If you’re suffering from an autoimmune disease — whether it’s Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or another illness, you know what a big impact this diagnosis has had on your life. Perhaps you were relieved when you realized that there was a reason behind your physical symptoms.
However, as time goes on you may also start experiencing the emotional effects of your disease. Medication may allow you to lead a normal life in some ways. Deep down, though, you can’t help but have a pity party for yourself every now and then, and what goes better with a party than some junk food?
Unfortunately, that pan of brownies, although giving you temporary happiness, might be just the thing exacerbating your symptoms! Yes, it’s a vicious cycle of eating to feel good and feeling bad from eating. Why is this the case? And why do autoimmune disease patients have to be especially careful about what they eat?
The Gut and Autoimmune Connection
It makes sense that if your autoimmune system is attacking a particular organ, such as your thyroid, you do what you can to promote the health of that organ. However, don’t forget that the core of the problem lies in your immune system. Inflammation has gone awry, and your immune system is no longer functioning properly. How do you fix your immune system?
The truth is, about 70% of your immune system cells reside in your gut. Every day, your body is bombarded with foreign invaders, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and toxic substances. The lymphoid tissue in your gut determines what will permeate the cell walls of the intestine. If you are constantly feeding your gut foreign substances, it may become overworked and send out antibodies when it doesn’t actually need to. Hence, in the flurry of attack, other organs may get caught in friendly fire. So, even though it doesn’t seem like your thyroid or joint symptoms are connected to your gut, they are actually wrapped up in the same issue.
In order for your immune system to work properly, it must be fed nutrients and foods that keep the gut happy. What kinds of foods does this include?
Eating to Make Your Gut and Immune System Happy
You may already know that the protein gluten is harmful to many people. This has to do with its ability to affect the permeability of the intestinal wall. You may have heard the term “leaky gut.” This is often used in reference to people who do not have a true food allergy (they don’t puff up like a blowfish and need a visit to the ER), but who have food sensitivities. This is because the permeability of the intestinal wall has been compromised, and certain foods cannot be broken down properly, so your body sends out inflammation signals. Enter autoimmune disease.
So priority number one is, of course, eliminating gluten. In fact, you’ll want to eliminate all foods that have the tendency to cause inflammation, including processed and refined foods such as sugar, and pretty much everything that comes in a box.
Next, you’ll want to add in plenty of whole, organic foods. The greener the better. This includes kale, broccoli, swiss chard, spinach, bok choy, and lettuce. Fresh fruits also pack a powerful nutritive punch. In addition, make sure to feed your body plenty of foods containing natural probiotics, such as plain yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.
Remember, these changes take time, and you probably won’t be able to quit junk food cold turkey, although there’s nothing wrong with doing so if you can. It likely took some years for your immune system to become as revved up as it is now. So plan on taking some time to calm it back down. However, many patients feel a difference in their symptoms in just a matter of weeks!
While eating properly for your autoimmune disease is important, there are other factors at play in creating a healthy life. To learn more about how to avoid triggering symptoms, what lifestyle changes you can make, and the role inflammation plays, download our latest ebook: Living Well with an Autoimmune Disease. May it bring you good health!
Original article and pictures take www.atlasdrugandnutrition.com site
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