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Understanding Autoimmune

Balancing Nutrition & Medicine

LIVING WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Through functional medicine Dr.Autoimmunegirl focuses on the underlying causes of autoimmune disease and the impact inflammation and gut health have on autoimmune disease management.

As a health and wellness professional Dr.Autoimmunegirl is on a mission to help you get to the root cause of autoimmune disease through education, empowerment, and support.

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Health News

Learn about the various processes that effect the immune system, gut health and inflammation and their impact on autoimmune disease.

@drautoimmunegirl

Learn more about your immune system and how it plays a role in your daily life. Stay up to date with me on my journey to heal!

Happy 4th of July everyone! — Enjoy this say wit

Happy 4th of July everyone!
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Enjoy this say with your friends and family!
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Stay safe!
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#independenceday #4thofjuly #happy4thofjuly #happy4thofjuly🇺🇸

Let’s chat about the rise in obesity as an epide

Let’s chat about the rise in obesity as an epidemic and how it relates to inflammation…..
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Chronic inflammation is a result of repeated exposure by an offending element such as a pathogen, autoimmune disease, or cancer.
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A connection was found between inflammation and obesity in 1995 specifically when inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in adipose tissue were increased in obese individuals
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A study done by Koca in 2017 showed that obesity is significantly related to chronic inflammation, the greater the BMI of an individual, the greater the levels of inflammation.
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Another study showed that obesity leads to stress of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which causes chronic inflammation.
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The inflammation caused by obesity results in downstream effects such as metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance.
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Take away: Obesity leads to the chronic disease state of inflammation and these studies indicate the incidence of chronic inflammation has increased in direct proportion to the incidence of obesity
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#antiinflammatory #antiinflammatorydiet #inflammation #inflammatory #aippaleo #obesity #fightingobesity #obesitykills #inflammationsupport #inflammationrelief #adipose

Sometimes you just need to take a break and unwind

Sometimes you just need to take a break and unwind
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This was a much needed getaway
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Did I cheat and eat things I normally wouldn’t eat, yes!
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Do I feel inflamed after doing so, yes!
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Am I totally ok with that, yes!
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I find it ok to let go and deviate from my normal protocol once in a while and just enjoy. Everything to me is about BALANCE!
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#holistichealing #holistichealth #holisticnutrition #holisticmedicine #integrativemedicine #functionalmedicine #integrativenutrition #functionalnutrition #stress #stressrelief #stressfree #stressed #stressreliever #stressrelieftea #anxiety #anxietyrelief #anxietyhelp #anxietysupport #anxietyawareness #gratitude #mindfullness #grateful #goodvibes #mindful #reflect #postivevibes #goodenergy #appreciate #autoimmunedisease

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS FIGHT INFLAMMATION __ 1️⃣TURM

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS FIGHT INFLAMMATION
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1️⃣TURMERIC: The active ingredient curcumin is what fights inflammation before it starts. The key is taking it with black pepper to increase absorption
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2️⃣GINGER: Gingerols are powerful anti-inflammatory compounds found in ginger root - add it to your diet through ginger tea or stir fry recipes!
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3️⃣MUSHROOMS: Medicinal mushrooms contain powerful anti-inflammatory agents that fight oxidative stress and boost the immune system
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4️⃣MATCHA: Super anti-inflammatory thanks to its high antioxidant content. It also helps reduce cortisol and stress in the body
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5️⃣OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS: As Americans we consume a high amount of omega-6 fatty acids which are INFLAMMATORY, and our ratio on average is 15:1. That's why increasing anti-inflammatory omega-3 supplements are important!
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6️⃣RESERVATROL: Antioxidant found in berries, grapes and red wine reduce inflammation. Also available in supplement form
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7️⃣VITAMIN D: fights inflammatory proteins in the body, get levels checked periodically to see if your Vitamin D deficient
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8️⃣MULTIVITAMIN: Because when your body is under chronic inflammation, its need for certain vitamins and minerals increases
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What supplements have you taken to help fight inflammation? I personally add fresh turmeric root to my smoothie daily to fight inflammation!
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#antiinflammatory #antiinflammatorydiet #inflammation #inflammatory #aippaleo #turmeric #turmericbenefits #mushrooms #reishimushroom #reishi #matcha #matchagreentea #omega3s #resveratrol #vitamind #multivitamin #inflammationrelief #inflammationsupport

How many of you have heard of ASIA - Autoimmune/in

How many of you have heard of ASIA - Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Antigens?
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This occurs when you have chronic exposure to a xenobiotics, foreign element, or heavy metals
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Lets focus on Siliconosis - often associated with silicone breast implants
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Here is list of symptoms to look out for if you haven't felt yourself after getting implants:
1️⃣Exposure to the silicone prior to symptoms being developed
2️⃣Muscle pain, muscle inflammation and muscle weakness
3️⃣Joint pain
4️⃣Chronic fatigue
5️⃣Sleep disturbance
6️⃣Unrefreshing sleep
7️⃣Memory loss or brain fog
8️⃣Dry mouth
9️⃣Irritable bowl syndrome
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These symptoms can occur 1 month to years after exposure
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It is currently believed that exposure alone is not enough to trigger disease, but genetic susceptibility and other environmental risk factors play a role as well - although it can act as an accelerator of disease in a susceptible individual
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Several autoimmune diseases have been linked but causality has not been established - #rheumatoid #lupus #fibromyalgia
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Be aware of your symptoms and recognize when the changes occurred, what was done differently? I experienced a similar response from the copper IUD - again a foreign substance in the body creating an autoimmune inflammatory attack.
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How many of you have experienced this or anything similar? Please share your story!
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#autoimmunedisease #autoimmunepaleo #autoimmune #autoimmuneprotocol #aip #autoimmunewarrior #antiinflammatory #antiinflammatorydiet #inflammation #inflammatory #fatigue #adrenalfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #chronicfatigue #fatigue #integrativemedicine #functionalmedicine #integrativenutrition #functionalnutrition #integrativepharmacy #functionalpharmacy #functionalpharmacist

Pathogens have been the most common antecedent eve

Pathogens have been the most common antecedent event studied, but multiple other environmental factors including xenobiotic chemicals, drugs, and nutritional factors have been implicated into the development of ADs.
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Viral infections induce the activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) as well as auto-reactive T cells, favoring the development of ADs
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Lets talk about the bystander effect?
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BYSTANDER EFFECT, what does that actually mean? Well really it is what it sounds like.
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Your body is fighting something foreign and your SELF gets in the way and your body fights BOTH as a bystander
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This is the most common mechanism of how we get autoimmune disease
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This happens when your body simultaneously responds to a foreign antigen-VIRUS and self antigen… YOU!
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So as a response to a virus our body signals danger to our macrophages who are like little monsters that are released to eat up the bad guys
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Macrophages are always eating things, but when it eats a SELF antigen you have a problem
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The macrophage can then present this self antigen to our immune system and if your immune system is already turned on due to an infection - it may see that antigen with a danger signal and respond
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As a result the body is attacking itself as well as the virus. This is why we call this a BYSTANDER effect
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The interaction over time of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors increases or decreases the liability an individual would have to develop an autoimmune disease, this all depends on the misbalance between risk and protective effects
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Go to my website drautoimmunegirl.com and read more about all three mechanism on my blog post "What is Autoimmune?"
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#autoimmunedisease #autoimmunepaleo #autoimmune #autoimmuneprotocol #aip #autoimmunewarrior #hashimotosdisease #hashimotos #hashimotoswarrior #autoimmunewellness #autoimmuneprotocol #hypothyroidism #hashimotosthyroiditis #thyroid #hypothyroidmom #hypothyroid #thyroidawareness #viralinfection #virus #integrativepharmacy #integrativepharmacist #functionalmedicine #functionalpharmacy #functionalpharmacist #integrativemedicine

Medications that alter the gut microbiome - other

Medications that alter the gut microbiome - other than antibiotics
Metformin: increases in Proteobacteria-E. coli, Shigella, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Salmonella spp.
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NSAIDs: increases in Proteobacteria and decreases in lactobacilli
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Atypical antipsychotics- Significant decrease in overall diversity
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Statins: Increases in streptococci and ruminococci
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Polypharmacy in elderly: the more meds, the lower the diversity
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PPIs: decline in microbiota diversity and occurs within 7 days of beginning a PPI, increase in proteobacteria and streptococcus
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Antibiotics: depending on which one can disrupt the microbiome for up to 4 years
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This isn't a recommendation to stop medication if you are on them, however you may consider supplementing wit prebiotics and probiotic where appropriate. Remember to talk to your provider about options!
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(Ticinesi et al., 2017)
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#probiotics #prebiotics #goodbacteria #leakygut #guthealth #guthealing #guthealthmatters #healyourgut #integrativemedicine #functionalmedicine #integrativenutrition #functionalnutrition #integrativepharmacist #functionalpharmacist #holistichealing #holistichealth #holisticnutrition #holisticmedicine #microbiome #microbiomehealth #gutmicrobiome #probioticsupplements #probiotic #probioticos #metformin #antibiotics #polypharmacy #pharmacist #pharmacists

Lets have some REAL TALK on Vitamin D! _ The great

Lets have some REAL TALK on Vitamin D!
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The greatest natural source of vitamin D comes from the sun, but what are some key facts you need to know to maximize absorption?
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1️⃣Complete cloud cover reduces UV energy by 50% and shade (included that produced by pollution) reduces it by 60%
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2️⃣UVB radiation does not penetrate glass, so exposure to sunshine indoors through a window does not product Vitamin D
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3️⃣Sunscreens with SPF of 8 or more block Vitamin D producing UV rays
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4️⃣Research suggest exposure to the sun up to 30 minutes between 10AM-3PM at least twice a week to face, arms, legs without sunscreen should lead to sufficient vitamin D
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5️⃣Older adults are at increased risk of insufficiency because aging skin cannot synthesize vitamin D efficiently
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6️⃣Greater amount of the pigment melanin in the epidermal layer results in darker skin tone and reduce the skins ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight
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7️⃣People with conditions that impact fat absorption (liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis), might require supplementation
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8️⃣Obese individuals may need larger than usual intakes of vitamin D to achieve adequate levels. Greater amounts of subcutaneous fat sequester more of the vitamin and alter its release into circulation
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SO what levels should be shooting for and how much do we need?
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📌In 2011, The Endocrine Society issues a clinical practice guideline for Vitamin D, stating that desirable serum concentration of 25(OH)D is >75 nmol/L. It also reported that at least 1500-2000IU/day of supplemental #vitaminD might be required in adults and at least 1000IU/day in children
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📌The institute of medicine states the upper limit of intake per day is 1000IU for infants and 4000IU per day for people aged 9 and older.
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Personally, I take 5000IU/day and my levels are around 55 nmol/L… what's your experience?
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Side note: wish I could be on the beach in Cannes right now!
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#integrativemedicine #functionalmedicine #integrativenutrition #functionalnutrition #integrativepharmacist #functionalpharmacist #pharmacist #pharmacistlife #hashimotos #vitaminsea #vitaminddeficiency #vitamind3 #vitamindtherapy #autoimmune

STRESS STRESS STRESS….. It seems like a cons

STRESS STRESS STRESS….. It seems like a constant discussion we are having and likely will always be there. The real question is how we perceive stress and how we manage it that makes the difference in terms of it's impact on overall well-being and health
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Our personality and individual experience impact how we cope in stressful situations, its personal to each person and therefore coping strategies wont work for each person in the same manner. Stress is also not a negative thing all the time, a little bit of stress allows for the body to adapt to change
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So what does gender have to do with this?
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The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), women are twice as likely than men to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders also tend to occur at an earlier age for women than for men. Much of the research conducted by the between societal pressures and gender stereotypes and mental illness, as well as the differences in brain chemistry present in the female brain versus the male brain.
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Our RESPONSE to stress is also linked to gender, so although men and women have very similar stress triggers, the response is different. A University of Vienna psychologist found the following differences:
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📍MEN: take a very egocentric approach when responding to stress; men adopt a “fight or flight” response where they prepare themselves for impending stress by conserving their energy and ignoring the perspectives or needs of others.
📍WOMEN: adopt a “tend and befriend” approach in which they try to better understand other people’s perspectives or the reason for why the stress is present
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Another study (PMID: 22408002) found that the SRY gene that men have on their Y chromosome contributes to the release of norepinephrine into the bloodstream, leading to an increase in blood pressure that encourages the “fight or flight” response. Women, on the other hand, do not have the SRY gene, and instead secrete endorphins that motivate them to behave in a friendly manner towards children and social partners and facilitates the tend and befriend response.
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#stress #stressrelief #stressfree #stressed #stressreliever #anxiety #anxiety

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