From “The Plant Paradox” Book- Two Things You Should Know
dr.vanta
I would like to mention a couple of things (both relevant to MS) that really caught my attention. I feel were not emphasized enough in his newly published book “The Plant Paradox.” [1]
Nr. 1. Dr Gundry’s Diet helps improve TNF-alpha
The low lectin diet developed by Dr Gundry has several health benefits for MS, but I’d like to point out a very important one: it improves TNF-alpha, a key marker of inflammation.
A quick review of my research first :
Let’s look at what happens with TNF-alpha levels. MS has been linked with increased levels of TNF-alpha for a long time [2], [3] . It appears that TNF-alpha plays an active role, especially during periods of disease activity, and peaks during stress and infections [4]. The level of TNF-alpha in CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) correlates with the severity and progression of MS [5], [6]. Furthermore, TNF- alpha could be the primary neurotoxic molecule in progressive forms of MS, according to some scientists [7].
Considering these facts, there is no surprise that researchers tried to use anti-TNF therapy (i.e. monoclonal antibodies to TNF-alpha) for autoimmune diseases, but these drugs have serious side effects [8], [9], [10]. Simply put, these drugs increase the risk of infections, cancers, other autoimmune diseases (i.e. lupus), other demyelinating conditions, lung problems, anemia and more [11]. Cholesterol lowering agents such as Lipitor also decrease TNF-alpha [12] but also have a number of side effects. TNF blockers can actually cause damage to the myelin sheath [18].
Keep in mind that TNF-alpha is not always bad and it doesn’t always trigger inflammation, it also has physiological functions (i.e. involved in sleep, food and water intake, learning, memory and synaptic plasticity). The problem is that in MS and other neurological conditions, TNF-alpha is released in high amounts by microglia and astrocytes, causing neuroinflammation and neuron death [13].
Rather than suppressing TNF alpha with drugs, how about trying to keep its levels normal with dietary changes and no side effects?
Let’s go back to “The Plant Paradox ” book and look now at Dr Gundry’s findings about TNF-alpha when using low lectin diet.
Dr Gundry evaluated his low lectin diet in 800 people with some history of autoimmune diseases, his study being published in 2014 in the medical journal “Circulation.” [14]
He found that most of them had increased levels of TNF-alpha (the inflammatory cytokine) and adiponectin (a protein hormone secreted by fat and also a precursor for the TNF-alpha) . Dr Gundry mentioned an exception to these findings : low (not high) adiponectin levels were found in obese people. His diet called ” The Matrix Diet” eliminated lectin and gluten, thus recommending the avoidance of grains, sprouted and pseudo grains, beans, legumes, soy, peanuts, cashews, nightshades, melons, squashes, milk products high in casein A1, and grain or/and bean fed animals.
The result of Dr Gundry’s study: Once they started the diet, the TNF-alpha levels became normal in all the subjects within six months and remained normal for up to one year (if they remained on the diet). Thus, TNF-alpha can be used as a marker for gluten/lectin exposure in those who are sensitive to these lectins. Adiponectin levels still remain high while on low lectin diet and therefore this hormone could be useful as a marker of lectin and gluten sensitivity, an increased susceptibility for increased gut permeability.
Regarding this study, I have two questions : 1. What are the differences between the “Matrix Diet” used in this study- and “The Plant Paradox Diet from Dr Gundry’s book ?
2. Did this study look at the link between the TNF-alpha levels and clinical improvement ? Yes, it is known that TNF-alpha is a marker of inflammation but it would have been interesting to actually record the symptoms experienced by the participants (before, during and after the study).
Nr.2 Lectins climb the vagus nerve to reach the brain
It turns out that these lectins not only reach the brain and the body through the blood but also reach the brain directly, by climbing the vagus nerve [15].
This looks pretty scary, as this nerve has major effects on the brain and body, thus you want to keep it healthy and in optimal shape.
Also known as CN X, the vagus nerve connects the brain to the body, allowing the brain to monitor and receive information from various parts of the body. Besides connecting the gut with the brain, vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for “rest and digest”), and the progression of MS correlates with parasympathetic dysfunction [16].
Vagus nerve also helps you relax when you deep breathe (vagal nerve stimulation shows some benefits for treating some symptoms of MS [17] , helps decrease inflammation in the body, and helps you deal with stress and anxiety. It would be very interesting to see studies conducted in humans confirming that lectins directly reach the brain via CN X.
