The TIGER Protocol by Akil Palanisamy

Autoimmune diseases, a complex group of conditions wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, have become increasingly prevalent in today’s health landscape. These disorders, which encompass a wide range of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, can have a profound impact on individuals’ lives, often requiring long-term management and care. In the quest for effective strategies to combat autoimmune diseases, a comprehensive understanding of their root causes and holistic treatment approaches is paramount.

Fortunately, there exists a promising resource that delves deep into these matters – The TIGER Protocol: An Integrative, 5-Step Program to Treat and Heal Your Autoimmunity by Dr. Akil Palanisamy. In this review, we will explore the book’s insights, strengths, and weaknesses, shedding light on its potential to empower individuals in their battle against autoimmune conditions.

He holds a magna cum laude Bachelor of Arts in biochemical sciences from Harvard University and earned his MD from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Currently, Dr. Akil serves as the Department Chair for Integrative Medicine at the Sutter Health Institute for Health and Healing (IHH).

The TIGER Protocol by Akil Palanisamy is a groundbreaking book that provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing autoimmune diseases. Dr. Palanisamy has developed the TIGER Protocol, an acronym that stands for Toxins, Infections, Gut Health, Eat Right, and Rest. This protocol outlines the key root causes that should be tackled to prevent or reverse autoimmune conditions.

The book emphasises the importance of addressing these factors in a specific order for optimal results. Divided into three parts, the book covers the following topics:

The TIGER Protocol is not just about managing symptoms; it aims to help individuals achieve health and reduce flare-ups, attain remission with minimal medication, and live life to the fullest by providing a holistic approach to addressing autoimmune conditions. Dr. Akil Palanisamy’s book empowers readers with the knowledge and practical tools to take control of their health and well-being.

• Introduction
• Part One: Understand the TIGER Protocol
• Chapter 1: Overview – Immune Systems Gone Haywire

In The TIGER Protocol, the significance of detoxification in improving overall health and its profound impact on autoimmune diseases take centre stage. The author emphasises the critical role of detoxifying the body, particularly through optimising digestive function and daily elimination. The book explores the body’s detox pathways, including the liver, skin, and lymphatics, and provides valuable insights into enhancing detoxification capacity through dietary choices, spices, herbs, and supplements.

What sets this book apart is its compelling real-life examples, demonstrating how detoxification can positively influence autoimmune conditions. By sharing cases of individuals experiencing relief from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis through detoxification methods, the author underscores the protocol’s importance.

Furthermore, the book underscores the significance of regular bowel movements, the role of fibre in detox, and key clues that hint at suboptimal liver function. The author also delves into the practice of detoxification through sweating, particularly in saunas, and how it can help eliminate heavy metals and environmental toxins. Finally, the book provides practical dietary recommendations, including superfoods like beets, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and chlorella, to aid in daily detoxification. With this comprehensive guide, readers gain essential knowledge on detoxification’s pivotal role in addressing autoimmune diseases and achieving better health.

In The TIGER Protocol, Dr. Akil Palanisamy emphasises the significance of gut health and its pivotal role in addressing autoimmune conditions. The book outlines a four-week program dedicated to healing and strengthening the gut, essential for restoring the body’s immune system regulation. The author discusses methods for assessing intestinal permeability, highlighting biomarkers like zonulin, the lactulose/mannitol ratio, and serum lipopolysaccharide.

Dysbiosis, a common cause of increased intestinal permeability in autoimmune patients, is addressed, along with dietary recommendations, including the importance of fibre intake, prebiotic fibres like inulin, bone broth, collagen, omega-3 fats, zinc, fermented foods, and intermittent fasting. Supplements such as curcumin, glutamine, colostrum, and probiotics are also explored, with a focus on selecting the right probiotic strains to meet specific goals.

Overall, the book underscores the vital role of diet and supplements in healing and improving intestinal permeability, offering valuable insights for readers seeking to manage autoimmune conditions through gut health optimisation.

Stress is a significant factor in the development and exacerbation of autoimmune conditions. It triggers a cascade of responses in the body that lead to increased inflammation and autoimmune activity. Addressing stress through mindfulness and meditation can have numerous positive effects on both mental and physical well-being.

Regular meditation not only reduces stress but also positively impacts inflammation, the gut barrier, and the immune system. It can even lead to structural and functional changes in the brain. Incorporating meditation into daily life, even for just a few minutes a day, can be a powerful tool for managing autoimmune conditions and promoting overall health.

Strengths

Weaknesses

“Research shows that using a sauna four to seven times per week led to a 40 percent reduction in death from all causes over a 21-year time period (using it two to three times per week was associated with a respectable 24 percent decrease).”

“Pesticides have been linked to various autoimmune conditions, multiple types of cancer, and other health problems; the CDC has determined that 93 percent of Americans tested had detectable levels of the insecticide chlorpyrifos and 99 percent had detectable levels of DDT, with the average person carrying about thirteen pesticides. This is concerning because the CDC tests for only a fraction of the total number of pesticides to which we are exposed, but still found that a significant number of people tested had potentially harmful body levels of certain pesticides above government safety thresholds.”

“Thus, for millennia, our ancestors evolved eating a diet that was much higher in fiber and prebiotics, and that is what our microbiota evolved to expect. This was likely the key factor in the robustness and diversity of the ancestral microbiome. As the intake of fiber has plummeted over the past 200 years, the food that our bacteria relied on has disappeared. The consequences are serious.”

Where to buy

You may purchase The TIGER Protocol on Amazon at the best price. It is available in paperback, hardcover, audio and Kindle versions, so you may choose an option that appeals to you the most.

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