Do you or does someone you love have a diagnosis for an Autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune disease is rampant among the population in the United States today and unfortunately for most people it is highly debilitating. It can take several years for doctors to diagnose, and after that, it can be a struggle to find sufficient medications for significant relief.
Have you spent years trying to get the correct diagnosis and are still searching for some type of remedy to bring true and lasting relief from your symptoms?
When I work with my clients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are several things that we focus on in order to allow the body to begin to revitalize. Reducing systemic inflammation in the body should always be at the top of the list.
Frequently, there are very specific foods contributing to large spread inflammation and causing very specific responses.
I’ve seen individuals have symptoms like brain fog, canker sores, achy joints, sore muscles, fatigue, rashes, acne, headaches and more from consuming foods on a regular basis that are inflammatory for a unique person.
These inflammatory foods can even be healthy foods such as garlic, avocado, chicken, pineapple, green beans, kidney beans, or certain nuts or seeds.
The type of food that is inflammatory is unique to each individual and depends primarily on what the person consumes on a daily basis.
That’s due to the fact that most of the population with Autoimmune disease will have a dynamic occurring in the body called intestinal permeability. This means that the immune system is responding and attacking benign foods that are consumed regularly.
There can be several contributing factors as to why the body will develop intestinal permeability and begin to respond aggressively to foods via the immune system.
Lack of sufficient nutrients, certain medications, intestinal bacterial overgrowths or imbalances, and infections can get the ball rolling in the wrong direction towards the cascade of disease.
Gut health is one of the main priorities that should be addressed through the help of the appropriate practitioner for any Autoimmune disease. But in order to simplify things so that you can start taking control of your health, I’m giving you my three easiest tips to set you on the best path back to health.
Below are a few recommendations that are easy to implement and can start to provide relief for you right away.
1. Go Gluten Free
With any Autoimmune disease, gluten exacerbates the condition in the intestinal tract known as intestinal permeability or leaky gut. Many people with an Autoimmune diagnosis will have non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.
Often my clients come to me having tried to eliminate gluten from their diets with mild success. When done correctly, it can bring tremendous relief from symptoms. I encourage all of my clients with an Autoimmune diagnosis to make it a priority to be 100% gluten free.
This means to look for gluten not only in food but personal care products as well. Any amount of gluten that is ingested, even a tiny crumb, is going to cause inflammation. And inflammation can lead to just about any symptom you can name and is often the culprit for ones like achy joints and muscles.
2. Use Curcumin
As a natural antioxidant, it can provide relief from inflammation like joint pain. While it is often great to incorporate turmeric into your dietary choices, most people with an Autoimmune diagnosis are going to need to supplement with curcumin in order to see benefits. But this is one supplement where you don’t want to skimp.
Purchasing the least expensive brand that you can find is likely to bring you little relief. I encourage my clients to use high-quality curcumin that has the proper encapsulation to ensure optimal absorption.
You will want to look for one with a liposomal encapsulation process to promote better absorption and utilization by the body for best results. (Work with the appropriate health care provider as needed to be sure that curcumin is the correct choice for you and that you find the correct dosage for your unique needs.)
3. Have Fun
Incorporating more joy into your life can sound like a no-brainer, but is highly critical for those with Autoimmune disease. Often there is a deep connection with regard to feelings of dissatisfaction with self or life that intersects with Autoimmune disease.
The body follows the mind and there can be little relief if thoughts, expectations, and experiences are not shifted towards a more positive path.
I highly encourage all of my clients to move in the direction of a life that they love. Find something that you can treat yourself to that is not food related.
Maybe you enjoy getting a weekly or monthly massage? Or potentially you can find ways to incorporate walks in nature into your routine?
Other suggestions include getting out into your community to volunteer, making a priority to have quiet time with a cup of herbal tea and a good book each day, leaving time for reflection on the day and prayer, or getting together with close friends regularly to catch up. Go in search of what lights you up and energizes you.
What are your favorite activities that bring you joy? How can you do these things more often? Sometimes we get stuck in a way of thinking that joy is something that comes to us or that “just happens” but I know that you can experience joy on a daily basis when you make it a focus to bring more joy into your life.
Implementing these tips one at a time over the next several days can be the best and most targeted steps to begin your journey back to wellness from an Autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis.
If you have been suffering with this debilitating pain, today is the day to decide that you are going to get well. Please know that there is hope for relief from this vicious disease. You can find relief from your symptoms naturally. Take that first step today.
Feature Image: Shutterstock.com
In-Post Image: Favpins.com & Shutterstock.com