Your Body Is Fighting Itself. Let's Find Out Why.
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system attacks your own tissues. While conventional medicine focuses on suppressing the immune response, functional medicine asks why it's activated in the first place.
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When Your Immune System Loses the Plot
Your immune system is designed to attack foreign invaders while leaving your own tissues alone. In autoimmune disease, this recognition fails — the immune system mistakes self as enemy.
Gut-Immune Link
70-80% of your immune system lives in your gut. Gut dysfunction is central to autoimmunity.
Inflammation Driver
Autoimmunity involves chronic inflammation that damages tissues and causes symptoms.
Food Triggers
Certain foods can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune flares through molecular mimicry or inflammation.
Stress Connection
Chronic stress dysregulates immune function and often triggers autoimmune flares.
You're Not Alone in This
Three Things Had to Go Wrong
Researcher Alessio Fasano's work identified three factors that must be present for autoimmune disease to develop:
Genetic Predisposition
You have genes that increase susceptibility. However, genes alone don't cause autoimmunity — they simply load the gun. Environment pulls the trigger.
Environmental Trigger
Something activates those genes — infections, toxins, food proteins, stress. Identifying and removing triggers is key to calming autoimmunity.
Intestinal Permeability
Leaky gut allows triggers access to the immune system. This is the factor you have the most control over.
Important Note
Autoimmune diseases are serious medical conditions. Work with qualified practitioners. Don't stop prescribed medications without medical guidance. Holistic approaches work alongside, not instead of, appropriate medical care.
What Keeps Pulling the Trigger
Leaky Gut
Intestinal permeability may be a prerequisite for autoimmune development
Gluten
Triggers zonulin release, opening tight junctions in the gut
Molecular Mimicry
Food proteins or pathogens that resemble body tissues
Chronic Infections
EBV, herpes viruses, and bacteria linked to autoimmune onset
Toxins
Heavy metals, mold, chemicals trigger immune dysregulation
Chronic Stress
Dysregulates immune function and triggers flares
What Actually Helps (Beyond Suppressing Symptoms)
Heal the Gut
Address leaky gut, dysbiosis, and infections. The gut is ground zero for autoimmunity — healing it is often the single most impactful intervention.
Identify Food Triggers
Elimination diet (often AIP — autoimmune protocol) to find personal triggers. What triggers one person may not affect another.
Remove Gluten
Gluten drives intestinal permeability and is problematic for most with autoimmunity — not just those with celiac disease.
Reduce Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle to calm the immune response. Inflammation perpetuates the autoimmune cycle.
Manage Stress
Stress reduction is critical. The nervous system directly influences immune function. Many flares are triggered by stressful events.
Address Infections
Identify and address chronic infections that may be driving immune activation. EBV reactivation is particularly common in autoimmune conditions.
An Elimination Diet That Actually Works
AIP is an elimination diet designed for autoimmune conditions. It removes foods most likely to trigger immune reactions, then systematically reintroduces them.
Foods Eliminated
Foods Emphasized
Nutrients Your Immune System Needs
Remission Is Possible. Let's Start.
Our AI can help you identify potential triggers and create a supportive wellness strategy for your autoimmune journey.
Start Free ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Autoimmune disease develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. It's typically triggered by a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors like infections or toxins, and intestinal permeability (leaky gut) that allows undigested proteins to enter the bloodstream.
While autoimmune diseases can't always be fully "cured," many people achieve significant remission by addressing root causes. Healing the gut, removing food triggers, reducing inflammation, managing stress, and optimizing nutrient status can calm the immune response and dramatically reduce symptoms.
The AIP diet is an elimination protocol that removes common immune-triggering foods including grains, dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds, nightshades, and refined sugars. After a period of elimination, foods are carefully reintroduced one at a time to identify personal triggers. It's one of the most effective dietary interventions for autoimmune conditions.
The gut plays a central role in autoimmunity — roughly 70% of your immune system resides there. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) allows particles to cross into the bloodstream, triggering immune reactions. Healing the gut barrier is often the most important step in managing autoimmune conditions.
Key supplements include vitamin D (a powerful immune modulator), omega-3 fatty acids (for reducing inflammation), glutamine (for gut repair), and probiotics (for immune balance). Curcumin and resveratrol also show promise for calming autoimmune flares. Always work with a practitioner to tailor supplementation to your specific condition.
Absolutely. Chronic stress is one of the most powerful triggers for autoimmune flares. Stress hormones like cortisol can dysregulate the immune system, increase intestinal permeability, and promote inflammation. Stress management through meditation, gentle movement, and adequate sleep is essential for autoimmune health.