What is an Autoimmune Condition?

In people with an autoimmune condition, the immune system produces antibodies that end up attacking the body’s own tissues instead of fighting infections in response to an unknown trigger. There are over 100 types of autoimmune diseases categorized primarily by the different areas of the body that they affect (e.g., psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease).

The symptoms of autoimmune disease depend on the specific category of autoimmune disease one may have, but may include:

joint pain/stiffness
rashes
fatigue

The consequences of allowing autoimmune disease to progress uncontrolled range from life-threatening to a minor inconvenience, depending on the category and organs involved.

No one is certain what causes autoimmune disease, although there are some clues to guide us. Genetics seems to play a role in who may be more likely to develop an autoimmune disease; however, when populations migrate from an underdeveloped country to a Westernized country, for example, their risk of developing an autoimmune disease goes up, suggesting a clear environmental link. Investigators are considering a number of possible environmental links, such as diet, toxin exposure, and intestinal bacteria imbalance.

What can we do about them?

There are about 100 different autoimmune conditions that plague the world population. Lab testing shows that an increasing number of Americans have positive antibody results that indicate autoimmunity. The presence of these autoantibodies can be detected in the blood years before the actual appearance of clinical symptoms.

These Immune system disorders cause abnormally low activity or overactivity of the immune system. In cases of immune system overactivity, the body attacks and damages its own tissues (autoimmune condition). Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body’s ability to fight invaders, causing vulnerability to infections.

The Medications for Autoimmune Problems

I’ve noticed a lot of the remedies advertised on TV are those that are designed to lessen the symptoms of various autoimmune conditions. One of the side effects of Ad mentioned is “more likely to get an infection” and “less likely to fight infection”. That was alarming during the flu pandemic. Another Ad said that the remedy worked because the person had a higher number of eosinophils (they didn’t say that these are white blood cells and part of the immune system response). The Ad said the remedy would lessen the amount of these cells in the blood.

What are some of the Autoimmune Conditions?

When autoimmune is talked about, it is usually leaky gut and the reaction to foods due to the food getting into the blood system.

However, there are many autoimmune diseases. The better-known diseases are:

• Celiac Disease
• Graves’ Disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Psoriasis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Type I Diabetes
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC)
• Addison’s Disease
• Hashimoto’s Disease
• Alopecia Areata
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

So, do you suppress the immune system so you don’t get a bad reaction? Or should you enhance the immune system so it isn’t reacting to its own cells?

This is called building a healthy immune system and can only make things better.

No one is certain what causes autoimmune disease, although there are some clues to guide us. Genetics seems to play a role in who may be more likely to develop an autoimmune disease, however, when populations migrate from an underdeveloped country to a Westernized country, for example, their risk of developing an autoimmune disease goes up, suggesting a clear environmental link. Investigators are considering a number of possible environmental links such as diet, toxin exposure, and intestinal bacteria imbalance.

Recommended:

You would think that suppressing the immune system so that you don’t get a bad reaction would be the way to stop these symptoms. Thus, you might not want to take an immune-boosting formula.   However, a better solution would be to modulate the immune system so it isn’t attacking the body’s cells.

Beta Glucan is one ingredient that is recommended because it builds the immune response and protects you from infections that can hurt you especially when you have an underlying health condition that can threaten your ability to fight infections or when taking any medications or remedies that suppress the immune system.

Read more about Beta Glucans and the formula that actually modulates the immune system so that it can both fight infections and build a healthy immune response.

Beta Glucans

Learn How Your Diet Can Protect Against Disease – Super Immunity – book by Joel Fuhrman, M.D & nutritionist

Why do some of us get sick more than others? Dr. Fuhrman explains how proper nutrition is the key to fending off illness, from common colds to cancer. In his New York Times bestseller Super Immunity, Dr. Fuhrman provides the scientific evidence showing how a superior diet can supercharge the immune system, making you almost totally resistant to colds, influenza, and other infections.

Seize Control of Your Health

What makes us more susceptible to illness? Are we doomed to get sick when our coworkers and family members do? Is there a secret to staying healthy? Dr. Fuhrman doesn’t believe more medical care is the answer. He explains how eating too many highly processed foods, foods with added sweeteners, animal fats, and protein, has led most of us to consume a nutrient-deficient diet. By changing our diets and combining foods that contain powerful immune-strengthening capabilities, we can prevent the most common modern diseases. Combining the latest data from clinical tests, nutritional research, and results from thousands of patients, Dr. Fuhrman proves that super immunity exists and is well within reach for those who choose it.

Super Immunity shows us how we can become almost totally resistant to colds, influenza, and other infections. It is a comprehensive guide to superior health.

Learn more about this book at Super Immunity
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