IR 36
ARE YOU AT RISK FOR AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE? By Kristin Grayce McGary LAc., MAc., CFMP®, CSTcert, CLP.
50 million Americans suffer
from autoimmune diseases cost- ing almost 100 million dollars a year. It’s a growing number. And while you may believe that you’re healthy, eat well and
“never get sick” you could have autoimmunity – a pre-diag- nosable disease state. Any autoimmune disease always begins with autoimmu-
nity – where the body’s immune response attacks healthy cells and tissues, glands and organs eventually manifesting into a full-blown disease. Put simply, the body has misidentified a part of itself as a foreign invader and mistakenly attacks it. According to John Hopkins University’s Autoimmune
Disease Research Center, autoimmune diseases are a special threat to women. Indeed, more than 75% of their patients are women. (1) Sadly, autoimmune diseases are among the ten leading
causes of death among women in all age groups up to the age of 65. (2) I've had an autoimmune disease called Hoshimotos
Thyroiditis. About 90% of all thyroid disorders are actually autoimmune issues but they are left misdiagnosed or undiag- nosed until such extensive damage is done to the thyroid gland that it's difficult to fully recover. I suffered for years before I discovered what was really going on. I needn’t have suffered and I can help you to protect yourself from autoimmunity by passing along some of the knowledge I have accumulated. Conventional medicine practiced in the West has few
answers for those suffering from autoimmune issues and there’s little sight of a cure. It has been my experience that autoimmunity and full-blown autoimmune diseases are symp- toms of deeper issues. Allopathic medicine tends to focus on relieving symptoms rather than getting to the root cause of the problem. From my point of view, autoimmune issues, such as allergies, food sensitivities, digestive issues, foggy thinking, exhaustion, weight gain, repeated infections, even cancer are red flags. Clearly, as far as I amconcerned, they point to a dys- functional immune system. And that can lead to any one of a number of crippling autoimmune diseases such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. "Never getting sick”, may seem to you like a good thing.
That you're doing OK. But it could very well be the complete opposite and a sign of an under active immune system– itmay even be the beginning of an autoimmune disease. It takes a well-regulated, strong, and balanced immune system to create a fever and kill a bunch of bad bugs that have invaded your body. A fever is one of the most natural anti-cancer reactions your body can produce. It's a time when your white blood cells are ten-fold and they are kicking the butts of the invading viruses. In my view, the last thing you should do is suppress that fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Fever suppres- sants shut off an important immune response and don’t allow your body to do what it was designed to. So how can you avoid an autoimmune disease or help
your body to recover from one? Fortunately, holistic and functional healthcare providers
have developed approaches that get to the root of autoimmu- nity and autoimmune diseases providing. relief and remission. And in my opinion, it usually begins with the gut. The gut is
the throne of your immune function. About 75% of your immune system comes from your gut which makes it essential to the functioning and balance of your immune system. Remember I said that autoimmune issues can take years to
fully manifest? This means your gut may be inflamed and out of sorts without you even knowing it or you may dismiss symptoms that you attribute to aging that are actually a sign of a deeper issue. An autoimmune issue may be lurking and you won't even know it until it could be too late. Take note of aller- gies, food sensitivities, digestive issues, such as gas and bloat- ing, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, repeated infections or lack of fever they could be warning signs of something more serious. In my practice, I worked with a patient who had chronic
joint inflammation and pain in the knees, shoulders and hands. She was also taking prescription thyroid medication but had never had a full thyroid panel (10 markers as opposed to the conventional standard of TSH, T3 and T4). I found it surpris- ing that she had been prescribed a particular medication with- out a detailed analysis of the gland that the medication was supposed to be supporting. Furthermore, she had never had a truly comprehensive functional blood chemistry analysis which would shed light on any deeper medical issues. In my opinion, her conventional doctors had been working blind. I always want to see a full panel of tests.When I saw the
results of this patient’s tests what we found was shocking. She'd been taking thyroid medication for at least 10 years and her thyroid antibodies were high. No one had ever bothered to test them or explain their importance to her. Once we were fully armed with the appropriate data, she began a gut repair nutritional and lifestyle program.Within weeks her antibodies dropped, her joint pain vanished, and she reported clearer thinking. Not only was gut repair helping regulate her immune system it was also helping support her brain. (The gut is com- monly known as the Second Brain.) In order to really know the degree of risk you’re facing for
autoimmunity or an autoimmune disease, I recommend a truly comprehensive lab panel that is interpreted by someone who understands how to look for the underlying root issues and can individualize treatment based on your unique health and life expression. Additionally, that health care provided also must be able to interpret your comprehensive lab results based on functional medical reference ranges rather than their limited conventional counterparts. You are unique and what works for you may not work for your best friend. It's necessary to get all the information and also have it properly interpreted according to your individuality and health goals.
Kristing Grayce McGary LAc., MAc., CFMP®, CSTcert,
CLP is a highly sought-after health and lifestyle alchemist. She is renowned for reversing annoying and debilitating health con- ditions and helping people to live with clarity and vitality. Kristin Grayce is also a speaker and author of Ketogenic Cure; Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Life.
www.KristinMcGary.com
References: (1)
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/institute_basic_biomedi
cal_sciences/about_us/basic_research_human_health/autoimmunity/autoimm
unity.html (2)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10983209
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
