse than a dogbite." As many as 80% of thepopulation may have chronicperiodontitis. Irrigating, floss-ing, hydrogen peroxide rinses,and baking soda can be helpful.

Borrelia burgdorferi,Treponema pallidum, and other


“Dr. Gordon”...cont’d from pg 1

FEATURE


bacteria are well-recognized fortheir contribution to atheroscle-rosis and cardiovascular dis-ease. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)has been associated with thedevelopment of high bloodpressure. A recent Harvardstudy suggests that CMV is car-ried by 60-99% of the adultpopulation and may lead toheart disease, stroke, and kid-ney disease. Most medicalpractitioners never considerincorporating antibacterial orantiviral therapies into theircardiovascular disease treat-ment regimens.

There are numeroustherapeutic options that may beconsidered in addressing theinfections that we all carry atunprecedented levels. Some ofthe more powerful interventionsinclude intravenous ozone ther-apy with ultra-violet blood irra-diation, intravenous Vitamin Ctherapy, and hyperbaric oxygen.Unfortunately, most of these arenot readily available to themajority of the population andthus other options are required.These include:

• ACS 200 (AdvancedCellular Silver) sprayed in themouth three times per day,holding for 2-3 minutes beforeswallowing. This not only willhave a systemic effect of lower-ing total infectious burden, butwill also specifically target thenumerous dental pathogenswhich have been stronglyimplicated in many health chal-lenges. When used properly,

ACS 200 can help the bodyeliminate all known pathogens,including Borrelia burgdorferi.ACS 200 helps to lowerinflammation which allows tox-icity to be more effectivelyremoved from the body; as it isnearly impossible to detoxifyan inflamed body. ACS 200 isa uniquely bioavailable form ofsilver which has eliminated allrisk of argyria, turning a blue orgrayish color, that has beenassociated in the past with less-advanced silver preparations. Astarting protocol of ACS 200for serious infections would beto consume an entire ounce(150 sprays) on Day 1 followedby a ½ ounce (75 sprays) perday for one month then 25sprays three times a day for 1to 2 months; thereafter taperingdown as needed to as little as15 sprays twice a day.

• Vitamin D3 supports theimmune system and mayreduce the incidence of cancer,diabetes, arthritis, and hyper-tension. 3,000-5,000 units perday is an ideal adult targetdose.

• Quinton Marine Plasmacombined with ACS 200 can bea powerful combination forserious chronic infections fromtonsil, sinus, and dental infec-tions which are known to con-tribute to cancer, atherosclero-sis, hypertension, and otherserious conditions. One usefultechnique is to flush or irrigatethe sinuses with a neti pot using

a 50/50 solution of ACS 200and Quinton Marine Plasma.

• The high-dose oral VitaminC in Bio En'R-Gy C may aidthe body both in addressinginfections and in detoxification.Bio En'R-Gy C is an advancedVitamin C delivery systemwhich also provides life-savingmethylation support. 1 tea-spoon morning and night isgenerally sufficient. To supportoptimal health, use theVitaCheck-C urine strips toconfirm that you have sufficientVitamin C, indicated by thestrip turning a bright yellow.Vitamin C is applicable to "F","I", "G", "H", and "T" morethan any other single nutrient.

• A new oral option called 1stLine is an all-natural approachto enhancing our body's abilityto defend itself against viralchallenges. This option may beparticularly beneficial for thosedealing with viruses such asHepatitis and Herpes.

• Nutrisorb-A may help pro-tect the heart and cardiovascu-lar system, boost immunity,speed recovery from infections,and accelerate wound healing.It may be helpful in viral condi-tions such as Measles infec-tions. Vitamin A is commonlyregarded as an anti-infectiveagent and plays a role in theproduction of white blood cells.Specifically related to Lymedisease, Vitamin A may lessenacute Lyme arthritis through the

inhibition of pro-inflammatorycytokines such as interferon-gamma and interleukin-12.300,000-500,000 units per dayfor adults may safely be givenfor 5 days or more as this car-ries no long-term risk. VitaminA has been shown by the WorldHealth Organization to be life-saving for children faced withserious infectious challenges.

• Beyond ChelationImproved (BC-I) improves cir-culation throughout the body byhelping the blood to become"more like wine and less liketomato ketchup". It wasdesigned to provide a gentleblood-thinning effect whichresults from the heparin-likeaction that its combination ofingredients provides. BC-Icontains EDTA, the chelatorthat Dr. Gordon has studied forover 30 years, which enhanceslead excretion when taken oral-ly. The benefits of preventinghypercoagulation, the tendencyto form blood clots too readily,are not widely known to beobtained from advanced nutri-tional formulations.Unfortunately, many thereforerely on toxic drugs such asCoumadin. BC-I is a founda-tion for health and is targeted atlowering the body burden oftoxicity, which has been associ-ated with total infectious bur-den, as well as providing thekey nutritional support requiredfor optimal health. 1-2 packetsdaily are generally used.

G - Genetics

"G" in the F2IGH2TProtocol stands for Genetics.

A debate rages in theworld of genetics betweenthose that believe genetics tellthe entire story and those thatconsider genetics to be an influ-encer of health but not neces-sarily the end of the story.Epigenetics ("above genetics")is the study of how environ-mental factors influence geneexpression. Through an under-standing of these factors, wemay be able to influencewhether or not a given gene isexpressed.

To illustrate, research onAgouti mice by ProfessorRandy Jirtle, Ph.D. at DukeUniversity has clearly shownchanges in genetic expressioncan result from exposure to cer-tain environmental toxins. Inone study, two genetically iden-tical twin sister mice were used.One of the mice was exposed tothe common environmentaltoxin Bisphenol A. Theexposed mouse turned yellowand became obese and devel-oped a propensity toward dia-betes and cancer while themouse not exposed to BPA wasbrown, slender, and lean withlow disease risk.

Methylation is a termused to describe the addition ofa methyl group to a gene inorder to turn off the expressionof a given gene. The yellow,obese mouse was undermethy


“Dr. Gordon” ...cont’d from pg 2


FEATURE

lated while the brown, slendermouse was optimally methylat-ed. The mother mouse's expo-sure to BPA during pregnancyimpacted the genetic expressionof the newly born mice. Whenthe pregnant mouse exposed toBPA was supplied with methyl-donors like folic acid andgenistein, the offspring were nolonger yellow or obese butwere instead slender andbrown. Thus, maternal nutri-tional supplementation counter-acted the negative exposure tothe chemical BPA. BPA causesus to not methylate properly.These methylation problemswere transmitted to all off-spring for many generations inthe mice until aggressive, ade-quate methylation support wasprovided. If our bodies do nothave methyl groups, we cannotdeal with the toxic load that weall face.

Epigenetic changes canbe inherited. In the work withthe Agouti mice, a yellow,obese mouse produced brown,normal weight offspring whengiven the proper dietary supple-ments. The genes were thesame in the offspring as in themother, and yet they wereexpressed entirely differently.This suggests that a mother'sdiet during pregnancy caninfluence gene expression inher offspring by altering theepigenome.

"We can no longer saywhether genetics or the envi-ronment has a greater impacton our health because the twoare inextricably linked throughthe epigenome," said Dr. DanaDolinoy, Ph.D. of DukeUniversity. Randy Jirtle, Ph.D.believes that the DNA sequenceis the hardware of the computerwhile the epigenome is the soft-ware that tells the computerwhat to do. The question thenbecomes more about the pro-grams that control our DNAexpression. Additional infor-mation on Randy Jirtle, Ph.D.'swork is available in the docu-mentary Ghost in Your Genes.

“Poor diet can play anepigenetic role which may leadto the expression of disease-causing genes. Alternately, ahealthful diet may silence thesegenes such that they are neverexpressed. Feed Your GenesRight: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow DownAging by Jack Challem discuss-es how what we eat has animpact on DNA damage anddisease. "Nutrients provide thebuilding blocks of genes, andthey turn many genes on andoff," Challem says.

In Change Your GeneticDestiny by Dr. Peter J.D'Adamo, D'Adamo discussessix different GenoTypes andhow diet is the most effectivemechanism we have for takingcontrol of our health whileturning on positive genes andsilencing negative ones.

Dawson Church, Ph.D.investigates how our choicesturn our genes on and off inThe Genie in Your Genes:Epigenetic Medicine and theNew Biology of Intention. Hedemonstrates that we can influ-ence our genetic expression bysimply taking control of ourconsciousness. There are over100 genes in the body that areactivated by thoughts, feelings,and experiences. These genescan have a dramatic impact onour immune system and our

ability to ward off disease. Dr. Gordon discusses

the BRCA genes which haveled some with a family historyof breast cancer to remove theirbreasts as a preventative inter-vention. He feels that this isoften an unnecessary step as agene can only do somethingwhen it is expressed. We canalter the expression of genes byoptimizing our health such that,even if we carry a specificgene, it may never impact us.

Researchers have foundthat Vitamin D helps to controla gene known to increase therisk of Multiple Sclerosis. Inpopulations in Northern Europeliving in areas with less sun-shine, the risk of MS isincreased.

The risk associated withinheriting so-called "bad" genesfrom our family can be signifi-cantly neutralized by optimiz-ing our diet, lifestyle, and envi-ronment. Dr. Kobayashi inTokyo was able to documentover 10,000 patients followedfor 10 years where virtually noone died of cancer because theylearned the simple techniquesrequired to prevent the expres-sion of their bad genes. Manyof the participants in the studycarried the gene for stomachcancer, a common cancer inJapan. They did not developany clinically detectable stom-ach cancers during the periodof the study as they monitoredtheir production of cancer cellsusing a test that was similar inits ability to provide earlywarning of cancer risk to onesoon to be made available byJohnson & Johnson in theUnited States. A peripheralblood sample will alert patientsto cancer cells in the blood-stream long before a lump orbump appears. This earlywarning allows patients to takeremedial action, and routinely,the cancer markers went backto normal, safe levels afterstress, diet, immune-support,sauna, and other supportiveinterventions were incorporat-ed.

Genetics can play a rolein our ability to detoxify fromnumerous environmentalinsults. Optimizing methyla-tion becomes a key strategy inimproving the ability of thebody to remove harmful sub-stances that may have a nega-tive impact on our health.Methylation support hasbecome vital. Dr. Gordon opti-mizes methylation with the useof Bio En'R-Gy C (which con-tains methyl donors in the formof both MSM and TMG) andBeyond B12 (which containsB12 as methylcobalamin andthree forms of folic acid includ-ing 5-MTHF - a methylatedform of folic acid). Bio En'R-Gy C is used at 1 to 4 tea-spoons daily in juice or water.Beyond B12 is generally usedat 1-6 tablets daily dissolvedunder the tongue.

While genetic testing isstill quite expensive, it is pre-dicted that the cost of your ownpersonal genomic profile willbe near $100 dollars in a fewyears. While some may viewthese tests as simply bad newsas to what lies ahead, manyflaws may be correctable withsimple strategies such as nutri-tion and supplementation.Some companies are alreadysuggesting personalized supple-ment programs based on the

results of an individual's genet-ic testing.

H - Heavy Metals andHormones

"H" in the F2IGH2TProtocol stands for both HeavyMetals and Hormones.

Heavy metals are amajor contributor to impairedhealth and are found in nearlyeveryone on the planet today.We already know that bone lev-els of lead today are more than1000 times greater than just400 years ago. Lead poisoningis a problem that is not going togo away. Many conditionshave been associated with highlevels of lead including aggres-sive behavior in children andhigh blood pressure in adults.

After a 2004 study asso-ciated lead exposure with age-related cataracts in men, Dr.Gordon commented, "We final-ly have proof that bone leadlevels are adversely affectingthe health of the brain as theeye is an extension of thebrain." He went on to point outthat toxic lead suppresses theimmune system.

People exposed to lead,as we all are, tend to developcognitive difficulties. By age80, 1 in 2 will developAlzheimer's disease. Coulddisturbed cognition and the lossof our ability to learn be direct-ly related to heavy metal accu-mulation? A correlationbetween aluminum toxicity andAlzheimer's is already com-monly recognized. Rather thanusing pharmaceutical drugs tomask the symptoms of cogni-tive disorders, a more benefi-cial approach may be to removethe enzyme-disrupting heavymetals which are at the root ofthe problem. Loss of cognitionis a serious problem in today'sinformation-intensive society.The inability to employ goodjudgment, aggressiveness, andcriminal behavior may resultfrom the improper processingof information resulting fromheavy metal intoxication.

Unfortunately, newborn

children are already heavymetal toxic at birth. Biologydictates that the fetus is awastebasket for the mother'stoxicity, and the mother's toxinsare downloaded into the unbornbaby. Umbilical cord blood hastwice the level of mercury thanthat found in the mother.Vaccinations and amalgam fill-ings further add to the level ofheavy metals that one is bur-dened with.

25% of children todayhave serious health issues rang-ing from ADHD to cancer todiabetes and many other condi-tions. These children are beingmedicated for their conditionsbut no one is looking at theobvious backdrop of toxicity.

Coal burning as asource of energy in China blan-kets the western United Stateswith mercury. In SanFrancisco, 30% of one's mercu-ry exposure comes from breath-ing the air, and fish in the samearea have some of the highestlevels of mercury contamina-tion in California. Nearly 10billion pounds (out of a total of40 billion pounds) of pollutionreleased each year into the airfrom China makes its way toNorth America. Mercury isfound in every bird tested onMt. Washington at elevations of8,000-10,000 feet. Every bladeof grass is coated with particu-lates of lead, mercury, cadmi-um, and other toxic substances.

Other common sourcesof heavy metal exposure areoften overlooked. Arsenic,which may be associated withType 2 Diabetes, is commonlyfound in chicken meat due toarsenic-based additives in thechicken feed. Aluminum ispresent in many antiperspirantsand has been associated withAlzheimer's disease and ALS.Cadmium may come from ciga-rette smoke, processed meat, orinstant coffee. Lead, whichaffects brain size and the risk ofviolent behavior, has beenfound in cosmetics, toothpaste,water, and even snow. Almostevery cause of death can be tiedto the level of lead in the body.

Mercury exists in many adhe-sives, Preparation H, psoriasisointments, contact lens solu-tion, vaginal lubricants, drink-ing water, fish, dental amal-gams, and tattoo dye.

Mercury can lead tonumerous symptoms such asdramatic mood swings, nerv-ousness, insomnia, memoryproblems, and the inability toconcentrate. It may result inneurological symptoms such astremors, loss of balance,impaired hearing, tunnel vision,slurred speech, headaches,fatigue, impaired sexual func-tion, and depression. Othersymptoms might include nau-sea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergicdermatitis, gum disease, andmany more.

There is a synergisticeffect when both lead and mer-cury are present together whichresults in them being 100 timesmore toxic than when eitherexists alone. The message isclear: avoiding heavy metalexposure is impossible.

Heavy metals have beenimplicated as a factor in cardio-vascular disease. Men withhigh levels of lead in the bonesare six times more likely to diefrom heart disease. Bypass sur-gery treats the symptoms whileignoring the causes, so DrGordon warns his patients thatit is generally of limited valueas blockages exist throughoutthe body, not just in the vicinityof the heart. A heavy metaldetoxification program may bea much more effective strategyfor addressing cardiovasculardisease. Dr Gordon's patientsare remarkably protectedagainst heart attacks andstrokes, and fatalities are virtu-ally unknown in patients on hisoral supplement programincluding Beyond ChelationImproved and his “PowerDrink" of Beyond Fiber™, Dr.Gordon's Organic Best ofGreens, Longevity Maca, andhis special form of Vitamin Ccalled Bio En'R-Gy C.

Mercury can be toxic tothe kidneys and may be a factor

“Dr. Gordon...cont’d pg 5”

“Dr. Gordon”...cont’d from pg 3

Urine Toxic Metals assay from Doctor's Data


FEATURE

in kidney failure. Heavy metalchelation may be beneficial forcompromised kidney functionand might eliminate the needfor dialysis in many cases.Some people erroneouslybelieve that heavy metal chela-tion will stress the kidneyswhile in reality it is the chronic,low-level exposure to lead thatleads to the most significantkidney problems. Oral chela-tion can improve thyroid func-tion by removing the lead thatis poisoning the thyroid gland.

Unfortunately, testingfor heavy metal exposure iscommonly misunderstood bymost mainstream practitioners.Blood tests are only helpful inacute exposure or poisoningand are not useful in an attemptto evaluate the total body bur-den of heavy metals which aregenerally found in deeper tis-sues or bones, not circulating inthe blood. More appropriatetests for chronic heavy metaltoxicity would be hair mineraltesting or provoked urine chal-lenges. However, some autisticchildren don't show metals inthe hair as they may have agenetic predisposition that pre-vents them from detoxifyingefficiently. "The problem withthese tests," says Dr. Gordon,"is that they can be misleading.It may appear that you havenormal levels, but this doesn'tmean you are out of the woods.No perfect test exists, and bet-ter tests are still needed. We alllive longer and healthier if wecan get the bad stuff out."

While IV chelation ther-apy may have the ability tolower heavy metals that arereadily accessible in the body, itis not an ideal treatment optionfor chronic heavy metal toxici-ty. It may in the short-termlower the body burden, butonce the IV therapy is discon-tinued, heavy metals fromdeeper stores in the body, suchas the bones, will reemerge.Additionally, we continue to beexposed to heavy metals fromour environment on a dailybasis. Thus, the only way tosuccessfully address chronicheavy metal toxicity in the longterm is to detoxify daily.Heavy metal detoxificationmust become a life-long focusin order to regain and retainwellness.

Detoxification does notoccur quickly. It takes nearly15 years for the bones toremodel, and there is no fasterway to get lead out of the bonesat this time. The problem ofheavy metals and other toxicitywill not be solved overnight,but taking the lead and othermetals out will consistentlymove us in the right direction.

Our levels of heavymetals and other toxins aredirectly correlated to the bodyburden of infection that wecarry within us. The more wecan reduce our internal toxicityand improve our terrain, theless we will struggle withchronic infections. If we don'taddress the toxicity factor,any attempt to reduce theinfectious burden will likelyfail.

Dr. Gordon has devel-oped a number of strategies forsupporting the body's ability todetoxify from heavy metals.These include:

• Beyond ChelationImproved (BC-I), which has

become Dr. Gordon's "callingcard", consists of a packet ofnine pills generally taken onceor twice daily. Each packetprovides three Beyond AnyMultiple tablets which providefoundational nutrient and min-eral support, one Omega-3Fatty Acid softgel, oneEvening Primrose Omega-6softgel, one Phosphatidyl /Gingko Complex capsule, andthree Essential Daily Defensecapsules. This combination ofnutrients in BC-I is the corner-stone of Dr. Gordon's programin detoxifying the body andpreventing heart attacks,strokes, and other serious con-ditions as people age.

• Essential Daily Defensecan be taken separately if one isnot using BC-I. It consists of acomplex of nutrients designedto help the body detoxify on adaily basis. EDD includesCalcium EDTA, Garlic, malicacid, and other detoxifyingnutrients.

• ACZ nano is a liquid zeo-lite derived from volcanic ashwhich has the ability to attractand capture numerous positive-ly-charged toxins such as mer-cury and lead. Once captured,these toxins are excreted out ofthe body. It has been shown toincrease the urinary excretionof mercury, lead, and othertoxic metals by over 300%. Ithas also been found to reducebrain fog. One of the advan-tages of zeolite is that it doesnot deplete the body of benefi-cial minerals like some otherchelating agents can. Initially,ACZ nano would be started atone spray a day and would beincreased gradually to 10sprays four times daily. After1-4 bottles, ACZ nano is gen-erally replaced with ZeoGold.

• ZeoGold is a much morepowerful zeolite than ACZnano. Each capsule containsthe same amount of zeolite asan entire bottle of ACZ nano.In addition to its powerful zeo-lite, ZeoGold helps to increasethe body's level of glutathionewhich is the master antioxidantand is critical in detoxification.The capsule must be opened ina glass of pure water and thenconsumed one or more timesdaily. Zeolite is reported tobind mycotoxins produced fromvarious mold species which is acommon concomitant in peopledealing with Lyme disease.Some believe that zeolite mayhelp to address biofilms andreduce levels of ammonia in thebody. Dr. Gordon believes that"zeolite is the ultimate filter inour toxic world."

• Beyond Fiber™ supportsthe gastrointestinal tract inexpelling many harmful toxinsthat are mobilized duringdetoxification. Additionally, itprovides the necessary prebioticinulin which is highly support-ive of the balance of beneficialflora in the gut.

• EZ Defense Gum may bindheavy metals released fromamalgam fillings as a result ofnormal chewing.

• Bathing in Beyond Clean,which contains EDTA, mayhelp to detoxify heavy metalsthrough the skin. Some haveeven used Beyond Clean orally

at a dose of 1 teaspoon in watersipped over the course of a day.

• If tolerated, sweat, sweat,and then sweat even more.Sauna therapy can be profoundin assisting the body in thedetoxification of heavy metals,chemicals, and other environ-mental toxins.

• Take off your shoes beforeentering your home. Toxicity iseasily carried from outside thehome into our carpets and liv-ing environments. Childrenspend the most time in contactwith the carpet of anyone in thehome.

The "H" in the F2IGH2TProtocol also stands forHormones. This refers to opti-mizing our health potential byproviding the body with thehormonal support it requires toperform at high levels of func-tioning. A hormone is a mes-senger molecule that workswith receptors on cell mem-branes to tell a cell what to do.First, no discussion on the topicof hormones would be com-plete without some mention ofcholesterol. Cholesterol is criti-cal in creating healthy cellmembranes. Additionally, cho-lesterol is a precursor to hor-mone production. Without ade-quate levels of cholesterol, hor-mones are not produced. As aresult, artificially lowering cho-lesterol levels with statin drugsmay result in serious sideeffects.

Free radicals, heavymetals, and chronic infectionsmay all play a role in damagingarterial lining. Once damaged,the lining must be repaired.The body may use cholesterolas a way to repair these dam-aged areas within the body.Rather than lowering choles-terol, a more beneficial strategymight be to reduce those itemswhich damage the arteries inthe first place. Fortunately, theF2IGH2T Protocol addressesthese issues. Once these dam-aging factors are negated, thebody no longer needs to pro-duce excess cholesterol, andcholesterol levels will naturallydecline.

Many of the toxinswhich we are exposed to on adaily basis are endocrine dis-ruptors. One of the most sig-nificant is Bisphenol A. Whenthese toxins are present withinthe body, the normal function-ing of hormones is disrupted.Reducing the use of cannedfoods and plastic water bottlesis an important step in limitingour exposure to endocrine-dis-rupting Bisphenol A. In arecent study performed by theEnvironmental Working Group,154 toxins found in childrenwere hormone disruptors. Thisis yet another reason why dailydetoxification is so important.

Dr. Lyn Hanshew, MDbelieves that stored toxicitynegatively impacts the neuro-logical, immune, and endocrinesystems. The more damagethat is done by these toxins, themore likely we are to developsymptoms of disease. Manyhealth conditions and symp-toms which present may berelated to endocrine functionabnormalities. These include:obesity, diabetes, elevated cho-lesterol, over or underactiveglandular function such as thethyroid, infertility, fatigue,

Fibromyalgia, decreased libido,sleep problems, mood disor-ders, problems with cognitivefunction, decreased musclemass, heart problems, boneloss, cold hands and feet, andmany more. Mercury specifi-cally prevents the conversion ofFree T4 to Free T3 as theenzyme required for this con-version is inactivated by mercu-ry, arsenic, cadmium, and lead.Thus, detoxification has thepotential to significantly bal-ance and improve endocrinefunction.

Another interesting con-nection between hormones andtoxicity is that hormones comefrom glands. Glands consist ofa high amount of fat. Fat isgenerally where the body storestoxins. Thus, the more toxicwe are, the more likely ourglands will serve as storagecontainers for these toxinswhich then negatively impactthe functioning of the glandsthat is otherwise intended toproduce healthful levels of hor-mones in the body.

Depressed levels ofDHEA, a master hormone inthe body, have been implicatedin heart disease, high choles-terol, depression, inflammation,immune disorders, schizophre-nia, Alzheimer's disease, dia-betes, HIV, and osteoporosis. Asimple blood test can beordered to check DHEA levelsand, if low, DHEA supplemen-tation may be appropriate.

Melatonin is a hormonecreated by the pineal glandwhich regulates sleep cycles.Additionally, it is a powerfulantioxidant, regulates other hor-mones, and is neuroprotective.Given that sleep is such animportant part of any successfulwellness program, melatoninsupplementation may be highlybeneficial. While on the topicof sleep, every suggestion tooptimize health works betterwith a good night's sleep. Dr.Gordon suggests visitinghttp://energysleep.vemma.com/pm to learn about a revolution-ary new all-natural sleep prod-uct that allows us to regenerateour bodies more effectivelywith less sleep than was possi-ble without this breakthroughproduct.

While some suggest thattestosterone supplementationmay lead to prostate cancer andestrogen supplementation tobreast cancer, Dr. Gordonargues that the benefits of hor-mone supplementation often faroutweigh the potential risks.He does not shy away from theuse of testosterone, estrogen,and progesterone. Bioidenticalhormone replacement is entire-ly different from synthetic hor-mones which are much morelikely to result in the develop-ment of cancer. Men with erec-tile dysfunction are at a muchhigher risk of heart disease andgenerally have an androgendeficiency. Most men will needtestosterone replacement atsome point in their life, gener-ally starting at age 40, to opti-mize their health potential.

For thyroid support, Dr.Gordon suggests that we allneed to consider iodine supple-mentation. For many of us, wewill need up to 50 mg of iodinefor 2-3 months, then 12.5 mgdaily for life. This can beobtained from capsules contain-ing potassium iodide and freeiodine. Some may choose to

use to use 1-5 drops of Lugol'ssolution for a couple of months;then one drop of Lugol's iodinethereafter which contains 6.417mg of elemental iodine. A 5drop dose contains 32.09 mg ofelemental iodine. There areknown possible side effects andsome today need to work verygradually to achieve thesedoses to avoid side effects. DrGordon finds that the 150 mcgdose found in most iodine sup-plements is not adequate to dealwith the competing levels ofthe halogens fluorine andbromine found in most adultstoday. The thyroid becomesdysregulated by halogens,heavy metals, numerous envi-ronmental toxins, and pesti-cides; all of which are found inanyone tested today. Dr.Gordon has observed thyroidfunction abnormalities resolvewith the use of Essential DailyDefense over time. He sug-gests that 30% of the popula-tion may initially need somethyroid support until they arefurther down the road in theirdetoxification efforts, but manywill benefit from taking up to 2grains of Nature-Throid (orsimilar thyroid medication)daily for life as he does.

Dr. Mark Hyman, MDhas developed a seven step planwhich addresses hypothy-roidism and is availablethrough UltraWellness. Theplan includes treating theunderlying causes, optimizingnutrition, minimizing stress,exercise, supplementation, heattherapy, and thyroid hormonereplacement. As a general rule,optimizing function with hor-mone replacement and supple-ments often becomes lessimportant as toxicity resolvesand normal hormone function isoptimized.

Adrenal function isanother critical aspect of over-all endocrine health. Stressreduction plays an importantrole in adrenal health. VitaminC, such as that found in BioEn'R-Gy C, helps the body todeal with stress and supportshealthy adrenal function.Quinton Marine Plasma mayalso support the adrenals.Additionally, numerous adapto-gens such as Ginseng,Ashwaganda, Schisandra, andRhodiola have been shown tosupport healthy adrenal func-tion. In some cases, smallamounts of hydrocortisone maybe required.

In evaluating endocrineissues, Dr. Gordon suggests theLongevity Profile© fromAmerican MetabolicLaboratories. The panel looksat cortisol, testosterone, proges-terone, estradiol, parathyroidhormone, IGF-1, and more.

Other options that Dr.Gordon considers for support-ing the endocrine systeminclude:

• Beyond HRT containsPueraria mirifia, which isknown as the "miracle herbfrom Thailand." It is derivedfrom the root of the plant andhas been used as a "rejuvenat-ing folk medicine" for over ahundred years. It has beencredited with being a fountainof youth for men and women,reducing wrinkles, darkeninghair, alleviating cataracts, help-ing memory loss, improving


“Dr. Gordon” ...cont’d from pg 4


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sleep disorders, increasing ener-gy, and improving blood circu-lation. Beyond HRT promoteshealthy hormone balance inboth sexes and promotes ahealthy immune responsetowards breast cancer. Thelowest rate of breast cancer inthe world is in Thailand.

• Longevity Maca, is a glu-cosinolate which is a substancefound in greens that enhancesour ability to detoxify whilealso helping to balance hor-mones. It has been shown toincrease levels of free testos-terone in men and to be helpfulfor women in menopause orthose with infertility or discom-fort during menses. Maca mayincrease energy and restore ahealthy sex drive.

• Beyond GHS supports thebody against declining levels ofgrowth hormone; eliminatingthe need for expensive, incon-venient injections of HumanGrowth Hormone so often usedby anti-aging doctors. It hasbeen shown to give tremendoussupport to the body in the fightto regain health and makesexercise programs far moreeffective. Athletes find theynever want to go off this allnatural, safe hormonal supportproduct. Beyond GHS con-tains a blend of hypothalamicand pituitary peptides. Growthhormone supports optimalimmune function.

• IGF-1 Plus is an extractfrom deer antler velvet whichsupports insulin-like growth

factor 1. IGF-1 stimulates adecrease in fat and an increasein muscle mass. CombiningBeyond GHS and IGF-1 Plusmay provide the immune sys-tem with an enhanced ability torespond to debilitating chronicinfections. Deer antler velvetimproves energy and enhancesthe function of the lungs andkidneys.

Now that we have cov-ered Heavy Metals andHormones, it is time toinvestigate the final andarguably most importantaspect of the F2IGH2TProtocol, namely Toxins.

T - Toxins

"T" in the F2IGH2TProtocol stands for Toxins.Toxins are ubiquitous in ourenvironment. We simplycannot avoid them. Neverbefore in the history ofmankind have we beenexposed to so many poten-tially harmful toxins. Dr.Gordon says, "All of us todayare an experiment in toxicolo-gy."

Dr. Philip Landriganfrom Mt. Sinai School ofMedicine has said, "We areconducting a vast toxicologicalexperiment, and we are usingour children as the experimen-tal animals. Not a single childtoday is born free of syntheticchemicals." In the April 2010issue of Current Opinion inPediatrics, Landrigan exploredthe environmental contributorsto autism. Exposures in earlypregnancy to substances such

as thalidomide, misoprostol,valproic acid, and the insecti-cide chlorpyrifos may be fac-tors. In Lancet in 2006, scien-tists concluded, "The combinedevidence suggests that neurode-velopmental disorders causedby industrial chemicals havecreated a silent pandemic inmodern society."

Toxicity is a problemthat every man, woman, and

child living on this planet facestoday. Dr. Gordon says, "It isnot autism, ADHD,Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis,diabetes, heart disease, or evencancer. Across the board, it isthe toxins!"

The EnvironmentalWorking Group released thevideo "10 Americans" whichlooks at the impact of environ-mental toxicity on ten ofAmerica's children. In thestudy, 287 chemicals werefound in the ten participantswith an average of 200 chemi-cals in each child. 134 of the

chemicals have been shown tocause cancer; 151 are known tocause birth defects; 186 havebeen associated with infertility;154 cause hormone disruption;130 are toxic to the immunesystem; 158 are known neuro-toxins that have profoundeffects on developing children.More surprisingly, 212 of thechemicals and pesticides foundhad been banned in the United

States over 30 yearsbefore the study was con-ducted.

Dr. Gordon says, "The'10 Americans' videoclearly shows that wehave poisoned our ownnest. Reaching our maxi-mum intended usefullifespan now requires usto deal aggressively withunderlying toxicity."Umbilical cord blood isabsolutely loaded withenvironmental toxins.

The levels of toxicchemicals and heavy met-als in many of the nation's

drinking water supplies are inviolation of the Safe DrinkingWater Act. Substances such asarsenic and uranium have beenfound at unsafe levels in stud-ies. In a New York Times arti-cle in 2009, it was stated that asmany as 19 million Americansmay become ill each year dueto parasites, viruses, and bacte-ria found in their drinkingwater. It has also been suggest-ed that pollutants found indrinking water may be a factorin the rise of various cancers.

In the reportEnvironment Threats to Healthy

Aging, researchers examinedthe influence of environmentalfactors on diseases such asAlzheimer's and Parkinson'sdisease. They found that envi-ronmental factors beginning inthe womb are significant fac-tors in determining our healthlater in life. They discuss howenvironmental chemicals leadto oxidative stress and neuroin-flammation. They note thatsubstances such as lead, PCBs,organic pollutants, and pesti-cides can alter the expression ofspecific genes. They suggestthat Bisphenol A leads toinsulin resistance and fat accu-mulation. PCBs, dioxin, andother pesticides may be impli-cated in Type 2 Diabetes. Airpollution may be a factor in thedevelopment of neurodegenera-tive disease.

In the book Is YourHome Making You Sick, Dr.Peter Dingle looks at the expo-sures we encounter in our ownhomes. Chemical toxins maycome from the building materi-als such as particle board,wiring, flooring, and sealants aswell as from paints, caulking,and grout. Phthalates andBisphenol A, which are bothfound in plastics, mimic certainhormones and are endocrinedisruptors.

Even looking good canbe hazardous to our health.The Environmental WorkingGroup provides the Skin Deep:Cosmetic Safety Databasewhich provides details onwhich personal care and cos-metic products are safe and


“Dr. Gordon” ...cont’d from page 5

All of us today are an

experiment in toxicology.


FEATURE

which are not. According toEWG, of more than 1,000 cos-metic brands, less than 1 per-cent are made from ingredientsthat have all been evaluated forsafety. Many cosmetics containparabens as an antimicrobialpreservative even thoughparabens have been shown tointerfere with the endocrinesystem and lead to reproductiveand developmental disorders aswell as immune dysfunction.Investigate your personal careproducts on this informativesite and work to minimize thetoxic products you use everyday.

In Six Risky ChemicalsYou're Carrying Around in YourBody, Dr. Joe Mercola, DOshared the results of a recent CDC study which measured212 chemicals in over 8,000subjects. The results werealarming. Most or all of theparticipants had these potential-ly harmful substances in theirbodies:

• Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) which are usedas flame retardants• Bisphenol A (BPA) whichis found in most plastics • Perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) which is found in heat-resistant and non-stick cook-ware• Acrylamide which isformed when carbohydrates arecooked at high temperaturessuch as in potato chips andbread• Mercury and Methyl-mercury which is found in fishand numerous other sourcesoutlined previously• Methyl tertiary-butylether (MTBE) which is a gaso-line additive used to raise theoctane. While it has beenphased out in the United States,MTBE has contaminatednumerous drinking water sup-plies.

Two one-hour CNNspecials with Dr. Sanjay Gupta,MD called "Toxic America" areavailable at http://www.gordonresearch.com to helpeducate everyone in great detailabout where we get these toxinsand what they are doing to us.

"Genetics used to be theprimary answer that scientistsgave to explain the occurrenceof diseases. However, at thepresent time, genes are only asecondary consideration.Toxicity in the body has beenfound to be the culprit of mostof the diseases present today,"according to Dr. Gordon. Hecontinues, "Who then needs todetoxify? Every man, woman,child and animal, as we arenow all toxic!"

Far Infrared Sauna ther-apy can be a very powerful toolin supporting a well-planneddetoxification program. It mayhelp lower blood pressure, leadto weight loss, lower bloodsugar, increase blood flow,lower cholesterol, and lowertriglycerides. Sweat therapyhelps to detoxify the body ofnumerous environmental toxinsand heavy metals whilestrengthening the immune sys-tem.

Bath and shower wateris often chlorinated and full ofother harmful toxins. "We con-clude that skin absorption ofcontaminants in drinking waterhas been underestimated andthat ingestion may not consti-tute the sole or even primaryroute of exposure," reported the

American Journal of PublicHealth. Bath and shower watershould be filtered in order toavoid adding to our alreadyhigh levels of toxicity.

Drinking water containsfluoride which may negativelyaffect the thyroid; partly byinducing a relative iodine defi-ciency as does another halogencontaminant we all carry todaycalled bromine which is foundin bread. Regardless of whichof the many options one uti-lizes, ensuring that only purewater is consumed is of theutmost importance. Filteringdrinking water is critical inoptimizing endocrine functionas hormone contraceptives havebeen found in the water supply.The introduction of theseresidues into our bodies onlyfurther creates endocrine imbal-ance.

More and more doctorsare beginning to espouse thebenefits of detoxification inimproving health. Dr.Alejandro Junger, MD has cre-ated a program called "Clean"which has been used by actressGwyneth Paltrow and manyothers with great success. Theunderlying principle of theClean Program is that themajority of common ailmentsare the direct result of toxicbuildup. The more we can doto detoxify, the more likely weare to regain our health andvitality.

Dr. Gordon employs theuse of a number of interven-tions that assist the body in theprocess of detoxification.These include:

• Beyond ChelationImproved, Essential DailyDefense, ACZ nano, ZeoGold,Beyond Fiber™, and EZDefense Gum as discussed inthe Heavy Metals section earli-er in this article. While each ofthese assists the body in theelimination of heavy metals,they are highly beneficial in thegeneral detoxification of envi-ronmental toxins, pesticides,chemicals, and other body-bur-dening substances.

• Bio En'R-Gy C has theability to neutralize most tox-ins. Additionally, it supportsthe body's methylation processwhich is critical in optimizingdetoxification. Beyond B12adds additional support forimproving methylation. In thebook Curing the Incurable, Dr.Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD dis-cusses the use of high-doseVitamin C to cure life-threaten-ing infections and to neutralizeotherwise-fatal toxin exposures.

• Dr. Gordon's PowerDrink, which consists ofBeyond Fiber™, LongevityMaca Powder, Dr. Gordon'sBest of Greens, Bio En'R-GyC, and ZeoGold, is a conven-ient way to address manyaspects of the F2IGH2TProtocol.

• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)and Alpha Lipoic Acid(ThioGel-L) support healthfullevels of glutathione which isthe body's master detoxifyingsubstance.

• Homeopathic drainage anddetoxification remedies such asthose from the HEEL DetoxKit or the Pekana Big ThreeDetoxification and DrainageKit can be highly supportive of

the functioning of the liver, kid-neys, and lymphatics.

• Pulsed ElectromagneticField Therapy - experts agreethat the earth's magnetic fieldhas dropped significantly in thepast few hundred years. It isnow under ½ gauss. When thislevel gets to zero, life ceasesbecause magnetism is essentialin supporting metabolism. Aproper magnetic field is essen-tial for optimal health. Dr.Gordon personally sleeps withtwo 100-pound magnetic padsunder his bed which provide 20gauss. He has found this a veryuseful strategy in maintaininghis health at age 76 - in spite ofnumerous health problems dat-ing back to his infancy. PEMFtherapy decreases inflammationand increases cellular flexibilityand circulation. Magneticfields influence the productionof ATP and improve the body'sability to remove waste prod-ucts. PEMF therapy acceleratesthe rate of healing. It is amodality of electromedicinethat for many seems to be amissing link in restoring health.It has become essential in deal-ing with the many chronichealth challenges that havebecome increasingly prevalent.

Summary

Dr. Garry F. Gordon,MD, DO, MD(H) has empow-ered us all with the creation ofthe F2IGH2T Protocol. At 76years of age, Dr. Gordon hasused the program he created tosignificantly improve his ownstate of health. The protocolserves as a powerful guide thatenables those with chronic ill-ness to regain optimal health."Ignoring even one aspect ofthe protocol may mean that ourmaximum intended useful lifes-pan is not reached," says Dr.Gordon. Thus, it becomes criti-cal to ensure that a well-planned treatment programaddresses each and every aspectof F2IGH2T.

Dr. Gordon has stated,"We restore classic cars, and weneed to restore classic people.Restoring cars is a bumper tobumper job. It takes a lot ofwork, a lot of care, and a lot oftime. People are no different.Recovery is hard work.Nothing about it is easy. Thegood news is that with theF2IGH2T Protocol, the oddsare on your side."

Here's to your health….

DisclaimerThis article is for informationalpurposes only and is not intend-ed to serve as medical advice.All decisions regarding anymedical treatment should bemade only in conjunction withyour licensed healthcare practi-tioner.

ResourcesThere are 4 primary web sitesthat Dr. Gordon shares informa-tion through. These are:

• Gordon Research Institute -http://www.gordonresearch.com • F2IGH2T For Your Health -http://www.fight4yourhealth.com• Zeolite Answer http://www.zeoliteanswer.com • Linda's F2IGH2T Blog -http://www.lymebook.com/fight

Information on productsavailable from Longevity Plus

can be found athttp://www.longevityplus.com.Dosages listed in this article arefor a 200-pound adult and mustbe weight-adjusted for children.

Dr. Gordon's personaldaily protocol can be found athttp://gordonresearch.com/Protocols/Personal_Protocol.html

Additional information on eachof the key areas of the F2IGH2TProtocol include:

F - Food

• DVD: Food, Inc. (2008) byRobert Kenner. Available fromAmazon.com• DVD: Foodmatters (2009)by James Colquhoun andLaurentine ten Bosch.Available from Amazon.com• Book: Genetic Roulette(2007) by Jeffrey M. Smith.Available from Amazon.com• Book: Seeds of Deception(2003) by Jeffrey M. Smith.Available from Amazon.com• Book: The MedicalDetective: Memoirs of a MostUnusual Doctor by PatrickCarlisle is available athttp://abacopublishing.com• Food Intolerance Testing byAndrew Weil MD:http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400354/Best-Test-for-Food-Intolerance.html• Lab: Signet DiagnosticCorporation - http://www.nowl-eap.com• Lab: ALCAT - http://www.alcat.com • Lab: Meridian Valley Lab -http://www.meridianvalleylab.com • Lab: Sage MedicalLaboratory - http://www.sage-lab.com

F-Focus

• Web Site: EmotionalFreedom Techniques -http://www.eftuniverse.com • Book: The Biology of Belief(2008) by Bruce H. Lipton,Ph.D. Available fromAmazon.com• Book: SpontaneousEvolution (2009) by Bruce H.Lipton, Ph.D. Available from

Amazon.com• Book: Soul Medicine (2008)by Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D.Available from Amazon.com• Book: 365 Prescriptions forthe Soul (2010) by Bernie S.Siegel, MD. Available fromAmazon.com• Book: 101 Exercises for theSoul (2009) by Bernie S.Siegel, MD. Available fromAmazon.com

I - Infection

• Book: Plague Time: TheNew Germ Theory of Disease(2002) by Paul W. Ewald.Available from Amazon.com.• 1st Line is available fromInternational Antiaging Systems(IAS) at http://www.antiaging-systems.com/PRG-253/1st-line.htm• Over 507 references on oralEDTA can be found at http://www.GordonResearch.com

G - Genetics

• Video: A Tale of Two Micehttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/epigenetic-mice.html • DVD: Ghost in Your Genes(2008). Available fromAmazon.com• Book: Feed Your GenesRight: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow DownAging (2006) by Jack Challem.Available from Amazon.com• Book: Change Your GeneticDestiny (2009) by Dr. Peter J.D'Adamo. Available fromAmazon.com.• Book: The Genie in YourGenes: Epigenetic Medicineand the New Biology ofIntention (2009) by DawsonChurch, Ph.D. Available fromAmazon.com. " Web Site: Dr.Kobayashi's World WithoutCancer - http://gordonre-search.com/articles_cancer/Kobayashi/

H - Heavy Metals

• Web Site: UltraWellness byDr. Mark Hyman, MD discuss


“Dr. Gordon” ...cont’d from page 6


MEDICAL PERSPECTIVES

es the topic of heavy metalsand heavy metal detoxification- http://www.ultrawellness.com

H - Hormones• Web Site: UltraWellness byDr. Mark Hyman, MD -http://www.ultrawellness.com • Longevity Profile© is avail-able from American MetabolicLaboratories athttp://www.caprofile.net • Web Site: Side effects ofLugol's - http://www.health-grades.com/drug-ratings/drug/sideeffects/19409/lugols

T - Toxins• Video: "10 Americans" byEnvironmental Working Group

- http://www.ewg.org/kid-safe-chemicals-act-blog/kid-safe-chemicals-act-10-americans-video • Web Site: EnvironmentThreats to Healthy Aging -http://www.agehealthy.org • Web Site: Clean Program -http://www.cleanprogram.com • Book: Curing the Incurable(2002) by Thomas E. Levy,MD, JD. Available fromAmazon.com• Web Site: Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field -http://www.pemf.us• Web Site: Magnetic SleepPads - source of the magneticpads Dr. Gordon personally uti-lizes while he sleeps -http://magneticosleep.com

Other Resources• ACS 200 (AdvancedCellular Silver) and ACZ nano- http://www.resultsrna.com • "Chronic Lyme Disease:Battle Requires Attack onMultiple Fronts" in April 2008Public Health Alert containsadditional information on Dr.Garry Gordon's approach torecovering from chronic Lymedisease• "Total Body Detox: A NovelApproach to Lowering TotalBody Burden" in October 2008Public Health Alert discussesthe use of ACS 200 and ACZnano in lowering total bodyburden in infection and toxicity.

phaaphaa

About the Author

Scott Forsgren is theeditor and founder ofBetterHealthGuy.com wherehe shares his fourteen yearjourney through a chronic ill-ness only diagnosed as Lymedisease after eight years ofsearching for answers. Scottwas honored to be awardedthe "2010 EducationalExcellence Award" from theLIA Foundation for his effortsin educating the public onLyme disease. Scott can bereached [email protected].

“Dr. Gordon” ... cont’d from pg 7

Immune Health and the GI Tract -Part 1by Peter J Muran, MD,ABIHM

The immunesystem of each individual mustultimately assume the manage-ment of infections like Lymedisease. In my experience,antibiotics level the playingfield by reducing the abundanceof bacteria, leaving the work ofsustained recovery to our ownimmune system. Without thebody's own immune vigilancethere is a slow progression tohealth.

Our understanding ofthe immune system is everevolving and the most recent2010 research casts the spotlight on the impact of gastro-intestinal health on the abilityof the immune system to func-tion effectively.

In this Part One of athree-part series we willexplore the most recent under-standing of the enormous rolethe gut plays in the health ofthe immune system. Part Twowill discuss evaluation and test-ing of immune dysfunctioncaused by the GI tract. PartThree will be putting it alltogether discussing how tostrengthen the immune system.

Immune Triggers

There are approximately100 Trillion bacteria in thehuman gut. Astoundingly, thisrepresents 10 times more cellsthan what makes up the body.The presence of these bacteriahas an immunological effect onthe rest of the body. Undermost circumstances, thisimmunological effect is greatlybeneficial. However, disruptionof this normal flora, if not toler-ated, is inflammatory and canbe significantly harmful. Intestinal bacterial disruptionand inflammatory conditionsare seen in the association ofKlebsiella with ankylosingspondylitis; Citrobacter andKlebsiella with rheumatoidarthritis; Yersinia with thyroidi-tis; Escherichia coli and Proteuswith autoimmune disorders.

These examples maynot reflect a direct cause by thebacteria, but rather molecularmimicry taking hold and elicit-ing an autoimmune response.In addition to disruption of thenormal flora, diet is the othermajor contributor to overallhealth of the GI tract. Diet hasa direct response of an impor-tant component of the immunesystem within the "gut associat-ed lymphoid tissue," or GALT.

The GALT is a chain of lymphglands attached to the intes-tines. These lymph glands arevery similar to the lymphglands located at the neckunder the jaw. When one has athroat infection, these glandsbecome swollen and inflamed -as when the gut has inflamma-tion, the GALT becomesswollen and inflamed.

Food sensitivities have adirect insult on the GALT. Theresponse to this assault is morecomplex than just formation ofantibodies. Thus, the measur-ing of the typical immunoglob-ulin titers for food aller-gies does not suffice inuncovering the source ofthis inflammatory com-ponent.

Most foods con-tain lectins, specializedproteins, which may beinflammatory for thatindividual without caus-ing the classic antibodyresponse. Studied foodgroups which include high lev-els of lectins are grains,legumes (that is beans, includ-ing peanuts), dairy, and plantsin the nightshade family. Manyother foods contain lectins butare less well studied and theamounts of lectins present arenot thought to be as high or aspotentially toxic.

Other inflammatorytriggers of the immuneresponse are pathogen associat-ed molecular patterns (PAMPs-typical structures of non-verte-brate pathogens); damage asso-ciated molecular patterns(DAMPS- intracellular compo-nents); advanced glycation endproducts (AGES- producedwhen food is fried, grilled,dried, smoked or pasteurized);free radicals; trauma; and tox-ins.

The culmination ofthese inflammatory triggersoccurs within the GI tract leadsto a measurable systemicinflammatory response. Theintegrity of the cellular liningof the gut, epithelium mucosa,changes because of this inflam-mation, leading to what isknown as leaky gut syndrome.Leaky gut syndrome is the cen-tral antecedent of a wide rangeof disorders associated withchronic inflammatory condi-tion.

This is best describedby Dr Alessio Fasano in thearticle, "Mechanisms ofDisease: The role of intestinalbarrier function in the patho-genesis of gastrointestinalautoimmune disease." He

states, "Together with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue andthe neuro-endocrine network,the intestinal epithelial barrier,with its intercellular tight junc-tions, controls the equilibriumbetween tolerance and immuni-ty to non-self-antigens. Whenthe finely tuned trafficking ofmacromolecules is dysregulatedin genetically susceptible indi-viduals, both intestinal andextra-intestinal autoimmunedisorders can occur. Thisreview is timely given theincreased interest in the role ofleaky gut in the pathogenesis of

gastrointestinal diseases and theadvent of novel treatmentstrategies, such as probiotics."(Nature Clinical PracticeGastroenterology andHepatology, Sept. 2005, Vol 2No 9).

The Immune System

Briefly, the body'simmune system is divided intothe innate and adaptiveresponse. The innate responseis usually within 0-96 hours. Itis divided into 2 groups. Onegroup is non-induced and/ornonspecific. The second groupis broadly specific.

This broadly specificgroup contains a large list ofimmune responders includingmacrophages, mast cells,cytokines, complement system,polymorphonuclear leukocyte(PMN), antimicrobial peptide,natural killer cells and dendriticcells.

Current research showsthat if there is a modulator ofthe innate and adaptive immunesystem, it would be the dendrit-ic cells. Dendritic cells arethroughout the entire body.Dendritic cells "sample" every-thing and determine if it is afriendly or a danger-stranger tothe body. This sampling setsup a priming of the dendriticcells, which will then commu-nicate with the remainder of thecells of the immune system andrespond accordingly.

The adaptive responsesystem is usually activatedwithin 4-5 days. The adapted

system characteristically givesa sustained response to theoffending agent or establishesantibodies to react to and pre-vent re-infection. It is a highlyevolved specific system whichspecializes in effectors T and Blymphocytes cells. The infor-mation which the T and B celllymphocytes use to differentiateis derived from the dendriticcell.

The B cell response isknown as the humoral (circulat-ing in our bodily fluids) medi-ated system. It is in this systemwhere the antibodies for specif-

ic protein or infection areformed. The T-cell lym-phocyte response is alsoknown as the cell-mediat-ed system. The T-celllymphocytes can havemany different responses,including triggering a B-cell response.The dendritic cell is

primed for response bythe previously described

triggers. This dendritic primingwill derive differing sets of T-cell instructions resulting inconversion of naïve Th0 cellsinto Th1, Th2, Th17 and T-reg-ulatory cells. Depending on thesignaling, a pathway can beredirected to express a healthierresponse.

This is most dramaticfor the person with significantallergies and an underlyinginfection impacting the efficacyof the immune system to handlethe infection. By modulating orbalancing the pathways, anexcessive response and itsdraining complications isdecreased, thus allowing theimmune system to focus on themore critical problem at thetime.

Th1 cells producecytokines that are involved inmany types of cell-mediatedimmunity and delayed hyper-sensitivity response. It doesthis by increasing cell-mediatedactivation macrophages andneutrophiles. The more pre-dominant diseases seen withTh1 are rheumatoid arthritis,multiple sclerosis, thyroiditis,Lyme arthritis and Crohn's dis-ease.

Th2 cells producecytokines which are involvedwith further B cell activationand consequent allergy anti-body response. It does thiswith the recruitment of mastcells, basophils and eosinophils.The more predominant diseasesseen with Th2 are allergic dis-eases, asthma, contact dermati-tis, scleroderma, ulcerative coli-

tis and systemic lupus erythe-matosus.

Th17 cells mediatemucosal immunity to GI andpulmonary pathogens (especial-ly Candida and gram-negative).This is a primary driver ofchronic inflammation. It is thepredominant driver to initiateinflammation of tissues andorgans in Lyme arthritis, aller-gy, tumorigenesis, transplantrejection and autoimmune dis-eases (multiple sclerosis,Crohn's disease, ulcerative coli-tis, systemic lupus erythemato-sus, rheumatoid arthritis, scle-roderma, alkylosing spondyli-tis).

As mentioned earlier,the gastrointestinal tract is fullof potential immune triggers.For the most part, the immunesystem is able to recognize andtolerate non-harmful triggers.It does this by the means of theinnate immune response. It iswhen there is a trigger (such asa harmful bacteria or fungus)causing the inflammatoryresponse that cannot be com-pletely removed, resulting incontinued inflammation. Ifthis continued inflammatoryresponse is not switched off,then there is a move to the nextlevel of chronic inflammation.

This next level ofchronic inflammation has manyfacets. It includes leaky gutsyndrome and dysregulation ofthe immune system's inflamma-tory profile. One can alsodevelop an autoimmuneresponse where there is adecrease in self recognition; acontinued imbalance in theTH1/TH2/TH17 lymphocytes;and depletion of the naturalkiller cells, which could lead toan increase in chronic diseaseand cancer.

Most chronic diseaseshave been linked to excessiveor persistent inflammation.This chronic inflammation is asystemic phenomena with localmanifestations. Chronicinflammation occurs when theinjury is ongoing or a predis-posed immune system fails atcounter-regulation.

Unaddressed chronicinflammation can completelyobstruct the path to recoveryfrom an infection such as Lymedisease. In order to properlymanage Lyme disease theimmune system needs to beoptimized. The first area ofoptimization is the GI tract.www.longevityhealthcare.comTel: (888) 315-4777.

phaaphaa

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The Lyme-Thyroid Connectionby Dr. Nikolas R. Hedberg

Lyme disease can havedevastating effects on the bodyand can trigger autoimmunediseases such as Hashimoto'sThyroiditis. The bacteria borre-lia burgdorferi has been foundto cross-react with thyroid tis-sue which triggers the autoim-munity by what is known asmolecular mimicry. This basi-cally means that your immunesystem tags an infectious agentbut also attacks self-tissue thathas a similar protein structure.Hashimoto's affects 28 millionAmericans and is the mostcommon autoimmune diseasein the world. It can lead to thesymptoms of hypothyroidismwhich include:

• Fatigue• Depression• Weight Gain• Constipation• Insomnia• Dry, brittle nails• Cold Hands & Feet• Hair loss• Arthritis• Brain Fog• Numbness/Tingling

Many of these symp-toms are similar to Lyme dis-ease and its co-infections.When treating a Lyme diseasepatient with Hashimoto's wealso have to take into accountwhat we do to the patient'simmune system and pay carefulattention to what treatmentmethods are utilized. Herbal

medicines can have a stimulato-ry effect on different parts ofthe immune system and canthus make the autoimmunityworse.

Other factors that mustbe looked at with autoimmunityinclude:

• Vitamin D status• Gluten• Toxic metals such as mercury• Intestinal barrier function• Gut infections• Rickettsia• Iodine

I have found that manypeople with Lyme have not hadtheir thyroid adequately evalu-ated for autoimmunity. Manyof the factors listed above arealso very important in the treat-ment of Lyme disease. VitaminD is extremely important forimmune system function and,more specifically, immune sys-tem balance which is usuallyoff in Hashimoto's and Lyme.Hashimoto's patients have beenfound to have abnormal vitaminD receptors which requiresmuch higher doses of vitaminD for effective results.Gluten-free diets are nothingnew for Lyme patients but wealso know that gluten is a pos-sible trigger of many autoim-mune diseases, includingHashimoto's. Patients withLyme and Hashimoto's mustfollow a gluten-free diet indefi-nitely.

Toxic metals, especiallymercury, can play a significant

role in both these disorders.Mercury has been shown totrigger Hashimoto's. In fact,Czech studies have found thatwhen mercury-containing den-tal amalgams are removed frompatients with Hashimoto's, theirantibody levels significantlydrop. Dental amalgam removalcan play a powerful role inLyme disease as well asHashimoto's. I do not aggres-sively chelate mercury from allLyme patients as this can causesetbacks since their detoxifica-tion pathways are already heav-ily taxed.

The intestinal barrierhas been found to contribute toHashimoto's which plays intogluten intolerance and gutinfections. Many Lymepatients have GI infections suchas yeast, parasites, bacteria andmolds.

One particular infectionknown as yersinia enterocoliti-ca has been shown to triggerHashimoto's via molecularmimicry. Infections in theintestine can make it very diffi-cult to treat Lyme patients since70% of the immune systemresides in the gut. Co-infec-tions such as bartonella lovesurface areas such as the gutlining and can be difficult toeradicate due to biofilm forma-tion. Enzymes that breakthrough biofilms as well aspotent herbal antimicrobials arevital in these cases. Floodingthe GI tract with beneficial bac-teria helps to boost the immunesystem and "crowd out" harm-

ful bugs.As the intestinal barrier

breaks down, patients developleaky gut which leads to moreand more food sensitivities.The major players here aregluten, corn, soy, and dairy.Most patients with Lyme feelmuch better avoiding thesefoods.

Rickettsia is a co-infec-tion that seems to be involvedwith Hashimoto's as well.Rickettsia also loves the adre-nal gland and can cause unre-lenting adrenal problems andcomplete adrenal fatigue. Theadrenals are vital for immunesystem function, sleep, thyroidfunction, energy, blood sugarand they produce the naturalanti-inflammatory cortisone.Adrenal support is usually nec-essary in Lyme andHashimoto's patients since theyare intricately involved in mostaspects of these disorders.Licorice root is an example ofan herb that stimulates theimmune system and supportsthe adrenals. Unfortunately, itcan also make Hashimoto'smuch worse by overstimulatingthe immune system. I do notrecommend Licorice for mostcases.

High doses of iodine arebeing used by some practition-ers to treat Lyme disease andthyroid disorders. Iodine is anexcellent anti-microbial but itcan also have devastatingaffects on autoimmune diseaseincluding Hashimoto's. TheJapanese have found that

Hashimoto's patients whoingest iodine actually increaselymphocyte attack on the thy-roid gland. This happensbecause iodine increases theenzyme thyroid peroxidaseactivity thus increasing inflam-mation within the gland itself.If iodine is going to be utilizedin Lyme disease, the patientmust first be evaluated forHashimoto's thyroiditis.

Next time you see yourdoctor for treatment of Lymedisease, request a blood test forthyroid peroxidase and anti-thy-roglobulin antibodies to see ifyou have Hashimoto's. If youhave Hashimoto's, make sureyour doctor does the necessarydetective work to find out whyyou have it in the first place. Itcould have been caused by bor-relia burgdorferi, but it may besomething else as well. A prop-erly diagnosed and treated thy-roid problem can significantlyhelp you in your path to over-coming Lyme disease. phaaphaa

About the Author:Nikolas R. Hedberg,

D.C., D.A.B.C.I. Is a BoardCertified Chiropractic Internistand is the author of the bookThe Thyroid Alternative. Dr.Hedberg sees patients from allover the world who have notfound answers to their healthproblems. He focuses on Lymedisease and its associated con-ditions. He can be reached athis practice in Asheville, NC at828-254-4024 or throughwww.drhedberg .com.


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