Picture this. Your antibody proteins are angry and they are on the attack. These proteins made by your plasma white blood cells are normally super disciplined, but on this day, they’ve gone rogue and are ready for war. Your antibodies are wreaking havoc attacking every muscle, organ, joint and taking no prisoners. POW! Pain in all your major muscles. AARGH! Achy ankle and knee joints. BOOM! The antibodies just dropped a bomb on your bowels. Autoimmune Illness is often described as an internal war with oneself. Healthy antibody proteins normally act as the body’s natural defense system.[i] The antibodies attach to antigens like a lock and key to help the body fight infection. This symbiotic relationship is out of sync in people experiencing autoimmune illness. Antibodies in autoimmune patients target healthy tissues and organs often causing chronic pain, fatigue, and inflammation.

Scientists have not yet cracked the code on what causes autoimmune diseases, but they have narrowed the scope of contributing factors. Genetics and environmental toxins are the top two culprits. Some populations like women, certain ethnic groups[ii], and people who have experienced significant trauma[iii] are more susceptible to developing an autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity is not always easy to detect because symptoms mimic other common conditions[iv] and can vary from person to person. There is also no one size fits all approach to diagnosing an autoimmune disease. Patients sometimes see a shopping list of specialists for years before doctors can definitively diagnose an autoimmune disease.

To categorize that experience as frustrating would be putting it mildly. People's bodies are in a battle and they are stuck suffering the symptoms of an invisible illness and malfunctioning immune system. It's difficult to describe the detrimental impact that autoimmune disease can make on a person's physical, mental, and emotional health. More research is being devoted to the development and treatment of autoimmune illnesses as the number of chronic cases increases. While modern medicine is concentrated on the clinical approach, you can reduce your risk of developing autoimmune disease or disorder through diet and lifestyle changes!

Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity is the second most significant cause of chronic health conditions.[v] The statistics are staggering. There are more than one hundred autoimmune diseases and more than a million people living with an autoimmune diagnosis in America alone. The most common autoimmune illnesses stateside are rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia. Although each diagnosis is different, autoimmune disease does not discriminate when it comes to deteriorating the human body.

The misaligned immune system inherent to autoimmunity remains a source of mystery within the medical field, but research helps reveal a few common threads. Recurring study results show genetics, chronic inflammation, environmental changes, and the Western diet as factors in developing autoimmunity.[vi] While there are over 100 clinically known autoimmune disorders, common autoimmune disease symptoms[vii] are:

· Fatigue

· Muscle pain

· Swelling

· Fever

· Concentration issues

· Numbness

· Hair loss

· Skin changes

Seeking treatment when experiencing any of these symptoms is essential.[viii] Whether or not you are already experiencing an autoimmune diagnosis, you’ve come to the right place.

Inflammation

The immune response is often the human body's greatest protector. It keeps us safe from infection, injury, and other potentially harmful occurrences. This protection results from a complex process between your cells and their chemicals. This system alerts our internal communicators of a foreign invader and kickstarts defenses to rid the intruder of a healthy body. However, this system gets thrown out of whack when an autoimmune disease arises. This immune response often triggers inflammation which is a close associate and comorbidity of autoimmune disease.

Inflammation is when your white blood cells activate their defense against infections associated with bacteria, viruses, and injuries. There are two types:

1. Acute inflammation: quick onset inflammation occurring for a short period, typically resolving within two weeks.

2. Chronic inflammation: inflammation that gradually develops and lasts longer than six weeks. While its sensations often feel less severe than the acute variety, its prolonged habitation within the body can cause or be a symptom of autoimmunity.

Symptoms of inflammation commonly appear as pain, fatigue, insomnia, mood changes, digestive issues, weight changes, and increased infection.[ix] Tests for inflammation can vary based on symptoms, but most patients don’t need a definitive test to validate their experience. Inflammation often manifests as achy joints, autoimmune rash, swelling, and muscle pain in people living with autoimmune illness.

Inflammation & Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity means your immune system is out of balance. Inflammation is the response your immune system triggers as its primary function. It's safe to say that one cannot exist without the other, and the long-term effects are incredibly harmful.

Let's observe the correlation between a few commonly known autoimmune disorders.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: a condition in which the immune system attacks joints, may have varying symptoms that result in an inflammatory response such as joint pain, stiffness, numbness, and limited function.

Crohn's disease: a condition in which the immune system attacks the digestive system.[x] Crohn's frequent inflammatory responses are diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, weight change, bile duct inflammation, and anemia.

Multiple sclerosis (MS): a condition in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is the protective, insulating layer surrounding our body's nerves.[xi] Inflammatory experiences with this condition may be brain fog, vision changes, balance issues, and body numbness.

Fibromyalgia (MS): and finally fibro. A condition that this community knows all too well is often classified by overall body pain and fatigue. Also can’t forget to mention the mental and emotional stress.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

There are different degrees of autoimmune disease, [xii] and the symptoms that manifest are related to multiple factors that include family and personal health history, environmental influences, and pervasive stress.[xiii] Certain foods trigger an inflammatory response. Dr. Ramsey recommends a meal mantra to consume the best brain boosting foods: “Seafood, greens, nuts and beans — and a little dark chocolate.”[xiv]

Research results provide guidelines for structuring a diet full of anti-inflammatory foods.[xv] Here are a few, but not all, that are commonly discussed:

Foods to Avoid

Foods to Embrace

While these lists are not exhaustive, they help highlight what works and what doesn't for those looking to address autoimmunity concerns through diet[xvi].

Anti-Inflammatory Solutions

Every person is unique, and many factors must be considered when creating a plan to combat the overwhelming symptoms of autoimmune disorders. It is imperative to approach autoimmunity management through a holistic approach. Over the counter, anti-inflammatory medication does not have to be your first line of defense in masking inflammation. Your diet, social systems, physical environment, personal outlook, and more can significantly impact treatment success.[xvii] If you need help to sort through available resources to create a wellness plan consider contacting a functional nutritionist to find your anti-inflammatory remedy.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Jewell Singletary is a creative entrepreneur, educator, and multidisciplinary artist. She is a writer who runs Thee Be Well Blog and a YouTube channel called Gratitude Griot in which she shares guided meditations and beginner yoga classes to help reduce stress. Jewell also hosts the Yoga Wit the Ohmies Podcast, the h[ohm]e of healing conversations around all things mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.