health Matters
by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center
Natural Approaches to Autoimmune Conditions:
Part 2 — Major Factors
*Recap of last month’s column, Part 1, of “Natural Approaches to Autoimmune Conditions.” One in every 10 people is affected by an autoimmune condition. There are currently over 80 different kinds of known autoimmune diseases.
Besides genetics, though, several dietary, lifestyle, and health factors may increase your risk of developing an autoimmune condition. Some of the major causes are below.
Major Factors Causing Autoimmune Conditions (continued from last month’s column)
Pesticides & Herbicides
Pesticides and herbicides get into your body when you eat the produce that has these pesticides on them, which increases the risk of chronic inflammation, gut imbalance, chronic health issues, and autoimmune disorders.
Mold and Mycotoxins
Mold toxicity occurs when mycotoxins are produced by microfungi, such as mold, that can affect your body’s system leading to chronic symptoms. Toxins produced by mold will start to accumulate inside the body and trigger inflammatory reactions that cause a wide variety of symptoms, from allergies, sinus congestion, and breathing issues to fatigue, brain fog, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals that may harm your body include lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, nickel, and tin.
When present in the human body, heavy metals like these have no beneficial role. They usually interfere with normal biological processes by binding to proteins in the body that would otherwise be activated by normally occurring minerals like magnesium and zinc.
This causes massive cellular interference, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are toxic and weaken immunity. They are most commonly found in plastics (BPA) and cosmetics but may be found elsewhere.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are “used in products, such as toys, vinyl flooring and wall covering, detergents, lubricating oils, food packaging, pharmaceuticals, blood bags and tubing, and personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and other fragrance preparations.”
Blood Sugar Imbalance and Insulin Resistance
Blood sugar balance and insulin sensitivity are incredibly important for your health. Insulin helps your cells absorb and use glucose for energy. Insulin resistance happens if your body is unable to respond to and use the insulin produced by your body. Insulin resistance may increase the risk of prediabetes, diabetes, and an array of other health issues.
According to a 2021 study published in the World Journal of Diabetes, there is a link between gut health and insulin resistance.
Consuming refined and processed sugars, refined oils, and other unhealthy fats, and following an overall high-carb, inflammatory diet may increase the risk of blood sugar imbalances, insulin resistance, gut health issues, and chronic inflammation.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is a major underlying issue in the development of chronic health issues. The Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) score was developed to score people on their early childhood trauma.
High ACE scores and lots of childhood trauma have been linked to the increased risk of developing chronic health issues, including autoimmune diseases.
According to a 2009 study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, cumulative childhood stress may increase the risk of developing an autoimmune disorder as an adult.
However, adulthood trauma and chronic stress may also increase your risk.
Even if you don’t have major stress, chronic physical stress from bad posture or a poor diet may also increase chronic inflammation and the risk of autoimmunity.
Circadian Rhythm Dysfunction
Sleep is critical for your health. Chronically poor sleep may increase chronic inflammation and related health issues. According to a 2015 study published in Sleep, sleep disorders may increase the risk of autoimmunity.
Your circadian rhythm is your body’s natural sleep cycle. Under natural circumstances, when it gets dark, your body gets tired, and you sleep overnight, then your body naturally should wake up with the sun and brightness.
The problem is, in our modern world, we have indoor lighting that interferes with this natural cycle and our schedule, causing circadian rhythm dysfunction.
Bright light after dark can suppress melatonin production and increase cortisol and dopamine levels at night.
Many of us also don’t get enough natural light and sun exposure during the day to stimulate mitochondrial melatonin levels during the day to set the proper sleep cycle.
Melatonin and Autoimmune
Conditions
Melatonin is a natural hormone. It is mainly made by your pineal gland. It aids your sleep, but it’s also essential for mitochondrial function.
According to a 2020 review published in Physiology, melatonin production in mitochondria may help to reduce oxidative stress and other health dangers.
Optimal mitochondrial function is critical for cell survival and overall health, but poor melatonin levels are enough for an increased risk of autoimmunity, according to a 2019 review published in Cytokine Growth Factor Review.
Chronic Infections
Chronic infections, including oral infections, gut infections, and infections affecting your blood or organs, may increase chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, gut microbiome imbalance, leaky gut syndrome, and multiple organ damage.
According to a 2018 study published in Science, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may trigger bacteria to travel to other organs and cause an autoimmune response.
According to a 2022 study published in Frontiers in Immunology, H. pylori bacterial overgrowth may increase the risk of gastric autoimmunity.
According to a 2021 study published in Cureus, Lyme borreliosis may increase the risk of developing an autoimmune disease.
According to a 2020 review published in Frontiers in Immunology, chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections may increase the risk of systemic autoimmune diseases.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies may also increase the risk of chronic inflammation, immune health disturbances, gut health issues, and autoimmune health issues.
Some of the specific nutrient deficiencies that may increase your risk of autoimmune disorders include vitamin D, zinc, B vitamins, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for bone, muscle, immune, brain, and mental health.
According to a 2013 review published in Clinical Reviews in Allergies and Immunology, vitamin D is essential for regulating immune responses.
Zinc
Zinc is a critical mineral for immune health. It plays an important role in cell communication, proliferation, differentiation, and survival.
According to a 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrients, low zinc levels are commonly seen in autoimmunity.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are a group of vitamins that are important for cellular function, nutrient transport, and brain health.
According to a 2022 study published in Nutrients, B vitamins play a role in gut microbiome balance, and deficiencies along with gut dysbiosis may play a role in autoimmunity.
Selenium
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that plays an important role in immune, thyroid, heart, and mental health.
According to a 2019 review published in Current Rheumatology Reviews, there may be a link between low selenium and autoimmunity.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial for brain, metabolic, heart, mental, bone, and joint health. They may help to reduce chronic inflammation and pain, and may be helpful for those with autoimmune diseases.
If you are struggling with health issues, call the Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center at 240-651-1650 for a free consultation. Dr. Lo uses Nutritional Response Testing ® to analyze the body to determine the underlying causes of ill or non-optimum health. The office is located at 7310 Grove Road #107, Frederick, MD. Check out the website at www.doctorlo.com.
