John Arts Abundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz

Last week we looked at autoimmune diseases in general and now we can start to identify some important supporting nutritional compounds that can really help.

Part of the challenge faced by our immune system is that it actually needs a low level of response against our own cells to fight some diseases. Our immune system should be able to recognise cancer cells as something foreign that need to be attacked. Autoimmune disease starts when our immune system attacks perfectly healthy tissue.

There is increasing evidence that our nutritional status can help prevent and even promote healing many autoimmune diseases. While every nutrient plays a role, those warranting special attention are vitamin D, certain classes of antioxidants especially flavanols, the trace minerals and Omega 3 fatty acids. The first thing I do when creating a nutritional support plan for people with autoimmune disease is to add vitamin D either on prescription from their GP or as a daily supplement.

Vitamin D acts as an immune system modulator, which means it helps determine what to attack and what to leave alone. A recent study from Tufts University by Pelago et al ‘Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatologic disorders' (Autoimmune Review 2010) demonstrated links between autoimmune disease including rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, MS and others with low levels of vitamin D. My view is that almost everyone should take vitamin D throughout the winter months.

I first started experimenting with potent antioxidants over 15 years ago and many with rheumatoid arthritis noted real improvements. If vitamin D is needed to activate the immune system, then antioxidants is the first line of defence. Possibly the most destructive element of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis are the massive increase in free radicals produced by tissue inflammation.

I always add about 500mg of mixed flavanols such as grape seed extract and resveratrol plus alpha lipoic acid. We also need to add the antioxidant minerals, especially zinc, selenium, copper and molybdenum, but in reality all 70 minerals and all the vitamins play some role. This is why the basis of supplementation for most autoimmune diseases is a combined multi antioxidant, multi vitamin and multi mineral. To this I usually add other specialist antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds often at high initial doses before gradually shifting to a lower maintenance programme. In the majority of cases this can make a real difference.

John Arts is the founder of Abundant Health. For product information visit www.abundant.co.nz If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John at john@johnarts.co.nz or phone 07 578 9051 or 0800 423 559. You can join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz