Protect your Shikimate pathway - eat organic, take probiotics

This is huge, and it is where I've come to focus with ALS and the microbiome shift that the leaky gut study found, and then finding other ALS studies about amino acids as biomarkers for ALS.

"A third very serious consequence of this kind of microbiome shift is reduced nutrition. Instead of having microbes that give nutrients to the body, there are microbes that compete with the body for nutrients. ALS patients have an amino acid profile that has shifted to the point that it has been considered as a biomarker. The amino acid shift suggests the gut microbiota have a compromised shikimate pathway. Humans do not have this pathway, however, we depend on this pathway in our gut. The essential amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine come from the shikimate pathway and then methionine production is also compromised. Without sufficient nutrients from this pathway, serotonin, melatonin, melanin, epinephrine, dopamine, thyroid hormone, folate, coenzyme Q10, vitamin K and vitamin E are insufficient."

So, then I've been looking at lactobacillus rhamnosus and these are all of the things that it helps with:

-respiratory infections
-candida
-urinary track infections
-reduces intestinal permeability (found to be a problem prior to ALS symptoms in ALS mouse model and continuous leaky gut has huge health consequences as well)
-secretion of biosurfactants which prevents pathogenic microbial adhesion to intestinal walls
-improves GABA

Because these are all problems I see ALS patients utterly suffering with, it looks to me that a probiotic with this species would be helpful, however, there is a precaution with a weakened immune system.

The implications of this kind of nutrition problem is enormous. It means that where ever you have a genetic weakness, this disease is going to hit and complicate what is happening and we are all genetically different, so, researchers are going to be going in many directions.

Lactobacillus species are manganese oxidizing and my research kept pointing to a problem with manganese and I knew that mitochondria, lyme, and cyanobacteria are all manganese oxidizing, and all seem to have some kind of association with ALS. So I was researching manganese oxidizing microbes trying to find a link. Then a conversation I had with an independent health researcher went like this:

"Manganese builds up to toxic levels in the liver and then in the brain stem via transport along the vagus nerve, following an inability for the liver to ship the manganese out via the bile acids."

I ask a few more questions and an hour later I get a reply:

"J Neurol Sci. 1983 Oct;61(2):283-93.
Increased manganese level in spinal cords of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis.
Miyata S, Nakamura S, Nagata H, Kameyama M.
Abstract

The manganese distribution in the cross-section of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar portion of the spinal cords from 7 autopsied cases with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 6 control subjects were determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. It was possible to determine 1 ng levels of manganese content accurately in the small tissues about 1 mg of dried weight using wet ashing and chemical separation after neutron activation. The dried weight of spinal cord was about 1/3 of the wet weight. Manganese concentration in the wet tissue was calculated from the ratio of dried to wet weight. In the anterior horn of the cervical cords of ALS, manganese concentration was the highest; 1.75 +/- 0.39 ng/mg of dried weight and 0.59 +/- 0.09 ng/mg of wet weight, respectively. These were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) compared to those in controls; 1.02 +/- 0.12 ng/mg of dried weight and 0.35 +/- 0.04 ng/mg of wet weight, respectively. The elevation of manganese level in the spinal cords of ALS was more prominent in the anterior horn and lateral column than in the posterior column both in dried and wet tissues. Since manganese inhibits neuronal transmission, it is likely that neurological degenerative changes occur as a result of local disturbances of manganese metabolism in the spinal cord of ALS.

PMID:
6644329"

So to me this sounds like a potential mechanism of disease that contributes to ALS. It also helps to explain to me why chelating and supplementing minerals seems to help, or at least some people swear it helps and I know that my cousins that had serious neurological issues found a doctor experienced in how to chelate early and they've been stable and healthy for 5 years now, yet prior to finding this doctor they were declining.

Another mechanism mentioned was about sulphate transfer and when that is impaired, things get "thick" and don't flow properly. I haven't researched this area to reasonably understanding it at this point, but my understand is that it would affect bile and lymphatic flow, so that would be a mechanical crippling of distribution of some nutrients, as with the manganese to the microbes in the gut that need, but also detoxification as the lymphatic system delivers toxins for disposal.

So, I am sharing this with people to share with their doctors and neurologist and for preventative reasons for the families of ALS patients.

One other point, glyphosate kills weeds by making them prone to disease by interfering with the shikimate pathway. It chelates minerals from the plants, and GMO plants have been modified to survive with reduced minerals and the amino acid deficiencies, so these foods do not help with the ALS nutritional problems. The amino acid deficiency of these plants match the amino acid deficiencies found in ALS patients. The paper for ALS is "Amino Acids as biomarkers in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS."

It just so happened very much by accident that I was looking at my sister's amino acid deficiencies from the nutraeval test that she had and I had just been reading about the amino acid deficiencies from the shikimate pathway and I stopped and looked again, and they matched and my sister eats organic, so GMO foods are not contributing to this problem in her, however, the nutritional deficiencies are still showing up, so the belief that we only get essential amino acids from our foods is likely wrong, we probably also get supplemented from out gut microbes, or perhaps compete with gut microbes for some nutrients.

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Update to the anti-pathogen and nutrition enhancement approach to ALS

The cluster data from Guam on ALS shows the disease is linked to toxic cyanobacteria.  Mounting other evidence links the disease to viral response.  Additionally, there are links to fungal infections where they don't belong with ALS.  Even Lyme disease has strong links with ALS.

Both the cyanobacteria and Lyme disease play out with the same kind progressive loss of motor function it leaves the question as to whether the high levels of viral and fungal infections found in ALS patients are also producing toxins that follow the same disease pathway.  Additionally, it is known with ALS that the immune system appears to working overtime.

Additionally, ALS patients appear deficient in essential amino acids from the shikimate pathway, including tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine and methionine production is also compromised.  Without sufficient nutrients from this pathway, serotonin, melatonin, melanin, epinephrine, dopamine, thyroid hormone, folate, coenzyme Q10, vitamin K and vitamin E production are compromised.

So, given these common links in ALS patients, it makes sense to fight back against this disease with an anti-pathogen, nutritionally enhancement approach to help the immune system that is working overtime to fight back.


Eat organic

Glyphosate chelates out essential minerals your liver requires to help your body eliminate toxins.  It also harms the gut microbiota and GMO foods are deficient in the same amino acids as ALS patients so everything about glyphosate and GMO foods amplifies known nutritional deficiencies in ALS patients.  Glyphosate soils have the same kind of reduced microbiome diversity as is seen in the guts of ALS patients.  Many ALS patients have gut issues that precede their ALS diagnosis and supplementation with glycine is often recommended to help with leaky gut, however, glyphosate may substitute in for glycine and compound health issues.

For more information on the hazards of GMO search "glyphosate pathways to modern disease."

Alternative energy - Coconut oil

By the time ALS symptoms show up mitochondria and ATP production is damaged.  An ALS mouse model study found that at 65 days the mice had a 23% reduction of phosphofructokinase, and 89% reduction by 105 days.  This enzyme is needed for glycolysis, which provides energy to the muscles.  Additionally, the mechanism the body is using to cope causes increased oxidative stress which is harmful.  Coconut oil has medium chain triglycerides that are also anti-bacterial making them an idea source of alternate energy that also help to fight pathogens.  Coconut oil sometimes requires time to adjust to consuming it.  Start with just a teaspoon.  If there is intestinal distress, wait until the next day to consume more, other wise have a teaspoon at each meal.  It may only take 2-3 days to work up to 3-6 tablespoons per day, and it may take up to two weeks for the body to adjust.

Coconut oil is also good to rub into skin to help with muscle cramping and spasms and the MCT are also absorbed through the skin.

Coconut oil also has stearic acid which helps with mitochondrial signaling.

Do a search on coconut oil fat bombs for ideas on how to eat coconut oil.

Rebuild cellular membranes - Phospholipids

The mitochondria in the liver of ALS patients have been found to have disrupted cell membranes and oversized mitochondria and Dr Garth Nicholson promotes lipid replacement therapy to help the mitochondria.  NTFactor is the propitiatory blend that he mentions in his talks that people can access without a prescription.

Naturals sources of phospholipids are raw organic egg yolks, organic liver and organic soy lecithin.  Kim Cherry, of ALSwinners, supplemented with 100 mg of Phosphatidylserine twice per day.  Phosphatidylserine is believe to promote rapid dead cell removal in smooth muscles.

Reduce inflammation - Balance Omega 6:3 Ratio

Processed and refined oils are inflammatory so they need to be avoided.  Processed foods tend to be inflammatory, so they need to be avoided.  Inflammation in the gut is linked to poor nutrient absorption and this is an extremely serious problem with ALS.

Eliminate all refined oils: soybean, corn, canola, sunflower, safflower and especially cottonseed oil.

Eliminating these oils goes a long way towards balancing your omega 6:3 ratio.  Mixing equal amounts of olive oil with flax seed oil keeps these oils relatively balanced.  Krill oil is a good omega 3 supplement and Odo's 3-6-9 oil is balanced with other beneficial components.

Glutamate toxicity

Glutamate is involved in the process that leads to neuron death.  The body releases glutamate as a protective mechanism to keep neurons firing, however, food additives have increase the concentration of glutamate in the blood to the range to 20-50 times of what we evolved with.  The blood brain barrier offers considerable protection in controlling all of this excess glutamate from reaching the brain, however, once the brain is diseased or injured, the blood brain barrier fails to regulate glutamate and over excitation of neurons is believed to be a mechanism in neuron death.  Glutamate and other compounds that over excite neurons to the point of death are called excitotoxins.  With ALS excitotoxins are about 100 times more damaging than when the blood brain barrier was doing its job.  Excitotoxins are found in almost all store bought dressings and salad dressing, HP sauce, barbecue sauce, etc., low fat foods, and most processed foods.  Excitotoxins need to be removed from the diet.

Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal foods and herbs

Ginger is has anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, but it is also anti-inflammatory, which is extremely good for the digestive track.  ALS patients have huge problems with inflammation in the digestive track, which is related to poor absorption of nutrients.  Have a piece of ginger the size of your thumb twice per day.  It can go into a smoothie, or it can be grated and served with half of a fresh squeezed lemon in water.

Turmeric has anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  It can be used as seasoning for vegetables or added to salad dressing or get the actual turmeric root and add some to a smoothie, but first time users be aware that it stains.

Garlic is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and rich in selenium, which is important for liver function.  Garlic can be crushed into homemade salad dressing, with 1 tbs cold pressed olive oil, 1 tbs cold pressed flax seed oil and apple cider vinegar.  Use herbs like parsley and rosemary to further up your food choices with healing properties.  Healing properties are lost with cooking.  It can also be mixed in hummus.

Other foods/herbs with healing properties to choose from, some which can be consumed via herbal teas:

• onions
• cabbage
• rosemary
• cilantro (extremely good for liver as well)
• cloves
• cinnamon
• oregano
• marjoram
• sage
• thyme
• licorice root
• peppermint
• cayenne
• astragalus
• wild cherry bark
• dandelion root and greens
• mustard
• chamomile
• echinacca
• green tea
• aloe vera

Aloe vera is a large source of mannose and that help to protect you from lectins and to make mannose binding lectin, which helps innate immunity.

Usnea is a very powerful herb and is made into a tincture for use.  It has strong anti-microbe and anti-inflammatory properties.  It has precautions for the liver if taken orally.

Raw honey is anti-bacterial as well, but sugars should be avoided as much as possible.  Never heat the raw honey or the anti-bacterial properties are destroyed.  Use raw honey sparingly if sweetening is needed but try and limit to no more than a tablespoon per day.

Quinine is anti-malaria and is in tonic water.  Sevia tonic water has 27-29 mg of quinine and is sweetened with stevia.  Some people report this helps with muscle cramps.

Supplements

Magnesium is involved in thousands of processes in the body and a deficiency starts to show up with muscle cramping.  The ReMag pico magnesium is absorbed the best.

Probiotics are essential at every meal.  An ALS mouse study found a leaky gut and a microbiome shift by 60 days old.   You want to constantly encourage and protect the growth of good bacteria in your gut against this harmful change.  The anti-microbe foods and herbs can also reduce the population of good microbes, so they need to be replaced and over crowd the bad microbes.  Fermented foods contain large amounts of probiotics, but you can kill off bad pathogens too fast and they release toxins as they are killed off.  Fermented foods can be added after a couple weeks of taking probiotics.  Fermented foods include things like live culture sauerkraut or kefir.

GABA has a calming effect in the brain and foods that are good precursors for GABA include cabbage, raw spinach, kale, parsley, beans, beets, carrots, brussels sprouts, and wild salmon.  Eating precursor foods ensures a continuous supply of GABA.

There are many recommendations for vitamins, D3, C, E, B complex.  There is also a very good write up on an approach to ALS on ALStdi that lists the "pile of pills."  These need to be evaluated on an individual basis.

Vitamin E is very complicated because it actually has 16 different isomers, 8 of which are biologically inactive stereoisomers, and the different parts interfere with absorption if taken at the same time.  An long time ALS survivor with expertise in molecular chemistry takes Swanson Vit E mixed tocopherols, 400 IU, once a day, and TOCO-30 Tocotrienols from Barlowe's, 500 mg, twice a day, with coconut oil and at different times because of the interference.

Eat According to the Wahls Protocol

Dr Terry Wahls was fully in a wheel chair for MS and she reversed her MS to become an active person again through the diet she developed by looking at the what the mitochondria need to work properly.  With ALS the mitochondria are very broken, so the diet has the proper nutrition to fix the mitochondria.

Summary

1. Consume 3-6 tablespoons of coconut oil per day.  Avoid all processed oils.
2. Remove MSG and hidden forms of MSG.
3. Ensure adequate phospolipids in the diet and/or supplement. 
4. Have thumb sized piece of ginger 2x per day.
5. Have 750 mg of turmeric per day.
6. Eat whole bulbs of garlic.
7. Take usnea 2x per day (liver precaution)
8. Avoid sugars and processed foods.
9. Take 500 mg Krill oil/day or Udo's 3-6-9 oil
10. Take 300-500 mg of Magnesium (not oxide) 2x per day, or 1 tsp 2x day of ReMag
11. Take probiotics with every meal, rotate strains but try for lactobacillus rhamnosus inclusion
12. GABA 250 mg 2x/day
13. 2000 IU vitamin D3
14. 1000 mg Vitamin C
15. 400 IU Vitamin E mixed tocopherols 1x/day, 500 mg mixed tocotrienols 2x/day, all different times
16. Take B vitamins
17. Watch "Minding your Mitochondria," for an overview of how to eat.

Avoid anything and everything fortified with iron.

For the next step, in order to get doctors to assist you, you need to work on a complete medical history.

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