The Health Vs. Disease Equation

by Brandon Alleman

Health is our Natural State.

Being and living in a state of health versus being and living in a disease state can be summed up in the following equation:

(Genetic Potential + Proper Breath, Water, Food, Movement, Recovery, and Thoughts) - (Time + Aging + All the Wrong Things (stressors)) = Health or Disease

From a general perspective, health can be thought of as optimal stress resolution and adaptation/regeneration by the body’s physiology and disease can be thought of as failure of the body’s physiology to adapt and therefore, maladaptation or degeneration is the result.

Going a little deeper, health is all about the balance of tissue destruction and repair as dictated by our immune system. The human immune system is a very complex network of cells, organs, tissue, and blood that all work together preserving the health of the human body. The immune system accomplishes this incredible task by (1) identifying potential infectious or harmful substances, (2) assessing the potential threat from invasion and producing the required cells to neutralize pathogenic substances, and (3) repair and removal of damaged cells. When the immune system is in a state of balance, the body is able to deal with invading organisms and remain healthy.

Our immune system is comprised of both innate (non-specific) and acquired (specific) functions. Innate components comprise anatomical barriers and are the body’s first line of defense against a wide range of pathogens. Acquired functions have the ability to adapt to each new disease and can generate pathogen-specific immunity. The acquired functions act as a second line of defense protecting the body against re-exposure to the same pathogen.

The innate aspect of our immunity is comprised of a number of anatomical barriers such as the skin and the various mucous membranes, or MALT (mucous associated lymphoid tissue). The primary function of the MALT is to initiate immune responses to antigens encountered along all mucosal surfaces. It is divided into a number of parts – GALT (gut-associated lymphoid tissue), BALT (bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue), LALT (larynx-associated lymphoid tissue), SALT (skin-associated lymphoid tissue), VALT (vascular-associated lymphoid tissue), and CALT (conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue) respectively.

We also have many different types of cells that help us fight off pathogens and keep our system in balance – these are leukocytes, or white blood cells. All cells of the immune system are derived from stem cells within bone marrow and are stored in the body in different lymph organs such as the spleen and thymus. These white blood cells are typically divided into three separate categories – granulocytes, lymphocyte (B cells and T cells), and monocytes. Each of these cells have their own special role within the immune system and are key to keeping us healthy and vital.

The Modern Day and Immune Function

Like all systems, the immune system is linked to every other system in our biological organism. There is a very complex relationship between behavior, “stress”, and the immune system. At the moment the body is presented with a given stressor, of which there are six primary classes (physical, chemical, nutritional, electromagnetic, psychic, and thermal), the brain and body become mobilized. The brain and body do not differentiate one stressor from another. Rather the body summates all stressors and mounts one stress response. Regardless of the stressor, the response by the body is the same. When the sum total of stressors exceeds what the body is capable of handling comfortably, the adrenal glands will begin to produce more and more cortisol – a glucocorticoid and the body’s chief stress hormone. It is the effects of excess glucocorticoids as part of an exaggerated stress response that force the body into a series of dramatic events that creates problems if left unchecked.

In today’s society, we are bombarded by a barrage of stressors from all six classes of stressors on a moment to moment basis – there is no escaping this fact! Our immune systems need to be fully supported by our nutrition and lifestyle choices to the best of our abilities if is to have a chance at maintaining homeostasis (fancy word for the body’s happy place).

Nutrition and the Immune System

The average adult body has somewhere around 30 trillion cells, some say up to 100 trillion depending on who you are reading. Thousands of these cells are being replaced every minute -this includes the cells of the immune system. New cells are made to replace the older cells that have become worn out or damaged. This process is ongoing every second you are alive!

Now for a key question – where does the body receive the raw materials for the creation of new cells? You guessed it…nutrition from the food you eat!

Specific nutrients and foods support the cells of your body and the energy production machinery within them. There are many common environmental factors that produce the hormonal changes that lead to a weakened immune system, also known as immunodeficiency. The factors that I want to share and discuss here are food selection, lifestyle factors (mainly sleep issues), and nutrient deficiencies – topics not covered here are toxicity, radiation, halogens, endocrine disruptors, etc.

FOOD SELECTION

This is a highly debated topic in today’s world. Just because a given food is deemed edible for the human being does not mean that all of those foods are what supports cellular health. Certain foods contain things that can actually destabilize cellular structure and decrease energy production efficiency. Unsaturated fats, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, beans, seeds, and soy foods will all create issues at the cellular level. I would like to highlight unsaturated fats here.

Unsaturated Fats – In particular, poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). These are especially detrimental to the immune system. PUFAs actually intensify the effects of stress in the body by killing off lymphocytes and blocking the proliferative response in thymic cells. This pattern, which shifts the immune function from cellular to humoral, actually predisposes one to autoimmunity. Legitimate research has documented that unsaturated fats (PUFAs) can create the following issues:

Immunosuppression

PUFAs damage the thymus gland and promote immune deficiency.

Blocking glucose from entering cells to be used in energy production (Randle Cycle)

Creating hypoglycemia through lowering blood glucose via hyperstimulating the beta cells of the pancreas / hyperinsulinemia

Increases the biological actions of estrogen via blocking estrogen from sex hormone binding globulins (SHBGs)

Estrogen pulls oxygen from your tissues and organs and is a glucose and vitamin B6 “waster”

Suppresses cellular respiration (energy production) and inhibits optimal thyroid function

Decreases glucose oxidation and increases lipid peroxidation This slows your metabolism, decreases energy production, and creates a hypo-metabolic state

Increases vascular tension

This is accomplished through activating something called protein kinase C

Creates digestive stress

This occurs by inhibiting proteolytic enzymes (enzymes that break down protein) in the gut – remember how essential protein is to our health from Lesson 3. The result is maldigestion, malabsorption, overloading the liver, and creating a huge burden on metabolism

Inhibits the conversion of glucose to glycogen and favors the production of lactic acid

This leads to increased inflammation The above is not a comprehensive list. The detrimental effects of excess PUFAs reach far beyond this list, but hopefully this paints a clear picture.

Lifestyle Factors (Sleep)

There are many lifestyle factors which have an impact on immunity (alcohol, smoking, medications, etc.) but few have the impact of impaired or disrupted sleep.

Optimal sleep is essential for immunity and the creation of health. Regulating circadian rhythms (day-night cycles) and honoring the innate functioning of the body is key here. The body handles its physical repair processes between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., while completing its psychogenic/ neurogenic repair between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. (based on the time zone you were born in). A solid eight hours of sleep is also required for the immune system to check the unfriendly bacterial growth in the gut and keep that at a manageable level over time. Since a large percentage of the immune system is located in the gut (MALT/GALT), this is essential to immune and overall health

Many things can decrease sleep quality – blood sugar handling problems, emotional issues, full spectrum lighting, EMF/wi-fi exposure, fungal/parasite infections, caffeine (particularly if consumed after 2 p.m.), and on and on.

Effectively regulating blood sugar levels with the right foods, in the right combination, at the right time (meal frequency/nutrient timing), in addition to establishing optimal circadian rhythms (same sleep and wake time consistently – be asleep by 10:30 p.m. at the latest and wake no earlier than 6 a.m. if at all possible) will go a long way to aiding optimal sleep, and therefore immunity and health.

Nutrient Deficiencies

This is quite a large and complex topic as well, but suffice it to say, deficiencies of certain nutrients will compromise cellular function as well as immunity. Deficiencies of magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, vitamin D3, vitamin K, and vitamin A (animal source) can all have serious consequences for cellular energy production and immune function. Increasing the intake of digestible foods heavy in these nutrients is a good idea – tropical fruits, liver (desiccated liver supplements can be used if you do not eat liver itself), bone broth, shellfish, white fish, and root vegetables are excellent options here.

Supplementation may be warranted but only once a solid nutritional foundation has been laid and the amount of a supplement that is taken and the duration it is taken are highly subjective factors.

Final Words

One of the most important regulators of immunity is the thymus gland. A key point that is often missed however, is that the thymus is dependent upon a healthy thyroid for regulation of antibody cell production. Therefore, it can be stated that a “thyroid friendly” nutritional regimen inclusive of some muscle meats (assuming one can digest them properly), whitefish, shellfish, bone broth, gelatin/collagen, tropical fruits, root vegetables, and saturated fats like butter, lard, tallow, and coconut oil; and exclusive of most grains, nuts, seeds, beans, raw, cruciferous vegetables, and unsaturated fats (liquid at room temperature), particularly limiting PUFAs, would be extremely beneficial for optimizing immunity within our biological system in the long run.

The human body is the single greatest ‘thing’ ever designed. It has virtually limitless possibility when it is supplied with the necessary elements for the creation and maintenance of health.

Health is the Natural State.

Brandon J. Alleman is a skilled Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Level 3 CHEK Practitioner with extensive concentration in human biomechanics and physiology. He owns Innate Movement and Wellness in Lafayette's Oil Center