Baking Spice ARMS Your Immune System
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted February 10, 2021
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Living with an autoimmune disease like arthritis or psoriasis is not only painful, it’s downright bizarre.
It’s almost like you have two warring armies battling it out in your body.
One is on high alert and wants to protect you from disease, and the other wants to do as much damage as possible.
In the end, it leaves you exhausted and sick.
But now there’s something that can help.
A new study has found that this simple baking spice could be the peace treaty for the war in your body.
And it’s easy as pie to get started.
If you’re a big baker, you probably have an overflowing spice cabinet. And if you’re not, you’ll want to make sure you add this to your pantry…
Ginger.
A new study from Michigan Medicine discovered that the main compound of ginger root (6-gingerol) can powerfully counteract the mechanism that fuels certain autoimmune diseases.
In order to test the power of ginger, the researchers gave the compound to mice who were afflicted by lupus.
And they found something interesting.
The researchers point to a feature of the immune system called neutrophil extracellular traps (or NETs). NETs are dangerous cells that can cause damage like blood clotting or worse.
But when the mice were given 6-gingerol, the number of NETs plummeted.
Since the ginger reduced NETs, one of the researchers even suggested it could eventually help autoimmune disease patients get off blood thinners.
As I’ve said before, blood thinners are not only dangerous, but in some cases, they’re unnecessary.
Ginger is a great place to start if you have an autoimmune disease, but I would recommend teaming it up with some other steps to get even more immune-boosting power. And to do that, you want to focus on your gut.
Here’s how to get started:
- This is your easiest path to a healthy digestive system. I prefer a probiotic product that contains a fiber prebiotic alongside good bacteria.
- Eat enough fiber. This not only helps with regular bowel movements, it also helps stimulate healthy bacterial growth. I always suggest people choose both water-soluble and water-insoluble fiber. One of my favorite fibers is ground flax seeds.
- Throw away junk food, trans fats, processed, and chemical foods. All processed foods, trans fatty acids, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol harm gut bacteria. Do what you can to limit these non-foods in your diet.
- It doesn’t seem like the first place you would turn to help your digestive tract, but it has been shown to help encourage a healthy gut.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...