To put it simply, autoimmunity is when a person's own immune system begins to attack healthy tissue in the body, causing chronic inflammation. Autoimmunity is a term that groups together numerous diseases referred to as autoimmune diseases. These diseases can be organ specific or systemic, including Grave's disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's, Type 1 diabetes, Coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, and the list goes on. While the cause and symptoms of these autoimmune diseases vary, the underlying result is always chronic inflammation.
What is the Cause?
That is a tricky question and there is still a lot unknown about the aetiology of autoimmune disease, however, the prevailing theory for causation is that there first needs to be a genetic susceptibility. In order for that genetic susceptibility to be switched on, it needs a trigger. Triggers can range from bacterial and viral infections, to heavy chemical exposure, or stressful or traumatic psychological events. Interestingly, women tend to suffer from autoimmune diseases significantly more than men, with research pointing to a hormonal trigger. One interesting finding is that autoimmune diseases in women often flare up at certain times of the menstrual, particularly before menstruation, and can subside during pregnancy. A hormonal link is clear, however, understanding on the exact mechanism is still immature.
"All disease begins in the gut" - Hippocrates
Now, we cannot talk about autoimmune disease without also talking about the gut. That is because 80% of our immune system resides in the gastrointestinal system. The obvious reason is that, apart from our skin, our gastrointestinal system is the main barrier between our insides and the outside world. Everyday it comes into contact with a whole host of unwanted pathogens and toxins, needing an army at the ready to protect us against those unwanted invaders. The beneficial gut bacteria found throughout our gastrointestinal system play a crucial and irreplaceable role in maintaining the balance of our immune system, communicating directly to our immune system cells. If this unique and vital relationship becomes compromised, it can lead to immune dysregulation, and in turn the potential development of an autoimmune disease. More and more research is uncovering the link between the gut, immune dysregultation and autoimmune disease.
Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Disease
The largest disturber to the health of the gut is increased intestinal permeability, or 'leaky gut' which fuels continuous low grade inflammation in the body. Increased intestinal permeability as been shown to be implicated in several autoimmune disease. Compromise to the tight gap junctions in the epithelial lining of the GIT allows unwanted entry of large proteins, toxins and other foreign bodies into the blood stream which then induces an immune response. We don't want these pathogens to end up in the blood stream, as there they can cause extensive destruction and immune system deregulation, contributing to the development of an autoimmune disease.
What can you do about it?
1. Heal the gut
Eat fermented foods rich in probiotics e.g. Kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, Kombucha tea and tempeh. Fermented foods are particularly bioavailable compared to probiotic supplements. The bacteria in these foods help to maintain the integrity of the gut lining, modulate inflammation, and balance the body's pH.
Eat prebiotic rich foods. Prebiotics' are the favoured fuel source for your beneficial gut bacteria. Eat plenty of leeks, garlic, onions, and artichokes to boost your good gut bacteria, and help maintain the integrity of your gut.
Help to heal the damaged gut lining by supplementing with glutamine, slippery elm and probiotics.
2. Reduce inflammation
Remove inflammatory foods. Trans-fats, often found in processed foods like biscuits, sausage rolls, and long shelf-life pasteries, have been shown to increase inflammatory markers in the body.
Improve the balance of omega 6 to omega 3, which has been shown to be highly unbalanced at 10-15:1 in the western world. Correcting this imbalance can have significant effects on inflammation and reducing symptoms in autoimmune patients. Start by removing processed foods from your diet and supplementing with a good quality fish oil.
3. Increase antioxidants
Antioxidants have the ability to block pro-inflammatory mechanisms.
Curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric, has demonstrated significant therapeutic effects in a wide range of autoimmune diseases. Include turmeric in your cooking as much as possible, and supplement with a good curcumin complex.
Include an abundance of colourful fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet every day. Make vegetables a part of every meal and get creative. Cooking methods affect the antioxidants in your veggies so stick to raw or lightly steamed veg as much as possible.
While it is important to note that there are other factors at play when it comes to autoimmune disease, like stress levels and chemical load, simple dietary changes and supplemental interventions can have a significant effect on the severity of autoimmune disease symptoms, and can greatly improve quality of life.