Unmasking Autoimmune Diseases
The hidden battle within many people around the world.
In today's fast-paced world, autoimmune diseases have become a significant concern for many. In fact around 5-10% of the global population according the the World Health Organisation and growing!
These conditions arise when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body. Following on from my previous two blogs on immunity, this blog aims to provide an overview of autoimmune diseases, delve into their causes, and offer practical support for those living with these conditions.
What are Autoimmune Diseases?
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, responsible for defending against harmful substances, mistakenly targets healthy cells and tissues. This abnormal immune response leads to inflammation and damage in various organs and systems. Depending on what organ or system is attacked will be the basis of the autoimmune disease. These diseases can range from being mildly annoying to debilitating. I once met a 32 year old guy who had rheumatoid arthritis and couldn’t get out of bed for almost a year, it was that severe! He was so focused on living a full life, he was able to turn his disease around with lifestyle choices and following an Autoimmune Protocol.
What are some examples of an Autoimmune disease
There are over 100 different autoimmune diseases! A few examples include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, Hashimoto's disease, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease and Psoriasis. This last one is the one I have. Specifically Guttate Psoriasis (rain drops psoriasis). It comes out like little red drops on the body, almost like mosquito bites. It does flare when my immune system is compromised with stress, or a virus or if I haven’t been prioritising my own health. Given all the learning and work I’ve done, particularly with autoimmune Disease, I keep this one at bay almost all of the time.
Unraveling the Causes:
Although the exact causes of autoimmune diseases remain unknown, several factors can contribute to their development. Genetic predisposition plays a role, as certain individuals have a higher likelihood of developing these conditions. My mum has psoriasis. Environmental triggers, such as infections, exposure to certain chemicals, and hormonal imbalances, can also activate autoimmune responses in susceptible individuals. More and more evidence is showing some foods help predispose people. For me it was falling pregnant with my first child that unleashed it.
A flare up I had in early 2021
What can you do to potential help reduce the likelihood of getting an autoimmune disease?
There is absolutely no guaranteed way to prevent autoimmune diseases as their causes are not fully understood. However, you can take a few steps to potentially reduce the likelihood or delay the onset, particularly if it runs in the family. Broadly these are:
Become gluten and dairy free. These ingredients can mess with your stomach lining which might cause leaky gut. Once your gut is leaky, bits of food can get into your blood. You body will then naturally mount an immune response because the food is foreign matter. Sometimes this immune response then mistakes healthy cells as foreign and the disease can come about.
Watch your stress levels. Stress is a big one! Stress elevates inflammation in your body and basically throw things out of whack (technical term!), including your immunity.
Watch out for pro-inflammatory foods like red meat, processed meat, refined grains, processed food on the whole, sugar, fried foods, sweet sodas and of course… alcohol.
What you can do if you have autoimmune disease.
There are many things you can do to help yourself, or others, with autoimmune disease. If you have been diagnosed, you are probably seeing a medical professional. If they are like mine was, they told me to pop a pill, put some steroid cream on the psoriasis and bob’s your uncle. Well he isn’t, and I didn’t. Not to say that all medical professionals are like mine, but you can support yourself more deliberately (alongside your doctor). Here are a few broad ideas below.
Eat nutrient dense food. Whole foods, meats, seafood, vegetables, good fats. Stay away from processed, sugars and the list of foods above.
Look after your gut. Check out my blog on immunity as it talks about gut health.
Balance your hormones. What we eat, when we eat, and how much we eat affects a variety of hormones that interact with the immune system.
Manage stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, thai-chi, deep breathing, and engaging in hobbies to minimize stress levels, which can exacerbate symptoms.
Finally, I’m here to help. If you are interested in getting some real support and discovering the benefits of an Auto Immune Protocol, look no further. Simply click on the link blow to grab a 15min initial chat with me to explore my programme and see if it’s a fit.
Put the mask on yourself first, look after your immune system and thrive again!
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