In recent years the term 'inflammation' has become a real hot button topic in the health space, but the reality is this process alone is not always bad. Inflammation within our body is a natural response by our immune system when faced with a foreign invader or when an injury occurs to signal our immune cells to spring into action. The problem is when this acute inflammation does not subside gradually as anticipated, becomes prolonged, and starts to damage healthy cells. In auto-immune diseases such as RA, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, and ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, this prolonged level of inflammation is caused by genetic deviants that cause the body's immune system to attack its own cells, causing chronic low grade inflammation. Auto-immune diseases impact 3-5% of the worldwide population with the most significant increase in disease within the westernized societies. More women in the US will be diagnosed with an autoimmune condition in the next year than with breast cancer and cardiovascular disease combined. Why might we care so much about this rise in the diagnosis of autoimmune conditions? Simply put, we may have more input as to the management of symptoms and disease progression outside of traditional pharmaceuticals than once thought through our diet. Nutrition and immunity are closely related as much of the immune system is located within the GI tract given the need to manage the large antigenic load introduced with food at each meal. As parts of the world where countries have become more industrialized, there’s been a great deal of change in economics, environmental factors, and most pertinent for our discussion-the way people eat. Dietary habits defined by the consumption of foods high in saturated fats, simple sugars, salt and more processed "fast foods" have been termed the "Western Diet" It has been demonstrated a typical WD negatively impacts intestinal permeability resulting in the passage of toxins, food antigens and bacteria through the gut which may carry immunogenic antigens. The impaired intestinal barrier functions can then lead to activation of an autoimmune response thus increasing overall inflammation. It is important to note that this inflammatory process can hinder absorption of micro and macro nutrients which may predispose individuals for developing AD such as RA and MS as they may be linked to Vitamin D deficiency. In contrast to the Western Diet, the Mediterranean Diet is characterized by the frequent consumption of olive oil, whole grains , seasonally-available fruits and vegetables, a moderate amount of fish, dairy products and meat all accompanied by water and wine in moderate amounts. The anti-inflammatory effects of the MD have been demonstrated time and again and can impact the disease course for those managing chronic auto-immune conditions. Although research is limited, the MD may also assist in lowering inflammatory markers (CRP) in individuals suffering from RA. Not only were inflammatory markers found to decrease while adhering to the MD, but patients also reported less joint pain, stiffness and improved quality of life scores in a randomized crossover control trial published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2020. The high fiber component of the MD decreases intestinal permeability and thus improves the tight junctions in the gut, additionally improving the diversity of bacteria in the gut leading to other beneficial metabolites that further strengthen the intestinal barrier. The high level of polyphenols in high quality extra virgin olive oil, like Wildbranch, provide antioxidant properties that additionally contribute to decreased endothelial inflammation as well as the production of proinflammatory cytokines that trigger inflammatory cascades.
Suffice to say that with anyone managing an autoimmune condition there are a multitude of potential benefits from using an anti-inflammatory diet as a complementary intervention to manage/reduce symptoms.