What Causes Autoimmune Diseases?
One reoccurring theme you see over and over again in the scientific literature about autoimmune diseases is that they are caused by the combination of genetics and environmental toxins. 1 2 3
So what are these environmental toxins causing autoimmune diseases and where are they found? This is exactly what these videos and article is all about.
Watch, read, and learn to protect yourself from environmental toxins in your own kitchen from causing or worsening your autoimmune disease.
Part 1 - GMOs
Part 2 - Household Chemicals
Part 3 - Wheat
Autoimmune Toxin #3 — GMOs
What are GMOs?
GMOs or “Genetically Modified Organisms” are plants that have had their DNA artificially modified at a genetic level. This artificial modification involves combining the DNA of plants with animal, bacteria, or viruses creating organisms that do not occur in nature or by normal crossbreeding methods. The purpose of this genetic modification is to enable the plants to withstand deadly doses of herbicides and pesticides.
Is There A Link With GMOs and Autoimmune Diseases?
Yes! GMO's cause conditions which are at the foundation of virtually all autoimmune diseases.
GMO's cause:
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Gut Dysbiosis (a disrupted gut bacteria)
- Cell death (contains toxins lethal to human cells)
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut happens when the intestines gets so damaged that gaping holes form on it’s walls.
The intestinal wall is lined with a protective layer that absorbs nutrients but keeps out harmful substances from getting into the blood stream. But when leaky gut occurs, particles of toxins and bad bacteria from the digestive tract can enter into the bloodstream which triggers autoimmune and allergic reactions all over the body.
Leaky gut is one of the main steps in the development of autoimmune diseases and has been found every time its presence was investigated in an autoimmune disease.4 GMO’s cause leaky gut through glyphosate they poisonous chem that it’s sprayed with. This chemical has been proven to damage the small intestine.
Here are frames of a video showing an actual lab experiment in which glyphosate degraded the tight junctions cells of the small intestine in just 16 minutes!
Photo Courtesy of: restore4life
Gut Dysbiosis
Researches have found “clear evidence that glyphosate disrupts gut bacteria.”5 Why is this important?
An imbalance of gut bacteria has been found in every autoimmune disease in which its presence has been investigated. 6
And this disruption in gut bacteria is also directly linked to other health conditions such as:
“gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.” 7
GMO Corn
Another example of intestinal damage by GMOs can be found in genetically modified corn which produces its own bacteria called Bt-toxin that kills insects by exploding their stomachs after eating it. For this reason, Bt-toxin is often called the “hole-punching toxin” since it punches holes in the bugs digestive tracts.
However a 2013 study that looked at the effects of Bt insecticidal toxins on humans found that it’s also lethal to human cells.8 Not surprising, is it? This combined with loads of clinical evidence suggest that GMO corn is probably “punching holes” in our digestive tracts also.
#2 Cleaning and Food Chemicals
There are specific chemicals which have been proven by research to have a strong link to developing autoimmune diseases. Unpacking the details behind this topic also helps explain the mystery of why women get autoimmune diseases more than men.
So which chemicals are they?
Organic Solvents
Studies have found a strong relationship with autoimmune diseases and a class of chemicals called organic solvents.
Look at the research from this 2012 study called, “Organic Solvents as Risk Factor for Autoimmune Diseases.”
“We found a significant association between OSs (Organic solvents) exposure and the increased risk of developing an autoimmune trait” 9
Where Are They Found?
Organic solvents are typically used to dissolve substances or for cleaning things.
Commonly found in:
- polishes
- waxes
- spot removers
- rug cleaners
- glues
- degreasers
- personal care products, nail polish remover
- all purpose household cleaners
Regularly breathing or having skin contact with cleaning products that contain chemicals in the organic solvents category is linked to developing an autoimmune disease. There are 40 something chemicals in this category and most of us couldn't pronounce 90% of them. One of them is 29 letters long! So instead of attempting the daunting task of trying to memorize all these chemicals to the point where you could identify them on labels I found you can accomplish the same goal by just applying a good rule of thumb.
Just stick with natural cleaning products.
If you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn't clean with it or put it on your body because it could be an organic solvent leading to an autoimmune disease. There are many excellent natural cleaning agents like vinegar, lemon, and baking soda, and there are even whole companies that are committed to only putting out natural cleaning products.
Why Are Women Getting Autoimmunity More Than Men?
10ore than 75% of all autoimmune patients are women.10 Women have 90% of all thyroid diseases, and they make up 90% of all lupus sufferers.11
Why? These figures are too high to just be chance. Most professionals agree that there is something going on that causes women to be so disproportionally afflicted with autoimmune diseases.
It’s estimated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that the average women applies 168 chemicals to her body every day via the use of personal care products. In contrast, men only apply half that number.12
And many of these chemicals are known to contribute to autoimmunity.
Here are few examples ...
The autoimmune disease primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), has been associated with exposure to nail polish.13
Who’s using this product the most?
Also over 400 different types of lipsticks contain lead.
That represents about 60-80% of all on the market.
Your lipstick very well may have lead!
Another study found that hair dyes are linked with causing autoimmune diseases.14
Again, who’s using these products the most? Women.
Are you getting the picture as to why women are so effected by autoimmunity?
The Environmental Defense, a Canada-based group, issued an alarming report. They tested 49 popular beauty products for eight different heavy metals, and here’s what they found:
% OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS WITH HEAVY METALS
Arsenic - 20%
Cadmium - 51%
Lead - 96%
Mercury - 0%
Nickel - 100%
Beryllium - 90%
Thallium - 61%
Selenium - 14%
Did you notice that lead, nickel, and beryllium were found in 90-100% of the 49 tested beauty products. Don’t be fooled, heavy metal poisoning directly contributes to autoimmunity and can absolutely ruin your life.
If you’re using popular cleaning and beauty products, you’re also getting slowly poisoned with substances proven to contribute to autoimmune diseases.
Don’t worry, there are natural-minded companies putting out clean beauty products.
Having healed from an autoimmune disease myself, I know from experience how important it is to keep yourself from toxic contamination and to cleanse.
If you don’t cut off the toxin supply, you can do all the healthy things you want, but you’ll just be spinning your tires. This is because the toxins will continue to provoke an autoimmune response in your body.
NEXT...
On to toxin # 1. In my opinion the most dangerous one of all.
This next one is so sneaky and so common that chances are you already ate this food item today.
#1 Wheat
So what’s going on with wheat? You might be surprised. Wheat is technically not GMO, however there is something else going on with wheat that’s even worse. Mutation breeding.
Mutation Breeding
What happens in mutation breeding is that the entire DNA of wheat is hit with radiation and chemicals to produce mutations. They look through the mutations and see if there are any new traits which are desirable and if so, it is bred into the new wheat.
This is just as serious as GMOs, if not more. Treatment of wheat with these methods is scientifically proven to generate completely new genetic diversity. In fact, it was found in one new wheat hybrid that 5% of its proteins were not found in either of the parents. That’s just one wheat hybrid. Multiply that by the thousands of hybrids that have been done and you have some very different wheat.
Some scientist say this new genetic diversity poses "a risk for bio-safety" and that the plants with these wild gene mutations "should be discarded." 15
Alarming Facts About Wheat Scientist Discovered
- Frequently it is not published how new varieties have been obtained
- In reality, the number of induced mutant varieties is much larger
- These chromosomal parts may harbor hundreds of unknown “wild” gene mutation and thousands of deviations in the DNA sequence.
- The plant breeders usually do not know the number of mutations, changes, or the kinds of mutations.
- Despite not knowing all the changes happening in the plants and its effects these practices are still “widely accepted, grown, and used.” 4
Currently, mutation breeding is completely unregulated.
Another Major Concern - Glyphosate
On top of the genetic mutations, if your bread is not organic it’s likely that it has been doused with Roundup® (containing glyphosate) just a few days before harvest. It’s called “pre-harvesting.” We’ve already see all of the terrible things associated with glyphosate.
Another issue with mutation-bred wheat is that it is clearly proven to induce autoimmunity in the body. 6, 7 The immune system confuses a virus called adenovirus 12 with the gluten protein in wheat and starts treating wheat like it’s a virus.
Then the immune system in turn confuses wheat gluten with the proteins in the intestine wall itself and starts attacking the walls of the small intestine. This is how celiac disease develops. Celiac is a serious disease which affects millions.
However, studies show there is an even larger group of people who don’t have full-blown celiac disease, but are still getting damage the intestinal lining when they eat wheat. Maybe this is you?
When they eat gluten they get symptoms like:
- pain
- anemia
- bloating
- brain fog
- tiredness
Like me, some people don’t notice any problems with wheat until they go off of it for a few months, then try to start eating it again. This happened with me. After a period of staying away from it, when I accidentally had a small amount of wheat, it laid me out on the bed with extreme fatigue.
In short, gluten causes damage in the small intestine leading to leaky gut. This creates holes in your small intestine allowing bad bacteria, viruses, and toxins to get into your bloodstream and cause problems in the different organs in the body.
Wheat and Mental Disorders
Also multiple studies now show that mutation bred wheat is also linked to disorders like schizophrenia,8 autism,9 and epilepsy.10,11 In many of these studies the patients saw relief from their mental illnesses symptoms when they were put on a gluten free diet.
There is also an autoimmune disease called gluten ataxia (A-Tax-ia) in which gluten triggers an attack on the cerebellum leading to irreversible damage and problems with balance, speech, vision, and motor skills.12
Summary
In summary modern wheat is a huge problem for people with an autoimmune diseases.
- It has been mutation bred with radiation and chemicals
- Scientist say it poses a risk for biosafety
- It’s often sprayed with glyphosate
- Causes leaky gut
- Wheat directly induces autoimmunity like Celiac, and gluten ataxia
- Linked to mental disorders like Schizophrenia, Autism, and epilepsy
This is why modern mutation bred wheat is the #1 autoimmune causing toxin found in your kitchen.
So How Did I Heal My Autoimmune Disease?
I used 5-steps that reversed my autoimmune disease in months! Since I have healed, my wife and I have met so many people who are suffering from an autoimmune disease. This is why we’ve written a new eBook detailing this 5-step plan of what we did to completely put my autoimmune in remission.
To learn more about our book just click below.
1) Lafiandra D, Riccardi G, Shewry PR. “Improving cereal grain carbohydrates for diet and health.” Journal of Cereal Science, 2014;59(3):312-326.
2) Song X, Ni Z, Yao Y, et al. “Identification of differentially expressed proteins between hybrid and parents in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling leaves.” Theoretical Applied Genetics, 2009 Jan;118(2):213-25.
3) Pizzuti D, et al. “Lack of intestinal mucosal toxicity of Triticum monococcum in celiac disease patients.” Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol. 41, 2006 - Issue 11, pp 1305-1311.
4) Pollard KM, Hultman P, Kono DH. “Toxicology of Autoimmune Diseases.” Chemical Research in Toxicology, 23.3 (2010): 455–466.