~~In my last two articles on autoimmunity I have given you an overview of the various ways that your own immune system, which is designed to protect you, begins instead to attack you. This occurs through no fault of the immune system itself. It is however due to many of the things that you are doing wrong, which in turn switch on or off specific genes. Thus begins the progressively worsening process of assault against specific glands, organs, or tissues in the body. This also occurs through no fault of the tissues in the body, but they do as a result, come under this attack which leads to the gradual and progressive breakdown of these defenseless structures.
The type of tissues which are attacked varies greatly. The immune system might begin its assault on one specific tissue like for example the joints, as in a condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Or, the initial tissue of choice might be the bowel as is the case in Crohn's Disease. The common link in each one of these cases is that the initial attack eventually spreads to other sites. This may occur early in the autoimmune attack or later, but it will invariably occur. This is the case in the instance of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is the most common diagnosis for anyone who has been labeled with "hypothyroidism" or an underactive, or sluggish thyroid. The common partner of attack by the immune system in this case is the bowel. This bowel assault by the immune system may occur prior to when the autoimmune thyroid condition begins, or afterward, but it will typically occur in concert with it.
So, now that you have a better understanding of the process of an autoimmune disorder, what do we do about it?
I want you to understand that in the world of functional medicine we do not plan to suppress the immune system as is done in the conventional medical world. There will be no recommendation for the use of chemotherapeutic drugs to dampen the immune response. The reason for this is very simple. You see, the immune system is doing nothing wrong. It is simply responding in a totally responsible way to the mess that the host has created through his or her inappropriate lifestyle. That lifestyle may include a horrible diet consisting of toxic amounts of sugar, trans-fats, artificial sweeteners, soft drinks laden with toxic amounts of these substances, and grain based carbohydrates. That person may also not move at all during the day, which itself will up-regulate (turn on) "bad genes", or down-regulate (turn off) "good genes". They may not sleep enough (7 to 9 hours per night), and as a result through sleep deprivation cause early onset Alzheimer's, diabetes, and obesity. They may in fact have excessive stress in their lives, which in turn will lower their immune response, increase weight gain, heighten sensitivity to pain, and alter overall brain function.
As those of you who have studied my teachings over the past 30 years will recognize, I just listed the "Four Pillars of Health". That's right, your "Eat Right, Think Right, Move Right, and Sleep Right" were all just listed out for you.
So, what is the one thing that begins the healing process for anyone who suffers from an autoimmune condition, or who is in the process of creating one? That "one thing" is to "PUT OUT THE FIRE"! That's right, you need to reduce the overall "Inflammatory Load" with which the body has become burdened. "And just how do I do this?" you may ask. Well you must start nipping away at the "Four Pillars".
Let's start with the simplest things first. "STOP EATING THOSE INFLAMMATION FEEDING GRAIN BASED FOODS THAT ARE SO PREVALENT IN OUR STANDARD AMERICAN DIET (S.A.D.)!"
That is all that I want you to work on right now. Get them out of your diet, and substitute healthy raw (as much as possible) green leafy vegetables in your daily dietary regimen.
I hear the subtle, but predictable whining that I always hear from my patients in the Center coming from many of you right now; "But what about breakfast? What will I eat for breakfast if I can't eat cereal?" Whaa, Whaa, Whaa!!!! Stop whining! I truly wish the Kellogg brothers had never started their breakfast cereal revolution in Battle Creek, Michigan, which brainwashed every American into believing that cereal was the only food that could be consumed before noon every day.
Well, here is a newsflash for you. You can eat meat, eggs, yogurt, nuts, nut butters, berries, various fruits, and yes vegetables for breakfast. These foods will all reduce inflammation. Unlike the inflammation creating and sustaining grain based foods like "breakfast cereals". Not to mention all of the added refined sugars that are added to these food products. Oh, and remember to drink antioxidant rich, inflammation reducing green tea, preferably organic, for breakfast also.
So, I want you all to make that one change today. Whether you are suffering from a "diagnosed" autoimmune condition or not. Believe it or not if you have not yet been diagnosed, it is coming if your lifestyle doesn't change.