I have a couple questions about The Paleo Approach

[3ladybugs]

I am still reading through the book so forgive me if this is answered later and I haven't got to it. 

1) It sounds like there is a genetic component to Auto-immune disease. Did I read that right? If so, why would my identical twin step brothers be the way they are. One has ulcerative colitis and the other is perfectly healthy. They are identical twins so I would think that they would be identical in their genetic make up right?

2) Where does lymphoma fit into all of this? I have a history of Hodgkins/non-hodgkins (combo cancer, so much fun!) lymphoma. I would think that because my body behaved oddly once, it is prone to do it again. Does that make me at greater risk for auto immune disease then if I never had the lymphoma? I was a bit shocked to see that there was no mention of lymphoma in the diseases listed as part of Auto-immune diseases. It seems logical to me that it would have a component in there. Am I wrong?

Thank you for the help! Just trying to understand in my world.

[abtacha]

1) The genetic component is not for a specific disease but for the likelihood of any disease. The way I understand it is that there are four different genes that come in different variations. One in autoimmune and one in not autoimmune. The more of the autoimmune variations you have the bigger your likelihood of getting any autoimmune disease. Which one or if you get one at all is triggered by food, lifestyle and the rest of your environment.

2) As far as I remember cancer in general is mentioned as a likely autoimmune disease (meaning the jury is still out) which would also cover the lymphoma. So if cancer is in fact an autoimmune disease you would be at greater risk of developing another autoimmune disease.

I hope I remembered correctly and this helped you with your questions. Good luck with your journey!

[darcie]

My understanding is that Autoimmune Disease results when 3 conditions are present: 1) Genetic susceptibility, 2) Environmental trigger, and 3) leaky gut. Twins may or may not both have 2 and 3 depending on diet, lifestyle, stress, etc.

Isn't inflammation a huge component of cancer formation? Inflammation is a trigger for both autoimmune disease and cancer.

[3ladybugs]

Okay so what I am understanding is because my step brothers were born early (28 weeks I think), even though they have always had the same foods and such, they might have had something happen early on that made one more sickly (for lack of a better term) then the other. I know my step father has said that even early on they had different personalities so it would be much the same I guess.

I am not sure if inflammation is a component to cancer, I am one of those survivors that didn't know I had cancer till it showed up on a scan for something else. I do know that I had a steroid while in chemo to control inflammation but I thought that was because of the chemo causing problems more then the actual cancer.

I must say that the whole section on what the lymphatic system does and such was fascinating. I think I will bring it up with my oncologist when I see her in June. It was explained in a way that made me understand more clearly what my oncologist is looking for when she does my remission checks. Just that part alone might help her patients that don't understand what is really happening other then they have cancer.

[jamiekoonce]

It is likely that one town received an environmental trigger (GI infection, parasites, injury, illness, stress) that the other twin did not get exposed to. Susceptibility to autoimmune disease does have a genetic component, but there are more than four different genes involved. There are likely thousands of genes involved.


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[jamiekoonce]

*excuse me - twin (not town)


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[myjourney]

Kelp Noodles Anyone? I recently purchased Kelp Noodles to add the "seaweed" to my diet. Anyone have experience using them or the taste? Also, I assume that if I try them I should go pretty slow as I've never had kelp in my entire life. Thanks.