The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body

I have just started reading the book The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease

and Heal Your Body by Sarah Ballantyne, PhD. I tried searching to see if anyone on

the forum has talked about this book and couldn't find a reference. So I decided I

need to let you know what an amazing source of information is available in this book.

Dr. Ballantyne has a doctorate degree in medical biophysics and has done research on

innate immunity, inflammation,  critical care medicine, gene therapy and epithelial cell

biology. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, lichen planus, which caused  

her to scour the internet for information about the disease. This remarkable book is the

result of her scientific background and the information she discovered about autoimmune

diseases.

I have only finished the first chapter because there is so much information that I'm taking

my time to understand the immune system. If you would like a primer on the immune system

and all the terminology that we hear when discussing autoimmune diseases such as

cytokines, TH1, Th2, Th17, antibodies, antigens, methylation, etc., I think she does an

excellent job explaining this complex subject.

I can't speak to the Paleo approach yet because I'm not that far through the book, but I

appreciate finally finding a resource that explains the causes of autoimmune disease.

She outlines the three major factors: genetic susceptibility; environmental triggers,

infection and bad luck; and diet and lifestyle. Since we can't control all of those causes,

especially genetic susceptibility, she says it's important to try to control those things

that we can.

I'm not trying to start an argument about the Paleo diet, I just thought for those who

are interested in gaining more information, this book is really a gem.

 

Funny, I was looking at this book on Amazon this morning and thinking of getting the kindle version. It seems to provide some compelling reasons to try AIP.

I have the kindle book and have tried the aip diet. I "liked" her page on Facebook and get recipes daily. My favourite pancake recipe is her "perfect paleo pancakes" made with plantains which I posted here not too long ago. www.thepaleomom.com is a great source of info! You don't need to buy the book to start the diet, it's pretty standard and there is lots of info on her site.

Hi OctoberGirl,

Regarding your question about hormones, she has a few pages about hormones.
I was going to try and sum up what she said but I just had an epiphany. If you go
to Amazon and look up her book, press the "Look Inside" feature and in the
search box type in 'hormones'. The pages where she discusses hormones are
pp 49-52. I just did it and the pages come up and you should be able to read
them. If not, let me know and I will sum up what she said.

Hi Maggiemay,

Wow, thanks, I should've thought of that! I was able to preview that on Amazon, so I really appreciate your suggesting that. I still want to get the book, and it seems like even though it goes pretty deep into the science of autoimmunity, she seems to write in a manner that lay people can understand.

StealthGuardian,

Where did you get your information about which probiotics to add to alleviate food intolerances? I'd like to look more into this. I asked her on her site about potato starch, and she didn't recommend it for people with autoimmune diseases, because even though it's supposed to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, she said you can still have an overgrowth of beneficial bacteria. This is somewhat reminds me of Elaine Gottaschall's stance bifido bacteria not being beneficial to people with IBD, but like you said with all the information emerging about the microbiome, I wonder how this will make things more clear to us. Do you mind sharing your sources so I can read some more into this?

Hi Maggiemay,

I just wanted to subscribe to this post in case StealthGuardian responds, and I saw your question about legumes. If you look on the Weston A. Price foundation website, it talks about proper preparation of grains and legumes. I haven't seen the video on this link, but it lists below how to properly prepare legumes. Also the book Nourishing Traditions has a lot of information and recipes of that sort.

http://www.westonaprice.org/beginner-videos/proper-preparation-of-grains-and-legumes-video-by-sarah-pope

Hopefully that helps you get started.

Saw an article today or yesterday saying Paleo diet was not good. The article wasn't in regards to UC. They said studies showed that people did not live longer due to a Paleo diet and, if I remember correctly, people actually died sooner on the Paleo diet. As I said, the study wasn't talking about people who were doing Paleo due to health conditions such as UC.

To the OP, it sounds like there is a lot of useful, well researched information in that book. I hope some of it becomes helpful for you. As you would be aware, some question whether IBD is in fact an autoimmune disease at all. Hence the often complex discussions on treatment options.

To SG, you claim: “Food intolerances can be alleviated now by adding the species of gut bacteria responsible for the proper assimilation of certain food groups.”
I respect people for sharing their beliefs, so please do not feel the need to get defensive. I like the fact that people try to think outside 'the box'.
People have then naturally asked, “which species are used for which food groups?”

Linking to various blog sites is not an issue. People welcome the variety and novelty of all material presented. The problem is that sometimes material is presented as factual, irrefutable, or as a cure for ailments, when it is in fact highly speculative (even hotly debated amongst each blogger.)

Has anyone ever wondered why there are blogs?
People accept that information given in blogs is speculative, and that the writers are not going to be held responsible for anyone attempting to follow that information, particularly if harm occurs. Scientific research requires a much higher standard before it may be published, and there are consequences for misinformation.

Speculative material is rife on the internet. Many claim to have information that will benefit people for weight loss, or for treating difficult health issues. Most are selling or promoting their work, and/or their supplements.

Popular new fields, of relevance, are; prebiotics, probiotics, resistant starch, gut flora, and SBO's. These new fields are as yet poorly understood, in relation to their effects upon health. Because of this uncertainty, it is easy for bloggers, and others, to attract an audience by appearing to have answers, and by using less than perfect science. And, they are entitled to do so by the nature of freedom of expression. However, they cannot be held responsible when things go wrong. Nor are they compelled to answer criticism. What many fail to recognize is the potential harm that exists....

SBO's (soil based organisms) are not probiotics. They are organisms that live in dirt, and include yeast and molds (spore forming organisms) as well as bacteria. When ingested, many are impossible to then remove. That is the main reason why transient strains are more widely used – they can be stopped, and any negative effects reversed.
When people take SBO's they run several risks, which are not usually mentioned by bloggers. People with dysbiosis (altered or unbalanced profiles of gut bacteria) are at risk of a range of issues from ingesting organisms from soil which may be opportunistic, or even pathogenic.

Prebiotics are not selective. That is, they feed all types of bacteria. That means that opportunistic, 'friendly' and pathogenic bacteria may all increase their colony sizes by consuming prebiotics (or resistant starches.) When the range of bacteria (and other organisms) has been compromised, this can be risky for the host, as the profile of species, rather than becoming more balanced, in fact can become even more unbalanced.

Probiotics found in yoghurt, kefir, various supplements, and fermented foods, are highly variable in their composition. Kefir, for example, varies widely in its production, and contains many organisms. As far as bacteria go, the majority are lactobacillus varieties. These bacteria are predominant in the small bowel. The results of their introduction into the gut are highly variable, and individual.

Introduction of fiber (and resistant starch) into an IBD patient's diet is a tricky manoeuvre. Fiber not only swells inside the bowel, causing increased peristalsis (by distending the bowel) but also feeds colonic bacteria, some of which may not be tolerated by the host. The results can be less than pleasant.

Some will benefit from ingesting these things, some will be unaffected, and others will see a worsening of their illness. Those who benefit will be happy and supportive.

Presenting the issues as clear cut, or as guaranteed cures for ailments, is not responsible. It is far from clear what the individual role of bacteria (and other organisms) are in relation to people with illnesses. It is even less clear which are harmful, or opportunistic – though some have been identified. The great variety, number, and inter-relationship of organisms in the bowel is only just being examined.

Caution ought to be urged whenever discussing the ingestion of these types of things to treat illness. When attempting to treat ill people with these products, the issues become vastly more complex.

Individuals respond individually to all of these things, which is why no consensus approach has yet been identified, which is not the same as 'speculated' upon. Self experimentation is one thing, compelling others to follow is another.

(Apologies for the length of this post, and to the OP for the sidetrack.)

Why must you pretend everything I post is a personal insult? Do you feel threatened if someone urges caution? No-one tried to “shoot down your post”, as you wildly claim. There are aspects to these matters that you overlook, SG, and if you were sincere you would consider what I have actually posted.

I urged caution due to the complexity of the systems involved, and the individual nature of IBD patients and there responses.
I did not discount any potential benefits of resistant starch, or anything else, though you saw fit to go off on another wild rant. You misread my posts because your mind is closed, and you delude yourself that I am attacking you, which I am not.
As far as you pretending to find inaccuracies in my posts, feel free to point them out. I am open minded.

You trot out your tired old misconception about me pushing biologics, though I have never done so. And then you try for the desperate suggestion that I'm a shill for somebody – it's a little deranged.

Please try to have a little maturity SG. The childish stuff is beyond contempt. I will happily discuss the issues with you rationally, but am not here to be constantly insulted because I wish to broaden your views. If you feel so right about everything, why are so threatened by my posts?

Blogs are certainly not concrete evidence of anything. That's why they're blogs.

garylouisville said...
Blogs are certainly not concrete evidence of anything. That's why they're blogs.

The thousands of studies done on resistant starches, the preliminary data from the American Gut Project ( as well as Jeff Leach's work) and the scientific data on SBOs contradict that whole sentence. Like The Paleo Approach by Sarah, the book that's coming out is going to be a best seller. There's zero question about it.

All these guys are doing is making the research and data available to everyone. It's not like they conjured this from the air. The resistant starch experiments have existed for 60-70 years, but somehow the research got buried. The SBO data has been around for a decade or more.

Please try again.

Best.

SG

ambling said...
Why must you pretend everything I post is a personal insult? Do you feel threatened if someone urges caution? No-one tried to “shoot down your post”, as you wildly claim. There are aspects to these matters that you overlook, SG, and if you were sincere you would consider what I have actually posted.

I urged caution due to the complexity of the systems involved, and the individual nature of IBD patients and there responses.
I did not discount any potential benefits of resistant starch, or anything else, though you saw fit to go off on another wild rant. You misread my posts because your mind is closed, and you delude yourself that I am attacking you, which I am not.
As far as you pretending to find inaccuracies in my posts, feel free to point them out. I am open minded.

You trot out your tired old misconception about me pushing biologics, though I have never done so. And then you try for the desperate suggestion that I'm a shill for somebody – it's a little deranged.

Please try to have a little maturity SG. The childish stuff is beyond contempt. I will happily discuss the issues with you rationally, but am not here to be constantly insulted because I wish to broaden your views. If you feel so right about everything, why are so threatened by my posts?

I don't think I'm the one who's feeling threatened. I get the sense that anytime users want to explore something that goes against the medical establishment, certain people start showing their insecurities. And no, it's not a unique set of people each time. It's the same darn people almost every time. It's like I'm invalidating your belief system or something when I post research that doesn't have to do with a purple pill.

I have family who are exact the same way. I question the efficacy of statins, show them the data that it doesn't do a darn thing ( except for patients with the inherent trait of Hypercholesterolemia) and they start feeling abused and threatened. Why? Why do they start feeling invalidated when I show them that something they've prized practically their whole lives amounts to nothing? I never understood it. I never understood why people are not open having their belief systems questioned.

I see. Anyone providing rational discussion, or counterpoint, SG, makes you feel like it is your parents talking to you, with whom you have deep issues. That is a very sad and unhealthy situation.
Soystud's advice is accurate, and kind.