Welcome! This blog contains research & information on lifestyle, nutrition and health for those with MS, as well as continuing information on the understanding of the endothelium and heart-brain connection. This blog is informative only--all medical decisions should be discussed with your own physicians.

The posts are searchable---simply type in your topic of interest in the search box at the top left.

Almost all of MS research is initiated and funded by pharmaceutical companies. This maintains the EAE mouse model and the auto-immune paradigm of MS, and continues the 20 billion dollar a year MS treatment industry. But as we learn more about slowed blood flow, gray matter atrophy, and environmental links to MS progression and disability--all things the current drugs do not address--we're discovering more about how to help those with MS.

To learn how this journey began, read my first post from August, 2009. Be well! Joan

Friday, October 9, 2015

Endo-the-what???

I know.  Reading medical words causes the brain to shut down.  I completely get it.
I've watched, as Jeff's eyes roll into the back of his head as I start discussing some new paper.  He just doesn't like medicalese in the same way I do.  And he teases me all the time.  While taking a bite of salad,
"So, is this good for my phytonutrient endothelial lifestyle?"
Or on a walk with the dog,
"Am I irridicating my endothelial dysfunction yet??"
Yeah, he's a really funny guy.  Thirty one years of his teasing me, since we got married in college.  The laughs just don't stop in our home.  Which is a good thing, since laughter is part of the endothelial health program!  :)

I know that I have become the broken record.  The pain in the neck naggy Mom who is always checking to see if you have a sweater, or brushed your teeth.

But I really can't stop harping.  Because your endothelium is so important.
Please, just hear me out.
Let me explain.

The lining of all 60,000 miles of vessels in your body---this includes arteries, veins and lymph vessels---is lined with your body's biggest organ (yeah, not that one, Jeff...)
It even serves as your blood brain barrier, to protect your brain from plasmic particles--like iron and coagulation proteins, or viruses, or bacteria--which are severely damaging to your brain tissue.

Your miraculous endothelium.  Say it with me,  en-do-the-li-um!!!  All of the tiny endothelial cells fit together to form a special lining, guiding the blood and lymph flowing inside your vessels.

Picture the waterproof lining roofers put on your roof before they add roof tiles. You've got your plywood layer down first, and you need to protect it (that's your body tissues).  So, the roofers put down a waterproof membrane (your endothelium.)  On top of that go the shingles (that's the vessel)  Once the rains come (bodily fluids), the health of your home DEPENDS on the waterproof lining doing it's job and channeling water into your gutters.  Even though the roof and plywood seem much stronger, they need that membrane.  If the waterproofing membrane has holes, or is in bad condition, you're going to have a problem.

Same thing with your endothelial layer.  If you've got a problem, it's called endothelial dysfunction.  And this problem is found in multiple sclerosis, heart disease, dementia and Alzheimer's, and a whole host of other diseases which are linked to heart and brain health.  Leaky and faulty endothelial layers allow plasmic particles into your brain and cause inflammation.  Faulty endothelial cells don't allow blood and lymph to flow smoothly and create slowed cerebral blood flow, or "hypo perfusion."


The good and bad news is that there are a lot of environmental factors that affect your endothelium.  That means there are things you can do, or not do, to help it.

When I started blabbering on about endothelial health to Jeff and all who would listen-- back in 2008---there wasn't as much research published on the link of endothelial health to MS.  But there sure is a lot more now.  link

I sent my program to Dr. John Cooke at Stanford, and he thought it made sense.
Here it is.  Please check it out.  It works.  Honest!!
http://ccsvi.org/index.php/helping-myself/endothelial-health

Don't let medical words keep you from the truth of the research.
There are things you can do, starting TODAY, to improve this lining.  To feel better, to decrease MS symptoms, to decrease MS progression, to increase health and vitality.

Endothelial cells are very forgiving.  They can heal and repair.
And that's why I'm going to keep harping and nagging and take the teasing (you hear me, Jeff??!!)

Learn about your endothelium.

Because you matter!
xo,
Joan





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