The Connection Between Gut Health and Autoimmune Diseases: Unveiling the Link
Photo from Vecteezy
It seems like autoimmune conditions are becoming more and more common these days. A new study published in the Lancet found that 1 in 10 people have an autoimmune disease. Interestingly, 75% of people with autoimmune diseases are women, and 1 in 4 people diagnosed with one autoimmune disease will develop another.
What does gut health have to do with Autoimmune disease? Poor gut health lays the foundation for dysregulation of our immune system increasing our chances of developing autoimmune diseases. The gut wall lining plays an essential role in regulating what particles remain in the intestinal tract and which particles can get through to our system. When we have high inflammation, undiagnosed food allergies, or other underlying infections, the lining of our digestive system begins to allow larger particles through the cells and into our system, stimulating an immune response. These particles would otherwise be further digested before being utilized by our system or excreted and when they are allowed passage through the gut lining into our system, our immune system sees them as foreign and attacks. This process would otherwise be a healthy immune response protecting us from viruses and bacteria, but when it occurs regularly due to “leaky gut syndrome,” it can cause a wide variety of issues leading to autoimmunity where our heightened immune system begins to attack healthy tissue in the body.
So why are 75% of people with autoimmune disease women? Many factors could play into this, and hormones are a big one. Our gut lining isn’t only essential for a healthy immune system, but the neuroendocrine network works with the lymphatic tissue making up a majority of our intestinal lining to regulate balance and tolerance to foreign substances in the system. Estrogen and progesterone imbalance can contribute to the development of autoimmune disease. The combination of hormone dysregulation and gut issues is often the perfect storm to lead to autoimmune disease.
If you suspect hormone imbalance or have digestive issues, this isn’t a guarantee that you’ll develop an autoimmune condition. Our genetics play a significant role in disease progression. Whether you’ve already been diagnosed, suspect autoimmunity, or are just wanting to improve your digestive or hormonal health there are many things you can do to improve your overall health, support healthy immune function, and heal the gut.
I’ll be posting follow-up blogs with specific action steps you can take now to start improving your health. The first will be for hormone health, the second for digestive health, and the third for talking to your doctor if you suspect an autoimmune disease. Next week, I’ll start breaking down some common autoimmune diseases and ways to improve symptoms.
Although there is a lot you can do on your own to support your health, autoimmunity often comes with a complicated pattern and many impacted systems. I would love to support you by providing individualized recommendations that can uncomplicate the process, get you feeling better faster, and prevent future illness. Reach out today for a consultation or an intake appointment.
