Category Archives: Allergies

Probiotics: Still proven to help children and adults

Probiotics: Still proven to help children and adults

The proven benefits of Probiotics in children and adults is going on the front pages of the authoritative newspaper, the New York Times. The article is reiterating the well-known truism that good intestinal bacteria can help health. It is also a key component for counteracting malnutrition.

When born in the 50’s I was not told about this. I learned about it when I was traveling in my early 20s. Taking even brewer’s yeast tablets helped to prevent and lessen my bouts of diarrhea from travel (low-budget) in Asia. I believe and know that taking this form of probiotic saved my life.

Since then, as a natural medicine practitioner for decades, I have recommended specific strains to patients for particular conditions and for general health improvement. I take them myself and know from personal experience and scientific studies that probiotics give me a way to decrease any need for antibiotics. Purchase of the best strains of probiotics can be done through my online store at http://www.theredwoodclinic.metagenics.com. Feel free to call my office to see which particular strain offered online is more appropriate for your situation. Don’t think that a “cheaper” product is the same as the ones on that website because you always pay for the quality and safety. The potency of a probiotic varies by species, strain, and product.

Read here about what the New York Times is saying about probiotics in regions of poverty and poor nutrition

Probiotics: Still proven to help children and adults

Humans developed from creatures in the ocean. The interactions of various organisms over the past 5 billion years has led to our body. Included in our body are not only cells and organelles but also living species that work in cooperation with us. Most are in the intestinal tract. We need 70-75% minimum of them to be of the good variety to keep the bad, or pathogenic types, in control. This discussion is one I have been having with patients for the last 40 years, and it is good for this topic to come up again in mainstream journalism.

I also recently read that McDonalds is cutting back on human antibiotics used in their chicken farms. This is related to probiotics because whenever you take an antibiotic you MUST follow with probiotics of the right types and strains. Again, you can get the right ones by going online to http://www.theredwoodclinic.metagenics.com.

Breast Cancer Estrogen Mimicers – Causation

Breast Cancer Caused by Estrogen Mimicers

Chemical Triggers Breast Cancer

by guest author, Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S

A new study reveals that chemicals found in cleaning materials, textiles, plastics, paper and some personal-care products can trigger breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Estrogen mimicersAccording to the senior author of the study, William Baldwin, an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso, the chemical called 4-nonylphenol binds to estrogen receptors in breast tissue which increases the risk for breast cancer.

Part of the problem is that the chemical, which mimics estrogen, may last longer in the body than natural estrogen. That is when breast cancer is caused by estrogen mimicers.

Breast Cancer Estrogen Mimicers

How the Study was Conducted

Baldwin and his team compared the effects of giving differing doses of the chemical, 4-nonylphenol and estrogen to mice. When they followed mice genetically engineered to readily develop breast cancer over 32 weeks, many of those given 4-NP developed breast cancer while those given equivalent doses of estrogen did not.

Baldwin and other experts estimate that established risk factors such as aging, early onset of periods, late menopause, delayed childbearing and genetics explain only about 25 percent to 50 percent of breast cancers, and that environmental exposure plays a big role.

We can now test for this environmental toxin through a test called Toxic Element Core from Genova Diagnostics.

The good news is you can modify and reduce this toxic chemical. I recommend consulting us as we are experts in functional medicine. We have the training and knowledge to help one reduce this environmental toxin.

Here’s the bottom line. Many chemicals in the environment are harmful for your body. Many of them look like hormones that perform important jobs in your body, and when they enter the body they go to the place in the body that they can match up to. This matching up is like the effects of a hormone on the organ. However, often that chemical stays matched up longer than the normal hormone might. Thus, there is too much hormone effect caused and thus cell proliferation can occur.

Cancer is cell proliferation that has gone out of control.

If you think that this might be going on for you, this is a great time to call us at 510-849-1176 to investigate further.

This article is compliments of the Functional Medicine University. If you are interested in a course in Functional Medicine, please use the following link to inquire about FMU’s program. I want information about FMUs program.
An additional post in this blog is here.
Dr. Jay also produced a series of videos talking about estrogen metabolism. The first video is here.

5 Color Vegetables or Fruits

5 Color Vegetables or Fruits

Foods and nutrition are great topics for the holiday gatherings.

A recent gathering of HAART employees and directors of the board (Dr. Jay is on the board of directors of HAART) was such an opportunity. Savyon, my eldest daughter, was sitting at a table of younger professional women. Among the topics that came up was different types of diets and eating plans — Paleo, vegan, etc.

One person in the conversation, Savannah, is the newest board member. She mentioned that she was brought up with the simple concept by her mother of eating different color foods at each meal. Do that in a consistent fashion as a child and you will grow up getting at least some basic nutrition.

Others talked about paleo diets related to our “caveman” genetic backgrounds.

Kaiser sends out an email newsletter with the following article today:

Beyond the ‘White Food’ Diet: Seven Tips for Adding Color to Your Child’s Plate

Again, the same advice from a pediatrician.

Why the colors? Well, nature produces different colors to attract different animals. Different colors of veggies and fruits contain different kinds of phytonutrients and different types of antioxidants. And antioxidants are substances we need in our bodies to balance out the oxidation reactions that are, for one thing, the basis for our energy production system. Krebs cycle, citric acid cycle, mitochonria, etc. etc. You know what I’m talking about.

So, while the composition of these colored foods was less well studied 30, 40, 50 years ago, we have a clearer idea of the biochemical reason why eating colored vegetables and fruits may be important.

If you can’t get enough of these servings of food in your diet you can get a rough substitute by taking the right supplements. One I recommend is Phytonutrients by Metagenics. You can order them online here.

GNC to pay $2.25 million over sale of illegal dietary supplements

GNC to pay $2.25 million over sale of illegal dietary supplements

More than 50 years ago I started getting interested in nutrition and GNC (General Nutrition Company/Corporation) was one of the first big stores in the malls in Indianapolis. I browsed the store aisles, studied the bottles, and bought some of the products.

A lot has happened since then. And my maturation regarding what products are reliable and what are not has advanced exponentially. As a clinician, I only want patients (and myself and family) to use products that are safe and effective. Thus, I am selective about what I prescribe and recommend. The manufacturers have to meet strict standards.

The article about GNC just came to my attention. I suggest that you read it because it represents the tip of the iceberg.

When it comes to medications, sometimes a generic will do but other times the original product works better. And there are many deaths per year attributed to taking the wrong medication even when prescribed by your doctor. Mixing the wrong medications is lethal. Mixing the wrong supplements can also have negative consequences.

So, when it comes to natural supplements, you really have to know what you are buying. When I was young there were no personal computers or the internet. You had to read alot to really figure out what might be helpful.

Now, with the internet, everyone thinks that they are an expert. Just because the internet is there doesn’t mean the information is “advice.” There is a lot of hype and false news to convince you to buy.

Not only that, not all supplements are created equal. Not all of the ingredients are good for your body. Toxicants and ineffective doses are rampant.

Quality costs money. Testing costs money. Rejecting ingredients that don’t meet standards costs money. You want to do price comparison shopping to save a little money. But, just because something is cheap doesn’t mean that it is quality, tested, or meeting high standards. More than likely it means the opposite.

Buying your products online from just any online vendor is not really so smart. You can buy cheap gas and it might not kill your car immediately but in the long run it might shorten the life of it. Same thing with your supplements.

Call us to set up an appointment to make sure that what you are putting into your body is good for you. 510-849-1176

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health

Omega-3 fatty acids are just one kind of fat. There are many (thousands, actually) types of fats. There are many ways that fats are analyzed chemically and classified by biochemists and nutritionists.

Research tells us that different fats either help or hurt your health and body functioning.

For example, rancid fats and trans fats are not good for your body.

We all need fats in our diet to live and flourish. Fats are one of the 3 primary food components, with the other two being proteins and carbohydrates. But you already know that.

The last 10 or so years the fish oils (deep sea) has received a resurgence of attention and popularity in the healthy eating literature and movement.   Part of this is based on the antiinflammatory properties some of the fish oil components have.  The cardiovascular risk reducing effects of Omega-3 fatty acids has become well know.  Largely due to the fact that a leading cause of death in the US is heart attacks and strokes.

You might already be taking omega-3 fatty acids as a supplement or eating portions of fish like salmon more frequently based on this information.

NOT ALL OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTS ARE THE SAME.  Not all of them are healthy.  Please watch the video attached to this blog post to learn cutting-edge (and advanced basic) knowledge relevant to optimizing your health.

My purpose is to help as many people as possible to optimize their health so they can fulfill their purposes in life.  We offer this video in that spirit.

Call us at The Redwood Clinic +1-510-849-1176 to order supplements mentioned in the video.

We have numerous other videos at this website and online that complement the content in this video.

Our podcast is also a great way to learn about caring for your health.  www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

 

Functional Medicine: What it is and Why do you want it?

Functional Medicine: What it is and Why do you want it?

Functional Medicine: Just exactly what is it? How is it different from conventional medicine? Why Functional Medicinemight you want to work with a functional medicine practitioner like Jay Sordean? This video explains it in full detail as Dr. Jay narrates and describes some of the distinguishing characteristics of this and how it differs from conventional medicine.

Dr. Jay has been studying and practicing functional medicine for the past 30 years. Learn about this medicine, focused on functional capacity in the body, in ways you may never have thought about it.

Additional resources can be heard at http://www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

Learn about how the functioning of the body degenerates and how that leads to malfunction, disease, and THEN symptoms.

 

 

Water is an important part of your body’s functioning.  What happens to your function when your water is toxic?  Click on this link to learn more: http://www.theredwoodclinic.com/toxins-in-water/

Stress, trauma and toxicity are 3 of the most important causes of degenerating health.  These each lead to decreased vitality and organ function, increasing inflammation and causing the body to have to work harder to repair damaged tissues.  Call the office at 510-849-1176 to find out what we can do to help you regain your health.

 

Natural Solutions with Dr. Jay – New Posts

Natural Solutions with Dr. Jay – New Posts

There are several new posts at our podcasting blog, Natural Solutions with Dr. Jay. Please go there and check them out! www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

A recent post about Active for Alzheimers is both a podcast and video.

Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction

What is so crucial about mitochondrial disease and dysfunction? Well, you may remember that the mitochondria are organelles in your cells. They make the energy packets that store and release electrical power so you can make proteins, hormones, move, talk, breathe, circulate blood, and think. Mitochondria have a counterpart in the plant world. The chloroplast. The organelle in plant cells that take carbon dioxide and water, capture energy from the sun, and pack that energy in sugar molecules. Those sugar molecules are one of the three types of food that the mitochondria then burn to create heat and energy packets.

Of course, this reminds us of how important the plant world is for our survival. The picture below by Cody Serfass shchloroplast and mitochondriaows this interrelationship beautifully.

 

posted Dec 22, 2014, 8:30 AM by Cody Serfass

But, as much as we need the mitochondria to work right, it can either start to not work right or be so damaged as to not work at all. It is kind of like an internal combustion engine. There has to be fuel, the burning of the fuel has to be controlled, and the energy has to be converted into a useful form. So, just like taking your car to the mechanic to figure out why the horsepower dropped, you need an expert on mitochondrial function to figure out what might be going on if you are starting to lack power. Call The Redwood Clinic for help with this.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction Diagnosis

3-10-08-uae-fog-medium-2Definitive diagnosis of mitochondrial disease and dysfunction requires a knowledge of many steps in the process. Figuring out where in the process things aren’t working may require doing organic chemical analysis.  It tells us if the steps in the process of energy production are happening as they are supposed to. Sort of like seeing if the engine is burning cleanly or producing extra pollution.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Aging

Aging is related to inflammation. Inflammation damages tissues, nerves, blood sugar balance, brain tissues, and other tissues and organs. Inflammation can damage mitochondria and degeneration of mitochondria effects all parts of the body.

The prolongation of mitochondrial health seems also associated with life span. Why is that? Caloric reduction is a major factor related to longevity. When you reduce calories and fast on occassion, your damaged mitochondria will be broken down so only healthy ones remain behind. Having only well functioning mitochondria is like having a race event with only the best running cars working. The broken down cars then don’t create wrecks and roadblocks on the race course.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Your Heart

The failing heart is a muscle running out of fuel, and the fuel of the heart comes from mitochondrial activity. Without adequate intake of nutrients you will have mitochondrial deterioration, according the Bruce Ames. With the high prevalence of death from heart attacks in this country it is wise to have your mitochondria checked at The Redwood Clinic to see if they might be a source of potential early mortality.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Bipolar Depression

Build up of acids from the energy cycle, when it is not working right, leads to higher acidity, and that is related to bipolar depression.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Obesity

Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine

Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine

African Americans may have an especially susceptible mitochondria that have less ability to produce heat and thus have higher levels of diabetes and prostate cancer.

Also having too much “white fat” (devoid of mitochondria) puts you more at risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease than having enough brown fat which contains lots of mitochondria that can convert the fat into energy.

Mitochondrial Disease, Dysfunction, and what to do about it

In addition to getting your mitochondrial function checked out, there are many things you can do to help support your mitochondria. Periodic exposure to cold helps your metabolism and the functioning of your energy production system — the mitochondria. While it is not for me, you could really shock your system (and stimulate your mitochondria) by joining a “polar bear club.” Taking a cold shower in the morning can also help.

Exercise helps optimize thyroid function, and thyroid hormones enhance metabolism and speed mitochondrial activity to create more energy and resultant heat.

Mitochondrial Disease and Atrazine

Atrazine is a widely used weed killer predominantly for corn. Atrazine is a mitochondrial damager — avoiding foods with atrazine is a great idea. That may mean that you have to avoid packaged manufactured “foodstuffs” if made from non-organic corn. Other studies show that Atrazine use tends to correlate with the incidence of obesity.  And again, most manufactured foods are made with some kind of corn.

Herbicides work on chloroplasts and chloroplasts are like mitochondria.  When you poison the mitochondria you can’t burn fat anymore.  And fats, carbohydrates and proteins are what we burn for fuel.

Chronic use of alcohol can damage mitochondrial DNA through oxidative stress.  Then if the liver isn’t working, you can’t clear toxins and then you age quickly.

Certain combination and single drugs can damage your mitochondria. Go to www.mitoaction.org to see which drugs are not good for your mitochondria. Drugs that damage your mitochondria include statins, antibiotics, and beta-blockers. The bacteriocidal antibiotics, quinolones, aminoglycosieds and beta lactams, are the most damaging to mitochondria. Certain things might help to support your body when taking those drugs, such as the right probiotics and NAC. Also, if possible, use the bacteriostatic antibiotics versus the bacteriocidal antibiotics.

Methyl mercury has a damaging effects on mitochondria in the brain especially. An underlying mitochondrial disorder may be a reason why vaccine-induced autism is real, as mentioned in US Federal Court.

A damage to your body due to your doctors prescriptions is called inatrogenica imperfecta by Dr. LePine. Medicine-induced disease due to bad drug combinations is quite prevalent.

Panic attacks can come from a high pH in the brain. Eg. you panic when your CO2 level increases from, for example, holding your breath a long time underwater. Due to pH drop. (Meaning that you are becoming more acidic — remember the pH scale is small numbers acid, 8 is neutral, and larger numbers are basic). Aerobic exercise may help you deal with it build up of lactic acid which is the product of the energy production without oxygen.

Mitochondrial Disease and Charles Darwin

Darwin’s illness throughout life may have been due to mitochondrial problem and a mitochondrial DNA -related problem.

In this case, arginine and citrulline may have positive benefits.

Mitochondrial Disease and Autism

Autism or other types of delayed developmental conditions may be helped by understanding the mitochondrial gene sequence as well.

Understaning the need to get oxygen into the brain and then into the mitochondria is discussed in Dr. Jay’s bestselling book, Super Brain: Maximize Your Brain Health for a Better Life. Order online at this link.

Medical research increasingly recognizes mitochondrial dysfunction as a major factor in the pathology of numerous human diseases, including diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and ischemia reperfusion injury. So consider getting you “powerhouse” checked out at The Redwood Clinic before you “check out” for good. 510-849-1176

 

Hypnotherapy and Health

Hypnotherapy and Health

 

What do you think of when you hear the word “hypnotherapy?”  Excitement? Enthusiasm? Relaxation? Concern?  Well, some people areHypnotherapy and Health afraid that hypnotherapy or guided imagery will make you lose control.  That you will be under the influence of someone or something else.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  We have heard that there are a few individuals in religious circles who warn that is it somehow “evil” —  well there is absolutely no basis for labeling it in that way.  Read further to see why.

 

Granted, extreme applications (of understanding how the mind can work) are used to manipulate others by cults and in harsh interrogation methods by the CIA, FBI, police, Mossad, M-1, KGB, and elsewhere.  But that is a vastly different situation.  For health improvement and stress reduction, hypnotherapy and guided imagery are extremely benevolent and non-directive.  It is a matter merely of offering suggestions — giving your higher powers an opportunity to choose another way that can be helpful.

 

Hypnotherapy and Positive Reinforcement

 

This aspect of healing and health maintenance can be a very positive addition to your “medicine cabinet.”  In fact, ALL TOP OLYMPIC ATHLETES and successful CEOs routinely use this for peak performance.  Essentially it is positive self-talk.  And can you deny that you speak to yourself, inside your head, many times a day?  It is a normal aspect of your brain function, and making sure that the words are supportive and positive is key. (Of course, if there are many voices in your head telling you to murder and kill, that could be a sign of serious mental illness.  This is NOT what we are talking about here.)

 

Patients’ Experience of Hypnotherapy at The Redwood Clinic

 

Are we just talking theory here?  Is there any proof of this?  Well, at The Redwood Clinic we have been using this in conjunction with acupuncture and other approaches for the past 25 years or more.  This is because it is safe, quick, and effective.  Our patients, by in large, love it and look forward to it at their visits.  Of course, some people don’t choose to do it and that is fine too.  But of those who do utilize this adjunctive tool, 100% are excited about it and find that it is really a positive influence in their health.

 

Hypnotheray and Kaiser Health Care

 

Kaiser Foundation Health Care is a conservative organization.  They require some solid evidence before they will pay for or use some method.  Well, they encourage the use of hypnotherapy and guided imagery, as do Harvard, Stanford, the Mayo Clinic, and almost all of the major medical schools and centers in the U.S.  Why? Because it is safe and effective.

 

What does Kaiser specifically say about it?   “Your mind and body are connected. Guided imagery programs engage your mind, body, and spirit to help you:

  • reduce stress
  • focus on healthy changes
  • promote healing”

 

Kaiser has a specific place that  “produces our gentle, but powerful, guided imagery programs. Kaiser Permanente doesn’t provide transcripts for these programs because the reading voice — its softness and pace — is key to their success.”  That organization is called Healthy Journeys.

 

Areas that Kaiser Promotes Hypnotherapy

 

What hypnotherapy/guided imagery audios do they provide direct access to all Kaiser members?

 

  1. Related to “Health Conditions and concerns”: allergies, coping with cancer, cancer chemotherapy, cancer radiation therapy, fibromyalgia and fatigue, headaches, healthy heart, immune system health, menopause, pain, pregnancy and childbirth, and surgery.
  2. Related to “Emotional Wellness:” anger and forgiveness, grief, panic attacks and anxiety, self-confidence, and stress.
  3. Related to “Living Healthily:” relaxation and wellness, sleep, stop smoking, and weight loss.

 

Kaiser has been providing these self-access resources since at least 2012.  At The Redwood Clinic we have been using these since at least 1990.  Always on the cutting edge of what we can do to help you wholistically.

 

We will also have some podcasts on this subject on our podcast channel: http://www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

Microbiome Microbiota Probiotics Brain Health: What is the Connection?

Microbiome Microbiota Probiotics Brain Health

This topic – microbiome microbiota probiotics brain health – is the biggest rave right now in the medical field. But is it a new topic or just another “Johnny come lately” by conventional medicine to something natural medicine has been addressing for centuries? The latter is the case. This is important to know, but not new news. Science has just come up with more details and deeper explanations. Not a bad thing, but in my mind not a great sign that medicine is making great advances. These things were ignored and covered up because they did not fit the pharmaceutical model of treatment. Those of us with many decades of natural medicine experience have been fighting an uphill battle with the vast majority of MDs – they have berated us to our patients when we prescribed these effective approaches.
At any rate, what is the big commotion?

Microbiome Microbiota Probiotics Brain Health

Microbiome protects the Blood-Gut Barrier

Did you know that there are bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, molds and other critters besides animals that influence your health? Of course you do. I first heard about the use of “good bacteria” over 50 years ago. I watched my father break up a pack of brewer’s yeast and flush it down our toilets at home. He explained that the bacteria help to break down our “poop” faster in the septic tank.
For those of you who don’t know, a septic tank is a buried tank to convert sewage into harmless water. People in the city don’t have their own septic tanks – the city sewage treatment system does that for you. In the country, though, a septic tank is the advanced way to safely manage human waste. It is a big step up from the pit at the bottom of an “outhouse.”

Microbiome Microbiota Brain Health

Septic Tank diagram from wikipedia

So, flushing brewer’s yeast into the septic tank allowed the yeast to break down the sewage so the septic tank would not back up. The third stage of the septic tank then released the final water into a “finger system” of pipes, buried underground, that led out to the yard to help water it.
Next, I learned about the healing power of good bacteria (also called flora) when travelling at age 25 in India and other parts of Asia. I started taking brewer’s yeast tablets I purchased in a “tin” in an apothecary in Columbo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The “digestive urgency” (also know as diarrhea) that was common for other travelers and myself was largely and beautifully controlled by taking 6-10 tablets per day. While others were having problems, my poops were relatively formed and healthy. Once again, good bacteria having a positive influence on the digestion of human waste output.

But how do we get from septic tanks to gastrointestinal health to brain health?

The role of gastrointestinal health in brain health is not new.
Studies dating back to the turn of the 20th century explored this connection. Ultimately, poor explanation, a concept of panacea, charlatanism, and a greater interest in cognitive theories ended the interest in the subject in 1920s-1930s. However, with better investigative techniques and new approaches, the connection was re-explored at the turn of the 21st century with astounding results. Alterations to the microbiome are now known to create physiologic adaptations responsible for changes in mood, behavior and neural plasticity. In this webinar you will learn about those physiological responses, what causes them, and how to fix it.

We start out life, after birth, with not a lot of this “flora” in our guts. By age one we have a similar mix as adults. That is over 1,800 genera of critters, 40,000 species (genus species, like “homo sapiens” humans), and 100,000,000,000,000 (one hundred trillion) single critter in all in our intestines. It weighs anywhere from 1 – 2 kg.

dna strandEach of these critters has DNA, genetic material like we do in each of our cells. Combining all of the critters together, they have 100 times the genes found in the human genome. Thus, all this genetic material can have a positive or negative impact on your genetic material. It is all a matter of having the right balance of flora.

Each person has her own “fingerprint” of flora that is unique to her. No one has the same mix. But there are general rules of thumb that we functional medicine doctors use in our treatments.

That is one of the specialty trainings we have to help you stay healthy. Not all probiotics are the same. Some are good for you as an individual. Others are a waste of money because they don’t even get to where they are supposed to go. Your stomach acid or bile kills them before they get to where they are supposed to go. And that is the job of your stomach acid and bile. But we use specific strains that we know will help you get the balance your intestine and brain needs.  One excellent probiotic for general use is Ultra-Flora and you can get it through our portal at http://www.TheRedwoodClinic.Metagenics.com  Call our office to get special code for ordering with free shipping. 510-849-1176

Stress Responses are Blunted by Good Bacteria

You have to have good bacteria in your gut for your stress response to not go crazy.

Imbalanced bacteria can cause liver pathology which can lead to negative brain responses.

476px-Chimp_Brain_in_a_jarImbalanced bacteria can lead to “leaky brain syndrome,” a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and then changes in neurotransmitters. These include dopamine, serotonin, and others that effect mood and memory.

Imbalanced bacteria can also lead to autoimmune reactions.

What can cause imbalanced bacteria? Stress, environmental factors, and dietary factors. Gluten, dairy, food allergens, and others are the dietary factors. Medications can be part of the environmental factors.