WHY EAT A LOW-PROTEIN DIET FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS?
ABSTRACT
Autoimmune disease is a body’s natural defense system which mistakenly attacks the body’s normal cells. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoid arthritis and many more autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune disorders, a low protein diet is advised as according to autoimmune diet protocols diet reduces inflammation, pain and many symptoms. A low-protein diet is a diet which decreases the intake of animal protein and is used as a therapy for inherited metabolic disorders which reduces the risk of bone breakage and calcium homeostasis. A low-protein diet extends longevity and offers protection against chronic disease. It constitutes 4-8% of daily calories. Proteins are vital to health, and ayurveda plays an essential role in Ahara (diet) and Anna (food) to be in a good state of life, health and wellness. In this article, we will discuss important points about low protein diet benefits in autoimmune disease in detail further in this article.
INTRODUCTION
Autoimmune Disease is a condition which attacks their own body’s immune system—the immune system which guards the body against various bacteria and viruses. As the immune system tells the difference between their own cells and foreign cells. But in autoimmune diseases, they mistakenly attack the various parts of our body such as joints and skin. A Western diet is a high risk of developing an autoimmune disease such as eating high fat, high sugar and processed food, dairy products which further cause infections and inflammation, which damages the barrier of the gut and increases the intestinal permeability which is known as leaky gut which gets trigger and gets the development of various autoimmune diseases. Nutrient-dense food is eliminated to heal gut inflammation. Cav1 regulates the B cells which further trigger the immune response and when Cav1 is absent it reduces the activation signal and weakens the immune response and further triggers the autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune disease affects each and every part of the body and is more than 80 types which include multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, Type 1 diabetes and Chronic Inflammatory Disorder who suffer from these often have a loss of function, disability and impaired quality of life.
WHY EAT A LOW-PROTEIN DIET?
- It is said that one of the main factors of autoimmune disorders is the elimination of animal protein and dairy products.
- 80% of animal protein consumption arrests most of the autoimmune disorders and the diet must be according to the Prakriti of the patient.
- According to ayurveda nutrition is the foundation of health and if the body begins to attack it will be a causal factor.
- If we take a low-protein diet, Arthritis is another disease which is due to low protein intake and many chronic illnesses are due to a high intake of animal protein. So one must have a low protein diet which totally eliminates the animal’s products.
- As is well said by Albert Einstein Nothing will benefit human health or increase the chances of life on earth as we reevaluate a vegetarian diet.
- There is a strong cultural resistance between animal food to disease. Eskimos traditionally live on a purely meat-based diet and they have the highest rate of osteoporosis. A high-protein diet is the main cause of osteoporosis. So animal protein and dairy products should be totally eradicated from the diet. The one with lower fat is having higher energy with sufficient protein.
- So the main cause of low bone density or calcium leaving bone is excess protein intake as animal products remove far more calcium from the bones than they add.
- The most important factor is to begin the low protein plant-based diet.
- Osteoporosis is the leading cause of death in women.
- There is a protein myth that we are poisoned by the overconsumption of animal protein and dairy products which is the contributing factor to ill health.
- And it is seen that asparagus has much more protein than beef as asparagus has 32% calories in protein and beef has 32%, so which is lower in fat has sufficient protein.
- There is much misinformation that when women enter menopause they are advised to take more calcium intake and this is the onset of osteoporosis and increase in bone density so the most important factor is to begin the low protein plant-based diet.
AYURVEDIC ASPECT
(Ancient Reference – Charark Samhita Chikitsa Sthana 15/44)
In ayurveda eating a low-protein diet constitutes good health and meat is a quick way to build tissues but is of inferior quality as it causes problematic causes which produce Ama (endotoxins) in the body. In ayurveda, the strength of agni is the most critical factor which determines overall health. Ayurveda considers animal tissues problematic as it produces Ama (endotoxins) which take 48-72 hours to pass through the digestive system before elimination.
“Ama” means unripe, uncooked food in the form of unmetabolized waste which can not be utilized by the body. It is the product of indigestion which causes many systemic diseases. When the vitiated doshas come in contact with ama they cause saama doshas, saama dhatus, saama malas.
Ama is a sticky material which causes blockages in the cells and tissues and clogs which further causes depletion of nutrients which inhibits cellular communication which further weakens the immune response and leads to severe autoimmune disorders and cancer.
CONCEPT OF AGNI AND AMA
The essence of digested food is the fuel for the body. Rasagni (fire located in rasa dhatu) which forms the rasa dhatu. Jatharagni, Panchbhut Agni and Dhatvagni are the main three agni which are present inside the body. Jatharagni is the main digestive fire which controls the digestive process within the body. When there is hypo functioning of agni there is hampering digestion, which forms ama (endotoxins). According to ayurveda, there are 13 types of Agni. The food material is first digested and absorbed by jatharagni in amashaya and grahani then it is further transported for bhutagni paka and then nutrition is processed. But when agnivyapara took the shape of mandagni the result was an unripe, undigested formation known as Ama.
SYMPTOMS OF AMA
- Obstruction in channels
- Loss of strength
- Heaviness
- Laziness
- Indigestion
- Sticky stools
- Itching at the anal area
- Lack of energy and low self-esteem.
PATHOLOGICAL EVENTS WITH AMA
- Blocks the minute channels which affect the circulatory process.
- Ama aggravates tridoshas
- Disturbs the nutritional supply
- Diminishes potency of dhatus
- Vitiate agni and causes uneasiness
- Gas, bad smell and loss of appetite
THE MAHA GUNA THEORY IN NUTRITION
In ayurveda, there are three Maha Guna (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas). According to ayurveda, each food has three gunas dominating which in turn affect the mental state and psychology. This is the reason why ayurveda is not fond of meat as it has tamas gunas.
The qualities of Maha Gunas are
- Sattva- Harmony, clarity and intelligence.
- Rajas- Action, movement, anger and violence.
- Tamas- inertia, dullness, lack of intelligence.
CONCLUSION
Autoimmune disease is a body’s natural defence system which mistakenly attacks the body’s normal cells. A low-protein diet extends longevity and offers protection against chronic disease. A Western diet is a high risk of developing an autoimmune disease such as eating high fat, high sugar and processed food, dairy products which further cause infections and inflammation, which damages the barrier of the gut and increases the intestinal permeability which is known as leaky gut which gets trigger and gets the development of various autoimmune diseases. In ayurveda, the strength of agni is the most critical factor which determines overall health. Ayurveda considers animal tissues problematic as it produces Ama (endotoxins) which take 48-72 hours to pass through the digestive system before elimination.
So it is clear that the fewer animal products you consume the better your long-term health will be. “It is never too late”. A low protein diet can improve bone density and heart condition even if it is started late in life.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment.
