5 Must Have Supplements to Support Autoimmune Health
Whether you have Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or any of the hundreds of other autoimmune diseases, you can support your condition.
Wouldn’t it feel wonderful to feel like yourself again, control your symptoms and feel more energetic?
Autoimmune diseases emerge when your immune system becomes overly stressed and confused and begins to see your body as foreign. Your immune system then attacks your own body tissue instead of an offending toxin or pathogen. The illnesses that fall under the category of autoimmune disease involve almost every human organ system. Autoimmune disease affects the nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and endocrine system as well as other connective tissues, your eyes, blood and blood vessels. In every one of these autoimmune conditions, the underlying problem is autoimmunity – the misdirection of your immune system, resulting in an attack on your organs that your immune system was designed to protect.
All autoimmune diseases are the same disease.
You may suffer from:
Adrenal Issues
Anxiety
Autoimmune Issues
Celiac
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Inflammation
Crohn’s
Depression
Digestive Issues
Fibromyalgia
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Lethargy and low energy
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia Gravis
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Thyroid Issues
Ulcerative Colitis
However, all of these autoimmune diseases are the same disease. They just happen to attack different body systems. So the disease, no matter the classification, must be treated as an autoimmune disease.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates up to 23.5 million Americans have an autoimmune disease, and the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) believes that number is actually 50 million! The NIH data is based on only 24 of the most common autoimmune diseases, while the AARDA data is based on 120 known autoimmune conditions, with some that are considered extremely rare. Those numbers are staggering in either case, and in comparison, cancer affects up to just 9 million, with heart disease affecting just under 22 million.
Of the 50 million American living and coping with autoimmune disease, more than 75 percent of them are women. The Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health has recognized that autoimmunity is the underlying cause of more than 100 of the serious chronic illnesses classified as autoimmune disease. Research discoveries made in the last decade have made autoimmune research one of the most promising areas of new discovery. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health, autoimmune disease and the resulting disorders ranked #1 in a list of the most popular research health topics requested by callers to the National Women’s Health Information Center.
In fact, this research has led to the finding that 70 percent of your immune system is actually in your gut! Chronic inflammation of the gut lining, or leaky gut, is actually a prerequisite for having autoimmune issues. So getting to the root cause of your autoimmune condition is imperative before the proper support and supplementation can be determined.
Has your immune system gone haywire because of a food sensitivity?
An exposure to a toxin?
Or did a pathogen cause an infection in your body?
Functional Medicine practitioners address the underlying root causes of disease, as the client and practitioner work together in a supportive partnership. Functional medicine is adapted to meet the needs of new research and support modalities for the current direction of healthcare.
To begin your journey of determining the root cause of your autoimmune issue, you MUST first address the following:
Leaky Gut:
Hippocrates said that all disease begins in the gut, yet gastrointestinal dysfunctions are the most overlooked and exceedingly common disorders today, affecting about 70 million Americans. Since most of the immune system is situated in the digestive tract, an unhealthy gut leads to an unhealthy immune system. Because the lining of the digestive tract is an important immune barrier, poor gut health is a significant factor in triggering autoimmune diseases. To support an autoimmune condition, you must take care of your digestive health. Chronic inflammation of the gut may cause you to be sensitive to multiple foods that you normally would not be sensitive to. These foods may be gluten, dairy, soy, corn and even some gluten-free foods like rice and quinoa. Every time you take a bite of the foods you may be sensitive to, you actually trigger a systemic inflammation response. Functional medicine practitioners believe that everything starts in the gut, so this is a high priority for most people, especially if you have an autoimmune condition and/or gut infection like yeast overgrowth, or even a parasite. To unlock and support your autoimmune condition or chronic issue, addressing any gastrointestinal issues and a leaky gut is the first area that should be explored.
Blood Sugar:
Stabilizing your blood sugar is paramount for autoimmune stability and health. If you have blood sugar dysfunction, that can have an impact on your thyroid, your gut, and your adrenals and cause inflammation. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar can be detrimental to your health. Hypoglycemic symptoms include: cravings for sweets, irritability if meals are missed, dependence on coffee for energy, eating to relieve fatigue, poor memory, forgetfulness, feeling shaky, jittery, nervous or agitated. Insulin resistance, or high blood sugar, can also contribute to an autoimmune problem. Insulin resistance symptoms may include: fatigue after meals, general fatigue, constant hunger, cravings for sweets that are not relieved by eating them, feeling that you must have sweets after meals, frequent urination, trouble losing weight, and aches and pains. You may also experience brain fog, loss of mental clarity and a host of other symptoms that could improve with regulation of your blood sugar levels.
Proper Oxygenation:
When your body has proper oxygenation, your oxygen levels and circulation are on track. But what happens if your oxygenation is not working properly? You may feel the symptoms of cold hands, cold feet, or hair loss. You may also become anemic. Anemia starves your body of oxygen. When your red blood cells are deprived of oxygen, basic functions that maintain, regenerate, and heal the body simply cannot operate adequately. So if you are anemic, oxygen cannot reach your cells in the proper quantity needed for healthy circulation. Another symptom of improper oxygenation is feeling dizzy upon standing up too quickly. This is called orthostatic hypotension. Your concentration may decrease, brain fog may increase and fatigue may set in.
Your health is up to you. So what WILL make you healthier?
- Healthy Food & Supplements
- Exercise
- Care for your body
Food, and the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in healthy meal choices should supply the supplementation needed for your body to function properly. However, at times our body needs help, a boost of sorts. However, the simple truth is that you can’t always get everything you need from your diet. Your body works hard to fight the daily burdens of life, handle chronic stress, and reduce inflammation. Even if your diet did provide everything your body requires, you might not be absorbing those nutrients if you have a leaky gut. Supplements don’t replace healthy eating but they are an adjunct to proper nutrition.
Supplementation also manipulates your body chemistry to change how it functions, and speeds up the process of support and helps lead you to better health.
The top 5 supplements that support
Autoimmune Health are:
Vitamin D3:
Most people are deficient in Vitamin D. Even if you are in ‘normal’ range you are most likely not at an optimal range. Your optimal range should be at 80 -100 ng/mL. Recently there has been a great deal of research looking at the effect of vitamin D on other body tissues, especially immune cells. It is now known that there are vitamin D receptors (VDRs) located in the nuclei of all immune cells, including antigen-presenting cells, natural killer cells, and B and T lymphocytes. There is also a considerable amount of research showing that vitamin D deficiency has been associated with several autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Vitamin D promotes regulatory T cells, which are responsible for accurately differentiating between outside invaders and “self” cells. When active Vitamin D promotes them, it essentially makes your immune system smarter, teaching it to not attack itself and preventing the further development of an autoimmune disease.
Glutathione:
Glutathione is a powerful supplemental defense against toxins and inflammation. It protects the body’s cells from damage, helps detoxify the body, and supports optimal immune function. When glutathione levels drop too low, you become more susceptible to autoimmune disease, multiple food sensitivities, chemical and heavy metal sensitivities, chronic inflammatory disorders, leaky gut, and other immune-related issues.
This intracellular antioxidant is crucial for proper cell function and inflammation response. Because it is important, the body actually makes its own glutathione. However, autoimmune disease uses up the naturally produced glutathione in your body and causes a depletion. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, garlic and other cruciferous vegetables provide glutathione. But if you have an autoimmune disease, supplementation with S-Acetyl Glutathione or Liposomal (liquid) Glutathione, is a must to replenish the Glutathione depletion. Hepato GSH is an herbal compound used to maintain your levels once your glutathione levels have improved.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s):
Fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, may be useful in the management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Essential Fatty Acids can be found in fish oils, and dietary supplementation with fish oils has been shown to support several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Many of the benefits of using EFA’s include decreased disease activity and anti-inflammatory action. These EFA’s also help to regulate the body’s T regulatory cell system and contribute to overall support of the immune system.
GI Resuscitate:
Because we now know that a Leaky Gut contributes to autoimmune conditions, this supplement helps to repair the inflammation and resulting leaking of your gut. Leaky gut causes nutrients, toxins or infectious materials to leak through the intestinal wall and spark the immune response. GI Resuscitate acts like CPR for your gastro-intestinal system! It coats and heals the gut and acts like an anti-inflammatory, and supports gastrointestinal mucosal repair.
Nitric Balance:
This supplement helps to balance the nitric oxide gas produced in the body. Nitric oxide helps increase circulation and is important for blood vessel health. It also promotes better brain function as circulation improves. Nitric Balance is a specially developed formula that incorporates targeted nutritional support for tissues and your immune system. It further supports peripheral blood flow, brain endurance, focus and metabolic endurance during exercise.
Proper supplementation can speed up the process of supporting normal body function by manipulating your body chemistry
Use only high quality pharmaceutical grade supplements like the ones found online at www.neurometabolicsupplements.com. When you place an order for the 5 supplements that support autoimmune health, receive 5% off when you use the coupon code “take5today” and begin your journey to autoimmune healing!
In health,
Dr. Peter Kan
Hope Integrative Wellness Center
(480) 988-6269
[email protected]
www.askdrkan.com
Dr. Peter Kan is a Chiropractic Functional Medicine and Functional Neurologist located in Gilbert, AZ.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products.
