Natural treatments for porphyria

Natural treatments for porphyria require a return to the "very good foods" that our great-grandmothers once served; and avoidance of that which is ultraprocessed.

This is a long and complex page; it's not a two-minute skim read. It is only for those who are serious about the possibility of managing porphyria with natural treatments.

What are porphyrins?

Porphyrins are normal, natural chemicals in the body that must go through eight steps to form a very important compound called heme; each requires a specific enzyme that is synthesized according to our genes.

Some people but not all those suffering from porphyria inherit a gene that limits the production of one of those enzymes.

Porphyrins then build up in the blood and in fact thus throughout the body; skin, liver and kidneys are often affected. Urine may turn red or brown.

But the interesting part is that simply because you may have inherited the faulty gene, doesn't mean you will suffer from porphyria; in fact most people do not.

So there are many conditions where genetic testing confirms we have inherited a faulty chromosome but do not get the disease. It's only when some other factor in your lifestyle causes a build up of dangerous free radicals that further damage the DNA and are unable to produce those important enzymes that the levels of porphyrins in the blood start to rise.

So anti-oxidant foods are an essential part of the natural treatments for porphyria but in truth for all of us.

The skin in porphyria

Missing enzymes in the liver mean that porphyrins are not converted properly into heme; a build up of the chemical occurs and sometimes is transported to the skin which becomes very sensitive to light.

Since light falling on the skin is the chief source of vitamin D, those suffering from the disease often become deficient; they have to rely on their food for the nutrient.

Worldwide vitamin D is said to be the most prevalent and maliferous pandemic; those with porphyria have to work very hard at obtaining these foods and only very short exposures to sunlight.

• Vitamin D slows cellular aging
  

The Nervous System and porphyria

The build up of porphyrins typically targets the nervous system; thus muscle weakness and tingling are common; and because of poor peristalsis, constipation.

They have to eat more fibre than most people, probably over 40 grams per day particularly that which is in the soluble form; oats, chickpeas and fruit especially.

• What is a dietary fiber?
  

Heme

Heme is the iron-carrying part of haemoglobin that enables our blood to transport oxygen to all parts of the body. Because there is insufficient owing to one or more of those damaged enzymes, many people suffering from porphyria may be anaemic; they may need transfusions.

The body is then unable to handle this important mineral so iron supplements must be rigorously avoided despite the anaemia. So too must "plant-based meat alternatives" to which synthetic heme has often been added to give it a beefy taste.

• Minimally processed plant protein
  

This raised iron from synthetic heme produces the "reactive oxygen species" that attack our genes increasing the likelihood of chromosome damage and hence makes us more prone to porphyria.

These ROSs also damage the beta-cells in the pancreas making us prone to diabetes^[2].

Anti-oxidant foods

And so the anti-oxidant foods are those containing especially the vitamins A, C and E; in fact we should all be consuming them daily to prevent ROS damage of our chromosomes.

In truth vitamins A and C are plentiful in the wholesome diet; only E remains more difficult because of the ultra-refining of wheat flour. Extraction of the germ and bran to give bread improved "mouth feel" makes the important tocopherols elusive.

Vitamin E also acts as a powerful anticoagulant preventing the formation of clots, making the true wholegrain loaf an essential part of the natural treatments for porphyria. That is why heart attacks were extremely rare prior to the refining of flour.

Vitamin A

So vitamin A and its precursor beta-carotene is the first of our antioxidant nutrients. From animal sources it's highest in dairy products, eggs and fish.

Many of the yellow, orange and green foods are rich sources of beta-carotene, also known as preformed vitamin A.

None of us in short should be deficient in vitamin A but alas that is not the case; it is for example the chief cause of blindness in children worldwide; nearly three million every year. This makes them also susceptible to ROS damage and porphyria.

Yellow cornmeal is another rich source of beta-carotene.

• Why we choose yellow maizemeal also known as polenta and grits?
  

Greens also have vitamin K

However those suffering from porphyria may be treated with anticoagulants to prevent stroke and phlebitis; which would be countered by the vitamin K in greens. So kale, broccoli and spinach are usually then disallowed. Herein lies a dilemma; a deficiency of lutein and consequent blindness is possible.

Macular degeneration

Apart from the beta-carotene avoidance of greens would make them deficient in lutein too and thus more likely to have the added burden of macular degeneration. We recommend taking supplements of this very important carotene if nutritious foods like kale, broccoli and spinach are disallowed.

• Lutein macular degeneration

Vitamin C

Vitamin C too is a powerful antioxidant that protects our genes from damage by reactive oxygen species. It is richly found in citrus and peppers; we should all consume some of each daily.

Citrus is the source of another carotene called beta-cryptoxanthin; it's the only nutrient proven to help prevent dementia. Everyone in fact should be eating an orange, lemon or grapefruit daily. South Africans love their "naartjes;" the Hindi word for mandarins.

Peppadews are so easy to grow; they are prolific. They are also a rich source of not only vitamin C but also capsaicin that has many other benefits; like the prevention of prostate cancer.

• Growing peppadews
• Capsaicin health benefits

Not only those suffering from porphyria but all of us should be enjoying these rich, nutritious and tasty foods.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the spoke in the wheel especially as it is a family of eight different compounds; only those enjoying a broad diet of many coloured foods are likely to be getting sufficient.

The alpha-tocopherol form is found in the germ and bran of wheat; the modern day loaf contains almost none. The only real solution is to mill your own flour and bake bread; a bridge too far for most but absolutely essential as one of the natural treatments for porphyria.

• Vitamin E dosage
  

Zinc to reduce porphyrins

Zinc is a mineral that has powerful antioxidant properties. Nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables are all rich sources.

Almonds, peanuts and pumpkin seeds are encouraging sources of zinc, magnesium and many other important nutrients.

The pecan bowl should never leave the dining room table. The smaller nuts like these Elliots are less prone to fungal infiltration but are harder to crack.

Foods rich in vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is particularly involved in anaemia; serum levels are very often low in the public at large but especially in those with porphyria. Chickpeas are the best source, also low in iron and rich in vegetable protein; and soluble fiber.

• Cooking chickpeas
  
• Healthy hummus recipe
  

Foods rich in vitamin D

Fatty fish like salmon, eggs and mushrooms are particularly good sources of vitamin D. They are very important for those with porphyria; in fact for all of us since a deficiency is so common.

• Food rich in vitamin D
  

Nutritional advice for persons with porphyria

Health is additive in both a positive and negative sense. The official site of the porphyria foundation stresses that the combination of the poor diet enjoyed by most shopping at typical grocery stores plus porphyria is likely to be a disaster.

It means becoming something of a health nut, doing whatever one can to prevent or at least retard the relentless onward march of porphyria.

They stress avoiding the obesity associated with ultra-refined carbs but not all starches; very low blood glucose up-regulates the ALAS1 enzyme leading to a greater likelihood of acute porphyria attacks.

Obesity is not helpful but nor would any one of the many keto diets be.

• Repeated loss and gain of weight
  

Natural treatments for porphyria

Natural treatments for porphyria stresses an emphasis on antioxidant meals.

Grasping all of the above helps us to understand why that which the Porphyria Foundation^[3] states actually is applicable to all of us who want to live long and healthy lives.

• Caring for our own health
  

---

Newsletter

Our newsletter is entitled "create a cyan zone" at your home, preserving both yourself and Mother Earth for future generations; and the family too, of course. We promise not to spam you with daily emails promoting various products. You may get an occasional nudge to buy one of my books.

Here are the back issues.

Did you find this page interesting? How about forwarding it to a friendly book or food junkie? Better still, a social media tick would help.

Address:

56 Groenekloof Rd,

Hilton, KZN

South Africa

Website:

https://www.bernard-preston.com

Create a Cyan Zone at your home; one which complements blue areas for longevity with green for protecting Mother Earth.