Steps to Start Healing an Autoimmune Disease
Most autoimmune diseases start in the gut. With our modern diet, and all the fast food and processed foods, we are putting toxins in our bodies and not giving ourselves the nutrition that we need! Many call our modern diet, the SAD diet (Standard American Diet). With our current lifestyles, and the stresses we put on ourselves—eating in a hurry (not thinking much about the unhealthy food because we are rushed for time), many of us are creating disease without realizing it. It can take years before we start noticing symptoms that our unbalanced body puts out.
1. START WITH FOOD
Of course it makes sense to start with nourishing whole foods. A new phrase I adopted, If God made it, eat it— if man made it, leave it alone. Finding the time to put healthy foods in our diet is imperative. We need to start slowing down and thinking what healthy foods we need to start healing
The main groups our bodies need are: healthy protein, good fats, and carbs. These are macronutrients. A carb can be veggies, fruit, and/or rice and quinoa for example. Stay away from wheat products because gluten can disrupt your gut and can contribute to an unbalanced digestive system.
Starting a regime of whole, nutrient-dense foods is what will start healing your body. An entire range of vitamins and minerals is what many people lack. This is another reason why disease is on the rise. Getting a wide range of colors in your diet from fruits and veggies is important.
2. REMOVE TOXINS
Removing toxins go hand and hand with diet. Remove all processed foods, fast foods, and heavy metals. Parasites are prolific in autoimmune diseases as well. When you get on a habit of eating whole foods, many toxins will work their way out. You can go to a functional practitioner to test for parasites and they will give you natural ways to flush them out.
Remove sugar, dairy, and gluten from your diet when you are healing. These all have been proven to cause leaky gut and can cause serious issues. You may be able to introduce a little of these back into your diet after you’ve healed, but cutting them out completely will give you prolonged health in the long run.
You also can order a hair test yourself. This will show if you have any heavy metals in your body. When I did a hair test myself, I learned I had aluminum in my body from the underarm deodorant I was using. I had to detox this!
3. MITIGATE STRESS
Mitigating stress is crucial for maintaining both physical health and mental well-being. Chronic stress can lead to a cascade of negative effects on the body, including weakened immune function, and increased risk of other diseases. Furthermore, prolonged stress can impair cognitive function, making it difficult to concentrate, solve problems, and make decisions effectively. By managing stress, individuals can enhance their overall quality of life, fostering a sense of control and resilience in the face of challenges.
4. EXERCISE
Of course you know how important this is—our bodies were made to move! One great quote that I learned from a friend of mine is “motion is lotion”—it’s lotion for your joints. Move everyday if possible. You don’t even need to join a gym. Simple 20-30 minute walks outside can do wonders. Hiking outdoors and breathing that fresh air (especially in heavily wooded areas) is so good for you!
5. MAXIMIZE SLEEP
More people than you realize don’t get enough sleep. In our modern world with our busy lives, stress is a big factor. I get it! With work, kidd and our families, the stress can go through the roof! Many people are on medication and experience pain or side effects. Going to bed too late and getting up early is a cycle that can catch up with you. I’m providing lots of tips below!
Know that healing is possible! You can do it—you have more power than you realize.
Keeping you in the know,
Adrienne
xo
Cookbook for healing autoimmune disease—NOURISH YOUR WAY TO HEALTH
Paperback book—The Path to Reverse Multiple Sclerosis Naturally