November is Crohn’s & Colitis awareness month. According to Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, 1 in 150 Canadians are living with these life-challenging autoimmune diseases. This ratio is scary! I am seeing more and more suffering clients and students in my consultation and nutritional teaching practice every day.
To develop an autoimmune disease, three factors need to be present:
1. Genetic susceptibility
2. A trigger
3. Increased intestinal permeability, or what is known as leaky gut.
Science has proven that having a gene that pre-disposes you to certain disease does not mean you will get it. The environment you live in, the food you eat and the lifestyle you lead play major roles in disease development. So, let’s look at the other 2 factors, then.
Aside from Celiac disease that is triggered by gluten in the diet, science know very little -if any- about the trigger in other autoimmune diseases. And, although not all autoimmune diseases are triggered by gluten, it is well worth the try. So, if you suffer from any autoimmune disease like Crohn, Ulcerative Colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Hashimoto or multiple sclerosis try to get completely off gluten for at least 2 months and see if your symptoms improve. This may be the key to your healing or at least one step forward.
Other common triggers I see in my practice are corn, soy and dairy and needless to say all synthetic chemicals, preservative, additives, GMO crops, pesticides and herbicides that are present in our food. These can turn on the autoimmune switch in susceptible individuals.
The best way to get to the bottom of it is to go on a well-balanced elimination diet that completely remove those triggers from your diet for 2 months then gradually re-introduce them while monitoring your symptoms. The diet should be very well balanced and designed by your nutritionist or your health care provider to avoid any deficiencies.
The third factor involved in autoimmune disease is leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability. This means that the tight junctions in the lining of your intestine get compromised so they let little molecules leak into the blood stream triggering your immune system. The exact causes behind why they mal-function is not well-known but some of the reasons could be:
1. Genetic susceptibility
2. A trigger
3. Increased intestinal permeability, or what is known as leaky gut.
Science has proven that having a gene that pre-disposes you to certain disease does not mean you will get it. The environment you live in, the food you eat and the lifestyle you lead play major roles in disease development. So, let’s look at the other 2 factors, then.
Aside from Celiac disease that is triggered by gluten in the diet, science know very little -if any- about the trigger in other autoimmune diseases. And, although not all autoimmune diseases are triggered by gluten, it is well worth the try. So, if you suffer from any autoimmune disease like Crohn, Ulcerative Colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Hashimoto or multiple sclerosis try to get completely off gluten for at least 2 months and see if your symptoms improve. This may be the key to your healing or at least one step forward.
Other common triggers I see in my practice are corn, soy and dairy and needless to say all synthetic chemicals, preservative, additives, GMO crops, pesticides and herbicides that are present in our food. These can turn on the autoimmune switch in susceptible individuals.
The best way to get to the bottom of it is to go on a well-balanced elimination diet that completely remove those triggers from your diet for 2 months then gradually re-introduce them while monitoring your symptoms. The diet should be very well balanced and designed by your nutritionist or your health care provider to avoid any deficiencies.
The third factor involved in autoimmune disease is leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability. This means that the tight junctions in the lining of your intestine get compromised so they let little molecules leak into the blood stream triggering your immune system. The exact causes behind why they mal-function is not well-known but some of the reasons could be:
- Increased inflammation of the intestinal lining. This could be caused by many factors like poor dietary choices, low fibers, some medications side effects, nutrient deficiency, food intolerance, hormonal imbalance, stress, and increased toxins in the body…
- Imbalance in the gut flora caused by the reduced number of beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of bad bacteria, yeast, and/or parasites (a condition known as dysbiosis). This also could be caused by many factors like antibiotics, too much sugar in the diet, low nutrients and fibers intake…
So, my advice to any of you who suffer from autoimmune disease work with a qualified health professional to start an elimination diet and ask him/her to help you dig for the root causes that triggered the gut inflammation and permeability.
And, above all, please know that your body has an amazing power to heal… Don’t fall under any ‘label’ they gave you and never ever give up hope… I have seen miracle recoveries over and over again in my 10 years of practice… Take back responsibility of your health and start your healing journey today.
And, above all, please know that your body has an amazing power to heal… Don’t fall under any ‘label’ they gave you and never ever give up hope… I have seen miracle recoveries over and over again in my 10 years of practice… Take back responsibility of your health and start your healing journey today.
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