Are You Over-fired and Hyper-wired?

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WHAT IS A CYTOKINE STORM, AND WHY DO YOU NEED TO CARE?

Diseases such as Covid-19 and influenza can be fatal due to an overreaction of the body’s immune system called a cytokine storm. Cytokines are small proteins released by many different cells in the body, including those of the immune system where they coordinate the body’s response against infection and trigger inflammation. The name ‘cytokine’ is derived from the Greek words for ‘cell’ (cyto) and ‘movement’ (kinos).

Sometimes the body’s response to infection can go into overdrive. For example, when SARS-CoV-2 (the virus behind the covid-19 pandemic) enters the lungs, it triggers an immune response. This response attracts immune cells to the region to attack the virus, resulting in localized inflammation. In some patients, excessive or uncontrolled levels of cytokines are released, which activates more immune cells, resulting in hyperinflammation. This can seriously harm or even kill the patient. Read more…

COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS ARE LINKED TO FOOD SENSITIVITY

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, targeting potential drivers of Covid-19 (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps), scientists from some of the best academic medical research institutions state:

"Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel, respiratory disease that in about 10-15% of patients progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) triggered by cytokine storm. In this perspective, autopsy results and literature are presented supporting the hypothesis that a little known yet powerful function of neutrophils—the ability to form neutrophil extracellular traps (NET’s)—may contribute to organ damage and mortality in COVID-19. We show lung infiltration of neutrophils in autopsy specimen from a patient who succumbed to COVID-19.  We discuss prior reports linking aberrant NET formation to pulmonary disease, thrombosis, mucus secretions in the airways, and cytokine production. If our hypothesis is correct, targeting NET’s directly and/or indirectly with existing drugs may reduce the clinical severity of COVID-19.” [1]

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WHY ARE THERE COMPLICATIONS IN SOME PEOPLE, BUT NOT IN OTHERS?

The most persuasive answer is found in research showing the effect of diet on the pre-activation or priming of neutrophils. For instance, one such study has shown that a Western diet trains the neutrophils to be overactive. [2] Researchers stated that, "WD (Western Diet) induced transcriptomic and epigenomic reprogramming of myeloid progenitor cells led to increased proliferation and enhanced innate immune responses.” [3]

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THE ALCAT TEST PIN-POINTS INFLAMMATION

Needless to say, an anti-inflammatory diet—preferably one that's personalized by the ALCAT Test—may provide significant help in the long term by preventing a hyperimmune response. It’s good for the immune system to have this ability, but it needs to be modulated.  It is also known that the major underlying conditions associated with Covid mortality, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma and obesity are inflammation based issues involving activated neutrophils. This is very often triggered by food! The ALCAT Test measures patient-specific foods that cause neutrophil activation, and the activation of NET's.

 

By Carolina McFarland

 

REFERENCES:

  1. Barnes, BJ, et.al.; Targeting potential drivers of COVID-19: Neutrophil extracellular traps; J Exp Med (2020) 217 (6):e20200652;https://rupress.org/jem/article/217
    /6/e20200652/151683/Targeting-potential-drivers-of-COVID-19-Neutrophil

  2. Western Diet Triggers NLRP3-Dependent Innate Immune Reprogramming

  3. Christ et al., 2018, Cell 172, 162–175 January 11, 2018 ª 2017 Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.12.013

 
Carolina McFarland