The term Autoimmune Disease is used to describe conditions in which the body’s immune system – which is supposed to be defending the body against viruses, bacteria and other invaders – is thought to be involved in causing or perpetuating illness. It is as if the body’s defence system has turned on its host.

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of conditions considered to be autoimmune. In fact, 25 million Americans have at least one autoimmune diagnosis. (In Australia, the statistic is 1.15 million people, or 1 in 24). These numbers are on the rise and the age of diagnosis is getting younger. 75 million Americans are reported to be in the “prodromal phase” where they are showing symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, pain, moodiness, and inflammation. These are often signs indicating the onset of disease prior to diagnosis.

Depending on the type, an autoimmune disease can affect one or many different types of body tissue. There are over 100 types of autoimmune conditions identified today.  

Some common conditions include Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, Crohn’s disease, Psoriasis, Multiple Sclerosis and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  

You may have been diagnosed with one of these disease categories, or you might be experiencing general symptoms of system wide inflammation that could be indicative of an underlying autoimmune disease process such as:

• fatigue
• chronic low-grade fever
• overall feeling of malaise (feeling sick and tired)
• joint pain
• rashes  

“The best action you can take for autoimmune and chronic diseases is to implement diet and lifestyle changes that are best suited to you.”

How I Help People With Autoimmune Conditions

Through adopting and sustaining health promoting behaviours, you are more likely to “turn-off” serious autoimmune disease activity, and instead experience fewer symptom flares, lower levels of pain, clearer brain function, increased energy, fewer mood swings, and less dependency on medication for relief.

The good news is that in order to figure out what’s really going on, and to bring the body back into balance there are many things we can do! We can start by putting good, whole foods in our bodies, removing inflammatory foods, improving digestion and mindfully reducing stressors.

Working with me as your Health Engineer is a great way to make this process manageable. By taking the time to listen to your story, I can help guide you through feelings of overwhelm and confusion surrounding your medical recommendations or personal health goals so you can be successful in finding balance and feeling great again. I will help you explore how food as well as relationships, exercise and sleep play a role in your health and overall quality of life. No matter where you are, it is totally possible to live a beautiful, vibrant life not ruled by your disease. Sometimes all you need is the right person to guide and support you. 

Here is a YouTube video I created to demonstrate how health coaching may help women with autoimmune conditions.