PHOTOGRAPHY: THINKSTOCKBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in
Melbourne and co-author of Fast Living
Slow Ageing.
TIP: “Lower temperatures and moisture
reduce AGEs, so marinate meats and
minimise or avoid techniques like broiling,
roasting or baking, searing and frying,” says
Prof Thomas.
USE PROBIOTICS: “Some strains of
probiotics such as Lactobacillus plantarum
and Bifidobacterium infantis, may help
reduce abdominal pain, flatulence and
belly distension,” says CK Yao, a research
dietitian at Monash University. Probiotics
can also promote anti-inflammatory effects
by interacting with the gut immune system.
“This may help to reduce hyper-sensitivity
reactions of the gut that can manifest as
abdominal pain or bloating,” Yao explains.
As some people find that taking probiotics
worsens digestive symptoms such as
bloating, always start with a small dose
of probiotics.
MONITOR SENSITIVITIES: Eating
foods that you are sensitive to can cause
inflammatory reactions in your digestive
system and body. Cutting out suspect foods
for weeks and then reintroducing them is
the best way to test for reactions. Though
we’ve all heard of common culprits like
gluten and dairy, lesser-known problematic
foods include:
» SALICYLATES AND AMINES. The
stronger the flavour, the higher the level
of these natural chemicals found in many
foods such as soy sauce, pumpkin, broccoli,
capsicum, watermelon, strawberries, honey,
coffee and cheese.
» CARBOHYDRATES. “Certain
molecules called FODMAPS, found in
food such as excess fructose from some
fruits and lactose, in some dairy foods,
can be poorly absorbed by some people in
the small intestine and digestive tract and
feed the bacteria there. The bacteria can
then digest or ferment these molecules,
triggering symptoms of irritable bowel
syndrome, including abdominal bloating
and pain, nausea and excess wind,” says
dietitian Dr Sue Shepherd, who specialises
in dietary intolerances and was involved in
the development of the low FODMAP diet.
FODMAPS include baked beans, onion,
garlic, leeks, asparagus, cauliflower and
fruits such as apples, peaches and pears.
» PSORIASIS: The immune system treats
normal skin cells as pathogens and tries to
grow new ones, causing overgrowth of skin
cells. These rapidly build up to form inflamed
skin patches.
Signs: Red, irritated skin that may also
develop thick, flaky or silvery-white patches.
It may be both painful, tender and itchy. Over
time, joints may also feel sore or hot due to
internal inflammation.
» RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: The body
attacks the tissues lining the joints and
inflames the synovium, which contains a
thick fluid that looks a little like egg white
and lubricates the area between joints.
Signs: Inflammation occurs around joints,
causing pain, heat and swelling, sometimes
accompanied by weight loss, fever, lethargy
and hard, round nodules under the skin.
» DIABETES TYPE 1: The immune system
attacks and damages the islet cells that make
insulin in the pancreas. With too little insulin
to reduce blood glucose levels, the body has
elevated blood sugars, which can damage
eyes, kidneys, nerves and other organs.
Signs: Excessive thirst, frequent urination,
hunger, blurry eyesight, tiredness, slow
healing of sores, dry, itchy skin, numbness or
tingling in feet.
» MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: The myelin sheath,
which protects nerve fibres in the brain and
spinal cord, is attacked and damaged by the
immune system. Messages to and from the
brain are then interrupted, just like electrical
energy is interrupted during a blackout.Signs: Blurred or double vision, slurring of
words or speech difficulty, fatigue, weakness
in arms or legs, loss of mobility, coordination,
muscle spasms, trouble with memory
and concentration.
» COELIAC DISEASE: In response to gluten,
the immune system damages the lining
of the small intestines and absorption of
nutrients is reduced.
Signs: Tummy bloating and pain,
diarrhoea or constipation, weight loss or gain,
fatigue, chronic skin rash, missed periods
or infertility.
» INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE:
This includes conditions like Crohn’s disease
and ulcerative colitis, which occur when
the immune system attacks and damages
the layers and lining of the bowel, causing
chronic inflammation.
Signs: Abdominal pain, diarrhoea
(sometimes with blood or pus), rectal
bleeding, fever, weight loss and exhaustion,
mouth ulcers, painful or difficult
bowel motions.
» THYROID DISEASE: The immune system
attacks the thyroid gland, causing Grave’s
disease, where the body makes too much
thyroid hormone, or Hashimoto’s disease,
where the body doesn’t make enough.
Signs: Graves disease: Weight loss,
sweating, bulging eyes, shaking, irritability,
muscle weakness. Hashimoto’s: weight
gain, fluid retention, sensitivity to cold, facial
swelling, constipation, weakness, fatigue,
muscle aches and stiff joints.AUTO
BAHN
Arresting
autoimmune disease
early can minimise
the level of damage
and inflammation,
so see your GP if
you experience
symptoms.