As I mentioned before with my rule of thumb, the Pareto principle, 20% of causes are responsible for 80% of the effects. There are only a few basic and essential elements that explain most of the problems. The point here is not to dive into the nuance and details, but maximize results with the least amount of effort. The nitty gritty of chronic diseases is essentially two things:

1. Hyperinsulinemia causing most of the chronic metabolic diseases (Diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc...) AND

2. Loss of gut integrity ("leaky gut") where the main line of defense in the body is compromised allowing a host of substances to cross the gut barrier triggering many inflammatory and auto-immune conditions.
    

"All diseases start in the gut." Hippocrates was right 2000 years ago. About 70-80% of our immune system is located in the gut protecting us from the outside environment (toxins, antigens, bacteria). The gut lining has a very selective barrier maintained by special connections between cells called tight-junctions to maintain a delicate balance of allowing essential nutrients from being absorbed while preventing toxins, bacteria and foreign substance from entering the circulation. When these tight-junctions malfunction as a result of repeat insults and repeat acute inflammation, it leads to immune system over reaction and chronic inflammation, which is the catalyst of many autoimmune disease diseases.

 

So what changed in recent decades? The food we eat has become highly processed, loaded with a huge amount of sugar, highly refined carbohydrates, inflammatory industrial seed oils and a host of chemicals and food-like additives that are wreaking havoc in the gut.

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What are some of the signs of a "Leaky Gut"?

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• Digestive system issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease, or celiac disease.

• Skin issues such as acne, rosacea, or eczema.

• Mood and mind issues such as depression, anxiety, ADD or ADHD

• Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia

• seasonal allergies and asthma

• Food sensitivities, allergies or intolerance

• Hormonal imbalance such as PCOS (although also caused by hyperinsulinemia)

• Arthritis and chronic joint pain and inflammation

• Poor immune system with recurrent infections

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Other Conditions we can focus on related to hyperinsulinemia

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD/NASH). This condition usually goes hand in hand with Obesity and Diabetes. You can also use either program for long term management

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

• High Cholesterol

• High Blood pressure