Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably been hearing all the links between dis-ease and gut health.
And for good reason.
It's LITERALLY all related.
One my former clients reached out to me today to ask about an autoimmune called Grave's Dis-ease. Her mother and grandmother both struggled with it and now her doctor believes she may have it as well.
Is it true that something can be 'hereditary' in such a way?
Well, that's a slightly complicated subject.
See, while YES you may have a genetic propensity for something...
It's NOT as simple as a gene dooming you to a particular condition.
Genes can be signaled (aka turned on or off by how we eat, how we think, and how we live). So while we may have the 'gene' for something, we can prevent it from turning on by living a life that's congruent with optimal health.
And with autoimmune it's no different.
What most people don't know is that autoimmune BEGINS in the gut.
It STARTS as inflammtion caused by:
-chronic stress
-a diet high in ultra-processed foods
-glyphosate-infested foods
-pasturized dairy
-cheap vegetable oils
-multiple rounds of antibiotics
-heavy metals
-heavy glutens
-artificial colors/sweeteners
-and toxins in skin care, hair care, cleaning products, scented candles, ari fresheners, microplastics, and the likes.
Here's where things get tricky...
This silent inflammation can FEEL like anxiety, seasonal allergies, or food intollerances so it often goes mis-diagnosed.
As that inflammation remains unchecked, it starts to impact both how the body breaks down food AND how the gut allows food to pass into the blood stream.
See, you have what's called 'tight junctions' in your intestines that allow nutrients to pass through while keeping the fecal matter in.
BUT when your gut is inflammed, those junctions open up and allow fecal matter to get through too.
If this happens occasionally, it isn't much of an issue but when it's a chronic matter, that's where we run into trouble!
See, these fecal molecules (specifially broken down glutens) slightly "appear" like human cells so the body gets confused.
The immune system knows this shouldn't be happening so on occasion it will attack these cells to keep the body from getting sick.
When this happens consistently over time though, the body learns to attack ALL cells that appear in this same manner becuase it's being trained to attack.
Meaning, cells that are normal, humans cells begin to get attacked too.
Such is the beginning of autoimmune.
Hence, it can be reveresed if certain protocols are followed.
Simply put, leaky gut begets autoimmune.
Naturally...
Fix your gut, reverse the cause of the symptoms.
This was what I did so many years ago when I was diagnosed with autoimmune.
It took a few years to really teach my body that it didn't need to keep attacking itself but eventually, it stopped.
If you're struggling with autoimmune, I FEEL you.
It's disheartening when it feels like you'll be doomed for life.
But there is hope.
While conventional medicine will simply treat the symptoms (aka mask them with pills), to learn how to reverse it, you may need to devote a good deal of time and energy into the healing journey to identify:
-Why the conditions started in the first place
-Which emotions and beliefs are feeding the ailment
-What gut imbalances need to be addressed
-And WHO you will be once you have healed (this is the one I find most people never fully grasp...which is why they never heal)
If think you may have gut inflammation, start by cleaning up your diet, removing processed foods, avoid alcohol, and practice stress management.
Soothe your gut with healthy foods and a healthy lifestyle.
For most minor issues, that usually does the trick.
If you're suffering with a little more of an advanced case, Naturopaths like myself can support you in creating a protocol that's unique to you.
You don't have to go it alone.
References:
https://doctordoni.com/2015/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
*Information in this article is meant for educational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical advice. If you have questions about what path is right for you, please consult your healthcare professional.