We depend on our immune system to stay healthy or recover fromillness. Like a trusted friend, it comes rushing to your defense when yourbody is under attack from harmful bacteria or viruses.

However, if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune systembegins to turn on itself, attacking your body’s healthy organs,tissues, nerves, and joints as if they were foreign invaders. This causes anumber of troubling (and frustrating) health issues.

Sadly, in spite of the prevalence of the disease, diagnosis is not alwayseasy. Estimates show that it can take an average of six to ten doctorsand five years to receive an autoimmune diagnosis!

Why is conventional medicine struggling to offer REAL relief to folkswith autoimmune conditions?

Autoimmune Disease - What Is It?

Why Conventional Medicine Often FailsConventional medicine fails to recognize diseases of the immune systemas a whole, but rather disorders of particular organs. For example: if yousuffer from an autoimmune disease, you will likely see several differentspecialists: a endocrinologist for Hashimoto’s; a rheumatologist forrheumatoid arthritis, a gastroenterologist for celiac; and so on.

Rather than treating the body as a whole - figuring out what caused theimmune system to go rogue in the first place and its impact on variousorgans, mainstream medicine treats each symptom separately. Theresult? The root cause of the immune disorder is never addressed, andinstead of supporting the immune system, medications are oftenprescribed that suppress immune function.

In order to find lasting relief from autoimmune symptoms a whole bodyapproach is vital. A key factor in this method of care is understanding therole diet plays in an autoimmune response.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine bethy food,"~ Hipporcates

The approach to health reflected in the words above is one wewholeheartedly subscribe to, and this method is especially importantwhen you've been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

Certain foods are known triggers of inflammation, which often result inan autoimmune response. Keep in mind that you don’t need to beallergic to a food for it to trigger an autoimmune flare. Learning to avoidtrigger foods is an excellent first step in managing your symptoms.

You won't regret taking the time to look beyond conventional medicine,learning to use a whole body approach for lasting relief from yourautoimmune symptoms. Let's get started!

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Ah yes, the infamous"G" word. Today,gluten-free may be anoverused term, but forthose with anautoimmune disorder,the impact of eating itis very real.

In fact, gluten is aknown autoimmunetrigger for some — andit can take up to sixmonths to recoverfrom completely!

Gluten

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Sugar

In recent years the linkbetween sugar andchronic disease hasbeen made well known,and for autoimmunesufferers it's vital toavoid it.

Be careful! So-callednatural sweeteners,such as turbindadosugar and agave nectar,will still trigger animmune response.

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ArtificialSweetenersSince we're on thesubject of sugar, let'schat about artificialsweeteners.

Research now shows alink betweenHashimoto's (anautoimmune disease)and artificial sugars.

Some have even foundthat by simplyeliminating artificialsweeteners and dietsoda their symptomsdisappear.

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SoyIn small amounts soycan be digested withoutcausing harm to thebody. However, thetypical Americandiet contains way toomuch of it.

Soy can not only affectyour hormones, it'sfrequently geneticallymodified. Your bodyidentifies GMO's as aninvader and sends outan attack, often on itself.

Limit this food triggerwhenever possible.

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Dairy

You may love yourcheese, but it may notlove you.

The protein calledcasein is often theoffending culprit intriggering an immuneresponse.

That being said, manyfind that they cantolerate fermentedproducts, such asyogurt, without anyissues. Try keeping afood journal and takenote of which dairyproducts cause yourautoimmune flare.

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Nightshades

One would think thateating vegetables isalways a good idea,right? Not so fast!

Nightshades (a plantgroup that consists oftomatoes, peppers,potatoes, eggplants,goji berries) containsalkaloids in theirskin which can cause aninflammatory response.

Pay close attention tohow your body reacts tothese foods beforemaking them a regularpart of your diet.

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Gluten-FreeGrainsMany mistakenly patthemselves on the backfor avoiding gluten, onlyto turn to grains such ascorn, rice, and oats.

The proteins in thesegrains are very similar togluten, and cause across-reaction for thosewith gluten sensitivity —meaning that your bodymistakes these grainsfor gluten, inciting animmune response.

Here's another reason toavoid corn: 90% of corngrown in the US isgenetically modified!

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Heal Your GutGut health is vital incontrolling autoimmunesymptoms.

All of the above-mentioned food triggerscan lead to leaky gutsyndrome. What canyou do to heal your gut?

In short, avoid triggers,eat organic wheneverpossible, and make sureto include a qualityprobiotic in your diet.

A nutritionist can workwith you to create a dietplan that promotes guthealth and helps toreduce yourautoimmune symptoms.

Tony Ortiz, RPH, CCN

A publication by:

Atlas Drug & Nutriion(201) 869 - 5990

atlasdrugandnutrition.com

Now What?Dealing with symptoms of animmune disorder can bediscouraging, but it doesn't meanyou can never feel like yourselfagain.

By working with a nutritionist -creating a plan that's right for you,you can take the next step incontrolling your autoimmunesymptoms.

Schedule a free consult today.You'll be glad you did.