I am sure that you all have heard of autoimmune disease or at least know someone who is suffering from one. You may even be suffering from an autoimmune disease yourself. Today, it is estimated that 1 in 5 people suffer from an autoimmune disease such as celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is actually possible to develop an autoimmune attack on anything in the body. Autoimmune disease occurs when an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues that are normally present. The immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks its own cells as if they are a foreign invader. Why does this happen? What causes auto-immunity?There are several factors that can lead to the weakening of the immune barriers in our bodies. These barriers include the gut, respiratory system and the blood brain barrier. Things like poor diet, blood sugar dysregulation, chronic gut infection, toxicity and adrenal stress weaken those barriers. Processed foods, pharmaceuticals, refined foods and alcohol can cause inflammation, allergies or intolerances and further break down these barriers. Diet and digestion are critical factors in maintaining proper health and immune function. 

Digestion is the process of breaking down food and absorbing the nutrients they have to offer. Once food has been swallowed, hydrochloric acid in the stomach digests bacteria, viruses, parasites the same way it does other protein. Then the food moves into the small intestine where 90% of those nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Nutrients that are absorbed are filtered by the lymphatic system. The remaining digested food, now called chyme, moves into the large intestine where healthy bowel flora offset the effects of and “bad” bacteria that might remain in the chyme.

When there is too little hydrochloric acid, proteins are left partially digested or undigested, thus some microbes survive and reproduce. These undigested proteins and microbes move into the small intestine damaging the intestinal wall resulting in tiny holes. These protein and microbe substances can now move through the holes and into the bloodstream. The nutritional proteins now appear as a foreign invader and trigger an immune response. This is called leaky gut. The microbes moving into the large intestine can overpower the healthy bowel flora, leading to an overgrowth of Candida, parasites, fungus and bad bacteria.

Other causes of intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, include lack of breastfeeding during infancy, poor dietary habits such as consumption of alcoholic beverages, chronic stress, antibiotic use, aspirin and all other NSAIDS. When the gut is compromised, microorganisms diminish IgA numbers and reduce Neutrophils and Macrophages, the immune system. The gut needs Neutrophils and Macrophages to protect itself from viruses and pathogenic bacterial invaders in the digestive system.

Leaky gut contributes to allergies, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and progressive degeneration. So, what can be done to help fight against auto-immunity? Dealing with the foundations of health first. These include digestion, blood sugar regulation, fatty acid balance, mineral balance and hydration. All of these rest upon eating a nutrient-dense properly prepared diet. After a few months of focusing on the foundations of health and emphasizing diet and digestion, these other factors can be considered; eating a low glycemic diet, avoiding food sensitivities and allergies, repairing leaky gut, improving gut flora, maintaining vitamin D sufficiency, detoxification. A gluten free and casein/dairy free diet or GAPS diet have shown to improve autoimmunity. Also, removing the antigen – fungus, virus, bacteria – that is provoking the chronic immune response.

Adding in gut healing foods can help to heal the gut. These foods include bone broth, raw cultured dairy, fermented vegetables, coconut products and sprouted seeds. Adding supplements like probiotics and digestive enzymes can also introduce healthy bacteria into the gut and aid in digestion.