Wilson - Autoimmune Diet The Autoimmune Cookbook, Recipe Collection for Autoimmune Disorder

Autoimmune Diet

The Autoimmune Cookbook, Recipe Collection for Autoimmune Disorder

Theresa Wilson

Copyright 2013 Theresa Wilson

All rights reserved.

The immune system is in place to help protect us from infections and diseases. If an "autoimmune" condition strikes, it means our immune system goes haywire and instead of helping to keep cells healthy, it attacks healthy cells. Two such autoimmune illnesses are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, although there are well over eighty other autoimmune illnesses. The number one component of these illnesses is inflammation. The best defense and treatment is to be on an anti-inflammatory diet.

What Foods Cause Inflammation?

The fact that these illnesses have not been around in abundance until recent history proves that the biggest culprit is processed foods, which have come into our diets over the past century. Since the introduction of processed foods, conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease are on the rise. The best defense is to change the diet. By changing our diet to a healthy nutritious one, we help to suppress inflammation and even to control autoimmune diseases. There are prescription medications to help with autoimmune illnesses but they are not without some very serious side effects. Food is a lot easier on the body. When diagnosed with an autoimmune illness the best line of action is to try dieting first. (Ask your physician!)

The facts are strong that consuming an anti-inflammatory diet will help to reduce the symptoms of autoimmune conditions, especially conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's. Research also proves that dieting can help to prevent the occurrence of such diseases. An anti-inflammatory diet will be one low in gluten but rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Certain meats like excessive red meat and processed foods should be avoided. Foods high in refined sugars and hydrogenated oils are also inflammation producing. Eating foods high in omega 3 fatty acids like cold water fish is helpful along with the fresh fruits and vegetables.

Other studies show that consuming a vegan diet is helpful in treating illnesses that cause inflammation, thus the facts that fresh fruit and vegetables are among the very best foods to eat. The diets in the Western half of the world are high in animal protein and processed foods, so it is no wonder that autoimmune conditions are on the rise here. Focus on a healthier diet is the key to maintaining good health.

Other Considerations for Treating Autoimmune Conditions

While dieting is the best defense in both treatment and possible prevention of autoimmune conditions there are other health considerations that can help as well. The body reacts to stress causing undue stress physically as well as mentally. In order to be as healthy as possible you must learn how to control the stress in your life. It is not always possible to avoid stressful situations, but you can control how you react to them. Another area that causes the body undue stress is the lack of rest. People need a good six to eight hours of rest each day (or more). If you are not able to wake up feeling rested, then you should either go to bed earlier or try to take a short nap during the day. A nap of just twenty minutes will work wonders on the mind and the body. A third area of consideration is to get the right amount of exercise. Exercise helps to keep a body healthy and even if you have an autoimmune disease, you especially need exercise. Exercise only needs to be done three times a week for thirty minutes at a time in order to be effective. Seek the advice of your health care provider to find out your physical limitations and to discover the right exercises for your body.

Other Benefits of an Autoimmune Diet

Aside from the obvious benefits of helping to treat the unpleasant symptoms of an autoimmune disease, the diet is also helpful for the body as a whole. Eating a healthy nutritious diet helps to treat and prevent conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose levels. A diet rich in high nutrient filled foods will help to lower the risk of heart disease and even cancer. Foods rich in anti-oxidants will help the body to build a strong immune system and help to fight the free radicals that cause such detrimental illnesses to the body.

A Closer Look at Autoimmune Diseases

There are well over 80 different diseases that receive the classification as being an autoimmune disease according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks healthy cells, thinking they are sick cells, instead of attacking the free radicals that actually make us sick. These illnesses cause many horrible symptoms that stem mainly from inflammation to the cells and tissue. The most common of the autoimmune illnesses are rheumatoid, lupus, Graves' disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the lining of the joints called synovium, which leads to major inflammation and swelling. This disease affects a person's wellbeing limiting movement. The lining of the joints can become inflamed to the point of rapid cell division, thus making the joints useless and disfigured.

Over a million and a half people are affected with lupus today. Lupus does not attack one specific location in the body but more attack different areas. Each person is different in where it may attack. Some are affected in their skin and others may experience joint issues. Lupus flares up and can change where the pain and inflammation may occur.

Graves' disease is less known of the autoimmune diseases. People are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and the disease is often mistaken for "a simple thyroid condition." Hyperthyroidism is just a symptom of this condition. What happens is the thyroid is attacked by the immune system and as a result, the thyroid releases too much thyroxin. It greatly affects the metabolism and causes weight loss, enlarged eyes, and frequent urination.

Multiple sclerosis acts just like lupus in that it affects each person differently. One area that is constant with MS is the attack on the nervous system. It can attack the spinal cord or the optic nerve. The myelin that protects nerves is damaged with MS and causes the body to react by blocking the signals the brain sends.

How Diet Can Treat Autoimmune Disorders

Since autoimmune conditions means that the immune systems goes haywire by attacking healthy cells and tissue the best defense for treatment is with diet. Dieting is the fastest way to help the immune system. By eating healthy foods packed with nutrition, you are giving the immune system a healthy dose of the nutrients it needs in order to be strong and to heal it. Dieting to do this helps to slow the progression of autoimmune diseases.

One of the nutrients in certain foods is highly beneficial to stop inflammation in the body and that is omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 3 helps to slow the production of "interleukin-1 and interleukin-6." Cold water fish like mackerel, salmon, and sardines contain high levels of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 is highly recommended for people suffering with rheumatoid arthritis.

When you eat vegetables like asparagus and zucchini and fruits like cantaloupe and peaches, you receive high levels of an anti-oxidant called L-glutathione. This particular anti oxidant works with the immune system cells and like the omega 3 fatty acid, controls the production of the interleukins. It boosts the immune system to be able to fight other infection causing agents like bacteria, cancer, and viruses too.