*** NOTE: This is posted with Eric's advance permission. ***

If you are now or have ever been Mormon, please help with a class project by taking this VERY brief anonymous survey (and a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card). It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to complete.
We need as many responses as possible, so please feel free to forward and cross-post! THANKS!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGJYDPD

-- We are aware of the contention with the Word of Wisdom question, but we chose this specific wording for a reason because we're interested in responses as members/former members themselves personally interpret it!

-- Also, we've received several questions regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia not being on the list... you are more than welcome to list those in the "Other" box if you like, BUT we only listed diseases "officially" recognized as autoimmune by NIH (National Institutes of Health) and AARDA (American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association) because those are the only ones included in their research and statistics. Comparing apples to apples, if you will.

I did it for myself, but wish I could have answered on behalf of my husband and one son. Both had an autoimmune disease and both died from complications of it.

I did the survey, I have an autoimmune disease. What are you trying to show with your study? I would be interested to know how the project turns out.

We're looking to see whether adhering to the Word of Wisdom actually has negative effects on members' health, since tea, red wine and coffee are proven to contain anti-inflammatory compounds. This particular study cannot make a definite causative link, particularly with the way the WoW question is worded, but the goal is to see whether there is enough of a possibility to warrant further and more in-depth studies.

Like it actually matters. I tried reasoning with my husband (me being a neverMo) that there really isn't anything wrong with drinking black tea, but he says it's more about just blindly obeying God.

I hear you! I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease myself and was ordered by my specialist to begin drinking green tea daily. My family was horrified and several of them actually told me that it would be better for me in God's eyes to die from my illness than to "pollute" my body with tea.

Their own documents promise EARTHLY health benefits from following the WoW: http://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-81-89/section-89-the-word-of-wisdom?lang=eng

This is definitely an "official" church source. Scroll down to "D&C 89:2. How Does the Word of Wisdom Show the Will of God in Man’s Temporal Salvation?" and read --
"...Some of the temporal benefits resulting from obedience to the Word of Wisdom are better health and vitality, strength, and endurance (see Brigham Young’s promise in Journal of Discourses, 12:156); greater strength to avoid such physical sins as unchastity (see Grant, Gospel Standards, p. 55); a savings in money not spent on harmful substances (see Grant, Gospel Standards, pp. 50–52); and greater resistance to many of the diseases that attack the body."

I find it rather humorous.

That sounds like my mom. My doctor told me to have one drink a day, wine or whatever I wanted. I was telling my brother and she overheard and immediately said well you aren't going to do that right? I said it really helps me feel better, she said well you can't because it's against the WW. I just looked at her dumbfounded, she would rather I be sick and in pain than break some stupid made up rule!

Thanks. Just a suggestion, I think the word of wisdom question is a bit vague, maybe you could break it up a bit. I would separate smoking from the tea & coffee as smoking has been shown to be a trigger for some autoimmune diseases. Happy to see these kinds of studies we need all the help we can get!!

Yes, we are currently leaving it vague on purpose. This is just an initial "feeler" survey to determine whether or not the topic warrants a deeper investigation... which would result in a longer survey with more detailed questions.

+1

Anecdotally, I feel a lot better after a cup of joe, and it isn't just the caffeine, because the caffeinated sodas and energy drinks make me feel like shit. I have yet to know why this is, but I don't argue with my body anymore.

You may want to consider additional factors. There are other groups which likewise abstain from alcohol, tea, and coffee, but who may be encouraged in some way to take other foods and drinks which are rich in antioxidants, and therefore may not exhibit the signs of or develop diseases caused by antioxidant deficiency.

For example: Some followers of Vedic faith traditions voluntarily abstain from alcohol, tea, and coffee. But the Vedic tradition promotes vegetarianism. The Bhagavad-gita (17.7-10) also recommends consumption of fresh and healthy foods, and with fruits and leaves (Bg 9.26) especially mentioned. Following this may result in consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables which may prevent antioxidant deficiency even despite the lack of inclusion of alcohol, tea, and coffee in the diet.

You are correct that there are many groups with dietary codes, including Seventh-day Adventists, Orthodox Jews, and Rastafarians, among others. To consider all variables involved would require a very comprehensive (expensive) study that would never be undertaken without an initial exploratory survey such as this one. This is not meant to cover all possibilities in any depth.

That's true. Understood that this survey is merely an initial exploratory study. Just suggesting some possible considerations for further study. :-)

I decided to take the survey since despite being a Never-Mo, I have inadvertently followed the WoW all my life. Unfortunately, once I got to question #7 "Have you ever been LDS?", it was "Thanks for playing; don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2013 04:15PM by mysid.

I did it and sent it to my mother. She is crippled with gout, but none of her nonmo siblings or children have it.

Survey doesn't allow for Children...I did not suffer from an autoimmune disease, but my daughter did and ultimately died from it. We were active LDS her entire life. Questions only ask about individual taking the test no their children.

Pathway, my condolences on the loss of your daughter. You can take the survey on her behalf -- just be sure to note that in the comment box at the end. (You will likely need to use a different computer because the survey is set up to accept only one per IP address.)

will do

Bumping up for more exposure.

Bumping again... we'd like to get at least 50 more responses, if possible. THANK YOU to all who have contributed, and please feel free to forward the link to any members you think may be interested.

Bumping up one last time for the Sunday School crowd. ;-)

I just took the survey. I also provided a little anectdotal info about my case. I definitely beleive that the stress associated with living a strict LDS lifestyle aggrevates and, in some cases, causes autoimmune disorders. I'm glad to see someone investing the subject. Good luck with your study.

Thank you, Guatemango Verde. And you bring up an EXCELLENT point about the stress! Research is showing links between chronic stress and resulting hypocortisolism (low cortisol production in the adrenals), often associated with autoimmune factors.

Do you have any links to that research? I've determined on my own that I have cortisol issues (how my physical and mental states interacted with various medications, etc), I would love to read more.

I'm sorry to hear about your cortisol issues. :-( There are quite a few links, but a good place to start is:

How stress influences the immune response
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147149060300173X

How Stress Influences Disease: Study Reveals Inflammation as the Culprit
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402162546.htm

The diagnosis and staging of hypocortisolism in progressing autoimmune adrenalitis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6316243

Chronic exposure to stress predisposes to higher autoimmune susceptibility in C57BL/6 mice: glucocorticoids as a double-edged sword.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23255172

Israeli Study Links Chronic Stress and Autoimmune Disorders
http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/israeli-study-links-chronic-stress-and-autoimmune-disorders/14375

The Hypocortisolism in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) – Artifact or Central Factor?
http://phoenixrising.me/research-2/the-pharmacogenomics-papers/the-hypocortisolism-in-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-artifact-or-central-factor

The diagnosis and staging of hypocortisolism in progressing autoimmune adrenalitis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6316243


I would also suggest going to Google Scholar (like this link I've provided here): http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=chronic+stress+autoimmune&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C44&as_sdtp=
You can also try other search terms like cortisol, hypocortisolism, adrenal, etc



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2013 01:35PM by AngelCowgirl.

Wow! Thanks. Gives me some light bedside reading ;)

Well, it's far more interesting than the Book of Mormon, anyway! Not to mention that there is actual scientific evidence for it... ;-)