DrAutoimmuneGirl | Donna Mazzola

Evidence has accumulated from animal models and human studies to suggest that Th1 cells are involved in the development of organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. Because pregnancy is actually a high-estriol/high-progesterone state, estriol, functionally a weak estrogen, and progesterone clearly has anti-estrogen properties Although it has been almost universally held that pregnancy is a “high estrogen state,” it is in fact a time when ovarian production of hormones is suppressed and placental production of estrogens, primarily estriol, and progesterone is high. Rheumatoid Arthritis and MS improve during pregnancy as estriol and progesterone may function to inhibit presentation of antigens to Th1 cells, and increases the death (apoptosis) of activated immune cells.

Did you know that estrogen needs to be detoxified in our body through the same phase 1 pathway as drugs, toxins, and various food substances we ingest? The differences in our bodies ability to detoxify in different proportions of 2E, 4E, and 16E have shown to potentially predict risk of different estrogen-related diseases, such as breast cancer. So, you guys should understand detox goes through 2 pathways, phase 1 and phase 2. From what we understand about detoxification in our body, it is important to not only keep our liver healthy so that we can metabolize the excess estrogen initially, but to eat and continue to replenish are necessary cofactors for phase 2 detox with plant based foods!

Important parameters of intermittent fasting on athletic performance include weight loss, maintenance of muscle mass, and post exercise metabolism due to decreases in glycogen stores, low levels of insulin, increase in hormones responsible for lipolysis (fat breakdown), and an increase in free fatty acids (Paoli 2019, Gieske 2018). While intermittent fasting and time restricted eating have gained popularity, it is important for athletes to appreciate how implementing this change in eating impacts metabolic adaptations, body composition, physical performance and overall endurance, and recovery. Additionally, based on the findings one can conclude that while there isn’t a conclusive difference in overall performance in the fasting versus fed state, the fasting state stimulated a higher level of fat oxidation that occurred for 30 minutes post exercise (Rocha da Silva 2018). This is a positive finding, in that we know there isn’t a negative effect as long as exercise performance was maintained at All in all, intermittent fasting in athletes demonstrates a beneficial impact on metabolic parameters and an increase in lipid oxidation, however, does not demonstrate an improvement in athletic performance and recovery.

The activation of the transcription factor of NF-Kappa-Beta has been shown to be inhibited by AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-Beta-boswellic acid), this leads to decreasing cytokines related to inflammation. However, a study was recently done in 2019 assessing the effect of Boswellia Serrata on inflammatory parameters and tumor necrosis factor in a rheumatoid arthritis animal model (Kumar 2019). Utilizing this treatment as an alternative to NSAIDs, anti-inflammatory agents, and immunosuppressive agents may be feasible in early disease management as it has minimal side effects that we would otherwise experience with standard therapy. Kumar R, Singh S, Saksena A, Pal R, Jaiswal R, Kumar R. Effect of Boswellia serrata extract on acute inflammatory parameters and tumor necrosis factor-α in complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced animal model of rheumatoid arthritis.