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During Cold and Flu season, for those who suffer from Systemic Autoimmune Diseases (SAD), food allergies, or other chronic and
systemic inflammatory illnesses, there is more to be aware of than just getting your flu vaccine. Autoimmune conditions are chronic and can affect every organ in the body, crossing almost all medical specialties, including gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, gynecology, dermatology, and even endocrinology.   

To date, at least 80 different autoimmune diseases have been identified, and an additional 40 illnesses are suspected to have an autoimmune component, according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), Autoimmune Disorders are rising rapidly in the United States and now affects an estimated 23.5 million Americans, 75% of those affected are women.   It is reported that Autoimmune Diseases are now among the top 10 leading causes of death in American women under the age of 65.

There are a number of SAD conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac, and multiple sclerosis to name only a few, that weaken the body’s immune system putting it at increased risk for catching a cold, the flu or even developing other illnesses.  These chronic systemic conditions alter a persons immune system making it harder for the body to distinguish a difference between a persons own cells and any viruses, infections or other harmful germs that may invade it. Because of this people with SAD conditions are less likely to be able to fend off illnesses they may happen to catch. Making matters worse, many of the medications used to treat these chronic conditions also further weaken the immune system and may even cause other side effects presenting further complications.

There may also be dangers with combining over the counter medications and other holistic or natural remedies.  Even certain foods that may cross react with the prescription medications taken for your chronic illness.  You should always inform your doctor and pharmacist of any over the counter, holistic or natural meds you are taking in order to ensure that you are not jeopardizing their effectiveness by taking over the counter and natural remedies. Its also a good to know how a vaccine or medication is made and what is in it to lower the risks of having a flare up. 

Did you know that a fertile egg was the preferred method to incubate the serum for the flu vaccine and that there are three (3) different ways that flu vaccines are made in the United States?

How Influenza (Flu) Vaccines Are Made

Egg-Based flu Vaccines – The most common way that flu vaccines are made is using an egg-based manufacturing process that has been in existence for more than 70 years.] Though egg based is the preferred way to produce the fl vaccine there are actually three different processed to produce the flu vaccine to read more – http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/how-fluvaccine-made.htm)

There are a number of things you can do to help protect yourself and strengthen your immune system.  Here are just a few.

1. Heal Your Gut –  80 % of your immune system is contained in your gut, so a healthy gut is the most important line of defense for everyone but extremely important for those with SAD conditions. Be sure to load up on high quality, multi strain probiotics either in pill/capsule form (at least 25 billion units) or better yet through daily consumption of foods like Fermented Veggies, Kombucha, Kefir and yogurt (a low sugar variety). 
2. Try Prebiotics – Prebiotics provide your probiotics with food in order to live and multiply.  Some prebiotics are Garlic (17.5% for 1.2 oz.), raw leeks (11.7% for 1.8 oz.), raw onions (8.6% for 2.5 oz.) , cooked onions (5% for 1/4 lb.), asparagus (5% per 1/4lb.), raw bananas (1% per 1.3lb.). The recommendation for Prebiotic consumption is 5% daily
3. Reduce Sugar and Alcohol Consumption – too much sugar from food or alcohol can suppress the immune system making it difficult for your body to fight off infection.  It also causes problems for the gut by feeding bad bacteria and allowing it to flourish in the gut causing issues like SIBO and yeast infections.
4. Reduce Stress – studies have shown that stress can suppress your immune system.  Try meditation, yoga or at days end, you can turn the lights down, light some candles, fill the tub with essential oils and epsom salts and soak in the bath [if you can.]
5. Sleep is very important – 7 to 10 hours of Sleep every night not only rejuvenates the mind but also the body which uses sleep to help it recover from exposure to daily toxins.
6. Consider taking Supplements – It may be hard, if you work indoors, to get enough Vitamin D, have your physician test to make sure your levels are optimal. Zinc is needed for gene regulation and the functioning of neutrophils (natural killer cells), and lymphocytes(white blood cell). Curcumin, the orange pigment in turmeric and a potent antioxidant that improves joint health and cardiovascular function.  Glutathione, responsible for enhancing your immune system and helping your liver with detoxification. Vitamin C,  a potent antioxidant which supports optimal immune function.
   
7. Moderate Exercise – Increases your heart rate and circulation therefore, boosting your immune system by allowing antibodies to travel through your body at a faster pace making it easier for illness to be found and fought and by lowering the stress hormone. Though you may do everything in your power to prepare and protect yourself there is the possibility that you may still fall prey the flu, if this happens be sure to get as much rest as you can and drink plenty of fluids.

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Whether you’re going on a business trip, a family vacation or just visiting grandma for the weekend, it pays to be prepared and more so if you have special dietary needs! Ever heard the saying “if you fail to plan you plan to fail”? Luckily today, we have the ability to Google anything to ensure we are properly prepared for almost every occasion. This includes meeting special dietary needs, such as Paleo, Auto-Immune Protocol (AIP), and peanut or other allergies, gluten free etc. Remember, during your trip you will have to stand in long lines, be asked to wait patiently, and probably experience delays along the way. So let the paleo planning begin!

Plan Ahead

Taking the time to research while still at home can save you minutes or hours of pain and agony while you’re traveling. There are several websites and apps that can assist you during your travels, like Find Me Gluten-Free, Yelp, and Google but you may not always have the best cell reception or Wi-Fi so best to do your research form the comfort of your desk, kitchen table, or couch.

Food Finder Apps:

• Dedicated Gluten Free
• Find Me Gluten Free
• Nom Nom Paleo
• Yelp
• Paleo.io

Hotel

Look for a hotel close to the event venue shopping area that will have a grocery store, coffee shop and/or restaurants nearby and when you make a reservation, inform the hotel staff that you have special needs such as on a paleo, gluten free, dairy free etc.. Ask them if they can send you an email with the best restaurants that serve gluten, grain, dairy, soy, and peanut free foods. You can also ship your food items to your destination in advance.  If you are staying in a hotel be sure to inform them if you will be shipping a perishable package in advance any give them specific directions for storing your package until you arrive.

*Hotel Tip: If a fridge is not provided by the hotel you can call ahead and request that they place one in your room (they keep them on hand for just this reason). Also, if there is a medical condition which requires you to eat a special diet or If you have medication that needs to be refrigerated (be sure to carry a doctor’s note stating such) they are required to provide a fridge free of charge.

Food, Restaurant, & Coffee Planning

Tip: The less you have to search on the go the better – you don’t want your hangry kids, spouse, or boss asking you where to go first thing in the morning because they need food or more importantly coffee.

All this planning might seem like overkill now but plan every breakfast, lunch & dinner while traveling. You will be happy you did during your trip. Like we said before there are some amazing apps you can use on the go during vacation but you may not have time during your trip to search through multiple reviews and menus, so best to do that now.

First things first, Breakfast, it is the most important meal of the day!  Search for a breakfast location near your hotel and be sure to check their hours, especially if you are traveling for business and have to be at a conference early in the morning (you don’t want to show up to a closed sign). You might also go one step further and call to ask how they prepare their foods.

Next plan dinner, be sure to make a reservation so its set in stone and you don’t have to worry about a long wait if you are starving – because if you are really hungry those non-paleo foods you try to avoid become more appetizing and you may slip up. Start your search by looking for destinations near the hotel, event, or where ever your day will be taking you.

Tip: If you are on a business trip or traveling with a large group volunteer to be the “restaurant finder person”.

The last meal you need to plan is lunch. Look for restaurants near the event of where you will be during the day – a great quick option is an organic grocery store like Whole Foods, which most likely will have a great soup and/or salad bar with all the necessities.

Packing for Travel 

Our first tip for is BYOF (Bring your own food). We recommend at least bringing your own snacks and food for the flight, potential delays, and the return flight. Often flights only offer pretzels, chips, or treats that are not paleo friendly.

A few of our favorite travel snacks are:

• Protein Snack Bars
• Crackers
• Granola
• Treats
• Packaged Jerky or Salami

Airport Maneuvering & Flight Planning

Don’t take any changes, especially if you have been diagnosed with an Auto-Immune Deficiency. There are Several national restaurant chains at most airports that offer gluten-free menus to steer customers towards safer options. If you’re interested in a quick meal, consider the newsstands, they offer box lunches, salads and fruits! Take the time review their offerings since they too now offer gluten free options. Gate Guru is a great app that provides detailed airport information including restaurants locations in airports.

It always pays to be cautious, especially when it comes to foods! Consider bringing a small container of dressing as an example, but make sure that it doesn’t exceed the maximum fluid ounces, so check with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Liquids Rule.

Also, consider getting a medical letter for travel that identifies your special needs. This can assist greatly when going through the security checks, although you still must abide by the TSA rules.

For the flight, call the airlines and ask what options they have for individuals with special dietary needs. You can also ask them to make a special announcement regarding allergies, so other travelers do not consume the items that effect you. Check to see if they will accept a doctor’s note so that you can bring your own food and possibly store it in the refrigerator.

The United States Postal Service

Airlines generally charge $25.00 to check a bag, so consider mailing what you need to the hotel in advance. United States Postal Service (USPS) offers flat rate shipping boxes, the price ranges from $6.80 for a small flat rate box to $18.75 for a large flat rate box. This is a great option to avoid the tricky TSA liquid rules for necessities like toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

You can also use the USPS Flat Rate box to ship your specialty foods to your hotel. You can contact the front desk and request they keep it refrigerated. In most cases, you will arrive within hours after your package. 

Documentation

Now that you have planned out meals, snacks, and all other travel arrangements it’s time to put all the information into one document.

What to include:

• Hotel Info
• Event Venue or Itinerary Info
• Nearby Grocery Store
• Nearby Coffee Shop
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Locations by date

*Make sure you include business name, address, phone number, and hours. You don’t want to have a flight delay and show up to a grocery store that is closed. For dinner include the reservation name and number in the party.

Travel Day

Now you are all packed and have your itinerary ready, so all you have to do is enjoy your trip.

Today is World Scleroderma Day and I thought I would give you a bit of history of my introduction to this disease during my mother’s fight against Systemic Scleroderma.

My mother was born in Japan in 1933 to a very affluent family. She grew up on a large farm with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. She lived through World War II during her teens, was married at the age of 24, a short time after starting a family  then shortly after their first child was born my father was transferred back to the United States. My mother and father had 4 children, 1 boy and 3 girls. I will always remember my mother as a strong woman, she was a fighter. In the later years of her life she would need every bit of that strength and fight.

The first time I remember my mother being ill was in 1975, I was in high school and my mother began to break out with blisters on her back and face, and suffered severe intestinal problems. My mother went to multiple doctors to find a diagnosis, but most were unable to find any reason for the blisters, and blamed her for the symptoms saying it was all in her head or she was somehow making the blisters appear herself.

For two years she searched for a diagnoses and finally in 1977 she was diagnosed with Pemphigus an extremely rare and painful autoimmune disease that affects the skin causing it to blister. For this condition she was placed on a steroid treatment which she continued until 1996 when her intestinal problems became so severe it resulted in her having a portion of her intestines removed and a colostomy bag installed. At this time the doctors took her off the steroid treatment and said she had been on them far too long. Soon after my mother developed a severe allergic reaction to the adhesives in such things as “Band-Aids” and other adhesive type medical devices.

In 1997 she noticed problems with swelling and stiffness in her hands and went to the doctor to find out the cause. The doctor diagnosed her with Crest Syndrome, a limited form of Scleroderma that affects the extremities, typically hands and feet. This was the first time I had heard the term Scleroderma, and in an effort to understand Scleroderma I did lots of research to find out more about this disease.

After about 6 months of being diagnosed with Crest Syndrome her diagnosis was changed to Systemic Scleroderma. When my mother was diagnosed I began to do more research. I wanted to know what to expect, what she had to look forward to and what the treatment plan would be. Although, I found no solace in the words I was reading. Scleroderma is an auto immune disease that attacks the tissues of your body over producing collagen and therefore causing severe swelling and hardening of the skin, and in severe cases, the organs. Most often persons who suffer from Systemic Scleroderma succumb to the disease due to loss of function of the heart, lungs, liver and or kidneys. All the research at that time stated that there was only about a 5-year life span for those diagnosed with Systemic Scleroderma. I was devastated to know that I may only have 5 more years with her.

My mother was a very strong, proud woman and never let anyone know she was in pain. Five years after her diagnosis, after countless treatment, different pills and scores of doctors, her lungs began to fail and in time she lost function of her liver and kidneys also until finally in a hospital bed, under heavy sedation and intubated she suffered 7 heart attacks.  We made the decision to release her from her body prison and let her rest. Just 6 days after her 69th birthday she lost her battle with Scleroderma in a hospital ICU with surrounded by her family.

“I wish I knew then what I know now!”

I wish I knew then what I know now! If I had understood the link between nutrition, gut health and illness I may have been able to save my mother some discomfort and possibly help prolong her life just a bit. I am grateful for my mother’s strength and fighting spirit because it taught me to use that strength to fight the autoimmune diseases affecting my daughter and myself. During my research while my Mother was ill I investigated if this form of autoimmune disease could be passed through genetics from mother to child. All the research and doctors at the time stated that it was not an inherited disease and this gave me hope, as I had a daughter of my own and did not wish to pass this disease onto her. As I mentioned previously, my parents had 4 children, 1 boy and 3 girls, it turns out that the predisposition for Autoimmune disease is passed through genetics to our children. All my sisters and our daughters suffer from a form of Autoimmune disease from Mixed Connective Tissue Disease to Raynaud’s and Sjogren’s syndrome to Rosacea, Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism, Lupus, and I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2003 shortly after my mother’s death. After my own diagnosis I decided to have my daughter blood tested from the age of 17, and she was consequently diagnosed with Lupus on her 30th birthday.

It has been estimated that autoimmune diseases are among the leading causes of death among women in the United States in all age groups up to 65 years.

A substantial minority of the population suffers from these diseases, which are often chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening.

There are more than 80 illnesses caused by autoimmunity. Autoimmune diseases affect approximately 2-5% of the western world’s population. Women are found to be more commonly affected than men. Environmental events can trigger some cases of autoimmune diseases such as exposure to radiation or certain drugs which can damage tissues of the body. Infection can also be a trigger of some autoimmune diseases for example Lupus which is thought to be a milder version of an idiopathic disorder where there is an increased production of antihistone antibodies (Wikipedia).

Help us spread #sclerodermaawareness

#WorldSclerodermaDay