03/11/2022
What causes autoimmune disease?
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Autoimmune conditions are complex and involve an interplay of underlying factors that go beyond genetic predisposition. Thanks to the science of epigenetics, we now know that our genes may ‘load the gun’, but it is ultimately our environment and behaviours that ‘pull the trigger’.
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Take my case for example, being diagnosed with RA at 17 years old. I (like many others) was told that “it’s just genetic. It’s bad luck and there’s nothing you can do about it except take these medications for the rest of your life.”
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Whilst the medications were effective in reducing my pain, they did so only at the surface level by suppressing the symptoms. They were a bandaid solution. This approach fails to consider the body as a whole system and completely overlooks the deeper underlying drivers of disease and inflammation.
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Looking back now, I can see that the following drivers were at play around the time of my RA diagnosis:
- I had a sensitive, unhappy gut that was no doubt damaged from years of eating highly processed, sugary, nutrient-devoid foods
- I was immensely stressed, anxious and sleep deprived completing my final year of high school
- I had recurrent colds and hay fever that I relied on medications to manage
- I was recovering from a nasty bout of glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus)
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All of this combined with genetic predisposition created the perfect storm for an autoimmune state to activate and wreak havoc on my body. It did not just emerge “by chance”. Coming to this realisation was actually very powerful, as it allowed me to take back responsibility and ownership over my health.
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At a holistic level, there are so many changes you can make to help yourself feel better, like healing the gut, correcting nutritional deficiencies, managing stress, creating healthy exercise and sleep patterns, and reducing toxic exposure.
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My mission is to spread this message and inspire others to take back control of their health. If I can help to support you on your health journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out! x