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Turbocharging the body's healing efforts
Givens: (1) We know that some sufferers with lung disorders experience spontaneous improvement. (2) Whatever we can do to amp up our body's natural tendency toward health is a worthwhile undertaking. (3) It is well established that our gut microbiota interacts with other systems in our body, notably the brain and the LUNGS. (4) It is also well established that the beneficial microbes in our gut thrive on resistant starch and fermented foods. Resistant starch is a starch that isn't digested in the small intestine but travels on to the Colon where it ferments. (5) Naturally fermented foods, e.g., kraut, kimchi, some pickles, yogurt are equally helpful in establishing and maintaining gut health. (6) It seems reasonable believe that anything we can do to foster a "kick ass" healthy gut will devolve to the benefit of our lung health.
Foods that provide resistant starch include cooked and cooled oats, legumes, rice, barley, potatoes, and generally cooked starchy vegetables. And if you're worried that starches will pork ya up, betcha can't remember a time when you noticed an obese person and thought they'd been eating too much acorn squash, sweet potatoes, or beans, brown rice and so on. You know better: too much high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar processed foods. I enjoy and take a quiet satisfaction in making kimchi and eating 2-3 ounces daily. Being involved in battling this condition on my own turf with the work of my own hands is reminiscent of Daniel Pecaut's experience conveyed in his book, Beating Bronchiecstaisis. Let's do it. Don
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Love this information. Super helpful! Great reminders on better health. Hoping I can easily find this next time I open the Mayo Clinic MAC section.
I agree. In addition to good medical care there are many ways we can take charge of our health. Pescaut’s book is supportive of BE self-care and that made all the difference for me. But, it didn’t happen overnight. So staying the course with airway clearance, healthy eating, exercise and stress reduction are critical.
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3 ReactionsThank you, Nan. I just looked up Dr. Wahls and, all I can say is, Wow! I am a healthy eater but there is always room for improvement. I am going to purchase her book. And, I just sent the link to her website to a friend who has MS.
I definitely feel there is a link between the gut and the lungs. I had ulcerative colitis back in the 90s which resulted in my having a total colectomy. I had never had any lung issues. But, about a year or so after the surgery, I developed a chronic cough which eventually led to a Dx of bronchiectasis and, most recently, MAC. As I and my drs were trying to find out why I was coughing so much, an acupuncturist friend of mine told me " The lungs are the sister organ to the colon." Since I lost my colon...I guess, in my case, my lungs were next in line for problems. That being said, I firmly believe the gut & lung health go hand in hand. The food one eats has a big impact. I send a big THANK YOU to you and Mr. Thumperguy for your posts. I hope they inspire others into taking action.
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