Joyce, I completely agree with you. If our lifestyle/diet is pleasing to us and we feel good about it, that is what counts and that alone could be the defining factor. We have very different diets but it sounds as though we are on the same wavelength. Take care.
Jim, amazing! I have to take a deep breathe to say "what? Wow.". Keep on the good job. For me, I will lightly add sea salt. I will feel better if I avoid meat, maybe just a little sometimes. Try to eat gluten free, low carbs, organic food. Beans and lots of mix vege ginger juice are my choices. No coffee, no alcohol etc. . Relax and try to reduce stress. One thing I agree with you is that I will treat Vitiligo as an indicator for my health. If it naturally heals, which means the choice you make can't go wrong. Good luck!
Joyce, I'm very glad to hear you're feeling better. It is always amazing to think we let our brains get in the way of our own natural instincts and desires. Don't know about you, but a bacon cheeseburger and a milkshake hits the spot better than some of the things I'm "supposed" to be eating. I too was on a low salt diet from the age of 13 to the age of 40. I enjoy the Himalayan, Celtic, and Redmond sea salt. I buy 50lb bags of Redmond sea(about $11 a sack) salt from the animal feed store and slightly grind it up in a coffee grinder. Going from virtually no salt to literally pounds of salt, has resulted in absolutely no change in sodium/chloride on blood tests last year. The numbers were exactly the same as 6 years ago when avoiding salt. I also enjoy up to two pots of coffee per day. My doctor looks at me like I'm from Mars when I tell him what I've been doing, but the data speaks for itself. My reasoning could be out of whack, but I believe the minerals in the salt help to break down the fats in the liver and result in sort of a time release glucose. It doesn't really matter why though, the result is what counts!
Jim, it is very interesting to hear about your recovery story. I am glad for you! I just read an article which talks about salt see this http://www.watercure2.org/vitiligo.htm
Salt seems play an important role in our life, also lately I am taking an advice: every morning when I wake up, first thing is to drink 5 cups of light salt water quickly to clean the guts, while drinking, slightly shake the legs(I often forget this part). Then I walk outside around 9:00am for exercise, I will wait until 10:30am or later for my vege ginger juice. I almost skip my breakfast but eat more healthy food during 12 to 7, Lately I feel much better. I was educated salt was a bad thing when I was very young. I always tried to avoid salt as much as I could, also tried to avoid saturated fat before. But lately I am taking more salt than before. Naturally heal is the best way.
Flavio, the information you're relaying is an indication of the complexity. My dietary focus, over the past 3 years, has been massive quantities of salt, a diet(almost exclusively at times) of saturated animal fat. Increasing to a two pack-a-day cigarette smoking habit along with a little red wine every evening. I have not drank a drop of plain water in 3 years. I hesitate to mention these things because I certainly don't want to come across as recommending them to anyone. There's too much information indicating the things I've done to be very harmful. However, these very dramatic changes have resulted in an elimination of daily medications(one of which I took for 20 years) and an astounding benefit in my own health aside from the vitiligo. At this time, I can only attribute the benefits I've had to a full satisfaction of my diet. For 10 years, I drank copious amounts of water, never ending salads, and quit smoking. During this time, I gain 50lbs of weight, developed hypothyroidism and vitiligo. After flipping everything, these ailments have subsided and very old ailments have completely disappeared. The results have created more questions for me than answers???
Yes. genetic predisposition is the main cause. There is nothing we can do about it (by now).
Non Segmental Vitiligo (your case) is caused by physical trauma (major cause) and oxidative stress (minor one). Those explain 99%. There might be some other accessory reasons that explain the remainder 1%.
Physical trauma (65%)=friction, scratch, injury, sun burn, itch, etc.
Oxidative stress (34%)=lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, ROS, mitochondrial mutation, etc.
Others (1%).
Oxidative stress can also be caused by candida, parasites, h-pylory, food allergy, toxic chemical compounds and pollutants in your body, hydrogenated fats, all kinds of pollution , including air, water, and food, oils that have been heated to very high temperatures, cigarette smoke, directly inhaled or secondhand, dehydration, too much sugar, too much animal protein in your diet, geophysical stress like living near power lines or waste dumps, viral infections, preservatives in your food, drugs (over the counter and prescription), artificial food colorings and flavorings, plastics and phthalates, chemical cleaning supplies, chlorinated water that you drink, shower in or swim in, alcohol, pesticides in your food, radiation exposure, psychological and emotional stress, endurance exercise and * incredibly physical traumas * (muscle damaging anaerobic training, trauma or injury to muscle, bone and skin).
Both physical trauma and oxidative stress confuse the vitiligo suferers' melanocytes, so that they produce MIA (melanoma inhibitor activity) wrongly. This MIA protein production detaches melanocytes that exfoliate in the epidermis silently, causing white patches.
This MIA was not supposed to be generated. That's the "predisposition". Some reseachers are working on a cream to inhibit MIA. MIA is generated wrongly by melanocytes. In normal conditions, MIA should be generated only to detach melanomas (not good melanocytes).
Flavio, It is interesting you mention exercise. Other than normal daily activities, I haven't exercised routinely since I was a young man. When I began to make dietary changes(late 2011), I went out of my way and consciously decreased exercise. This past March, I did begin to exercise again but mostly anaerobic. The exercise did seem to slow down the regression of Vitiligo. However, any response is generally very slow and delayed for me. Not always though. Before I began taking these pictures, most of the vitiligo was already gone and I didn't notice because I stayed out of the sun prior to the winter of 2012-2013. It had covered both of my legs, armpits, inner arm up to the elbow and both feet. Had a few small patches on my face which I did notice right away in May of 2012.
Thank you for the advice regarding the cream. I've heard of it and would consider it if it covered my face. I sort of view vitiligo as a lifesaver. As the bodies response to a much bigger problem. It attacks the melanin for a reason and it is not my wish to directly override the response. My wish is to eliminate the need for the response. It(the vitiligo) has become my measuring stick. As long as I notice positive progress over the long-term, then I know I'm on the right track. When the vitiligo first developed, it spread very quickly and then slowed but continued to spread very slowly. Over the past 3 years, the reverse has occurred. The reason I decided to join this group was to learn if anyone else has had similar results and what any consistencies in diet/lifestyle might be. It appears to me that sunlight is one of them. However, much of the progress that I experienced at first was not from sunlight. I do not know whether it is directly from my diet itself or it is the sequence and/or timing of dietary changes. In my own beliefs, if something is correct and all inputs are equal, the result should always be the same regardless of genetic predisposition.
On the surface, it would seem that my own diet drastically differs from others who have experienced similar results. Awhile back, I read a beautiful document written by a lady in Texas. I believe her name is Valerie. Our diets appear to be completely different. The only consistencies that I see between her and I, is that she gets lots of sun, has had hypothyroidism, has type A+ blood, has decreased processed foods, decreased foods with a high glycemic index, and has a hopeful attitude. Vitiligo is an ancient disease and I don't believe processed food could be the defining factor. But certainly could be a factor. I have several relatives with vitiligo and I believe it is genetic.
Amazing Jim. BTW during this progress time (in early 2013), have you stopped any friction / trauma daily basis activity ? For example, any martial arts, or any other impact sports, or even basket ball?
It seems that oxidative stress was definitely an issue in your case.
Have you tried pseudocatalase cream? It has no side effect. It can boost even more.
Comments
Joyce, I completely agree with you. If our lifestyle/diet is pleasing to us and we feel good about it, that is what counts and that alone could be the defining factor. We have very different diets but it sounds as though we are on the same wavelength. Take care.
Joyce, I'm very glad to hear you're feeling better. It is always amazing to think we let our brains get in the way of our own natural instincts and desires. Don't know about you, but a bacon cheeseburger and a milkshake hits the spot better than some of the things I'm "supposed" to be eating. I too was on a low salt diet from the age of 13 to the age of 40. I enjoy the Himalayan, Celtic, and Redmond sea salt. I buy 50lb bags of Redmond sea(about $11 a sack) salt from the animal feed store and slightly grind it up in a coffee grinder. Going from virtually no salt to literally pounds of salt, has resulted in absolutely no change in sodium/chloride on blood tests last year. The numbers were exactly the same as 6 years ago when avoiding salt. I also enjoy up to two pots of coffee per day. My doctor looks at me like I'm from Mars when I tell him what I've been doing, but the data speaks for itself. My reasoning could be out of whack, but I believe the minerals in the salt help to break down the fats in the liver and result in sort of a time release glucose. It doesn't really matter why though, the result is what counts!
Salt seems play an important role in our life, also lately I am taking an advice: every morning when I wake up, first thing is to drink 5 cups of light salt water quickly to clean the guts, while drinking, slightly shake the legs(I often forget this part). Then I walk outside around 9:00am for exercise, I will wait until 10:30am or later for my vege ginger juice. I almost skip my breakfast but eat more healthy food during 12 to 7, Lately I feel much better. I was educated salt was a bad thing when I was very young. I always tried to avoid salt as much as I could, also tried to avoid saturated fat before. But lately I am taking more salt than before. Naturally heal is the best way.
Flavio, the information you're relaying is an indication of the complexity. My dietary focus, over the past 3 years, has been massive quantities of salt, a diet(almost exclusively at times) of saturated animal fat. Increasing to a two pack-a-day cigarette smoking habit along with a little red wine every evening. I have not drank a drop of plain water in 3 years. I hesitate to mention these things because I certainly don't want to come across as recommending them to anyone. There's too much information indicating the things I've done to be very harmful. However, these very dramatic changes have resulted in an elimination of daily medications(one of which I took for 20 years) and an astounding benefit in my own health aside from the vitiligo. At this time, I can only attribute the benefits I've had to a full satisfaction of my diet. For 10 years, I drank copious amounts of water, never ending salads, and quit smoking. During this time, I gain 50lbs of weight, developed hypothyroidism and vitiligo. After flipping everything, these ailments have subsided and very old ailments have completely disappeared. The results have created more questions for me than answers???
Yes. genetic predisposition is the main cause. There is nothing we can do about it (by now).
Non Segmental Vitiligo (your case) is caused by physical trauma (major cause) and oxidative stress (minor one). Those explain 99%. There might be some other accessory reasons that explain the remainder 1%.
Physical trauma (65%)=friction, scratch, injury, sun burn, itch, etc.
Oxidative stress (34%)=lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, ROS, mitochondrial mutation, etc.
Others (1%).
Oxidative stress can also be caused by candida, parasites, h-pylory, food allergy, toxic chemical compounds and pollutants in your body, hydrogenated fats, all kinds of pollution , including air, water, and food, oils that have been heated to very high temperatures, cigarette smoke, directly inhaled or secondhand, dehydration, too much sugar, too much animal protein in your diet, geophysical stress like living near power lines or waste dumps, viral infections, preservatives in your food, drugs (over the counter and prescription), artificial food colorings and flavorings, plastics and phthalates, chemical cleaning supplies, chlorinated water that you drink, shower in or swim in, alcohol, pesticides in your food, radiation exposure, psychological and emotional stress, endurance exercise and * incredibly physical traumas * (muscle damaging anaerobic training, trauma or injury to muscle, bone and skin).
Both physical trauma and oxidative stress confuse the vitiligo suferers' melanocytes, so that they produce MIA (melanoma inhibitor activity) wrongly. This MIA protein production detaches melanocytes that exfoliate in the epidermis silently, causing white patches.
This MIA was not supposed to be generated. That's the "predisposition". Some reseachers are working on a cream to inhibit MIA. MIA is generated wrongly by melanocytes. In normal conditions, MIA should be generated only to detach melanomas (not good melanocytes).
Flavio, It is interesting you mention exercise. Other than normal daily activities, I haven't exercised routinely since I was a young man. When I began to make dietary changes(late 2011), I went out of my way and consciously decreased exercise. This past March, I did begin to exercise again but mostly anaerobic. The exercise did seem to slow down the regression of Vitiligo. However, any response is generally very slow and delayed for me. Not always though. Before I began taking these pictures, most of the vitiligo was already gone and I didn't notice because I stayed out of the sun prior to the winter of 2012-2013. It had covered both of my legs, armpits, inner arm up to the elbow and both feet. Had a few small patches on my face which I did notice right away in May of 2012.
Thank you for the advice regarding the cream. I've heard of it and would consider it if it covered my face. I sort of view vitiligo as a lifesaver. As the bodies response to a much bigger problem. It attacks the melanin for a reason and it is not my wish to directly override the response. My wish is to eliminate the need for the response. It(the vitiligo) has become my measuring stick. As long as I notice positive progress over the long-term, then I know I'm on the right track. When the vitiligo first developed, it spread very quickly and then slowed but continued to spread very slowly. Over the past 3 years, the reverse has occurred. The reason I decided to join this group was to learn if anyone else has had similar results and what any consistencies in diet/lifestyle might be. It appears to me that sunlight is one of them. However, much of the progress that I experienced at first was not from sunlight. I do not know whether it is directly from my diet itself or it is the sequence and/or timing of dietary changes. In my own beliefs, if something is correct and all inputs are equal, the result should always be the same regardless of genetic predisposition.
On the surface, it would seem that my own diet drastically differs from others who have experienced similar results. Awhile back, I read a beautiful document written by a lady in Texas. I believe her name is Valerie. Our diets appear to be completely different. The only consistencies that I see between her and I, is that she gets lots of sun, has had hypothyroidism, has type A+ blood, has decreased processed foods, decreased foods with a high glycemic index, and has a hopeful attitude. Vitiligo is an ancient disease and I don't believe processed food could be the defining factor. But certainly could be a factor. I have several relatives with vitiligo and I believe it is genetic.
Amazing Jim. BTW during this progress time (in early 2013), have you stopped any friction / trauma daily basis activity ? For example, any martial arts, or any other impact sports, or even basket ball?
It seems that oxidative stress was definitely an issue in your case.
Have you tried pseudocatalase cream? It has no side effect. It can boost even more.
Hi Jim,
That's good progress. What kind of Diet did you follow?
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