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Bibi (Nashville, Tn) on 08/24/2010
4 out of 5 stars

Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other autoimmune disorders MIGHT be cleared up by following a gluten free-casein free diet. I have been following a gluten free diet for over a year, and have improved, but still have some problems. My understanding is that casein (milk protein) is metabolized the same as gluten. By following a gluten free, casein free diet, I have read that people have also been cured of autistic disorders and even schizophrenia. I'm having trouble abstaining from the milk protein, but thought this info would be helpful.

Replied By Trudy (Harbor Springs, Michigan, Usa) on 04/07/2011

I have been battling autoimmune disease for many years. For the last 10, without any drugs. As many others who have autoimmune, as time goes on, other autoimmune problems begin to develop, like allergies, and so forth. When I stopped using perscription immune suppressants, I became determined to find the root of the problem and cure it naturally. Not knowing how to do that, I have seen a naturopath, an acupuncturist, a homeopathic practitioner, and 2 different chiropractors practicing energy techniques. When I say I have seen them, I mean I have spent months/years and endless amounts of money trying to get a cure for my problem. Each one helped in their own way, but could not cure my problem. Over the years however, I took with me alot of knowledge about natural healing. One day, while visiting a friend, and feeling particularly horrible, I picked up a book she had called "The Autoimmune Epidemic" by Donna Jackson Nakazawa and began to read it. I couldn't put it down. Why hadn't I read something like it sooner? It described chapter by chapter why our immune systems go haywire, due to being overexposed to pollution, chemicals and preservatives in our food. Our immune systems are designed to protect us from foreign dangers and act as our defense system. However, when it is exposed to alarming amounts of pollutants, chemicals and preservatives, it gets overloaded and begins attacking everything. Hence, we get sick.

Logically, if we reduce the toxins that we are taking in, we reduce the autoimmune response. There were a number of examples in the book of persons who did this, one doctor even coming back from sure death.

How do we do that? Number one in importance, eat organic foods. If you can't do that, at the very least, do not eat processed foods or anything in a box. Read labels on everything. If it has ingredients you don't recognize, you probably shouldn't eat it. Eat way more fruits and vegetables than anything else you consume. Raw is better. Eat very little meat unless you can get organic meats. Eliminate gluten and reduce your dairy intake or eliminate that too. Use digestive enzymes and seek to improve your digestion as much as possible. I supplement with antioxidants also.

Second, take note of your household cleaning products and your personal hygiene products. Whatever touches your skin gets absorbed into your body and eventually your organs. Soaps, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, hand cream, and especially hair dyes are loaded with chemicals and perfumes. Cleaning products are toxic and shouldn't be breathed in or come into contact with your skin. I have changed to using homemade soap, organic toothpastes, organic shampoos and creams and henna hair dye. For cleaning, I use ACV and water. It not only cleans really well, but it disinfects too. Laundry soaps are full of toxic chemicals and perfumes, but the dryer sheets are especially toxic. I make my own laundry soap, and use ACV in the fabric softener port for anti static dryer use.

Finally, chemical pollutants are everywhere, and much of this problem is what we breathe in. To the extent possible, wherever you live, reduce the toxic fumes you breathe in outside your home, and inside your home, for heavens sakes, get rid of that perfumey air freshener in your house and your car! They're toxic.

It has been a long difficult road, but I finally have improved my health immensely. I am not cured. This will be a way of life for me, but I can finally say that I have many more normal days now than I do sick days. Much of your health can be determined on how you take care of yourself. I didn't say it would be easy, but reversing the damage we've done to ourselves will take time, so be patient. Obviously, adding some exercise will reduce stress and keep your circulation moving.

One last note about starting such a regimen. For about 2 months after I started this, I felt terrible. My body was detoxifying itself, and it was not pleasant. But I knew that only good would result if I continued, so I did. By the end of the first month, I could notice some improvements, and each month for about 6 months I continued to see improvement in the way I felt. It has now been one year, and I can honestly say that I feel better than I have in years, almost normal.

Best wishes to you, and I do hope this helps someone.

Replied By Trudy (Harbor Springs, Michigan, Usa) on 04/08/2011

I forgot something VERY important. Eliminate sugar from your diet. Sugar, especially refined sugar and corn syrup is terrible for you, and causes a slew of health problems. Reduce your intake of caffiene and alcohol, as these are of no benefit either. If you can keep in in mind that your body needs only what can be GOOD for it, feed it what it can benefit from, and eliminate the rest.

Replied By Carla (Easton, Pa) on 05/22/2011

Dear Trudy,

This information that you have provided will truly be helpful to me. May I ask what ACV Stands for. Also, would it be possible for you to share some of you household and body cleansing mixtures please? Your mentioned homemade soap. I m so interested. This illness is so new to me. I sm so glad that I stumbled across you message. Have a great day and I look forward to the news that you have been healed. I believe that you are on your way. I look forward to that same.

Replied By Shawn (Portland, Or) on 09/28/2011

ACV stands for Apple Cider Vinegar. When purchasing a bottle, make sure you look for one that is cloudy and has what is called "the mother, " or sediment. The clarified cheap stuff that you see in most supermarkets is not the best kind to get. A wonderful brand is _____'s, available at almost any health food store. The Trader Joe's brand isn't half bad.

Replied By Cured (Missing City, Missing Country) on 12/18/2011

If you are battling any autoimmune disease, visit these links while they are still available. They may save your life. they saved mine...

http://mysticbroadcast.net/boyd/benzene.html

Replied By Had (White River Junction, Vermont) on 03/08/2012

If this would help, drink RAW milk, what makes milk so bad is the paster/homig.--It kills the milk, so all the benificial bacteria etc... Becomes toxic. Also, look on Natural News. Com, the commercial milk industry is gross, beyond belief. Indepentant testing of the milk turned up, blood, pus, fecal matter, toxins, pharmacuticals, hormones and much more in the milk from the grocery store. So get on real Raw milk from a farm that goes organically. And if you eat any other type of dairy(yogurt, cheese etc) again, go RAW only, you will all of a sudden NOT react to milk and your digestion will also improve as well as your immune system. I am all for the coconut milk/oils, as I use/like these as well. For supplimentation you may want to look as Serrapeptase, that is a digestive emzyme from silk worms that eats inflammation, dead tissue, scar tissue, etc.... (www.serrapaptase.info) So if you stop eating what makes you sick, and this enzyme clears out the damage so your body can heal. You also mentioned wheat free, a good book on why is 'Wheat Belly', I don't take everything the man writes as gold (he put in use of splenda, ??? and using a microwave to cook, ??? I know! ) but, it gives you a through heads up on what to avoid, the badness of 'Gluten Free' foods and listing of what is great to eat all the time, occationally, and don't eat it. I hope this helps, Good Health to you.

Replied By Bcaru (Bristol, Ct) on 02/18/2016
It's also important that the cows are grass fed, and they they don't get injected with steroids, or other things such as antibiotics. I read a book by Dr Bragg and he pointed out that humans do not need milk. Humans are the only creature on earth that continue to drink milk after we're weaned and that continuosly drinks milk from other animals. Milk has no good purpose in the health of humans. If you must drink milk, there are better forms from plants. Coconut, hemp, and others. Stay away from soy though. Good luck.

Replied By Had (White River Jct, Vermont) on 03/08/2012

There is a cheap book out as well, 101 uses for vinegar (something close to that). It is the BEST thing I've found for cleaning w/o killing yourself w/poison fumes from cleaning products. Laundry, floors, countertops, bathrooms. Is anti-bacterial/viral and deoterizer, smell dissapates fast and leaves behind brand new 'shine', like you just put in new counter/floor etc.... I picked up book, it's smallish, for $2 on a 'let's see what it says?' , I bought more and sent them out to friends who where interested in cleaner/healthier living or had health problems, they are shocked at how completely it cleans just about everything in your house and more, I am told my house always smells 'clean and fresh'.

Replied By Fatima (Saint Paul, Mn) on 02/24/2013

Thank you very very much. Can I ask what is your problem? How did you decide to stop medication? I have Autoimmune hepatitis. My doctor says I will die if I stop taking prednisone.

Replied By Jennywren (Perth, Western Australia) on 05/31/2013

I've heard the Paleo diet with an autoimmune protocol is very good for auto-immune diseases. Paleo allows you to eat organic/free-range/grassfed meat, fish and seafood; no grains (bread, pasta, rice, etc); no legumes (beans); no dairy; no refined stuff; lots of fruit and veggies. Add to that the autoimmune protocol (no nightshades - tomatoes, red pepper, eggplant, chilli. No nuts/seeds. No caffeine or alcohol). The premise behind it is that autoimmune disease comes from leaky gut, and you need to heal your digestive tract before you get better. It's meant to take anywhere between 4-6 weeks and several months to notice any change.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto's. It's been only 3 days on the diet but I'm hopeful. Anything to get off the meds!

Just thought this might be of help to some. If you Google paleo and autoimmune there's a fair amount of information out there.

Replied By Gupta (Houston, Tx) on 03/01/2015

For RA, Curamin BCM-95 formulation has been found useful. It is a turmeric based product. My wife feels that she has benefited from it.

Replied By Mactwo (Beatty, Oregon) on 03/01/2015

Auto-Immune Disease is another name for Vitamin Deficiency Disease and makes the immune system is incapable of defending us from parasites, diseases and toxins.

Most spices are very nutritional and many are medicinal. Makes very interesting research.

Quote, Dr F R Klenner, " white blood cell without adequate vitamin 'C' is like soldiers without bullets". dez...

Replied By Dawn (Nevada) on 05/11/2016

I have been following the Paleo diet for nearly three years now and was diagnosed with an auto immune disease two and a half years ago. Unfortunately I have not found this diet to be helpful in alleviating my symptoms (although on the bright side I've lost 45 pounds)

Replied By Denise (Tennessee) on 02/08/2017

I have read other posts saying the same thing about the prednisone but my gastro has only put me on Vitamen E, 400 mg twice a day. My primary care doctor also likes that treatment as well. My bloodwork is all ok.

Replied By Princess Joy (Md) on 02/28/2017

Thank you so much for this!

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