Those that follow my teaching know about my passion for educating my patients and readers why they must avoid all foods in the Nightshade genre because of their known contribution to inflammation. Keep in mind that inflammation is inflammation; in your mouth, joints, ligaments, soft tissue and elsewhere.

Scientists estimate that by 2025, the number of Americans with an inflammatory disorder/disease will reach 50 million. Arthritis, fibromyalgia and joint disease affect 43 million people in the United States, almost 20 percent of the population. This number is expected to surpass 60 million by 2020. Most of these inflammatory disorders can be either eradicated or significantly reduced simply by proper nutrition—understanding that we are what we eat!

Mechanisms Of Inflammation
Inflammation is the body's protective response to injury and/or infection; it is a complex process involving many cell types, as well as different components of blood. The inflammatory process works quickly to destroy and eliminate foreign and damaged cells, and to isolate the infected or injured tissues from the rest of the body. Inflammatory disorders arise when inflammation becomes uncontrolled—causing destruction of healthy tissue. There are dozens of inflammatory disorders. Many occur when the immune system mistakenly triggers inflammation in the absence of infection, such as inflammation of the joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis or inflammation of soft tissues and tendons as in Fibromyalgia. Others result from a response to tissue injury or trauma but affect the entire body.

Inflammation Induced From Nightshades
There are many ways by which normal cells and tissues can be damaged, leading to inflammation. One important way is consuming Nightshade foods because they contain a substance known to accelerate inflammation—Solanaceae or Solanine—alkaloid chemicals that can be highly toxic.

Cholinesterase, an enzyme, originates in the brain and is responsible for flexibility of muscle movement. Solanine/Solanaceae, alkaloid chemicals in nightshades, is a powerful inhibitor of cholinesterase and therefore interferes with muscle movement—leading to stiffness, inflammation, pain and lack of tendon mobility, and pain that can last for weeks after consuming nightshade foods.

Inflammatory Disorders
One important mechanism of inflammation is by assembly of a complex of proteins that forms holes on the surface of a cell, where it causes damage and can potentially kill the cell. This complex is called a Membrane Attack Complex or MAC. The Institute for Wholistic Rejuvenation and its research team is working to understand how MAC contributes to a number of inflammation-associated disorders, including the complications of diabetes, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Understanding how MAC assembles will provide insights into the design of natural substances to prevent inflammatory damage to cells.

Inflammation is also an important secondary component of many diseases. An example of this is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, where inflammation can cause more damage to arteries in a failed attempt to heal the artery wall. There is also an important link between obesity and inflammation, because substances that promote inflammation are released from fat cells, as well as from other cells embedded in fat tissue. The Institute's scientists are leading the way in understanding these new and exciting areas of inflammation research.

.

In this new year I'll provide you with more of my tasty healthy nightshade substitutes, as in this recipe. You don't have to give up taste to eat healthy. Weekly my team and I test recipes to present to you so that you can all achieve, "Health thru Education™".

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed (white sweet potato, parsnip, or orange/purple sweet variety)—none of these contain inflammation-inducing chemicals.
• 2 apples, sliced—my team preferred granny smith
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided—I prefer softened coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
• Pink Himalayan Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, OR chicken breast with skin-on
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3–4 Tbsp. honey
• 2 Tbsp. natural brown sugar, known in South America as Panela
• 1 Tbsp. grainy mustard
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 3 rosemary sprigs, for skillet

• Preheat oven to 425°
• In a medium bowl, add sweet potatoes, apples, chopped rosemary and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive or softened coconut oil and toss until combined—set aside.
• In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining olive/coconut oil. Add chicken and sear, skin side down, until a rich deep golden color, about 3–4 minutes. Remove chicken from heat while you make the glaze—set aside.
• To the same skillet, add apple cider vinegar, honey/panela and grainy mustard. Bring mixture to a rapid simmer and cook until mixture has reduced slightly then whisk in the butter. Taste to reach your desired intensity of sweet/sour and adjust accordingly.
• Return the chicken to the skillet, skin side up, and scatter the sweet potato mixture and rosemary sprigs around the chicken. Turn off the heat and transfer the entire skillet to the oven.
• Bake until sweet potatoes are tender, and the chicken is cooked through, about 20–30 minutes. (If potatoes need longer to cook, transfer chicken to a cutting board to rest and continue cooking until tender). At high altitudes, as in the Andes where our research and test kitchen is located, we need to cook it for about 45–50 minutes—adjust as needed.
• Serve chicken and sweet potatoes with pan drippings—that's the tastiest part.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the January 2018 issue of TotalHealth Magazine Online.

Dallas Clouatre's, PhD, article, "Probiotics For Digestive Health," answers many questions on probiotics, what they are, why we need them and how to select them. Best described by the following quote: {For instance, according to Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at Kings College London and director of the British Gut Microbiome project, a "healthy gut is like a perfect English garden. You've got a diversity of microbes of all types, all living together and feeding off each other's byproducts—nothing is wasted."}

This is part two of a two-part series on Coenzyme Q10 (See part one TotalHealth December 2017 page 10) titled "Coenzyme Q10: The New Era," by Ross Pelton, RPh, CCN and William V. Judy, PhD. "Coenzyme Q10's dual functions (antioxidant & energy production) make it essential for the health of virtually all human tissues and organs. As a fat-soluble antioxidant, it protects proteins (like LDL-cholesterol), enzymes, fats (all cell walls/membranes) and especially DNA from free radical damage. In terms of energy production, areas of the body with high rates of metabolic activity (high energy demands) such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain and immune system are especially sensitive to low levels of CoQ10." Read on for the full update.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, in "Bile: Your New BFF," brings an important and not often discussed system of the workings of the human body. Bile is produced by the liver to the tune of about one quart per day, bile is made from lecithin, cholesterol and bilirubin. The body stores it in the gallbladder, and moves it to the intestines during digestion. After reading about the process you'll understand why Gittleman refers to it as your new best friend forever.

"Optimizing Cognitive Function—Foods And Supplements," Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, describes our brain as our body's motor. Our brain consumes 10 times as much energy for its size as the rest of our body. "So what we feed it determines whether it purrs like a Ferrari, or runs in fits and starts." Teitelbaum includes the top four foods and supplements to feed your brain.

Elson Haas, MD, in this month's article, "A Smart Start To Your New Year The Health Benefits Of Seasonal Detox," emphasizes detox approach to improving your health. Haas has been leading and participating in detox programs during his thirty-one years in medical practice. This Detox program begins in January 2018.

Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, RH(AHG), "Complementary And Alternative Treatments for Seasonal Allergies," describes what many of us experience as a congested, runny, itchy nose together with frequent sneezing and watery eyes that makes you feel miserable. If you are looking for a complementary and alternative treatment approach to allergies look no further. Bruno describes a full menu of supplements available to you.

Gloria Gilbère's, CDP, DAHom, PhD, presents "Apple Cider Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potatoes." Inflammation-free, nightshade free recipes, there are many ways by which normal cells and tissues can be damaged, leading to inflammation. One important way is consuming nightshade foods because they contain a substance known to accelerate inflammation—Solanaceae or Solanine—alkaloid chemicals that can be highly toxic.

Shawn Messonnier, DVM, consults this month on, "Hyperthyroidism in Pets." Reminding us to always consult with our veterinarian before supplementing our pets' diet.

Best in health,

TWIP The Wellness Imperative People

Click here to read the full January issue.

• Probiotics For Digestive Health
  Dallas Clouatre, PhD
• Coenzyme Q10: The New Era
  Ross Pelton, RPh, CCN and William V. Judy, PhD
• Bile: Your New BFF
  Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS
• Optimizing Cognitive Function—Foods And Supplements
  Jacob Teitelbaum MD
• A Smart Start To Your New Year Benefits Of Seasonal Detox
  Elson Haas, MD
• Complementary & Alternative Treatment For Seasonal Allergies
  Gene Bruno, MS, MHS
• Apple Cider Glazed Chicken With Sweet Potatoes
  Gloria Gilbère, CDP, DAHom, PhD
• Hyperthyroidism in Pets
  Shawn Messonnier, DVM

Click here to read the full January issue.