30 DAY

GLUTEN AVOIDANCE CHALLENGE

DON’T FOCUS ON DIET ALONE

REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY

Some people experience a dramatic improvement in their musculoskeletal health (range of motion) upon removing common food triggers (gluten, dairy, corn), others won’t notice any positive changes.

If you tried gluten, dairy, corn and did not see a change, maybe you need to eliminate sugar!

In order for autoimmunity to develop you need:

1. a genetic predisposition
2. an environmental trigger
3. an increase in intestinal permeability (a leaky gut).

As you know, we can’t change your genes, but we can reverse autoimmunity by removing the trigger and healing the gut which lowers inflammation.

The four main environmental triggers are:

1. Food
2. Stress
3. Chemicals
4. Infections

Food can be a trigger, and if you eliminate this food from your diet YOU can reverse the inflammation/autoimmune component.

The best way to find out is through an elimination and reintroduction diet. If you avoid all of the allergenic foods (gluten, dairy, corn, etc.) and decrease your sugar intake (eat low carb diet) and your symptoms resolve and your blood panel normalize, then you know that food was the main culprit.

On the other hand, if your symptoms don’t improve and/or your blood tests don’t normalize, then there are most likely other triggers present.

INCREASE YOUR FIBER

MANAGING DIABETES

Fiber is critical because it slows down the digestive process, which means that it slows down the absorption of glucose. To put it simply, when you eat, the sugar (glucose) from your food enters your blood. This can happen quickly and cause your body to release a lot of insulin, which is meant to help regulate blood sugar. However, too much sugar and insulin can be a problem, especially for people with diabetes.

So, what you want to do is slow down the process with fiber. Imagine it like this: when you eat, instead of getting a big sugar rush and a lot of insulin all at once, you want to make it more gradual. This way, your body can handle the sugar better, and your pancreas doesn't have to work as hard to control it.

By slowing down how fast sugar enters your blood, you can keep your blood sugar levels more stable, and you won't put too much stress on your pancreas. This is a good way to have a healthy response to food and avoid worsening your diabetes.

In simple terms, it's about being kind to your body and helping it manage sugar in a way that doesn't make your diabetes worse.

Some of my favorite fiber foods include:

• Lentils, chickpeas, and black beans.
• Berries like raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. I enjoy small amounts of these at a time.
• Apples, apple pectin and pears.
• Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. I love them steamed, roasted, or other.
• Celery is a crunchy and fiber-rich vegetable that I love with salsa before dinner.
• Pumpkin seed, almonds, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.

Take home: gradually increase fiber intake to 100 grams per day.

THERMOGRAPHY

THE AMERICAN CHIROPRACTOR | JAN 2024

Excerpt of Dr. Jeffrey Tucker’s feature article “Thermography” from

The American Chiropractor | January 2024

“...skin temperature can be influenced by factors such as the time of day, weather, clothing worn, ambient temperature, emotional states, and recent activity.”

Following are some of my insights about what can be learned from human thermographic images:

Temperature Patterns and Circulation

Thermographic images display variations in temperature across different areas of the body and can provide insights into blood circulation patterns. Hotter areas may indicate increased blood flow or inflammation, while cooler areas might suggest reduced blood flow or vasoconstriction.

Inflammation and Infection

Controlled inflammation is the body’s natural response to an injury. IRTI can be used to follow the progression of the natural course of inflammation and how my therapy is helping. Areas of increased temperature could indicate acute or chronic inflammation, allowing me to think of infection or other immune responses in joints and soft tissues. Higher temperatures may be a sign of the body’s efforts to fight off pathogens or heal damaged tissue.

Nerve Dysfunction

Abnormal temperature patterns might be associated with nerve dysfunction, such as nerve compression or damage. Monitoring upper and lower extremity temperatures with thermal images helps me evaluate the best treatment option for neuropathy and other nerve-related issues.

Muscle Function

Thermography can highlight areas of muscle activity. Hot spots might indicate muscle tension or strain, while cold spots could suggest reduced muscle function.

Continue reading on how Thermography will help practitioners diagnose temperature changes related to both acute and unresolving pain.

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