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The G.A.R.D. Made Simple
By Dogtor J.
©2005 DogtorJ.com
Many of you have expressed the need to have this work simplified, especially
health professionals trying to make sense of my recommendations. I do understand and will vary from my stated philosophy,
that being that I do not believe in fast-food medicine and that the more you understand, the better you will be able to apply
these principles. We do live in a world with the fast-food mentality and this has reduced our time, patience, and the
mental energy needed to really deal with the vital issues that face us. Sad but true.
So, here are the nuts and bolts of “the G.A.R.D“- the glutamate/aspartate restricted
diet or the gut absorption recovery diet- that has helped so many pets and people with epilepsy, ADHD, insomnia, fibromyalgia
(pain syndromes), chronic fatigue/depression, IBS/heartburn, and much more. It should make perfectly good sense. If not, once
again, I have not done my job....yet.
1) There are 4 known "foods" that can induce villous atrophy of the
small intestine*: gluten, casein, soy, and corn. The gluten comes from the gluten grains- wheat, barley, and rye.
Casein comes from cow's milk products and is mostly absent in goat's milk, which contains a different form of
casein. The relative absence of casein in goat's milk is what makes it the "universal foster milk".
(*particularly the duodenum and jejunum- the first segments of small intestine
after the stomach. The villi are the tiny, finger-like projections that absorb nutrients. Atrophy is the wasting
away/destruction of these villi.)
2) Adhesives are made from these four foods. Powerful, industrial-strength
glues are made from soy, casein, and gluten. Corn is also used to make adhesives but those made from this food are considerably
weaker, being used for paper/cardboard products. On the other hand, the other three can be used to make glues capable of holding
metal together. The glycoproteins from these foods are clearly very sticky by nature
and it should be easily understood why they adhere to tissues.
3) Simple-stomached animals (non-ruminants) are incapable of completely breaking
down these "glues". Celiacs are the proof. These troublesome glycoproteins do adhere
to the intestinal villi after passing from the stomach, surviving the action of the acids designed to break down most
foods. This is the known pathophysiology of celiac disease as this adherence of
gluten to the intestinal lining and the ensuing immune responses cause serious damage to the duodenal and jejunal villi.
4) The duodenum and jejunum, where most of the damage is
done by the "big 4", are responsible for the absorption of calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, vitamin C, and most trace elements
(zinc, boron, manganese, lithium, magnesium, and more). In fact, 95% of the intestine's vitamin D activity (involved in calcium
absorption) takes place in the proximal (first) one third of the duodenum. Similarly, the majority of iron is absorbed in
the duodenum. (Here's the rub: I have yet to meet a doctor-veterinary or human- that knows or remembers being taught this
simple truth concerning the absorption of nutrients, such as calcium and iron, taking place in the duodenum. In fact,
I have had a number of doctors look me in the eye and tell me that the duodenum absorbs "nothing". This is unfathomable to
me, although I did not know this either, until I began my research. Therefore, I am not
throwing stones here. But I am very disappointed in the educational process that we as health care providers go through if
basic truths like these are lost.)
Update 4/09- The third segment of small intestine- the ileum- is capable
of compensating for much of the damage done in the preceding segments (duodenum and jejunum) but damage
to the ileo-colic area (e.g. Crohn's Disease) is now reaching epidemic proportions. This is related to food intolerance, as written
about in the popular book by Jordan Rubin, The Maker's Diet, which chronicles his remarkable recovery from Crohn's Disease through dietary changes.
5) The official number now being published by the medical profession (Johns
Hopkins University and Mayo Clinic) is 1:120 Americans have celiac disease (gluten intolerance). This is a staggering number
and a vast increase from the "rare disorder affecting less than 1:5,000 people" that was being purported at the time of my
diagnosis in the year 2000. But remember: Wheat is just one of the four gut-damaging foods and is only the number two
human, dog and cat allergen. Cow milk is the number one food allergen in people. I have little doubt that researchers will
find casein intolerance to be much more of a problem than once thought.
Update 4/09: Celiac researchers now believe the true incidence of celiac disease
to be 1:30 people. The new "official" number in Italy is 1:55. However, these same researchers believe that as many as 1:3
individuals may be "gluten sensitive". In other words, today's powerful gluten is doing something harmful (e.g. stimulating
inflammation and immune-mediated disease) in a full third of people who consume it.
6) The allergies to these four foods (gluten grains, cow's milk, soy,
and corn) are formed at the time the damage to the intestinal lining is taking place. These four foods are the top human,
dog, and cat allergens for very good reason. They are the primary food allergens-
those that do harm to the intestinal villi and elicit an immune response in the process. All other foods allergens
are secondary to this damage, drawing an immune response as they pass through the
damaged gut. This is part of the "leaky gut syndrome" created by the release of zonulin, a hormone that is produced by the intestine once the villous atrophy has become severe and prolonged (the intestinal
tract's "plan B"). This is the accepted pathophysiology of adulthood food allergens in celiac disease,
not a theory. Secondary food allergies to eggs, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, tropical fruits, etc. result from damage done
to the natural barriers of the intestine caused by the primary food allergens (the “big 4”).
7)
There are antibody-sized glycoproteins that we derive from foods that are now termed "lectins". It is crucial that we understand these dietary proteins and the potential harm they
can do as they attach to internal tissues once they have entered the bloodstream. There are good and bad lectins in our food
components, with the most damaging being from the same four foods listed above. (For a great paper
on this subject and a good discussion of their involvement in immune-mediated diseases, click on this link- http://www.krispin.com/lectin.html). We now know that these lectins are vitally involved in what we
call “autoimmune disease” (thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type-1 diabetes, lupus, and more.)
8) Glutamic acid (glutamate) and aspartic acid (aspartate)
are two non-essential amino acids- our bodies manufacture all of the required amounts
of these two amino acids from other proteins. Glutamate is one of the principle
neurotransmitters in our brain. The amount of glutamate at the synapse is regulated by the adjacent glial cell (astrocyte),
which removes excess glutamate from the synapse to prevent over-excitation of the impulse-receiving neuron. Glutamate is not
only neurostimulating, it is potentially neuro-lethal. For example, excessive glutamate at the synapse is the described
pathomechanism in Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), with that excess leading to the death of that neuron. Similarly, the "glutamate
cascade" is the known cause of brain death regardless of the cause of our bodily death. Therefore, it is clearly very
important for the synapse to have the proper level of glutamic acid present at any given moment. Excessive glutamate can lead
to overstimulation of neurons (e.g. seizures, reduced pain threshold, sleep disorders, and emotional disturbances) or neuronal
death (e.g. ALS).
9) Glutamic acid is the parent protein in MSG (mono sodium glutamate).
MSG is used as a neurostimulator, acting to sensitize the open-ended nerves in our taste buds so that food will taste
better. MSG is a known trigger of seizures, as is its sister amino acid, aspartic
acid, the parent protein in the artificial sweetener aspartame (Nutrasweet). Both amino acids are neurostimulators
and "excitotoxins" (as Dr. Russell Blaylock terms them) and the very proof lies in the purpose for their use in the food industry.
10) It has been commonly held that blood sources of these two neurostimulating
amino acids do not cross the "normal" blood brain barrier, that layer of cells that protect the brain by limiting the passage
of certain blood components into the brain. This contention is only partly true, as there are areas of the brain that are
not protected by the normal blood brain barrier. Also, the key word in the above contention is "normal". The question is whether
we have normal barriers any longer. Air pollution, hydrogenated oils, and normal immune/allergic responses are known
to alter the permeability of the blood brain barrier. Therefore, with 90% of prepared foods containing trans fats, with most
of us living in highly polluted environments, and with huge populations of us experiencing significant allergies, it is reasonable
to question the integrity of our "normal" blood brain barrier.
Update 4/09- It has now been shown that the origin of seizures in idiopathic epilepsy
is the area of the brain known as the hippocampus, which is located on the underside of the brain. Recent studies
have shown that the blood brain barrier in this area is more subject to injury, allowing certain damaging substances to enter
the brain. The evidence of this damage lies in the commonly reported dysruption of the other major function of the
hippocampus- memory.
11) Wheat gluten is 25% glutamic acid by weight. Casein from cow's milk is
20% glutamic acid by composition. Soy protein has much more glutamate than either of these two. Corn contains the least
amount of these two non-essential amino acids but it can do harm to the intestinal villi in susceptible individuals, leading
to malaborption of essential nutrients and worsening food allergies. This has become even more of a problem
as we have genetically modified corn, the evidence of which came in the recent news concerning Starlink corn (CRY9C), the
culprit in the "Taco Bell shell" fiasco a few years back. The reader should really search out the complete story. The neurotoxic
effect of corn is now a hot topic in the autism community. This should not be too much of a surprise as all of the lectins
of the “big 4” are potentially damaging to neurons just as they are to any tissue to which they attach.
12) 70% plus of the calories of the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) come
from dairy and wheat alone, the number one and number two food allergens in humans, dogs, and cats. Remember: The damage they
do to the intestinal villi is the root cause of these allergies. Plus, these foods are loaded with glutamate. Allergic
reactions also alter the permeability of the blood brain barrier. Plus, the products made from these foods are often very
high in refined sugar and hydrogenated oils. All of these factors contribute to the neurological effects of the “big
4” and the products manufactured from them.
13) Cow milk products, wheat, and soy are also the leading sources of dietary
estrogens. Dairy products have been related to breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometriosis, and polycystic ovaries.
Dairy and soy have been both incriminated in altering the onset of first menses in our children, with dairy products bringing
that age down from 15 to 12.5 years and soy bringing it further down to 8 years of age in a reported 16.7% of our little girls.
Estrogens are both inflammatory and immune suppressive. Their role in breast cancer is well documented, setting the stage
for the viruses that cause breast cancer. (Put "virus, breast cancer in your search engine.) Estrogens also play a role in
catamenial seizures, PMS, and in the immune suppression that helps unleash the opportunistic viruses that we have acquired
over our lifetime, including Epstein Barr and others that occupy our brain. Put “virus, seizure” or “virus,
epilepsy” in your search engine and read about the viral agents known to be involved in seizures. There are over 25
viruses known to cause seizures in man.
14) The damage done to the intestinal villi by the “big 4”
results in a chronic, progressive malabsorption of the nutrients it normally absorbs. Again, those nutrients include calcium,
iron, iodine, B complex, and vitamin C along with numerous trace minerals (zinc, boron, magnesium, lithium, and more). Evidence
of this malabsorption is everywhere you look in this country- osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia, thyroid diseases, folate
deficiencies, skeletal abnormalities, and immune incompetence. Celiacs represent the worst of the worst, acting as a "who's
who" of what goes wrong with humans, dogs, and cats. Growth abnormalities, juvenile bone diseases, dental issues (cavities)
, and iron deficiencies are obvious evidence of the malfunction taking place in the duodenum and jejunum. In veterinary medicine,
the most food allergic breeds have the worst juvenile bone disorders and suffer the worst cartilage failure as adults (intervertebral
discs, heart valves, and supportive ligaments such as anterior cruciate ligaments). The evidence of the chronic malabsorption
of calcium and vitamin C...the building blocks for our skeletal system (collagen) is everywhere
once we see that this very common and well-described process is taking place.
15) What we haven’t readily
seen is how the normal enzyme systems (e.g. those in the liver, kidney and brain), which control blood and neuronal glutamate
levels, suffer from the deficiency in those vitamins critical to the function of that enzyme. What we do see is the overt consequences- the effects of the excess glutamate in the brain in the form of seizures, pain
syndromes, insomnia, and neurodegenerative diseases. These are often quickly reversed by the removal of the foods containing
the "excitotoxins"- glutamic and aspartic acid. Others require replacement vitamins and minerals in order to "reboot"
the normal enzyme systems.
16) Another element that is difficult to accurately measure is the competence
of the immune system. But you do not have to be a doctor to know that an individual who is not getting adequate levels
of vitamins and minerals would have a less than perfect immune system. Celiacs stand out here once again like a sore thumb,
leading the pack in immune incompetence (e.g. fighting mononucleosis, shingles, and herpes), immune-mediated diseases (lupus,
rheumatoid disease, etc), and cancer (e.g. a 50 fold increase in colon cancer). Put “cancer, virus” in your search
engine.
NOTE: In April of 2006, I came to understand
something very important about viruses- their role in nature and their place in what we call “diseases”.
I encourage the reader to examine my newest section, Viruses-Friend
or Foe. I am now thoroughly convinced that much of
what we call "disease" is simply the reaction of viruses that are in situ (some of which are known to be embedded in
our very DNA) to noxious stimuli, some of which we term "carcinogens" when they are powerful enough to cause these viruses
to form tumors. I now view cancer as the viruses’ ultimate adaptation, with tumors being viral cocoons created
to protect themselves and the cells they were charged to protect. As in cancer, I believe the viruses involved in epilepsy
cause seizures because it is the right thing for them to do in order to protect the neuron. Once again, excessive
glutamate is not only neurotoxic but potentially neuro-lethal, as illustrated by Lou Gehrig's Disease and by the glutamate
cascade that causes the death of our brain regardless of the cause of our bodily death. I believe that seizures help prevent
neuronal death in the epileptic by disposing of excessive glutamate. I also believe that the viruses that take up residence
in the glial cells "know" exactly what they are doing: By inducing seizures, they are exhibiting a form of adaptation to the
conditions (malnutrition) and insults (lectins, excitotoxins, chemicals) with which they are faced, in the
same way that other viruses form tumors to protect themselves and the cells they were designed to protect from the
carcinogens we keep throwing at them. Adaptation: It is what viruses were
designed and created to do.
Update 4/09- The role of intracellular bacteria (L-form bacteria and mollicutes) in immune-mediated diseases has been established and this study opens many new and exciting doors. As my newest section
suggests, these bacteria behave very much like viruses and I believe they play a similar and vital role in our ability to
adapt to the immunological challenges we face every day. But there are some individuals, including those with advanced neurological
and "autoimmune" diseases, who need very specific antibiotic therapy to help them deal with these agents due to
their long-term immune suppression.
17) The G.A.R.D. is primarily an elimination diet. It is "simple"
but not necessarily easy. It is certainly much more easily accomplished in our pets than in our own lives. In the dog and
cat, it can be as simple as changing from pet food "A" to pet food "B" after checking the ingredients. However, eliminating
snacks and treats seems to be just as hard for some pet owners to do as it is for them to do in their own lives. What
to eliminate becomes quite obvious, dictated by the condition being treated and degree of affliction. The "worst of the worst"
require the strictest elimination, often showing marginal recovery without doing so but demonstrating significant improvements
when enough is done right. Once the molecular nature of the immune system is understood, the reason for the variation is response
is very clear. I tell people to think “peanut allergy” in order to grasp the degree of food sensitivity experienced
by some individuals.
18) The first foods to eliminate are the "big 4" (or the four horsemen
of the apocalypse, as I like to refer to them)- gluten (wheat, barley, rye), casein, soy, and corn. This shuts off the
damage being done to the intestinal villi, a step of paramount importance in the full recovery from every single condition
imaginable. Logic should dictate this to be true- and it is. This also eliminates the top four primary food allergens and
main sources of glutamate, estrogens, and lectins. Could this step be any more important???
19) The next step is to eliminate the "crack cocaine" versions of these non-essential
amino acids- MSG and aspartame. This can be difficult in the human diet and often requires intense research into the hidden
sources of MSG. There are now MSG and migraine support Websites that deal specifically with this issue. Diet drinks must be eliminated immediately. Put "aspartame syndrome" in your search
engine and believe the testimonials that you read.
20) Eliminate the other sources (listed in the following article) of glutamate.
Peanuts, for example, are very rich in this non-essential amino acid as they are
soy's closest cousin. All legumes are rich in glutamate as are the bean family (excluding green beans), which include garbanzo,
lima, black, kidney, and navy. Lentils are also rich in glutamate. Certainly, these foods are nutritious in other regards,
but for those battling excitotoxin-related disorders, they should be limited until full recovery is attained. Then, perhaps
as the body functions (enzyme systems, blood brain barrier, neuronal sensitivity, and tissue health) return to normal, these
can be eaten again. This is true in most but not in others, especially those living in highly polluted environments.
21) RUN from hydrogenated oils. For an incredible read, click here
for David Dewey's Hydrogenated oils- The Silent Killers (http://www.dldewey.com/hydroil.htm ). You will see how these trans fats- one of man's worst creations- play a vital role in atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes,
and in neurodegenerative and immune-mediated conditions. Learn how they contribute to the death of an American every 3.5 seconds.
In the context of our discussion, they damage the blood brain barrier, disrupting enzyme systems, and allowing excess glutamate
levels to build in the brain by preventing their exclusion. Thankfully, pet foods do not contain appreciable amounts of these
deadly fats. But after reading David's article, you may have a clue why pets do not suffer from clinical atherosclerosis...yet.
Update 4/09- The paradigm shift continues as the food industry strives to eliminate
trans-fats from prepared foods. New York City and the state of California are working to outlaw these damaging oils- the worst
of man's dietary creations. However, keep in mind that there is no acceptable level
of these fats in our diet and that food labels (e.g. on snacks that used to be loaded with trans-fats) that state "0 trans
fats" may not be completely free of these damaging oils, as the FDA has set a limit below which the manufacturer can state
that the product is trans-fat free.
In summary: The G.A.R.D. allows the intestinal
villi to heal, thereby reversing the malabsorption of nutrients that are vital to the health of all tissues and enzyme
systems, including those of the brain and immune system. It is also naturally hypoallergenic, which relieves symptoms and
improves the function of the blood brain barrier. It is low in dietary estrogens, which in turn reduces inflammation and improves
immune function. And mainly, the G.A.R.D. is low in the non-essential amino acids glutamate
and aspartate, which clearly ARE crossing into the brain in the same fashion as
their concentrated forms (MSG and aspartame), causing over-excitation of neurons.
The elimination of the offending foods has resulted in phenomenal improvements in seizures,
pain syndromes, insomnia, ADHD, autism, bipolar disease, and even MS and ALS. Because these foods are the primary food allergens,
their restriction also relieves numerous symptoms such as nasal congestion, asthma, heartburn, IBS, skin allergies, ear problems,
and more. And when the immune system recovers from the malnutrition and over-stimulation from which it has been suffering
(“being over-worked and under-paid”, as I stated in The Answer), it can better handle the viruses, bacteria,
intracellular bacteria (L-forms and mollicutes), and air pollution
it faces every single day.
As we learn more and more about the role of viruses and bacteria in cancer, immune-mediated
diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, we will easily see how our food choices have contributed so greatly to our downfall.
Imagine an immune system capable of not only fighting off these opportunistic organisms but also even being capable of eliminating
many of the ones that we have harbored for years.
Sound too good to be true? The bottom line is that this elimination diet works! And, it should make sense- perfectly good, common, everyday horse sense. If it doesn't, then I simply
haven't done my job...yet.
Dogtor J.
Addendum
Here is a great site for looking up the nutritional profiles of
food, including their glutamate and aspartate content.
Simply click on the food
you are inquiring about, then scroll down toward the bottom of the page until you see the chart in the Nutritional Profile
section. There is a click-on link after that chart (just above the References section) that reads "In Depth Nutritional
Profile for (chosen food)" . Click on that link and then just scroll done to the aspartate and glutamate
listings. Make note of the serving size at the top of the chart so that you'll be making an accurate comparison.
You will quickly see the huge difference between
the glutamate/aspartate content of healthy fruits/vegetables versus items such soy, wheat, barley, and the bean
family (with the exception of green beans).
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Now, for the GOOD news:
On these dietary restrictions, I just want to make one thing very
clear. We are restricting the level of glutamate and aspartate in the diet because the neurons of the brain
(and their associated supportive cells called glial cells, or astrocytes) are diseased and cannot handle the high levels of
this non-essential, neurostimulating amino acid in our typical diet. By eating what has become the Standard American Diet
(S.A.D.), we are absolutely bombarding our brain with these “excitotoxins” in the form of grains, dairy, soy,
and the rest.
But, it is the fact that the brain is unhealthy that
explains why we are seeing the syndromes such as epilepsy, ADHD, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and various neurodegenerative diseases.
I need to reemphasize this point for a number of reasons but mainly to establish why a person would develop one of these conditions
and another not while eating the same foods. There must be something that distinguishes that person from the other…and
there is…there always is. These things are covered elsewhere on the Website, but this might be a good time to
check out my newest section, Viruses-Friend or Foe?
Here’s the point: When we are in the throws of one of the excitotoxin-related
disorders, we need to reduce our consumption of the foods rich in these amino acids as much as possible. Doing so places a
big Band-Aid on the situation and yields notable and often remarkable results in a short period of time. Dogs have stopped
seizing in 24 hours. I felt noticeably better in four days. My fibromyalgia was improved in less than a week and gone
in a month.
The phenomenal thing is that the long-term recovery also comes
from the same diet. The principle reason this disease-producing cycle was set into motion to begin with was the damage effects
of the “big 4” (gluten, casein, soy, and corn) on the intestinal villi and their ability to absorb vital nutrients.
This combined with the showering of the body with exctotoxins, allergens, lectins, estrogens, and other substances from these
same foods sets us up for the disease states that follow. Once the immune system starts to suffer from the same process, we
are pretty much done.
The good news (yes, there is some good news) is that
once we are off the “big 4” long enough, the process does reverse. Imagine the benefits of your body properly
absorbing the calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, vitamin C, and trace minerals it so desperately needs. Imagine a brain, liver,
and entire body that is getting what it needs to repair and thrive and in an environment free of the top four human, dog,
and cat food allergens (cow milk, wheat, soy, and corn), which are also providing major quantities of allergens, damaging
lectins, estrogens, depressants (casomorphins/gliadomorphins), and excitotoxins. Do you think you might just start feeling
better??? (Smile)
But there’s more good news (and this is the main reason
for placing this information here on this page). Once you have recovered…your brain, liver, and immune system are back
to normal or close to it…then you can go back to eating some of those sources of glutamate and aspartate that are not
one of the “big 4”. Again, the reason for the more severe restriction of these other foods was to place a Band-Aid
on the situation- to provide relief for your ailing brain and liver (which regulates the glutamate in the bloodstream) by
reducing the load of these potentially harmful neuroactive amino acids on these unhealthy organs. Once the nervous system
and liver have recovered, most of us can go back to eating the nuts, seeds, beans, and meats that we were limiting
in the beginning.
Just remember- "Everything in moderation". Some individuals will
recover to such a degree that they could go back to eating all of the peanuts, lima beans, and steak they want without experiencing
a seizure, pain episode, or bad night's sleep. BUT, most will fall into a category somewhere in between this level of recovery
and where they were to start with, depending on several secondary factors, such how much we cheat with the "big 4", our age,
local pollution, and more. And after all, loading up on peanuts is not good for anyone. (All you need is about 6 peanuts
or almonds to get all that you need from them for the day. BUT, who does that???) Similarly, we do not need the cowboy-sized
serving of steak they throw at us at your favorite restaurant. (I have to keep telling myself that.)
So, please do not think that I am saying you cannot eat any of the
foods on the glutamate-rich list ever again. The formal name of the diet is the glutamate-aspartate restricted diet.
That is a relative term, with some individuals requiring a more severe restriction than others. But when it comes to the "big
4", I use the term elimination. If you are gluten, casein, soy, and/or corn intolerant, elimination is the key
to your optimal recovery. These are the guys that set us up for all of this mess. That is why I now "lovingly" call them the
four horsemen of the apocalypse. The effects they can have on man and animals is potentially catastrophic and hopefully
the reader now has a much better idea of why I have dedicated my life to this mission.
I hope this helps. And as always, if you need to contact me about
this vital topic, please Email me at dogtorj@bellsouth.net
Dogtor J. | | |
The Glutamate/Aspartate Restricted
Diet
(the
G.A.R.D.)
By Dogtor J.
©2004 DogtorJ.com
Post Number One:
The Glutamate/Aspartate Restricted
Diet (GARD)
Hi Everyone,This thread is something I prepared for the Epilepsy forum. I have also posted it on 4-5 other applicable forums on
BrainTalk (ADHD, child neurology, fibromyalgia), some at the request of their members and others "just because". Why the latter?
I believe that this is one of the most important things that I know.
The disappearance of my chronic pain and
the dramatic response of epileptic dogs to this diet (the GARD, as it is now being called) are what catapulted me into
the Internet consulting business and changed my life forever. Hopefully it is changing other's lives as well. It taught me
a VERY important...no CRITICAL...fact, that the food sources (The "bound" forms) of the non-essential, neuroactive amino acids
glutamate and aspartate are, in fact, entering the brain and exerting an effect just like the "free" forms of these
amino acids do (MSG and aspartame...errrrrrh!). You all must know by now how MSG and aspartame worsen your pain.
And
what are these food sources of glutamate and aspartate??? Yep, they are the same guys: gluten grains, dairy, and soy, along
with others that I list that will make sense as you read them.
Once again, all of this should make perfect sense. Many
of you have seen reductions in pain by avoiding MSG and aspartame so you are primed and ready to take this to a new level
and see how the food sources of these same amino acids are loaded with these non-essential neuramines that are driving
our nervous systems whacko while providing overloads of estrogens. As estrogens also sensitize the neurons to the action of
these amino acids, the neuro/pain part of the spiral is especially easy to see (e.g. PMS, catamenial seizures, post partum
depression/anxiety.
Throw in the immunosuppressive effects of these foods and the fact that viruses are critically
involved in sooooo many of our conditions (immune-mediated and cancers), and it is very easy to see how the spiral is getting
tighter and tighter. These neurological pandemics (e.g. ADHD, depression, fibromyalgia) with which we are faced DO have some
very palpable explanations, don't they?
So, I hope that you get something out of this thread. Yes, it is long (surprise,
surprise.  ) but this is the most important thing I have ever done. This is my last three years of medical research in a nutshell but
in a conversational tone. This is what it has been ALL about. So, take your time. There is no law that you have to read it
all at one time.
Hope this helps,
John
Post Number Two
The GARD
Hi everyone,
I am glad that this
topic has generated some interest. Thank you for your encouraging your PMs and Emails. I didn't think that my passion for
this subject could get any greater until I read some of your responses and family histories. It is obvious that my medical
history is not the only one that cries out "food intolerance" (gluten, casein, soy, corn) as the underlying theme. It is so
cool to see many of you understanding how the pathophysiology of the duodenal villous damage sets us up for soooo much of
what is afflicting us, including the onset of opportunistic infections.
And again, the same foods that are damaging
our gut, compromising our immune systems, and preventing/blocking proper absorption of essentials nutrients are the ones that
are providing the staggering amounts of the non-essential amino acids glutamate and aspartate, the parent proteins in MSG
and aspartame respectively.
So, for the first time, I have come up with an acronym for the diet. Funny, never saw it
before...GARD..the Glutamate/Aspartate Restricted Diet.
The main sources of these non-essential amino
acids are the gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye), cow milk products with casein (especially cheeses), soy, the bean family
(navy, black, pinto, garbanzo, lima, lentils), nuts (especially peanuts, cashews, pistachios), seeds (sunflower,pumpkin),
and foods with MSG and aspartame. Rice is moderately high, coming in between wheat and corn. Corn is more of an issue in the
villous atrophy syndrome than rice and is thereby more of an allergen/immunostimulant. Oats are interesting. They are considered
safe by many celiac authorities so their gluten appears to be different, at least less concentrated, than wheat, et al . BUT
they are high in glutamate according to food charts that I have.
Peanuts are a MAJOR source of glutamate, which
should be no surprise when we see that they are soy's close cousin, another legume. To top that off, most peanut butter is
LOADED with hydrogenated oils, as they take the valuable peanut oil out and replace it with hydrogenated oils that are cheaper,
give it a smoother texture, and act as "natural" (errrrrh) preservative so that it can stay on your pantry shelf.(I eat only
Smucker's Natural. It has to stay in the fridge.)
So, 70% of the calories in the standard American diet (SAD) comes
from dairy products and wheat alone. Wow! Think of the pizza, cheeseburgers, mac and cheese, waffles, pancakes, muffins, toast,
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a big glass of milk, cookies and milk, cake and milk, cereal and milk, brownies and
milk...you get the idea.
But, for those that have been led to believe that sugar is the root of all evil, we have
a slew of sugar-free products with aspartame, including almost every single chewing gum except my favorite...Big Red. That's
it. Please read the labels. Then you have almost every single soup containing MSG, most prepared Mexican and Chinese foods
with MSG, and 90% of prepared foods with blood brain barrier damaging hydrogenated oils. Starting to see why epilepsy, ADHD,
chronic pain, and insomnia are skyrocketing?
The fact that these two amino acids are non-essential should be one clue.
Our body can make all it needs of these. What do these two proteins do in our body? Among other things, they are the main
neurotransmitters in the brain. Glutamate is essentially what makes the impulse cross the synapse. There is a "nurse cell"
known as the glial cell that helps control the level of glutamate at the synapse. When it becomes diseased or dies, the glutamate
level can build up and cause major problems, including seizures or the death of the neuron. In ALS, the latter happens. I
am convinced that in epilepsy, the former happens. I also contend that the seizure is therapeutic, burning up the glutamate
in the brain to prevent this neurotoxin from killing the brain. It is a glutamate cascade that accompanies our death from
whatever cause that actually kills the brain.
Blood (serum) glutamate levels are controlled by enzyme systems in the
liver and kidneys. This gets complicated so I won't elaborate. But, you can read about this by putting "glutamate, liver"
in your search and read to your content or level of understanding. Enzyme systems are essentially a vitamin and protein combination
and my original epilepsy (and pain) paper found on my site (http://dogtorj.tripod.com./id2.html) contends that the malabsorption syndrome created in the gut by the
same foods that provide the glutamate/aspartate keeps us from absorbing the vitamins needed to create these vital glutamate-controlling
enzymes in the liver. I still believe that is is very likely and a vital component to those with "idiopathic" epilepsy, but
I am now studying the vital role of viruses in this process.
I will not get into the viral thing now as we have a "lively"
thread going on that topic right now on this forum. A wise person (whom I now respect much more) pointed out that I need to
be careful in this area. For one thing, I may be scaring some of you with all of this talk of viruses. Plus, much of this
is still "theory", as medical authorities have yet to state definitively which viruses cause what. Please understand: I am
not trying to frighten you into trying this diet. I look at the viral connection as being vital to our understanding of what
is going wrong and see it as HOPE-giving information. I would rather the "enemy" have a face and know how he got here
and what he plans to do than write it all off to "idiopathic" or "bad genes" or worse..."bad luck". I think this should encourage
people, especially when they see that there IS somthing that they can do about it rather than take simply take cover-up drugs
(or worse...immunosuppressive drugs...errrrh) for the rest of their life. The diet is a huge first step.
And that is
the last point for this thread. I am NOT advocating that anyone stop their meds. No, NO, NO. I don't do that with my canine
patients until I am convinced that the diet has helped. I have them go through a seizure cycle or two before reducing their
meds THEN I taper the drugs slowly once I am convinced. Certainly, because of the dramatic results I have seen in dogs that
were not yet on meds, I feel like I could stop many epileptic dogs meds right away and be fine in doing so. BUT, I know that
some of them have other issues like liver disease, chronic viral encephalitis (distemper virus, etc.), OR cheat on the diet
by eating other pet's foods. Compliance is a big issue when you are dealing with pets... and owners that love their pets to
death (literally).
This concept has been proven to be effective to me frontwards and backwards many times over the
past three years. The rapid response to the diet change (commercial duck and potato diets for the dogs), the complete response
in some, and the seizures that consistently occur 6 hours after making a mistake (if they are not on AEDs) have all spoken
volumes about this diet..the GARD. (Man, I like that. )
The 6 hour connection is really phenomenal to see. The
"free" forms of glutamate and aspartate (MSG/aspartame) hit the brain in about an hour. Heard of the "MSG rush"??? When these
levels drop off in another hour or so, we become "HUNGRY" again ("What's up with that Chinese food, anyway?" asks the comedian.).
Our brain LOOOOOVES that stuff. See food addiction on my site (http://dogtorj.tripod.com./id6.html).
The "bound" forms in food (for example, wheat gluten is 25%
glutamate by weight) take about 5-6 hours to hit the brain. "Ahhhh....That's why I wake up like a shot at 1-2 AM after
eating dinner and dessert at 7-8 PM.!" Yup. Food did this to me for years. The sleep aids helped but not really much. Now
I sleep like a baby (which is really a dumb expression isn't it? Who wants to wake up every hour wet and hungry? Haha). I
sleep well... we'll leave it at that.
The other proof of the bound forms of these "excitotoxins" (as Dr. Russell Blaylock
refers to MSG/aspartame) doing their thing is ADHD and chronic pain (e.g. fibromyalgia). I go into great detail on these pandemic
conditions on my site. However, I am now studying the potential viral links in ADHD. The link to EBV (Epstein Barr) has been
studied for quite sometime now in fibromyalgia. I believe there could be a guy like that involved in ADHD as well. For current
thoughts on this, put "ADHD, virus" in your search.
But to me, epilepsy is the main topic. It has been from the beginning
of my work and I have believed that the GARD will help prevent seizures in people as well. It has already. I will send Email
and PM testimonials to anyone that is interested. Also, check out the Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac section of BrainTalk for more
discussion and testimonials.
I hope this helps,
John
PS. I will follow this post with a chart of foods high
and low in glutamate/aspartate.
Post Number Three
The List
Here is the list from my site. It can be
found at the end of my original epilepsy paper found here:
http://dogtorj.tripod.com./id2.htmland at the end of my pain paper found here:
http://dogtorj.tripod.com./id3.html.
Here's the list:
Foods rich in glutamate
and aspartate:
1) Grains: Wheat, barley, and oats are highest. Corn and rice are lower than the previous three
but higher than potatoes.
2) Dairy Products: All Cheeses (cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, PARMESAN) are
very high. Casein is very concentrated in cheese and is 20% glutamic acid by composition.
3) Beans: Soy, Pinto, lima,
black, navy, and lentils
4) Seeds: Sunflower, pumpkin, etc.
5) Peanuts: Very high, as are cashews, pistachios,
and almonds. I have more detailed charts on the site to show exact values for the various nuts. Everything in moderation applies
when eating nuts of any kind. So, I do not recommend you reach for nuts when you are really hungry unless you can stop after
a few. Nuts are very good for you..in moderation. For example, seven almonds a day gives you what you need .
6)
Diet drinks: Primary source of aspartate (aspartame)
7) Prepared foods, soups: 70% of prepared foods and many
soups have MSG
8) Meats: Note- All meats are naturally rich in glutamate and aspartate. Lamb (and eggs) are the lowest,
while rabbit and turkey are the highest.
However, I believe that the amount in a normal serving of
meat should not be enough to cause problems. I think that it is all of the other "unnatural" sources when combined
with the meats that are causing the problems. Again, the main reasons why the "big 4"- gluten (wheat, barley, rye), dairy,
soy and corn- are so harmful are, not only are they rich in glutamate, but they do harm to intestinal villi inducing
malabsorption of nutrients and then shower the body with their inflammatory lectins once absorbed by the body. It is the combination
of these effects that make the "big 4" so detrimental in seizures.
Meats (and tree nuts) do not have these other harmful effects.
But there are individuals whose neurons are so diseased and overly-sensitized to glutamate that their meat protein intake
should be restricted to some degree until they and their brains are healthier. I have now had cases of canine
epilepsy that required some restriction of animal protein in order to halt their seizures. But this should be
a temporary requirement, with a return to normal levels being accomplished once an individual is off the "big 4"
long enough.
One of my newest concerns is the presence
of glutamate in the flesh of grain-fed animals, especially chickens, turkeys, and cattle. This is s topic of discussion on
the celiac forums and we are now believing that this is a real concern and could explain why some celiacs are not responding
to elimination diets. Catfish are also grain fed.
But, the fact is that 60-70% of the American Diet is wheat and dairy
(with heavy emphasis on cheese). This combined with the amount of artificial sweeteners being consumed and the addition of
SOY has led this country into an epidemic of pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia. Epilepsy is definitely on the rise in
pets and the combination of wheat and soy in pet foods is playing a huge role. I am seeing first time epileptic dogs within
three weeks of starting such diets.
Foods lower in glutamate and aspartate:
1)
Fruits, berries
2) Vegetables
3) Potatoes
4) Lamb and eggs are relatively low (compared to beef, chicken,
turkey)
5) Tree nuts (e.g. pecans, walnuts, macadamias) NOTE: These are relatively low when compared to peanuts
and cashews. I have more detailed charts on the site to show exact values. Again, everything in moderation applies when eating
nuts of any kind. I do not recommend you reach for nuts when you are really hungry unless you can stop after a few. Nuts are
very good for you..in moderation. 7 almonds a day gives you what you need .
So, the GARD should be mostly
lean meats, vegetables, fruits/berries, limited nuts, potatoes, and eggs while also limiting known allergens. My site
discusses primary versus secondary food allergens. The good news is that if we stay off the primary ones long enough (dairy,
wheat/gluten grains, soy, corn) we may be able to eat the secondary ones again.
Remember: Like sufferers of the many
conditions that afflict us, epileptics are obviously on a spectrum of affliction. Spending time on this forum has made this
painfully clear, especially after reading about the worst cases. My heart goes out to you all. That being said, I feel certain
that, as in the pets, there will be those that will respond to minimal changes in diet and those that will require Herculean
efforts in the elimination of the foods above. Also keep in mind that I have had pets that were seizure-free on these duck
and potato diets for 6-12 months but that had a seizure within 6 hours of making a mistake (e.g. stealing a waffle). But,
I do feel certain that as they (and people) get farther down the road, they will become more resilient to mistakes. This is
in part due to the elimination of the casomorphins and gliadomorphins (from casein and gluten) that take up to a year to be
eliminated from the brain. Again, this is explained on my site.
Please feel free to Email me through my site with any
questions.
John
PS. I will also post a chart for you to see which foods are rich in ESTROGENS. You will see
an interesting pattern. Most of you know that estrogens are "inflammatory" and sensitize neurons to glutamate (catamenial
seizures, PMS). Progesterones are your friend. They are calming, anti-inflammatory (stronger in some regards than cortisone),
and they can help suppress seizures. Too bad there are not dietary sources of these, right? Yes, that is one of the other
problems. These same foods are RICH is estrogen but low in progesterone. Balance is everything, isn't it?
Addendum
Here are acouple of great sites for looking up the nutritional profiles of
food, including their glutamate and aspartate content.
Simply click on the food you are inquiring
about, then scroll down toward the bottom of the page until you see the chart in the Nutritional Profile
section. There is a click-on link after that chart (just above the References section) that reads
"In Depth Nutritional Profile for (chosen food)" . Click on that link and then just scroll done
to the aspartate and glutamate listings. Make note of the serving size at the top of the chart so that you'll
be making an accurate comparison. You will
quickly see the huge difference between the glutamate/aspartate content of healthy fruits/vegetables versus
items such soy, wheat, barley, and the bean family (with the exception of green beans).
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Now,
for the GOOD news:
On these dietary restrictions, I just want to make one thing very
clear. We are restricting the level of glutamate and aspartate in the diet because the neurons of the brain
(and their associated supportive cells called glial cells, or astrocytes) are diseased and cannot handle the high levels of
this non-essential, neurostimulating amino acid in our typical diet. By eating what has become the Standard American Diet
(S.A.D.), we are absolutely bombarding our brain with these “excitotoxins” in the form of grains, dairy, soy,
and the rest.
But, it is the fact that the brain is unhealthy that
explains why we are seeing the syndromes such as epilepsy, ADHD, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and various neurodegenerative diseases.
I need to reemphasize this point for a number of reasons but mainly to establish why a person would develop one of these conditions
and another not while eating the same foods. There must be something that distinguishes that person from the other…and
there is…there always is. These things are covered elsewhere on the Website, but this might be a good time to
check out my newest section, Viruses-Friend or Foe?
Here’s the point: When we are in the throws of one of the excitotoxin-related
disorders, we need to reduce our consumption of the foods rich in these amino acids as much as possible. Doing so places a
big Band-Aid on the situation and yields notable and often remarkable results in a short period of time. Dogs have stopped
seizing in 24 hours. I felt noticeably better in four days. My fibromyalgia was improved in less than a week and gone
in a month.
The phenomenal thing is that the long-term recovery also comes
from the same diet. The principle reason this disease-producing cycle was set into motion to begin with was the damage effects
of the “big 4” (gluten, casein, soy, and corn) on the intestinal villi and their ability to absorb vital nutrients.
This combined with the showering of the body with exctotoxins, allergens, lectins, estrogens, and other substances from these
same foods sets us up for the disease states that follow. Once the immune system starts to suffer from the same process, we
are pretty much done.
The good news (yes, there is some good news) is that
once we are off the “big 4” long enough, the process does reverse. Imagine the benefits of your body properly
absorbing the calcium, iron, iodine, B complex, vitamin C, and trace minerals it so desperately needs. Imagine a brain, liver,
and entire body that is getting what it needs to repair and thrive and in an environment free of the top four human, dog,
and cat food allergens (cow milk, wheat, soy, and corn), which are also providing major quantities of allergens, damaging
lectins, estrogens, depressants (casomorphins/gliadomorphins), and excitotoxins. Do you think you might just start feeling
better??? (Smile)
But there’s more good news (and this is the main reason
for placing this information here on this page). Once you have recovered…your brain, liver, and immune system are back
to normal or close to it…then you can go back to eating some of those sources of glutamate and aspartate that are not
one of the “big 4”. Again, the reason for the more severe restriction of these other foods was to place a Band-Aid
on the situation- to provide relief for your ailing brain and liver (which regulates the glutamate in the bloodstream) by
reducing the load of these potentially harmful neuroactive amino acids on these unhealthy organs. Once the nervous system
and liver have recovered, most of us can go back to eating the nuts, seeds, beans, and meats that we were limiting
in the beginning.
Just remember- "Everything in moderation". Some individuals will
recover to such a degree that they could go back to eating all of the peanuts, lima beans, and steak they want without experiencing
a seizure, pain episode, or bad night's sleep. BUT, most will fall into a category somewhere in between this level of recovery
and where they were to start with, depending on several secondary factors, such how much we cheat with the "big 4", our age,
local pollution, and more. And after all, loading up on peanuts is not good for anyone. (All you need is about 6 peanuts
or almonds to get all that you need from them for the day. BUT, who does that???) Similarly, we do not need the cowboy-sized
serving of steak they throw at us at your favorite restaurant. (I have to keep telling myself that.)
So, please do not think that I am saying you cannot eat any of the
foods on the glutamate-rich list ever again. The formal name of the diet is the glutamate-aspartate restricted diet.
That is a relative term, with some individuals requiring a more severe restriction than others. But when it comes to the "big
4", I use the term elimination. If you are gluten, casein, soy, and/or corn intolerant, elimination is the key
to your optimal recovery. These are the guys that set us up for all of this mess. That is why I now "lovingly" call them the
four horsemen of the apocalypse. The effects they can have on man and animals is potentially catastrophic and hopefully
the reader now has a much better idea of why I have dedicated my life to this mission.
I hope this helps.
Dogtor J. | | |
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Post Number Four
Estrogens in Food
Now, here is the Website showing the foods
high in estrogens and those that block estrogen. These should be considered in formulating the ultimate diet for the
epileptic, I would think, as we know that estrogens are inflammatory and sensitize neurons to the action of glutamate (e'g
catamenial seizures, PMS).
Here's the site:
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remed....htm#containingHere's the chart:
Foods Containing Natural Estrogens
Note: Those is bold are also RICH in glutamate.
Alfalfa
Animal flesh
Anise
seed
Apples
Baker's yeast
Barley
Beets
Carrots
Cherries
Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
Clover
Cowpeas (black- eyed peas)
Cucumbers
Dairy Foods
Dates
Eggs
Eggplant
Fennel
Flaxseeds
Garlic
Hops
Licorice
Oats
Olive oil
Olives
Papaya
Parsley
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Pomegranates
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Red beans
Red clover
Rhubarb
Rice (relatively
high)
Sage
Sesame seeds
Soybean sprouts
Soybeans
Split peas
Sunflower seeds
Tomatoes
Wheat
Yams
Estrogen Inhibiting Foods
If you are suffering from breast cancer, PMS,
fibroids, ovarian cysts, and other situations that estrogen might exacerbate, the following estrogen inhibiting foods might
be of interest to you.
Berries
Broccoli
Buckwheat
Cabbage
Citrus Foods
Corn
Figs
Fruits
(except apples, cherries, dates, pomegranates)
Grapes
Green beans
Melons
Millet
Onions
Pears
Pineapples
Squashes
Tapioca
White rice
White flour Now, this is really cool! Why would wheat
be on the list of estrogens rich in estrogens but white flour would be on the list of estrogen blocking foods? Doesn't
make sense right? Actually, it DOES and illustrates a VERY important point. What do you get when you add water to white flour?
Glue/ paste, right? What have I been saying about gluten again...it is "glue" and it does coat and stick to the villi of the
duodenum. In this case, it coats the villi and blocks the absorption of the ESTROGENS in the food. Now, how cool is that?
When I saw this site a couple of years ago, I had another "revelation". Even the bad things have a purpose.
In this case, the "glues" in the bad foods (gluten grains, dairy, and soy) don't just block the absorption of essential nutrients
(and drugs). They also help block the bad things in these trouble foods, like the estrogens and goitrogens....antinutrients,
like those found in soy. (Errrrrh.)
Whodathunkit? Ying and yang even applies to food.
Again, I hope this helps,
John
Dogtor J.
©2004 DogtorJ.com
I hope you enjoyed your time here and got something important from your stay. It is
my goal to help all of mankind navigate through the jungle of medical information now available on the Internet and find the
truth about the origins of what we call "disease" as well as discover the natural solutions for these conditions.
We do have our health's destiny in our own hands more than we've ever
imagined, certainly more than most have ever been told. Think naturally and the answer will come.
Dogtor J
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