The immune system

New research in advancing understanding of why we have allergies and intolerances

Michelle Berriedale-Johnson [email protected]

The immune system • The most crucial weapon the body has for protecting us from toxic and harmful assault. • How? • By attacking the toxin – be it a food, a chemical, a bacteria, a virus – and attempting to either expel it or neutralise it.

Allergy and autoimmune disease – a dis-regulation of the immune system • • • •

How? Why? What has changed? What has happened?

Many theories – no certainties • The disruption of the microbiome • Man-made killer enzymes • But are either of those the whole story? Very unlikely….

Eight more possibilities… 1. The degradation of the soil in which we grow our food and the subsequent nutritional degradation of the ingredients of the food we eat. 2. Chemical residues – pesticides, herbicides, fungicides etc in our food – the Roundup theory. 3. Food processing and the excessive use of ingredients such as sugar. 4. The disappearance of parasites from the gut.

5. The massive increase in the number of chemicals that we use, many of which we now know to be toxic, that we use in everyday household and personal care products. 6. Increased number of vaccines at ever earlier ages. Vaccine adjuvants. 7. Excess pollen and the pollen-particulate issue 8. Electromagnetic radiation?

9. 10. 11………

Degradation of the soil Comparing data in McCance & Widdowson 1940 – 1991. 51 years The mineral content of 27 varieties of vegetable, 17 varieties of fruit, 10 cuts of meat. Mineral

Vegetables 27 varieties

Fruit 17 varieties

Meat 10 cuts

Sodium Potassium Phosphorus Magnesium Calcium Iron Copper

less 49% less 16% plus 9% less 24% less 46% less 27% less 76%

less 29% less 19% plus 2% less 16% less 16% less 24% less 20%

less 30% less 16% less 28% less 10% less 41% less 54% less 24%

Degradation of the soil ‘Physiologically it would be very difficult to underestimate the importance of minerals and trace elements. They often act as the catalyst for the other nutrients the body uses to develop and maintain good health. • Magnesium for instance is known to be required to be present in the metabolic pathway of 300 enzyme reactions.

• zinc is required in 200 enzyme reactions. • The deterioration in the mineral content of the 64 foods that could be traced over the 51-year period between 1940 and 1991, therefore, should be considered as alarming.’ David Thomas 2006

We are now 25 years further on….

Chemical residues in the soil Stephanie Seneff – researcher at MIT

Stephanie Seneff – Glyphosate… • kills beneficial gut bacteria allowing pathogens to take over

• interferes with function of CYP) enzymes, vital in the degradation and and elimination drugs from our systems • chelates important minerals (iron, cobalt, manganese) from our systems • interferes with the synthesis of ‘aromatic amino acids and methionine’ – which can affect vital neurotransmitters and our folate levels • disrupts sulfate synthesis and sulfate transport (sulfate is vital to the efficient functioning of the body) • and that adjuvants used in Roundup can amplify its toxic effects up to 1000 times. Seneff maintains that glyphosate has long been recognised as one of the most toxic of pesticides but ‘huge economic interests’ ensured that it continues to be used.

Food Processing Only to quote two of the many processes to which our already degraded ingredients are subjected:

• Food additives, processing aids, manufacturing aids – such as ‘killer enzymes’ • Excess use of sugar According to Dr Robert Lustig and many others, sugar is not only implicated in type 2 Diabetes but range of other autoimmune and psychological conditions and possibly in the development of cancer.

Disappearance of parasites • For millennia low levels of parasitic infection from poor hygiene, animal faeces etc kept under control by immune system.

• Eradication of parasites from the gut over last 70 years has disregulated immune function resulting a massive increase in allergy and autoimmune conditions

Increase in the use of chemicals and the deposition of toxic metals in the body • Immunotoxicology – the study of how toxic metals and chemicals can affect the immune system by: – Suppression – the immune system is no longer able to tackle invading bodies and we become more vulnerable to infection and at great risk of developing cancer – Immune over-activity – the immune system goes into overdrive reacting to harmless substances or even turning on itself.

Where do we find them? • Pesticides – residues in food – garden pesticides • Toxic metals - such as mercury in amalgam fillings • Lead in old paint or pipes. • Aluminium in vaccines, soft drink containers • Environmental pollutants - particularly industrial waste products, dioxins and PCBs • Flame retardants in furniture, carpets, furnishings • Solvents – in cleaners and other household products • Cosmetics and personal care products • Halogens - such as fluoride, chlorine and bromine. • Plastics in, among a million other things, teats on babies’ bottles

Vaccines, adjuvants and carriers 2 issues with vaccines 1. Do we give too many vaccines together to children who are too young and whose history and health have not been monitored?

2. Adjuvants

Too many, too young? • 50 years ago children were given maybe 5 vaccinations over a period of 2 years • Now they get – 8 vaccines at 8 weeks (6 combined + 2) – Another 7 vaccines at 12 weeks (6 combined + 1) – Another 8 vaccines at 16 weeks (6 combined + 2) – Another 6 at one year (3 combined + 3)…

• No preliminary health checks

Adjuvants ASIA’, Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants – Professor Yehuda Schoenfeld

• Adjuvants are substances which are added to vaccines to stimulate the immune system so that it reacts more effectively to the vaccine.

• The oldest, cheapest and most widely used adjuvant used in vaccines is aluminium, followed by silicone. • These adjuvants may create, in certain patients, a state of chronic immune stimulation which results in autoimmune conditions and allergy.

Other methods of sensitisation Peanut allergy epidemic

• Peanut oil used as an adjuvant and carrier in vaccines in the ‘80s & ‘90s – 5 years later the peanut allergy epidemic started. • Peanut oil also used in eczema emollients used on small babies – sensitisation via the skin?

Pollen and particulates US horticulturist Tom Ogren

• Balance of male/female trees disrupted by exclusive use of male tress in urban environments • Creates a problem of itself • In urban areas diesel particulates bind to pollen grains • In trying to ‘shake them off’ the pollen grains burst creating many thousands more, even more easily inhalable micrograins, many of which are now carrying diesel pollution from those particulates.

Electromagnetic radiation • • • •

Earth’s smooth curve Manmade information bearing radiation pulsed. Human cell communicate electrically If wavelengths coincide, can disrupt functioning of human cells • Much research – little certainty – but much to be concerned about

Allergy and autoimmune disease A dis-regulation of the immune system. Many theories – no certainties. Keep an open mind and exercise the precautionary principle… Michelle Berriedale- Johnsons [email protected]