Today we are going to explain the difference between autoimmunity and autoimmune disease (yes, there is actually a difference) and how diet modification can help get your immune system back on track again!   Of course we have a customized plan for your autoimmunity, they Autoimmune diet! Autoimmune disease is the biggest health problem facing our country today and probably the least understood. This is a pretty heavy claim to make, but consider the following; according to the AARDA; American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association; 50 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease! Just to put this into perspective, 31 million Americans suffer from cancer and heart disease combined according to the National Institutes of Health. Autoimmune disease is a bigger health problem than heart disease and cancer combined! Researchers have now identified up to 100 different autoimmune diseases and believe at least 40 more will be identified in the future. How can science and medicine possibly keep up with an immune system disorder that can cause over 140 different diseases!

The Autoimmune Diet and Functional Medicine

The autoimmune diet, as advised by functional medicine doctors, is a dietary approach aimed at reducing inflammation and supporting individuals with autoimmune conditions. It typically involves eliminating foods that are known to trigger immune responses or exacerbate inflammation, such as gluten, dairy, grains, legumes, processed foods, refined sugars, and nightshade vegetables. Instead, the focus is on consuming nutrient-dense whole foods, including a variety of vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and herbs. Additionally, the diet may emphasize foods rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, ginger, and green leafy vegetables. By following an autoimmune diet, individuals aim to calm the immune system, reduce inflammation, support gut health, and alleviate symptoms associated with autoimmune conditions. It’s important to note that the specifics of the diet may vary based on individual needs and sensitivities, and consultation with a functional medicine practitioner is recommended for personalized guidance and support.  Learn more about the autoimmune diet, autoimmunity and functional medicine now.

Heart Disease and The Importance Of Food Selection

Our focus can’t be on how to cure autoimmune disease; that approach has not worked with any of our major diseases. Heart disease is still the number one cause of death in spite of decades of cholesterol-lowering drug use and we still don’t have a cure for cancer. Diabetes continues to grow at an alarming rate even though we have countless drugs to “manage” this disease. We don’t even have a cure for the common cold or flu! Researchers have had decades to study and attempt to cure these other diseases and now they are faced with their biggest challenge of all; autoimmune disease. You may not be aware of this fact, but autoimmune disease has now become one of the leading causes of death in female children and women up to the age of 64 according to the AARDA .This condition not only robs individuals of their quality of life; it is killing them. We can’t wait around hoping for cures to be developed and this is where functional medicine comes in to the scene; we need to do all we can to prevent and manage this condition right now, and diet can play a significant role. Traditional medicine has only one solution for autoimmune disease; immune system suppression. This form of treatment can lead to significant health problems including cancer and death; it does not address the underlying mechanisms that cause the disorder.

What is autoimmunity?

Autoimmunity is a condition where the immune system begins to focus on and attack the tissues of the body. Just like when you have the cold or flu, your immune system launches an attack on the virus that has invaded your body. With autoimmunity, the body itself becomes the “enemy” and target. According to the AARDA, a close genetic relationship exists among autoimmune disease and this helps explain why it can run in families. However, genetics is only one piece of the puzzle and probably the least important factor to consider. Why? Because you can’t change your genetics! There is a more significant aspect to autoimmune disease that gives us insight into its prevention and more effective management. Before we get into that, let’s consider the difference between autoimmunity and autoimmune disease.

How does Autoimmunity differ from Autoimmune Disease?

Have you been interested in understanding if you have an autoimmune disease?  If you have been researching autoimmune disease you probably have not seen information that establishes a vital distinction between autoimmunity and autoimmune disease. Dr. Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D. is professor of pathology and molecular microbiology and immunology and director of the Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. She has made this revealing distinction: “I imply that there is autoimmunity without autoimmune disease. In fact, we know that autoimmunity is not at all uncommon and that it exists in all of us. Every one of us has some degree of autoimmunity naturally, and it does not seem to do us any harm. It is in fact, only a minority of cases where autoimmunity actually produces damage in the body, producing disease.” Based on this information, there is autoimmunity, which we all have to some degree and then autoimmune disease. When autoimmunity gets out of control, it starts to create damage to body tissues; this is autoimmune disease.

This is a very important distinction to make; we all deal with some level of autoimmunity; what we need to prevent is this turning into an autoimmune disease. This becomes very important in the prevention of autoimmune disease, especially in families. Just because autoimmune disease runs in your family, it does not mean that you or your children will get it. So how can you possibly prevent or manage existing disease? Let’s look at the two key factors that lead to the development of all autoimmune diseases.

How can the autoimmune diet help?

An autoimmune diet can help manage autoimmune diseases by reducing inflammation, supporting gut health, and potentially alleviating symptoms associated with autoimmune conditions. By eliminating foods that may trigger immune responses or exacerbate inflammation, such as gluten, dairy, processed foods, and refined sugars, the autoimmune diet aims to calm the immune system and reduce autoimmune activity. Additionally, focusing on nutrient-dense whole foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and herbs, can provide essential nutrients and support overall health.

#1 AUTOIMMUNITY

Each of us contends with varying degrees of autoimmunity, and for some, there’s a heightened genetic predisposition to developing autoimmune conditions. While we cannot alter the genes we inherit, we possess the ability to influence how these genes manifest. This underscores the significance of adopting a functional medicine approach. By prioritizing the enhancement of overall bodily health and modulating gene expression, we fortify our primary defense against autoimmune diseases. Functional medicine empowers individuals to optimize their well-being, thereby mitigating the likelihood of autoimmune conditions and promoting resilience against genetic predispositions. Through personalized interventions tailored to address underlying imbalances and support holistic health, functional medicine offers a proactive strategy for managing autoimmunity and fostering vitality. Looking to treat autoimmune disease naturally? We can help!

#2 IMMUNE TRIGGERS

These are factors in the environment that “trigger” the immune system to launch an aggressive attack on the body; taking you from mild and benign autoimmunity to destructive autoimmune disease.   One of the most important, and modifiable, triggers your immune system is exposed to is your diet. The foods you eat everyday may be carrying you closer and closer to developing an autoimmune disease. If you already have an autoimmune disease, changing your diet can be a very effective method of calming the immune system, reducing your symptoms and preventing the development of additional autoimmune diseases. Once you have one disease you are more susceptible to others. You must remember that the underlying problem is an immune system that is out of balance; it is not regulating itself.

Immune Trigger: Diet

The primary purpose of the immune system is to defend the body from threats. There is one significant potential threat that it must assess and deal with several times each day; the food we put in our bodies. This explains why the majority of your immune system is found along your digestive tract! Our bodies are not organized haphazardly, there is a very good reason why most of your immune system is found along the digestive tract. What goes through the digestive tract? Food does! Let’s look at how food can trigger the immune system…lets imagine, that for whatever reason, your gut immune system does not like it when you eat

dairy products…and you love to eat dairy!  Every time you eat anything made from milk (cheese, yogurt, milk, ice cream, etc.) your immune system has to launch an attack against it. Your poor immune system is fighting this battle, but you are not even aware that this battle is happening! So this goes on day after day, month after month and year after year. Then one day, your immune system is really getting tired because it is not only fighting dairy products but also dealing with some bacteria and viruses that have shown up. So your immune system is struggling to keep all of this straight and not mistake one of your body’s many proteins for an enemy! In the middle of all this confusion, it finally makes a mistake! It labels one of your own body’s proteins as an enemy; and on this day, it happens to be your thyroid gland.  The order has been approved (by mistake) and your immune system starts building an army against that tissue (in this case, your thyroid gland). The immune system has really gone out of balance and now your thyroid has been targeted for destruction.

The Autoimmune Diet Can Pinpoint The Root of The Problem

The point I am trying to make here is this; by identifying foods that constantly trigger your immune system and removing them from the diet, you can help prevent the transition from a healthy and balanced immune system to a state of heightened autoimmunity and finally to autoimmune disease and tissue destruction. This is how dietary changes can help prevent autoimmune disease and significantly improve the lives of those who already have it. The cause of autoimmune disease is an immune system that has been fooled; it has mistaken a friend (your body) for a foe (something dangerous) and does not know it has made this mistake. Imagine you had the best guard dog in the world (your immune system)… his name is Spike… he has been trained to attack anyone wearing the color blue… blue is THE ENEMY! Then one day you come home late and you don’t want to wake anyone so you quietly sneak in the back door…the lights are out and you forgot that you borrowed your friend’s blue jacket (which of course smells like your friend) because you spilled coffee on yours earlier that day. You take just a few steps before Spike launches himself though the air right at you!

Now, is it really Spike’s fault you were attacked? You came in late, its dark, you smell like someone else, you’re sneaking in the back door and wearing blue! This example can be applied to your immune system; stop making it difficult for your immune system (Spike) to differentiate between friend and foe. Your diet could be giving our immune system confusing signals.

With all of the information on the web today, knowing what you should and should not be eating can become confusing. A functional medicine physician can help you create a diet that is more appropriate for your immune system.

Schedule A Consultation To Learn More About The Autoimmune Diet 

If you’re seeking a functional medicine doctor in Chicago, Downers Grove, Oswego, Mokena, Plainfield, Orland Park, St. Charles, or Naperville, reach out to us today! For further details about functional medicine, autoimmune disease, Dr. Sharon Borkowski or Dr. Sexton, get in touch with our Naperville office or visit napervilleintegratedwellness.com. Remember to conduct thorough research, stay informed, and ask questions. It’s crucial to critically evaluate the source of information, as healthcare content can be misleading or biased, even from reputable sources.