Global spread of autoimmune disease blamed on western diet

[helvella]

A newspaper article - in the Observer - which could be of some interest.

I haven't gone off looking for greater detail, etc., because it is just the possibility which is discussed, and research projects. Not a lot to read right now.

Global spread of autoimmune disease blamed on western diet

New DNA research by London-based scientists hopes to find cure for rapidly spreading conditions

theguardian.com/science/202...

It does concern me that this could be yet another source of patient blaming. "Did you eat KFC/McD/etc/? If so, it's all your fault."

I strongly suspect the prime investigators are not looking at it like that, but we know how things can change by the time they reach a clinic.

And, even if entirely proved, what we also need is some sort of treatment or approach to help those already afflicted.

We also need to remember that while the scale might have grown, there have been some sufferers for a very long time.

[janeroar]

I agree that western fast food diet is to blame for much of ill health. Diabetes, cancer and heart disease are absolutely linked to diet. Unfortunately it’s so integrated into our culture it’s going to take a long time and a huge effort to shift it.

Go into any supermarket and there’s aisles and aisles of awful awful manufactured processed food and fizzy drinks that are damaging to our health.

Folks are getting so much conflicting information as well & we are up against the vast financial resources of big corporations intent on telling us what they’re making for us is healthy. Remember ‘A Mars A Day helps you work rest and play?’ Now it’s manufactured vegan food. So all these young people who want to do right by the planet are being sold vegan fast food c**p.

The best food is simple ingredients, not processed. But they are sometimes more expensive than the manufactured stuff. It shouldn’t be hard to eat healthily but many people find it very difficult to get accurate information and afford a healthy diet.

[JGBH in reply to janeroar]

Totally agree with you. Also preparing food from fresh requires a routine and a bit more time, so many people are rushing from work to prepare food and will often find it easier and quicker to buy fast ready made foodstuffs. Another point is that some people simply don’t know how to prepare and cook food from scratch.

[janeroar in reply to JGBH]

Very true. We are used to food being fast now. Many families are time poor, both parents working hard so not surprising quick and easy food is what is bought. But actually with a bit of planning and knowledge it can be done. I’m places like Turkey, Italy and France the food culture is such that more time and money is devoted to food. It’s a higher priority.

[JGBH in reply to janeroar]

Yes, food is definitely more important in some countries but I believe it has changed also because McDonald franchises and others have invaded France and other European countries and young people want to follow this ‘fashionable’ trend, unfortunately, so there has also been a decline in food standards too but not as much as here, in the UK.

[diogenes Remembering]

I wouldn't be surprised if diet had something to do with autoimmune bowel diseases, but I doubt if the answers from DNA are going to be very useful. Simply because we are all unique in our DNA, and the same outcome can arise from different parts of the genome's expression. I believe there is a very wide pathway to the disease becoming obvious, and there are many factors causing it, the combination of which will be individual to each sufferer. Outcomes of other diseases in DNA sequencing have often shown widely different genomic expressions in separate chromosomes.

[RedApple]

The article does also say:

“If you don’t have a certain genetic susceptibility, you won’t necessarily get an autoimmune disease, no matter how many Big Macs you eat,” said Vinuesa.

[helvella in reply to RedApple]

I think that sentence is one reason I took it more seriously than some other pieces I have read.

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

Yes, that sentence does not sound too great… still encouraging to eat c..p fast foodstuffs.

[helvella in reply to JGBH]

That's not how I read it! More a case of making sure people don't reduce the whole issue to one of whether or not people eat "western diet".

Plus, there are many other reasons not to eat junk food for every meal. (I am sure you appreciate that!)

[JGBH]

Thanks for posting this link to the article in The Guardian. I had already read it. I am quite pleased some researchers are finally investigating the role diet plays more so with regards to autoimmune diseases. When I first was diagnosed with RA, over 35 years ago, I mentioned diet to my then consultant (and the one after him) and the importance of diet was always denied! This is narrow mindedness on the part of the medical profession. We now are more aware of the importance of biome in digestion matters and well-being. I always felt there must be a link. By suppressing certain foodstuffs one can see an improvement. However it’s a question of trial and error. There will also be a difference between people because we’re all different but there are certain foods and lifestyle that must be avoided.

Also the link to genetic dysfunction is important. When I was first diagnosed they really didn’t know whether this could be the case. At least we’ll know more soon and hopefully it will help with dreadful autoimmune diseases that are devastating and life changing. It’s too late for me but I hope it will help the younger generations.

[jgelliss]

Thank you helvella for this post. I have no doubt that our diets might have some connections to our autoimmune disease. Some of us are probably more susceptible. I know for myself before I even knew that I had thyroid problems that certain foods would have terrible affects on me. In reality I don't know what came first the chicken or the eggs?

[helvella in reply to jgelliss]

Yes - which came first? The KFC Ten pieces of Original Recipe chicken or the Egg McMuffin.

(I had to look them up!)

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

Love your sense of humor. It's great to have a good laugh 👍.

[nellie237 in reply to helvella]

I don't like that stuff either, but a bacon sarnie.....ooh

[DippyDame]

On a lighter note, it reminds me of an old childhood rhyme that says it all -

It's a very strange thing

As strange as can be

That whatever Miss T, eats

Turns into Miss T

[tattybogle]

....

,

[nightingale-56]

I feel a large part of our ill-health currently is down to the lack of soil nutrients, which we know are depleted. Hence our need to supplement, which cannot be better than the food that acquires nutrients through being grown in good soil.

[Rocky]

Why can't these people accept that autoimmune conditions are genetic and passed down through generations. I have Hashimoto's and so does my Daughter and my Mum had it. I have always eaten very healthily and still gained weight due to my autoimmune conditions. I have just recently been diagnosed with celiac disease and found out I carry one of the genes for it. I have been told that my children and siblings need to be tested for it too. I can't count the amount of times I have been accused by professionals of eating unhealthily and too much. I hate the fact that they automatically think you eat junk food, because you have gained weight. I am really annoyed at the comment "It can be grim for patients and a massive strain on health services. Hence the urgent need to find new, effective treatments.” Maybe if they spent more time testing for other autoimmune conditions once they have diagnosed one rather than looking for new treatments that are also already there, as in B12 injections, T3 and gluten free diet, it would save some people a life of misery. For example myself just being diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of 57. It's not our fault that we have been passed genetic conditions by our ancestors

[Horsey07]

As a former teacher I know for a fact that children are taught about the importance of a balanced diet in school. My nine year old grandson was recently very worried because of these lessons (and he gets freshly prepared meals at home). Some primary schools are even asking parental permission to weigh children at school, which is frankly horrifying. I have always been fortunate enough to eat well: my mother didn’t have access to ready meals, our occasional fast food treat was chips in newspaper, I prepared my children’s baby food and they always ate well, my hubby and I grow our own fruit and vegetables organically and eat freshly prepared food daily. I even bake my own bread. Despite a healthy diet from infancy I now have several autoimmune diseases as well as diverticulitis, so I doubt that a poor diet is always the villain of the piece. My greatest worry is that very many people simply cannot afford to eat freshly prepared organic food, a number of former students have come from deprived homes where they are preparing food for themselves and their siblings, and ready meals from the supermarket chain are more affordable and claim to be nutritious. GPs seem all too ready to latch onto any way to blame patients for their health problems so adding diet to the list will just be another hurdle. As helvella says, reducing the whole issue to one of the ‘western diet’ would be extremely dangerous.

[serenfach]

I have been pretty much self sufficient in meat, eggs, dairy, veg and fruit for over 40 years. I have 6 autoimmune thingies.

Whilst I am sure diet plays a part in many health issues, I dont think it plays a part in autoimmune conditions.

[Gcart]

I think the nutritional quality of food has been sacrificed to sell it cheaply. Supermarkets in particular have introduced this to our shopping habits.

The food from the farm where I go is so very different in taste. I believe and hope it must be better in food value.

Trouble is, not always easy to get to and without a car I couldn’t, So there lies another issue !

[Hidden]

I rather think the main cause of auto immune disease is the misuse of agents which activate the immune system sensivities for other purposes. Clearly if the GI tract is damaged it will amplify auto immune disease. Refined foods will show a high association.