Phenols

I mentioned phenols a bit in my posting yesterday. I have vitiligo, which is a condition when patches of skin lose pigment. Current understanding is that it is an autoimmune related condition, and is triggered by several possible causes. One of these triggers is exposure to high levels of phenols.

Phenols are a naturally occurring chemical compound, but they can also be found in man made products as well. From Wikipedia:

"Organisms that synthesize phenolic compounds do so in response to ecological pressures such as pathogen and insect attack, UV radiation and wounding.[7]...Others possess estrogenic or endocrine disrupting activity."

There is also a theory that phenols can be related to gut issues, which in turn can be related to autism. There is a protocol that some follow for autism to avoid phenols and salicylates.

When naturally occurring, phenols are found in plant matter, so a zero carb diet will primarily avoid most phenols. But phenols can also be found in toiletries, such as in phenolic compounds in moisturizers, soaps, shampoos, and a prevalent culprit in terms of vitiligo, hair dye.

So in order to heal my gut as well as my vitiligo, I plan on continuing with the zero carb keto diet and I have also switched out all of my toiletries and cleansers for ones free of phenolic compounds. (Also benzyl and butylic compounds as well). 

The only toiletry that I still use that contains phenol is henna/indigo for my hair. I just can't find a suitable substitute right now, and I feel like my hair is too patchy to let it be its natural color. I might have to just let it be natural, and wear headbands.

What is especially interesting is that many nutritionists actually promote phenols in the form of flavonoids. But yet many on the autism spectrum are finding that phenols can be problematic. So much like recommendations about saturated fat, there is a wide disparity! All we can do is find out what works best in our own individual cases.

There is a theory that humans fall into three gut enterotypes, Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Ruminococcus. It seems Ruminococcus has now been enveloped into Bacteroides group. So the two main bacterial ecosystems, Bacteroides and Prevotella, preferentially digest animal foods versus plant foods.

So it could be that our gut enterotype would explain why some people thrive on phenols whereas others of us seem to be damaged by them. 

Regardless, I believe in doing what works. My gut is healthy (knock on wood) and my vitiligo is repigmenting, so my current plan seems to be working for me!

P.S. Here is an article website relating to phenols:
http://www.marfanlife.net/tannins/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=3

Grassfed beef tongue with sea salt flakes