How to manage multiple autoimmune conditions
Living with one autoimmune condition can be tough enough as it is. But what if you’re having to juggle two or more autoimmune conditions? This is where things can get a little messy – particularly if your symptoms are worsened or your medications are exacerbating them.
So if you’re navigating the world of multiple autoimmune issues and are unsure how to keep a handle on them? These tips will help you to get started.
Tips for managing your autoimmune conditions naturally
Consider the AIP diet
The Autoimmune Protocol or AIP is a diet specifically designed for controlling autoimmunity and inflammation. You can learn more about it here, but to make it simple – it removes many foods that can trigger immune reactions including dairy, grains, legumes and processed sugars.
I don’t always recommend it as a starting point, but if you’ve got more than one autoimmune process, it can be a good route for getting things back under control. However, the AIP diet is best done under supervision. It can be quite restrictive, so it’s tough to stay on track with. Working with a qualified practitioner will lend you the support you need, but also help with reintroducing foods once your symptoms have settled.
Going gluten-free and dairy-free
As you might know by now, I will always suggest a gluten-free trial when working with autoimmune thyroid conditions. But going GF and DF can also help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract if you’re sensitive to it.
Like any elimination diet, you want to do this with the help of your health practitioner. We can help you to identify symptom changes and ensure that you can introduce foods that aren’t problematic for your conditions. A practitioner can also ensure that you’re still meeting your dietary requirements when removing food groups such as dairy.
Increase anti-inflammatory food and drinks
While removing inflammatory triggers is important, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. We also want to add in foods and drinks that reduce inflammation naturally. The good news is that this is quite easy (and tasty!) to do.
Focus on consuming more:
Oily fish
Nuts and seeds
Leafy greens
Herbs and spices such as parsley, ginger and turmeric
Brightly coloured fruits such as berries
Herbal teas and green tea
Of course, if you are sensitive to any of these, it will have the opposite effect! So find the anti-inflammatory options that work for your body.
Take care of your gut
It’s now widely accepted that gut health plays a role in not only driving autoimmune symptoms, but also contributing to its development. That’s why gut health should always be a focus, no matter what autoimmune conditions you have or what your symptoms look like!
For some tips on how to take care of your gut, give this a read.
Optimise your lifestyle
While diet plays a massive role, we can’t overlook the impact of lifestyle. This includes stress, sleep and physical activity. As a generalisation, our goals with autoimmune disease are:
Getting plenty of high-quality sleep, including naps if your condition affects your ability to sleep at night
Moving regularly in a way that you enjoy, but at low to moderate intensity (this reduces the risk of increasing physical stress on the body)
Reducing as many stressors as possible, while implementing stress management techniques to increase your tolerance of those you can’t reduce or eliminate
Reduce environmental toxins
These can add to your body’s burden, particularly your liver. And if you have too much going on, it can spill over and affect the systems of the body – especially the immune system. That’s why we want to reduce these as much as possible. Some tips to get you started include:
Opting for organic when possible to reduce pesticide exposure
Filter your water
Switch to non-toxic personal care items
Use natural cleaning products around the home
Ditch plastics and use glass and Pyrex instead
Minimise your exposure to things like perfumes, smoking and pollution
Look at specific drivers
The previous tips have been general and helpful for most or even all autoimmune conditions. But we also need to consider your unique combination of conditions and what is driving them. Once you understand your conditions and what led to their development, you can target your natural treatments at those drivers.
The system or systems involved can also help you to identify nutrients that may be helpful. For example, if you have a thyroid condition, you know you want to look at iodine, selenium, zinc and tyrosine. If you have Coeliac disease, you need to consider iron, zinc and vitamin D, as deficiencies of these are common and can worsen symptoms.
THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS
When you receive a thyroid disease diagnosis, there’s a good chance you’ll feel overwhelmed and powerless. It could even be that you’re not clear on what’s driving it or where it came from!
But even if you’re still uncovering the cause, it doesn’t mean you need to suffer the symptoms forever! Your daily habits can make a massive difference – all you need to do is learn about your condition and empower yourself.