AutoImmune Diseases
Attention Undiagnosed Sufferers: Do You Know About Autoimmune Diseases?
Autoimmune diseases are becoming increasingly common in our society, even beating out cancer and heart disease. These diseases are strongly associated with our poor North American diet, low levels of exercise and the high toxic load our bodies are forced to endure.
But what is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease rears its head when the body’s immune system begins to attack itself. Though intended to protect us from the outside world (bacteria, viruses, toxins), under these circumstances, the immune system will attack itself as it perceives some part of the body as an intruder. Depending on what the immune system is attacking or perceiving as foreign will determine the condition. Indeed, autoimmune diseases are a family of hundreds of conditions which can attack various tissues of the body including the blood, muscles and nervous system.
Some examples include:
- lupus
- rheumatoid arthritis
- allergies
- Type I diabetes (affects the pancreas)
- multiple sclerosis
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease (affects the thyroid)
- Addison’s disease (affects the adrenal glands)
- anemia (affects the stomach)
Rates of autoimmune disfunction have been steadily climbing over the past four decades, afflicting an estimated 23.5% of Americans–78% of whom are female.
Some skeptics suggest the increase of autoimmune disorders could be related to better diagnosis. But concerned advocates believe the increase could be a true indication of a very alarming trend.
I prefer to protect myself, and heed the warnings!
Unfortunately, much is still unknown about these diseases. As one article suggests, autoimmune diseases are at this point akin to talking about global warming before The Inconvenient Truth, before we really started to understand. As such, the average person probably can’t even name a disease, and doctors themselves are not well educated in making accurate diagnoses. Sufferers see an average of 6 doctors over 4 years before they are accurately diagnosed and offered a treatment that works.
One thing that IS becoming more and more conclusive is the body of evidence which links environmental factors to these autoimmune diseases. Consider the pesticides, the packaging, the preservatives, the household toxins found in carpets, paint, and furniture, and the myraid of other pollutants we encounter daily. It is the buildup of these toxins in the body that can flip the switch and cause the body to begin attacking itself. We are well versed in talking about the carbon imprint we are leaving on the earth, but what about the carbon imprint we are leaving on our bodies?
Note that even allergies are an indicator of an overactive immune system and may be a result of a high toxic load!
“What can I do to protect myself?” Well here’s a list of changes you can make today:
- Eat organic. Don’t force your body to absorb and digest more toxins. Ease up on your system!
- Eat mostly plants which supply the body with badly needed phytonutrients and vitamins. Further support your body with good nutrition (whole foods vs. processed food).
- Use natural cleaning products. Not only do natural products enable the environment, but you won’t have to breathe in poisonous substances everytime you go to clean the bathroom or the dishes! You might even consider a natural/scent free laundry detergent and a chemical free dry cleaners when it comes to cleaning your clothes. Small steps add up to a cleaner ‘you!’
- Use natural/organic body products and makeup. Your skin absorbs chemcials and toxins and the body can only filter so much. Does it sound like we’re repeating ourselves? We are! Ease up on your system!
- Consider a supplement that can help you filter toxins. It is unlikely that our diets are doing enough in this day and age to help our bodies fuction at their optimum. Assist your body. Give it what it needs and it will enable your health.
*References: Donna Jackson Nakazawwa, The Scariest Health Threat You’ve Never Heard Of; http://www.healthscout.com
