I am a strong believer in epi-genetics.
Epi-genetics is the scientifically proven theory that your genes do not determine your health, but your environment is what determines whether a disease causing gene will express itself. Example: Because your mom had breast cancer, it does not mean that you are destined to breast cancer. If you eat no fruits and vegetables, live a high stress life style, use all plastic containers and drink from plastic water bottles, and don’t ever exercise – then you will be switching on your predisposition to breast cancer.
Environmental Factors Are:
- Development in utero and childhood
- Internal dialogue/thoughts you think on a daily basis
- What foods you eat
- Environmental chemicals that you are exposed to
- Drugs and medications that you take
- Methylation has been strongly linked to being able to activate or repress a gene. Methylation is part of phase 2 of liver detox where you utilize B vitamins and Folate to pull toxins out of your body so that you can excrete them. If you have a genetic weakness (such as the MTHFR) in that pathway of methylation, then you need to be taking methylated B vitamins to assist your body in detoxification and energy production.
Genetics are like the loaded gun, and the environment is what pulls the trigger. If you maintain a healthy environment , the trigger never gets pulled.
What Is The HLA-BRB1 Gene?
The HLA-DRB1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays an important role in how the immune system functions. The HLA-DRB1 gene is part of a family of genes called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body’s own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria.
In approximately 24% of the population, there is a mutation in this gene that causes even the smallest exposure to a biotoxin to wreak absolute havoc on a person’s immune system. These people cannot handle the environmental exposure to mold and they switch on the faulty gene & express symptoms rather quickly.
What This Means For You:
There are multiple kinds of variations in this gene, and based on which one you have it can express itself in the following ways:
- Mild susceptibility to extreme susceptibility to being sick from mold exposure
- More likelihood of contracting Chronic Lyme Disease/inability to fight it off
- Susceptibility of being sick from ingesting Dinoflagellates (fish)
- MARCoNS (A nasty nasal infection/sinusitis)
- Low MSH
- Developing Multiple Sclerosis
- Developing Chronic Fatigue
- Developing Chronic Fatigue from Lyme vaccine Lymerix – It will cause an inflammatory immune response in certain genotypes. In another genotype is worked well.
- There are MAJOR contraindications from the Gardasil Vaccine for cervical cancers and should be avoided based on what variation of this gene you have.
If you already have one or more of these conditions, you definitely need to do the genetic test to find out what is going on inside your body on a cellular level and then take further steps to rid your body of these toxins and boost your immune system.
How To Test If You Have The Genetic Mutation In This Gene:
It is a simple blood test that you can have your doctor do. A lot of times doctors will say you don’t need it or they will not do it because they adhere to what the insurance companies deem appropriate to test for, which is wrong! Your doctor works for YOU. If you want a test done, you should be able to have it done. Individual insurances will vary so it’s best to call them and ask them if that is something you can do through insurance. If you do not have insurance or do not want to use insurance you can always go through Professional Co-op. They offer significantly discounted prices for lab testing. Life-Extension is another lab that does this test, but Professional Co-op is less expensive. Functional Medicine Practitioners will more than likely do this test for you.
What You Can Do To Detox Mold & Biotoxins From Your Body:
Activated Charcoal – This acts as a sponge and soaks up everything, allowing you to excrete toxins out through the bowels. In one study that looked at subjects who were fed deoxynivalenol (which is a mycotoxin that occurs in grains) and then given activated charcoal. The results were that after ingestion of charcoal there was no mycotoxin that could be detected in the blood.
N-Acetyl Cysteine & Glutathione – NAC is an amino acid that converts into the master antioxidant Glutathione. Glutathione has a short half life, so if you can do both at the same time it will increase the circulation in your body longer. This combo is very useful in binding heavy metals, candida, toxins and detoxing the liver. In one case study of a woman who accidentally ingested toxic mushroom, she was treated with activated charcoal, NAC and after only 10 days she was healed and had no organ complications.
Chlorella – This is a green algae that has been shown to cleanse your intestines, bind to mold toxins and heavy metals and eliminate them through the bowels. It also cleanses the liver and the blood. Clean blood assures that metabolic waste will get carried away from your tissues. Chlorella also allows your body to process more oxygen (which lowers cancer risk). Studies conducted in Japan have evidenced that chlorella may also help reduce body fat, and help with weight related diabetes, lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Another 3 year study conducted with 350 people who worked in a metal facility, were given chlorella to remove very toxic heavy metals: Mercury, Antimony, Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic. The results showed those who took chlorella had removed ALL heavy metal completely. –Note: Chlorella contains iron, so it is important for men to have their iron and ferritin levels checked. Women have their periods so it usually is not an issue for them
Cilantro – Cilantro is a green herb that also has a detoxification effect. It works with mold toxins and heavy metals.
As Dr. Mercola states, “You should always start any detox with chlorella gradually, taking just a small amount at first to see how your body tolerates this powerful detoxification tool. Some people also report benefits from beginning a detoxification by first eating small amounts of cilantro for a few days. Cilantro also promotes a detoxification response in your body, but at a less intense level — which may help your body ease into a smoother detoxification response from chlorella.”
Exercise & Drink Water – Toxins normally are sequestered in body fat. One of the best ways to remove stored toxins is to exercise! But also be sure to drink plenty of water. When you lose weight and don’t drink enough water, it will cause your toxins to flood the body because now there is less space for them to be stored, and more toxins all at once. It is VERY important that you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of pure water every day (and especially if you are detoxing).
All supplements and testing mentioned here are available at Dr. Jack’s Wellness Center.
Sources:
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HLA-DRB1#conditions
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26091874
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HLA-DRB1#conditions
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25337799
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12762072
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6202479
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19950279
Pictures Courtesy of:
https://www.xymogen.com/assets/imageDisplay.ashx?productID=129&attachmentTypeID=2&imageID=435
http://www.zokiva.com/products/chlorella-powder
http://everythingessential.com/essential-oils/
www.bulletproofexec.com
