We specialize in working with patients who are suffering from chronic health conditions: thyroid gland disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions. We combine the knowledge of both functional neurology and nutrition to work with those that have been failed by the traditional medical model and alternative model.

Using specific neurological rehabilitation and metabolic work-ups, our patients are given top-notch diagnostic evaluations and management plans.

Emphasis of care will be placed on the four main areas: neurology, endocrinology, immunology, and neurotransmitters.

If you are looking for a clinic whose mission is to improve the quality of their patients’ lives, the Tustin Chronic Condition Center might be the right place for you!

The conditions we work with are endless, however, the following are some of the more common conditions we see walk in our clinic doors:

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism
Grave’s Disease
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Dizziness/Vertigo
Balance Disorders
Strokes
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Fibromyalgia
Ataxia
Movement Disorders
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease
Leaky Gut Syndrome/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Heartburn/GERD
Autism, ADD/ADHD, and Learning Disabilities
Hi, my name is Maria K. and I am a patient of Dr. Corey King. I came to his clinic one day because I found him on the internet, as I was “Googling” trying to find out what was wrong with me. At the time, I was taking 2-3 hour naps, I could barely get out of bed and I was in a fog. I was taking approximately 6-9 pills everyday just to get out of bed. I was taking vitamins after vitamins, iron pills, and I was also taking levothyroxine, and I was honestly, so depressed, and I couldn’t find a way to get better…I found Dr. King and he put me on a program…and it made a huge difference. I was very skeptical at first…and after being on the program for 6 months I can honestly say, that I am a new woman!!!To watch her life changing testimonial video, visit our Testimonial page!
Did you know that your gut makes up about 60% of your immune system? If you are having any gastro-intestinal complications, your body cannot heal! In order for you to have a health functioning immune system, your gut lining must not be compromised

“Hello, my name is Camille and I was referred to Dr. Corey King from a meeting I attended. I was not feeling well for about a year or so, and he happened to give a presentation that day and I realized then that I needed to see Dr. King. Since seeing Dr. King, I have lost 25 lbs, I have more energy than I ever have before, and life to me is brand new all over again…I feel 10 years younger. I would recommend Dr. Corey King to anybody. He is fabulous and he saved my life!”To watch her life changing testimonial video, CLICK here!
Unfortunately, we tend to be the last place patients come when they are struggling with their health condition. I routinely hear, “this was my last stop”, “I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired”, and “I didn’t know what to do…”

“Hi, my name is Nancy, and I wanted to tell you personally what the oxygen treatments with Dr. Corey King have done for me. My balance was very off…I came to his conference where he answered a bunch of questions and saw where this could help me. What it has done is given me an entirely new life…I am no longer taking Prednisone or high-blood pressure medication. I was tired of being tired…you need to try his care!”To watch her life changing testimonial video, CLICK here!
If you are ready for life changing care, Dr King might be the Dr. for you!

If you would like to talk more about your health condition, give my staff a call (866) 375-4641 to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.

At Dr King’s office, our mission is to improve the quality of our patients’ lives. We operate by a simple motto, ‘We want success stories’! Our goal is take you from the condition that you are in and take you to where you want to be. You have goals for your life; whether they are financial, personal, or spiritual goals. Our job is to improve upon your “health goals”. We believe that everyone should be living a healthy, vibrant, and energetic life, without the needless suffering of chronic, debilitating health symptoms.

Functional neurology and functional medicine is the new wave of health care. People are realizing why the medical model is failing them. Our medical model is using ‘acute care’ for ‘chronic conditions’ and patients are starting to see that those two conflicting models are not allowing them to reach their health goals = be happy, vibrant, and thriving individuals.

Our approach is simple, but comprehensive:

We look at how the body is functioning neurologically and metabolically. The brain is a magnificent organ! It contains billions of neurons that are firing constantly to keep us thinking, moving, and living. If neurons are compromised, so will our bodily functions. Our blood is the ‘oil of the car’, if you will. It contains all of the nutrients and oxygen needed for our brain to function. Without the proper nutrients and oxygen, we die!

Using neurological testing, we can specifically test the functioning and non-functioning aspects of the brain. Once we find the region that is not “firing”, or working, appropriately we can stimulate that region to improve its functioning ability. It is much like going into the gym. If you have a weak biceps muscle, what are you going to do? You will work it out, do some strength training! You would not work out your leg if your arm is weak, would you? No! This is the same principle with neurology. You can stimulate or strengthen the regions of the brain that are weak. Once you do that, you will improve the functioning of that area’s neurons and your body works and performs as it is supposed to.

This stimulation is based off of the term, neuroplasticity. Scientists once thought that a brain older than three years old was a rigid structure. If it was damaged in any way, it was damaged. However, through scientific studies and research, plus clinical applications, we know that the brain continually reorganizes itself. This regorganization is called neuroplasticity. It means that you create your brain from the input you give it.

Functional medicine is based off the idea that the body functions best within certain parameters, or ranges. In order to be within those ranges, the body needs a few things:

Nutrients Oxygen
If our organs have the proper fuel, everything will be in balance. However, due to life (stress, diet, environmental toxins, genes, trauma, etc) our body will become ‘out of balance’ and we might need helping getting back into those functional ranges. Quite simply, our body starts to shut down and we can bring it back into a more normalized state using natural supplementation, which is guided by scientific laboratory testing. If you run the appropriate laboratory testing to figure out why the body is not working within a functional, or optimal, range, you can then use ‘functional medicine’ to bring it back into range.

Neurological therapies are based off the specific neurological tests that are performed. Some of therapies that are used are the following:

Oxygen Therapy: The brain uses more oxygen than any other organ in the body. So, we use oxygen therapy in order to allow your body and brain to heal quicker.

Vibration Therapy: Vibration fires to the back part of the brain called the cerebellum, which is the foundation. One of the functions of the cerebellum is control of the spinal muscle and by stimulating these muscles we can fire-off muscle spindle cells to activate the cerebellum, thus increasing its efficiency in functioning.

Auditory Therapy: Auditory stimulation fires to the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe is responsible hearing, memory, recall and verbalization of thoughts. By activating this region, we can improve its function.

Visual Therapy: Visual stimulation is picked up by the cerebellum. Since the cerebellum controls eye movements, we can stimulate the cerebellum via visual therapy. To learn more visit www.eyelights.com

Auriculo-therapy: Using a hand-held muscle stimulation machine, we can strengthen the brainstem, which controls many of your automatic processes of your body…breathing, sleep, digestion, and pain.

Caloric Therapy: By using a warm water caloric, we can stimulate the cerebellum as well. This works wonders for dizziness and vertigo patients.

Interactive Metronome: By using science based software, we are able to measure your brain’s ability to time sequences to assess how efficient your cerebral cortex is working. We can also use therapeutic modalities with the Interactive Metronome to improve the efficiency of the brain. To learn more visit www.interactivemetronome.com

Balance Therapy: The cerebellum controls balance, and is the foundation of the brain. If the cerebellum is not firing properly (sending the right neurological impulses to the rest of the brain) the rest of the brain’s efficiency will be compromised. Using balance therapy we can improve the efficiency of how the brain is functioning.

Rebuilder®: Using this machine we are able to regenerate the nerves that have been destroyed due to peripheral neuropathy in diabetics. To learn more visit www.rebuildermedical.com

If you are looking for a complete systems approach to your health condition, you have found the best clinic to do so. There will be ‘no stone left unturned’ when it comes to diagnosing your condition and managing your condition.

If you would like to talk more about your health condition, give my staff a call (866) 375-4641 to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.

Research has confirmed what many people have long known: Gluten sensitivity is a real thing.

A Columbia University Medical Center study found gluten sensitivity is not an imagined condition, as many seem to think these days, and that celiac disease or a wheat allergy are not required to react to gluten.

Although people with gluten sensitivity may not demonstrate classic symptoms or lab markers of celiac disease, gluten nevertheless causes an acute immune response in gluten sensitive people.

Symptoms of gluten sensitivity vary widely and often include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, mood imbalances, joint pain, skin eruptions, respiratory issues, and worsening of existing health conditions.

Gluten sensitivity different than celiac disease

In celiac disease, the immune response to gluten happens primarily in the small intestine.

With gluten sensitivity, however, the immune response is systemic, meaning the inflammatory cells travel in the bloodstream throughout the body. This explains why symptoms vary so widely.

Researchers found that six months on a gluten-free diet normalized the immune response and significantly improved patient symptoms.

Gluten sensitivity awareness crucial for patients

Studies like this are important to help educate doctors that gluten sensitivity can cause chronic health problems.

Many doctors still believe that only celiac disease is to blame for a reaction to gluten. Because gluten sensitivity is largely dismissed and conventional testing for it is so inadequate, many patients unnecessarily suffer from undiagnosed gluten sensitivity.

Gluten linked to autoimmunity and brain disorders

What’s worse, gluten is linked to many autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys tissue in the body. Common autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes.

However, the tissue most commonly attacked in response to gluten sensitivity is neurological tissue.

In other words, your undiagnosed gluten sensitivity could be destroying your brain This is why gluten causes brain-based disorders in many people.

Gluten sensitivity more common than celiac

Celiac disease was long thought to affect about 1 percent of the population, but newer research shows rates have gone up 700 percent in the last 50 years.

Also, numbers are likely even higher because testing for celiac disease is extremely stringent and outdated. (Diagnostic criteria were developed in Europe, where a celiac diagnosis qualifies one for disability payments.)

Estimates for the rate of gluten sensitivity range from 6 percent of the population to considerably higher—a randomized population sample of 500 people conducted by immunologist Aristo Vojdani, PhD found one in three people had gluten sensitivity.

Proper testing and strict gluten-free diet are vital

Most testing for gluten sensitivity is inaccurate as people can react to at least 12 different compounds in gluten. Standard tests only screen for one, alpha gliadin.

Also, many people have cross reactions to gluten, meaning they respond to other foods they eat as if it were gluten. Dairy is one of the most common of these. It’s important to test for cross-reactive foods and remove them from the diet along with gluten.

It’s also vital to strictly adhere to a gluten-free diet as the occasional cheat can keep inflammation high and chances at symptom recovery low.

Ask my office for advice on the latest in testing for gluten sensitivity.

If you would like to talk more about your health condition, give my staff a call (866) 375-4641 to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.

Star Trek’s Zoe Saldano recently revealed she has Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, a thyroid disease affecting millions of women that causes weight gain, fatigue, depression, cold hands and feet, brain fog, constipation, and many other symptoms.

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune thyroid disease. Autoimmunity is a condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys body tissue, in this case the thyroid gland. It is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, affecting an estimated more than 23 million people.

The thyroid gland governs metabolism in the body and produces thyroid hormones, which are needed by every cell in the body, including brain cells.

This is why a thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s causes a person to gradually lose function, feel run down, lose brain function, and find it impossible to lose weight (although not in Saldano’s case.)

Saldano’s unusual explanation for Hashimoto’s

When asked about her Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism diagnosis, Saldano said, “Your body doesn’t have the energy it needs to filter toxins, causing it to believe that it has an infection, so it’s always inflamed.”

This is an unusual and narrow explanation for autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s.

Research shows multiple factors play into the development of an autoimmune disease, including:

Genetic susceptibility (Saldano’s family members have Hashimoto’s)
Imbalanced immunity
Inflammation from food sensitivities
Environmental toxins
Leaky gut
Chronic stress
Pregnancy
Gender (autoimmunity primarily affects women)
Hormone imbalances
Blood sugar imbalances
Chronic inflammation
Viral or bacterial infection
In a nutshell, rarely can we point to one defining trigger of autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Typically, a person experiences a number of chronic health issues that go undiagnosed until the overburdened immune system tips into an over zealous attack on the body.

What Saldano is doing right for Hashimoto’s

Although her explanation for Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism may be a bit off base, Saldano otherwise puts forth some good lifestyle examples.

For starters, she follows a gluten-free and dairy-free diet. Studies link these foods with autoimmunity, including Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.

She also talks about the stress reducing techniques of not being too hard on herself and surrounding herself with the support of loved ones.

How to find out if you have Hashimoto’s

Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed in the conventional health care model. This is because doctors often only test for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to prescribe medication.

About 95 percent of hypothyroid cases are due to Hashimoto’s. It’s important to check for TPO and TGB antibodies which tell you if you have autoimmunity. Managing Hashimoto’s goes far beyond using thyroid medication as you must work to balance and regulate the immune system so it stops attacking the body.

For more information on identifying and managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, give my staff a call (866) 375-4641 to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.

Your doctor says your hypothyroid condition has been treated, but do you still suffer from symptoms of low thyroid function?

Fatigue
Weight gain
Hair loss
Constipation
Depression
Memory loss
Cold hands and feet
If so, you may suffer from Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys the thyroid bland.

Hypothyroidism is usually caused by Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease

Hypothyroidism means your thyroid gland is under functioning and not producing enough thyroid hormone. This is bad news because every cell in the body depends on thyroid hormones. Including brain cells. This explains why people with untreated or poorly managed hypothyroidism are at higher risk for rapid brain decline.

Hypothyroidism affects millions of Americans, many of them whom continue to suffer from worsening health despite treatment. What’s more, 90 percent of hypothyroid cases are caused by autoimmune Hashimoto’s. As Hashimoto’s gradually destroys the thyroid gland, this lowers thyroid function, causing myriad symptoms.

Lab tests can identify Hashimoto’s by testing for TPO and TGB antibodies. If positive, these markers indicate an autoimmune disease is attacking the thyroid gland. It’s vital to dampen the inflammatory autoimmune attacks against the thyroid and balance the immune system.

However, thyroid hormone medication may still be necessary if damage is already extensive.

How to manage Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism

Managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is rarely a quick fix. Instead, it involves a multi-faceted approach to diet and lifestyle to reduce inflammation and autoimmune flares against the thyroid. Strategies include:

Adopt a strict gluten-free diet. Numerous studies show a strong link between Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and gluten In fact, people with a gluten intolerance are genetically more prone to Hashimoto’s disease. Gluten sensitivity also promotes inflammation and leaky gut, which flares autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.

Adopt an autoimmune diet. For many people, going gluten-free is not enough to manage Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. You may need to go deeper with an anti-inflammatory diet that eliminates common inflammatory foods, such as dairy, eggs, grains, legumes, and other foods. A whole-foods, Paleo-based diet that emphasizes plenty of produce and eliminates processed foods is important to manage Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.

Repairing a leaky gut. Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, typically plays a primary role in Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and other autoimmune diseases. In leaky gut the lining of the small intestine becomes inflamed, damaged, and porous, allowing undigested foods, bacteria, fungus, and other foreign invaders into the sterile environment of the bloodstream where they trigger inflammation and autoimmunity.

Stabilize blood sugar. Stabilizing blood sugar is vital to managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. A diet high in sugars and refined carbohydrates (such as breads, pastas, pastries, and desserts) spikes inflammation, skews hormones, and flares autoimmunity. Energy crashes, fatigue after meals, excess belly fat, hormonal imbalances, mood swings, and sleep issues are all signs you may have low blood sugar or high blood sugar (insulin resistance).

These are just a few of the basics of autoimmune management for Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Ask my office for more information.

Managing an autoimmune condition is hard enough. Throw in holiday travel, staying with relatives, meals out, and exhaustion, and autoimmune management goes to a new level of difficulty. However, failing to follow your plan can wreck the holidays with symptom flares or an energy crash.

What to do? First, take a deep breath and adopt a no-stress, can-do attitude. Just as at home, good autoimmune management simply requires some advance planning and strategic thinking.

Here are some tips to help you manage your autoimmune condition while traveling.

Map out meals and snacks so you don’t go hungry or trigger a flare. The functional medicine approach to managing an autoimmune disease requires following some variation of the autoimmune diet This diet is usually a strict Paleo diet of ample produce and healthy meats and fats, and no grains, dairy, soy, sugar, or processed foods.

Google ahead of time to find out where you can eat at your destination. Look for the Whole Foods and other health food stores. Make sure you have a refrigerator in your hotel room or ask your hosts to make space for you in theirs. You can insulate and pack frozen meals to heat up in a mini crockpot, also stowed in your luggage. Some people even pack a hot plate and cookware. Bring a travel bag large enough for approved snack items to stave off hunger. Ideas include beef jerky, celery, sardines, olives, coconut meat, and other filling snacks.

Pack plenty of glutathione support. Traveling includes plenty of stressful events that can deplete your glutathione stores. Glutathione is the body’s most powerful antioxidant and vital to preventing and taming autoimmune flares. Early mornings, long days, new environments, crowded airplanes, Grandma’s fabric softener, and so on — these stressors can deplete glutathione so that inflammation is more likely.

Options include glutathione precursors such as N-acetyl-cysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, cordyceps, and milk thistle. You can also take s-acetyl-glutathione, or an oral liposomal glutathione. Note that taking straight glutathione is not effective.

Search ahead for hypoallergenic hotel rooms. Ever walk into a hotel and get blasted with that sickly perfume smell? Some hotels overdo it with the scented products. Others have feather pillows, and dusty, stale rooms. Look for hotels that offer scent-free, allergy-friendly rooms with hypoallergenic bedding, air purifiers, and windows that open.

Carry a mask to avoid pollution or toxic odors. There’s only so much you can do to control your environment while traveling. If the passenger next to you on the packed plane is doused in cologne, it helps to have a face mask handy so you can breathe easier. A good face mask is comfortable and allows you to breathe easily while protecting you from toxins in the air, thus keeping your immune system calmer. Some companies even make face masks for children.

Don’t let your vacation become work. Schedule in down time to nap, read, or go for peaceful walks. Stress is a powerful inflammatory toxin so it pays to make sure you enjoy your vacation with plenty of rest time.

Autoimmune patients expend considerable effort finding the right diet, supplements, lifestyle, and practitioner to manage their autoimmunity.

But did you know your experiences from childhood could be provoking your autoimmunity as an adult?

Abuse, belittlement, insults, neglect, loss of loved ones, parental acrimony… the traumas children weather unfortunately become a lifelong “operating system” that has profound influences on immunological and neurological health. Traumas in childhood affect not only physical and cellular health, but also our DNA.

Early traumas make it hard to turn off stress

In a healthy situation, a child can respond to stress and recover from it, developing normal resiliency.

However, chronic and unpredictable stress in childhood constantly floods the body with stress hormones and keeps it in a hyper vigilant inflammatory state. In time, this interferes with the body’s ability to turn off or dampen the stress response.

In fact, research that compared the saliva of healthy, happy children with children who grew up with abuse and neglect found almost 3,000 genetic changes on their DNA. All of these changes regulated the response to stress and the ability to rebound from it.

This means that little, everyday occurrences that might momentarily irritate a healthier person can unleash a torrent of stress hormones and an accompanying inflammatory cascade that predisposes one for disease.

These are the people accused of overreacting and who are rattled by loud noises, bright lights, and crowds.

A disagreement with someone, a near miss on the highway, a restaurant that’s too loud, an unexpected bill — for the person who had a stressful childhood these minor but regular insults create a metabolic environment that fosters and perpetuates illness.

This can include autoimmune disease, chronic pain, heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, migraines, asthma, and obesity.

In fact, this research was inspired by one clinician’s observation that the majority of his obese patients endured sexual abuse as children.

Assessing chronic childhood stress

Researchers studied the effects of childhood stress on later health in the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, developing a short quiz to assess the relationship between childhood traumas and disease risk.

For instance, someone with a score of 4 (scale of 0–8) is at a significantly higher risk for chronic disease, suicide, and addiction.

Early trauma and autoimmune management

Although traumas during childhood and a higher ACE score can increase hardships and disease risk in adulthood, it doesn’t have to be a prison sentence —the brain and body are responsive to change.

Many therapies have been shown to help heal these traumas: meditation, mindfulness practices, neurofeedback, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), cognitive therapy, EFT (emotional freedom technique, or tapping), and more.

Be sure and include your emotional well-being and the health of your subconscious “operating system,” which was established in childhood, in your autoimmune management plan.

What is autoimmunity and what does it mean to have an autoimmune condition? I hear these questions go back and forth between patients. The simple definition is that an autoimmune condition is when a person’s body attacks itself. Being autoimmune means your body is attacking its own tissue, globally and systemically. When your body’s immune system “turns on itself,” you will experience symptoms. The causes for being autoimmune are vast, however, autoimmunity stems from parts of the body not working correctly. Whether it’s from improperly functioning organs, bacterium in the body, or poor diet, the critical piece to treating autoimmune conditions is understanding the body.

The most common question that I receive from autoimmune patients is “Dr. King, I have an autoimmune condition, how can I cure it”? Unfortunately, there are no cures for autoimmune conditions. I tell my patients, the only way to treat an autoimmune condition is to locate what is causing the problem and treat that area of the body individually. In doing so, a patient can keep symptoms under control and improve their quality of life.

Think of an autoimmune condition like a forest fire. The embers of the fire represent your autoimmune condition, let’s say Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. The flames represent your symptoms (i.e. fatigue, weight issues, brain fog and hair loss). In order to put the flames of the fire out, you must remove the gasoline that is driving the fire in the first place. Continuing to poor gasoline on the fire will cause further destruction; therefore, causing more symptoms. This is what happens with most patients. They will take medications and drugs, even natural thyroid support, to treat the thyroid gland, yet continually experience more and more symptoms. It’s because something keeps reigniting the embers in the body. To stop them from flaring up, it’s important to locate what’s triggering the fire.

Once the cause (the gasoline) of the fire is located, in a patient’s case it’s normally bacteria, parasites, blood sugar dysregulation, anemia, poor diet or organ dysfunction, you can remove it from the body (no, not removing the organ itself, rather healing the organ). After this removal process, there’s still more work to be done. The flames do a significant amount of damage to the body. As a doctor it’s my job to go back in the body and patch up all the damage that has been done. Simply removing the gasoline and putting the flames out is not enough, I must rebuild the areas that have been destroyed. This part of the process is why patients begin to see an improvement in the quality of their life because the WHOLE body is treated.

To diagnose and manage an autoimmune condition, I have to find out exactly what is going on. This is where most patients come in to see me, yet their doctors have not run sufficient blood work to actually determine the cause of their condition. At the Tustin Chronic Condition Center, I use a complex of testing arrays to determine exactly what is going on. You can visit Cyrex Labs and see the different arrays I order. Arrays 5-8 are used to see what type of tissue your body is attacking; allowing me to diagnose and manage you appropriately.

For example, I see lots of diabetic patients and a majority of them are Type 2 diabetics. However, every now and then, some Type 2 diabetics will walk through the door and they are actually an autoimmune Type 2 (most people are use to hearing that only Type 1 Diabetics are autoimmune). Approximately 20% of Type 2 Diabetics are struggling with an autoimmune component to their condition, which is what is making it tough for them to completely heal.

The big picture is this, the right lab tests must be ran in order to correctly diagnose your condition and then manage it.

If you feel your doctors are not addressing your health condition correctly, please call us at the Tustin Chronic Condition Center for a consultation: (714) 731-7680

Remember, nothing will change until you do!

An autoimmune disease, such as Hashitmoto’s Thyroiditis, is heavily impacted by gut health and the gastrointestinal tract. The GI tract consists of both the small and large intestines which constitute nearly 80% of the immune system. Therefore to help protect and fight autoimmune diseases, it is imperative to maintain a healthy gut.

There are many factors that negatively affect the health of the gut and impose future risk for autoimmune patients. The most common condition found in people is called Leaky Gut Syndrome. This is a precursor to immune dysfunction. Leaky gut is when the inner lining of the gut (the gut walls) becomes permeable and begins to leak. Undigested food, parasites, bacteria, heavy metals, and toxins then pass through the gut walls and into the blood stream which drives autoimmune disease.

In a normal human gut, the cells lining the intestinal wall act as a barrier that only allow properly digested food to pass through and enter the bloodstream. This is one of the main processes of how the body receives nutrients, so it’s vital that it functions correctly. The normal response to the passing of undigested food into the bloodstream is for the body to recognize the molecules as foreign substances and attack them with antibodies. A person with a leaky gut encounters this problem on a continual basis. When this occurs serious side effects become present. The undigested food continually passes through into the bloodstream and the body has to send antibodies to defend against what it considers to be an “intruder.” When the body attacks the food molecules in the blood, this exacerbates immune dysfunction and can cause an array of autoimmune diseases to occur.

Beyond all else, the presence of inflammatory foods prohibits the body from digesting food, especially in people suffering from a leaky gut. Inflammatory foods, most often gluten foods, irritate the gut lining and continue to destroy the stomach tissue.

In order to reduce the chances of autoimmune disease, the health of the gut is the primary focus. An integral part of maintaining and restoring gut health is through proper dieting and the stabilization of blood sugar in the body. This begins at the plate. What you eat plays a significant role in maintaining your gut. A poor diet can bring on inflammation in the body causing the tissue in the gut to break down. Improper blood sugar regulation affects the flow of blood and how nutrients are absorbed in the body. So, the first step to correcting these problems is to remove foods in your diet that are causing these chronic immune responses. Doing so will give the gut a chance to heal. A healthy gut will allow your immune system to fight against intruding bacteria helping to keep your body healthy.

Do you feel your doctors are missing this piece of your puzzle? Call my clinic and I will begin unraveling this complex web of your chronic health condition: (714) 731-7680.

Remember, nothing in your life will change until you do!

We at the AskDrKing truly love helping our clients overcome the health problems in their life. Hearing them talk about how their lives have changed for the better makes us immensely happy. With that in mind, for this week’s blog we’re letting one of our “satisfied customers” speak for herself. Here’s an excerpt from her testimonial:

“We all take for granted that we’ll stay vibrant, energized, mentally and physically engaged and healthy…until one day things change. Up until I turned 50 my life was active to the extreme, including lengthy trail runs, rollerblading for hours, mountain biking and a high-stress career in commercial real estate.

After my 50th birthday, my health and mood started to rapidly decline. I was starting peri-menopause and was in pain all the time from achy and swollen joints. I couldn’t sleep and I was constantly fatigued, plus I had a virus that attacked my right hamstring and activates severe sciatica. I was in a constant state of inflammation, causing me extreme pain.

I sought the help of doctor after doctor to relieve the pain—specialists from all fields, including endocrinology, orthopedic, gynecology, integrative medicine and acupuncture. Finally I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, and the doctor put me on Armour thyroid medication, which was the most “natural” form of treatment. This was supposed to relieve the pain and make me well, but unfortunately, the dosage never leveled out for me and I was on a roller-coaster ride: too much, too wired; too little, too tired. So over the past nine years I never stopped looking for the “magic” that would heal me.

Seven months ago, I came across a “thumbs-up” review of Dr. Datis Kharrazian’s book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? The review included information on gluten, a substance I was unfamiliar with at the time, and when I Googled it, I clicked on the first link and was introduced to Dr. Corey King, who has studied under Dr. Kharrazian. Dr. King’s video presentation and client testimonials intrigued me enough to purchase his book, and after reading it immediately, I arranged an appointment at the AskDrKing.

Never once have I looked back or regretted the choice I made to put my trust and health in the care of Dr. King. He started blood, stool and neurological testing and, with my personal diagnosis in hand, he set out to get me well with a special diet and treatments…

Dr. King is definitely on the cutting edge in the medical field. His treatments focus on the place where almost all of our health, or diseases, begin: In our gut. His treatments combined with the diet have made a huge difference in my life and how I feel today.

Thanks to Dr. King!

I have the knowledge and tools to hopefully live a long, vibrant and healthy life. My exercise routine is back on track, and even though I get sidetracked sometimes on my diet and experience some pain, it’s brief and I know that the knowledge provided by this very special doctor will be with me for life. All I have to do is re-apply the knowledge, re-assess my diet and I will again enter the “pain-free” zone. It’s a lifetime commitment that I’m personally happy to make to keep this smile on my face and my body happy.

It’s been nearly nine years since the fateful day I learned of my diagnosis, and I never thought I’d find the answer—but I did when I found Dr. King.

Dr. King, thank you for your kindness, your gentle way of encouragement and your upbeat attitude—and for giving me my life back. I’ve enjoyed every minute of our work together and would highly recommend your services to anyone who can’t find their way out of the pain or who simply just wants to feel EVEN BETTER!”

Well, we’d like to give a big THANK YOU to this patient for writing such a heartfelt testimonial and for her recommendation. Do you have questions about the therapy program we put her on? Have you been in the same position, and are you ready to get off the roller coaster of your doctor’s thyroid medications and office visits to tweak the dosage? If you have questions or are ready to finally feel healthy again, we would encourage you to contact us by using our schedule a consultation form or by calling (714) 731-7680 for a phone consultation. We want to help you get your life back, too.

Gluten and Hashimoto’s

Think being gluten-free is a fad? If you have Hashimoto’s Disease, think again!

You’d have to live under a rock to not recognize the popularity of gluten-free diets by now. But if you think going gluten-free is just another fad, think again. Although it may be a passing fad for some, a gluten-free diet is powerful medicine for those suffering with Hashimoto’s Disease.

The benefits, which attain almost miraculous heights for some people, vary depending on the person.  One important fact that a lot of patients don’t realize is that the gluten molecule is almost identical to the thyroid gland.  If you have Hashimoto’s Disease, anytime you eat gluten, your body marks more of your thyroid gland for destruction.  Some patients even notice their throat swelling/getting tight if they consume wheat.

While some gluten intolerant patients may have gastro-intestinal symptoms (i.e. bloating, flatulence, constipation/diarrhea), other symptoms may appear but patients don’t associate them with the food they are eating.  A great example is myself; if I consume gluten, my joints swell up the next morning, specifically, my fingers.  Also, I become very congested (this happens with dairy as well), and suffer headaches.

One of the most common consequences of gluten intolerance are symptoms that express themselves neurologically, and even these can vary.

Can gluten intolerance really affect my brain?

Yes, the part of the brain most commonly affected by a gluten intolerance is the cerebellum.  This is the area at the back of the brain that controls motor movements and balance. This can cause issues with balance, vertigo, nausea, car sickness and sea sickness, and getting dizzy or nauseous looking at fast-moving images or objects.

Another area commonly affected are the protective coating of nerves called myelin. As damage to myelin progresses one can develop multiple-sclerosis type symptoms such as numbness, tingling or muscle weakness.  I typically see many diabetics, who suffer from thyroid disease, struggling with peripheral neuropathy due to blood sugar dysregulation AND gluten intolerance.

Other neurological symptoms associated with gluten include obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, memory loss, brain fog, autism symptoms, and even more serious psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.  How a person with a neurological response to gluten reacts depends on that person’s genetic makeup.

Why does gluten cause such diverse symptoms?

The symptoms of a gluten intolerance vary from person to person because of its effects on the immune system and brain.

Gluten is inflammatory and damaging to the gut in many people, causing leaky gut. The gut is the seat of the immune system, and also communicates intimately with the brain.

When the gut is constantly inflamed and becomes leaky (even though one might not have digestive symptoms), this increases overall inflammation in the body and the brain.

Increased inflammation not only gives rise to myriad disorders on its own, it also increases the risk of developing an autoimmune disorder. This is a disorder in which an imbalanced immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys tissue in the body, such as the brain, the thyroid, the pancreas, joint cartilage, and more.

Gluten and autoimmune disease

When it comes to autoimmune disease, no tissue in the body or brain is safe from an overzealous immune system deranged by constant inflammation. The rates of autoimmune diseases have exploded in recent years, and most are not yet diagnosed — meaning years of chronic and “mysterious” symptoms.

Specific laboratory testing to determine gluten intolerance

There are several lab companies that test for gluten intolerance, my favorite being Cyrex Laboratories.  They are the only lab in the country that tests all the different subsets of the gluten molecule.  You can learn more by visiting their website, www.cyrexlabs.com

I like to base patient management off of specific lab markers and results, along with patients’ symptoms.  Combining the best laboratory testing in the country, along with my experience working with Hashimoto’s Disease, results in the best possible patient management you can experience.

If you would like to talk more about your health condition, give my staff a call (866) 375-4641 to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.