Processed Food: Friend or Foe for Autoimmune Disease?*

*

Living with an autoimmune disease can feel like a constant battle within your own body. Your immune system, designed to fight off invaders, mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. While the exact causes of autoimmune diseases are complex, research suggests a surprising culprit: processed foods.

The Link Between Processed Foods and Autoimmunity

Our gut plays a crucial role in autoimmune health. It acts as a barrier, keeping out harmful substances while allowing nutrients to pass through. Processed foods, however, may disrupt this delicate balance. Here's how:

• Leaky Gut: Processed foods often contain ingredients like emulsifiers, sugar, and unhealthy fats. These can damage the gut lining, increasing intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut. This allows undigested food particles and toxins to enter the bloodstream, triggering an immune response that can contribute to autoimmunity.

• Inflammation: Processed foods are frequently loaded with refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives. These can contribute to chronic, low-grade inflammation of the body, which is a hallmark of many autoimmune diseases.

• Gut Microbiome: Our gut is teeming with trillions of microbes that play a vital role in digestion and immune function. Processed foods can disrupt the delicate balance of this gut microbiome, potentially leading to an overgrowth of bad bacteria and a weakened immune response.

Common Culprits: Processed Food & Oils to Limit

While avoiding all processed foods might seem daunting, here are some specific examples to keep on your radar:

• Sugary Drinks & Packaged Snacks: Soda, juice drinks, cookies, cakes, chips, and candy are loaded with sugar and unhealthy fats, promoting inflammation and gut disruption.

• Refined Grains: White bread, pasta, pastries, and cereals are high in refined carbohydrates, which can spike blood sugar and contribute to inflammation.

• Processed Meats: Hot dogs, sausage, bacon, and deli meats are often high in sodium, nitrates, and unhealthy fats, all of which can worsen inflammation.

• Certain Oils: Avoid unhealthy vegetable oils like canola oil, soybean oil, and corn oil. These are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation when consumed in excess.

Taking Charge of Your Health

While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to managing autoimmune disease, a combination of dietary and lifestyle modifications can significantly improve your well-being. Here are some steps you can take:

• Consult Your Primary Care Physician: Discuss your autoimmune disease and dietary concerns with your doctor. They can help you create a personalized plan and monitor your progress.

• Consider a Registered Dietitian: A registered dietitian can create a customized meal plan that addresses your specific needs and preferences while managing your autoimmune symptoms.

• Explore Health Coaching: A health and wellness coach, like those at Ignite Life and Wellness Coaching located in Germantown, WI, can provide guidance and support on implementing lifestyle changes that complement your medical treatment plan. They can help you with goal setting, motivation, and developing healthy habits for long-term success.

Remember:

• Talk to your doctor before making any drastic dietary changes, especially if you're on medication.

• A healthy diet is just one piece of the puzzle. Managing stress, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise are also crucial for overall well-being.

By making informed food choices, working with your healthcare team, and exploring additional resources like health coaching, you can empower yourself to manage your autoimmune disease and feel better overall.*