Medical professionals have identified 100 different autoimmune disorders that affect 10% of the global population. These numbers have climbed to record highs in recent years, with new diagnoses growing around 19.1% per year.
Every autoimmune disorder expresses itself differently, but there are several similarities we don’t often discuss.
If you look a little closer, you might see the common denominator.
And in case you haven’t guessed by now, it goes back to metabolic health.
The biggest links between autoimmune disorders
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system attacks your body. There are many different ways this can manifest in your system, although the vast majority of diagnoses share the following similarities:
Joint pain
When we think about joint-related autoimmune conditions, we typically think of Rheumatoid or Psoriatic arthritis. However, there are many other autoimmune diseases resulting in painful or swollen joints, including Lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, fibromyalgia, and more.
Joint pain is typically a side effect of inflammation, which is a protective response to damaged tissue. But as your body continues to attack structures in your joints and muscles, it’s forced to stay in a near-constant state of inflammation.
Skin conditions
As many as 25% of people living with autoimmune disorders will eventually develop another disorder. Interestingly, chances are high that at least one of them will be a skin disease such as psoriasis, scleroderma, or dermatomyositis.
Let’s look at vitiligo, for example, which causes a loss of pigment in skin. Studies now show it’s a comorbid disorder for 23% of patients — which means it’s one in four times more likely to appear alongside other autoimmune conditions such as:
- Glaucoma
- Type 1 diabetes
- Thyroid disease
Gut and digestive issues
Since 80% of our immune system is located in our gut, it’s no surprise that autoimmune disorders typically result in digestive problems. Patients with Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, are 70% more likely to develop an upper GI issue compared to healthy individuals. They’re also 50% more likely to develop a lower GI issue such as diverticulitis or Crohn’s disease.
Patients suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis are also at higher risk for chronic diseases. IBS and IBD are some of the most common illnesses linked to autoimmune disorders.
How to solve 99% of autoimmune disorders
If autoimmune conditions share common triggers and causations, it’s reasonable to assume there is a common healing factor as well.
Again, all diagnoses are slightly different. No two people express the same symptoms or underlying factors.
But studies show a clear common denominator: that people can manage or reverse their autoimmune disorders after they reclaim their metabolic health.
I’ll let the research speak for itself:
- Patients who report poor metabolic health may experience more pain with arthritic conditions. Interestingly, patients following a Mediterranean or ketogenic diet may experience less pain and reverse some symptoms in nine weeks.
- Studies have found a strong correlation between metabolic syndrome and skin conditions, especially vitiligo and psoriasis. However, a ketogenic diet may be able to reduce the inflammation, pain, and swelling of these conditions.
- Research suggests that changes in gut microbiota will also cause changes in autoimmune health. Most changes in our microbiota stem from processed food — and decreasing consumption promotes bacterial homeostasis, which reduces the effects of autoimmune disease
Joint pain, skin conditions, and digestive disorders may be perfectly treatable if you restore your metabolic health.
The good news is, you can get started today.
Here are the basic steps I recommend:
Eat whole, real food
Whole, real food is as simple as it gets: ideally one ingredient, and ideally not in a box.
Remember: processed food is strongly linked to the development of autoimmune conditions. Whole, real food, however, has quite the opposite effect. Studies show that diets of raw, whole food may help to treat autoimmune conditions such as Systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome.
For even faster results, choose a low-carb, whole food diet. Case studies show that 89% of autoimmune patients on the carnivore diet either improved or reversed their condition in under six months.
Cut sugar from your diet
The amount of sugar you cut will depend on your current diet. That said, if you have a diagnosed autoimmune condition, you may want to be stricter for best results.
When I say ‘sugar,’ I’m referring to real and artificial sweeteners, including sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin. Both real and fake sugars can disrupt your gut microbiota, so working your way up to an elimination diet may be a good idea.
That’s not to say you should eliminate all sugar at once. Many of my patients slowly wean themselves off. Once they’re down to low or no sugar, they reintroduce certain foods like fruit.
I highly recommend buying a CGM to get a better idea of how your body responds to sugar.
Get moving every day
Regular exercise leads to less inflammation, more muscle tissue, and a lower risk of obesity (which is directly linked with autoimmune disorders). I recommend as much strength training as possible, but there’s nothing wrong with walking or other cardiovascular activities.
You don’t necessarily have to purchase a gym membership. It’s entirely possible to get enough movement with house chores, gardening, or a YouTube workout video.
You don’t even need to have a 60-minute block of time. Studies have found that continuous movement — or little increments of exercise throughout the day — has a far better impact on your metabolic health than an isolated hour at the gym.
Make a meaningful difference in your autoimmune condition
If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, I want you to know that there is help and hope. You have the power to change your health and wellness goals — you just need the right research and a plan of action to get started.
My health coaching community focuses on autoimmunity treatments through the month of November. This year, we’re planning on sharing new research, discussing recent case studies, and hosting talks with medical professionals.
If you’d like to learn more or are interested in getting involved, you’re welcome to take a closer look at my Heart Health Hub community.
