Autoimmune conditions have exploded over the last few decades, with an estimated 50 million Americans suffering from an autoimmune disease.
Many struggling with autoimmune diseases wait for years to find out why they’re sick, then, once they finally receive a diagnosis, are left with few options through traditional medicine.
Today there are close to 100 recognized autoimmune diseases, and an additional 40 disease processes that have an autoimmune component.
Autoimmune diseases include:
- Autoimmune spectrum disorders
- Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s)
- Autism
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
- And many more
What is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease develops when your immune system decides your healthy cells are foreign. It's a case of mistaken identity. As a result, your immune system attacks healthy cells. It can cause abnormal organ growth and changes in organ function.
Many of the diseases have similar symptoms, which makes them very difficult to diagnose. It’s also possible to have more than one at the same time. Autoimmune diseases usually fluctuate between periods of remission (little or no symptoms) and flare-ups (worsening symptoms).
What causes autoimmune disease?
Research suggests that genetics account for about one-third of autoimmune disease factors. Environmental factors, diet, and lifestyle make up the remaining two-thirds and are largely responsible for these diseases.
This means that you can proactively help balance your immune system, lessen the inflammatory attacks, and work to put the autoimmune response into remission with changes in your environmental factors, diet and lifestyle.
These changes depend on the specific autoimmune disease and the specific factors causing the attacks.
What Should You Do Now?
If you’re struggling with symptoms of an autoimmune disease, here are some specific steps to consider taking:
- Get Your Nutrient Levels Checked
A good place to start is having detailed blood labs done to see where your nutrient levels are. We suggest comprehensive labs that give a better idea of nutrient deficiencies that can go undetected on standard labs that you may have performed previously. I frequently hear from people who are told by their doctor each year "good news, all your labs are normal." This is incredibly frustrating when you know you don't feel well.
- Find Out If You Have Nutrient Absorption Issues
You might be eating all the right foods, but just not properly absorbing them. Comprehensive labs that detect food sensitivities, intolerance, and absorption issues are recommended to determine whether these issues may exist.
- Avoid Your Trigger Foods
With autoimmune problems, you can have an immune response from virtually any food. Again, comprehensive labs that detect food sensitivities and intolerances along with trigger foods that cause autoimmune responses are recommended to determine this.
If you want to learn more about your state of health, please check out our Free Initial Consult. We offer in person, phone and even webcam consultations to people across the globe.
