With immunologist Dr. Aristo Vojdani, PhD, I co-authored a study that found statistically significant associations between multiple sclerosis and spinach tomatoes, soy, and corn. We studied these food proteins because they share a similar protein with an autoimmune target site of nerve tissue called aquaporin.
For a copy of this published research study linking the association with spinach, tomato, and corn with neurological autoimmunity please visit here.
These foods are a concern for many patients who have neurological autoimmunity and already follow a diet free of gluten and dairy, foods that research has shown also can trigger neurological autoimmunity.
Usually when people go gluten- and dairy-free, they use a corn as a grain substitute and soy as dairy substitute. This recent research found these proteins may be problematic due to their immunological reactivity. As we continue to study autoimmunity, we find an increasing number of food immune reactions beyond gluten and dairy.
In the future, we will be able to identify food proteins that show protein sequences similar to specific autoimmune target sites in the body. This will allow people to tailor a diet to their autoimmune reactions.
would these be all forms of soy, including soy lecithin?
would these include all forms of soy, including soy lecithin?
Monica; Yes, it would be best to include all forms of soy.
Spinach? I understand the inflammatory properties of tomatoes, but spinach?
Jackie; If you’d like to see more information on the research, go here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529886/.
Can any of these plants in themselves be healthy but if they are grown with chemicals and sprayed with chemicals that is what makes them harmful to some of us?
These plants are not reactive for everyone; but if you have reactivity, it’s to the proteins in the plants. I’d assume that any added chemicals are a risk for everyone.
What is it about spinach that causes the issue? What about other greens like kale?
Hello Doreen;
While what Alice says below is true, the research referenced in this article has to do with an entirely different topic called cross-reactivity.
Basically, cross-reactivity is when a substance (such as gluten or spinach) shares similar proteins with cells in the body that are already under attack from autoimmunity. Each molecule is comprised of a chain of proteins. It becomes a case of mistaken identity. In cross-reactivity, some portion of this chain is identical to an element the body is already reacting to. For example, gluten and thyroid are known to cross-react – a common problem for those with Hashimoto’s hypothyroid autoimmunity, and the reason those with Hashi’s avoid gluten.
In this research it was found that spinach and some other foods are cross-reactive with aquaporin, an autoimmune target site of nerve tissue involved in multiple sclerosis. This means that if you have MS autoimmunity and consume spinach, the body can get confused and think the spinach is more aquaporin, which can lead to an increased attack on the body’s aquaporin – causing further destruction.
As far as I know, kale is not on that list. The research is not entirely released yet, so we’ll have more news when it is. Dr. Kharrazian and Dr. Vojdani are not allowed to release the entire set of data until the paper is published.
Spinach is very high in oxalates which are very damaging to anyone with a leaky gut problem AND in the long run, are probably damaging to anyone. High oxalate foods leave deposits throughout the body organs, veins and so on. There is a very informative Yahoo group on helping people go on Low Oxalate Diet (LOD).
I find this interesting. I don’t have MS but I have non-diabetic autoimmune polyglandular endocrine problems and I have noticed a consistent worsening of my symptoms and lab values when I try to eat healthy by increasing the amount of leafy vegetables (particularly spinach) and tree nuts in my diet. I cook the vegetables well so I know goitergens aren’t the problem, and I’ve always wondered if it was an autoimmune antibody reaction to the vegetables and tree nuts because after all, most allergies are to plants, but I could never find any research on the topic until now, and people just look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them their “healthy” diet makes me sick. Spinach, tree nuts, iodized salt, and high cocoa content chocolate I seem to have problems with. Soy I have a problem with for the mere fact that it inhibits the absorption of the synthroid, and I’m technically allergic to corn says an allergist my mom dragged me to as a kid, but I it doesn’t seem to disturb my endocrine system. It just makes me want to vomit if I eat it it undercooked or if I eat too much popcorn.
Pizza toast, on the other hand, I can eat regularly and enjoy stable endocrine values the entire time.
Anyway I’m glad someone is finally looking into these things. I’m tired of getting hassled by people with food ideologies who try to tell me my endocrine system crashing when I eat their diet is my body’s way of detoxing.
J;
Thanks for sharing your story. Good to know you’ve been trusting your body all along. So many of us have to fight that same recognition/respect battle over various health issues. Times are changing, aren’t they?
Good luck and best to you.