5 Steps to Reverse Autoimmune Symptoms:

Since 2013, I've been asked a lot about how I reversed my two autoimmune disorders: Hashimoto's and guttate psoriasis. I wish it was a quick, simple answer. You can't Door Dash or Prime a quick fix to your health issues.⁠

Take out a pen and paper and together let's get curious.

What has changed in your life in the last year or so that's possibly impacted stress, a move of your home of office, a stressor in a relationship with a friend or family, a job stressor, a loss or hardship?

1. Check in on your emotional state

View any illness as an opportunity to become curious about your physical, mental, and emotional health. My 19 years of teaching pilates have shown me that nothing in the body operates in isolation. ⁠ Take inventory of your work, friendships, and relationships to see what's working and what isn't. Our emotional health influences our physical health through a process known as epigenetics. Let your friends and family know what you're going through and ask for their support and understanding.
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2. Symptoms are signals

As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I work with you to get to the root cause of your symptoms. Trust your instinct, and if you feel your symptoms are being dismissed or you're not being heard, find someone else. If you're being offered prescriptions to mask symptoms, I encourage you to move on. If there's eye-rolling and sighing (yes, I experienced a ton of this) then definitely move on.⁠  You can read this blog with my checklist for how to prepare for a doctor's appointment.  

Often, what's driving symptoms are underlying root causes.  These deserve investigation and attention:

1. Do you live or work in a water damaged building?  Mold can wreak havoc on your health.

2. Do you have root canals or cavitations from having teeth removed?  These can harbor infections that can trigger other health issues.  Oral health is critical to your overall health.

3. Do you use a lot of chemicals in your home, such as heavy-duty cleaning detergents, laundry detergents, fragrant candles, and harsh soaps? Our toxic burden is unprecedented in today's world, and these products cause hormonal and endocrine disruption. Look to remove them and replace them with products like Branch Basics for home cleaning. You can find the brands I love and discounts here.

4. What makeup, skincare, and haircare products do you use?  Again, many of these products are not good for your health.  Your skin is your largest organ and is one way you detox through sweat.  What you put on your skin is absorbed into your body.

5. Are you filtering your drinking water?  Most tap water in America is polluted with toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and prescription drugs.  Enter your zip code into the Environmental Working Group website to see what you're potentially being exposed to.  Buy an Aqua Tru filter.  Skip the bottled water as the plastic leaches into the water.

6. What is your stress level? Stress can drive systemic inflammation and gut dysbiosis. Living in a sympathetic nervous system of fight-or-flight creates a massive burden on the body.

7. Gut infections like H. pylori, SIBO, candida, and intestinal permeability can trigger autoimmunity.

8. A history of taking hormonal birth control causes nutrient depletion, intestinal permeability, a stagnant liver, and thyroid and endocrine dysfunction.

9. Food intolerances are driven by gut dysbiosis.

10. Eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) which consists of lots of processed carbohydrates and eating a lot of restaurant or packaged foods that contain inflammatory seed oils and high amounts of sugar in many forms.

11. Over exercising can be a big stressor on women's hormones.  Things like HIIT class, spin class and boot camp classes often drive too much stress in women.

12. Fasting for long windows of time and drinking caffeine on an empty stomach first thing in the morning are big stressors to blood sugar.

13. Sleeping less than 7 hours/night is also a big stressor on the body.

14. Epstein Barr virus (mono) never goes away.  It lies dormant in the body, and the immune system keeps it in check.  If EBV becomes reactivated, it can trigger autoimmunity.
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3. Lab work is crucial

Once you find a doctor, it's really important to do testing and blood work to get an accurate picture of your health.  We all love to go to Dr. Google for answers, but nothing can replace lab work.⁠  Look for the root cause so that you can work to resolve it.  I highly recommend the DUTCH test if you have any hormone, thyroid, or adrenal issues.  It's far more comprehensive than just a blood test.

If you're having digestive issues such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or food sensitivities, this can be a sign to look deeper. I offer the GI Map, a stool test that looks for bacteria, fungi, commensal and opportunistic overgrowth, and the health of your digestive tract. Many people with autoimmune disorders have some form of intestinal permeability or "leaky gut."
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4. Whole food is healing

Food was the biggest game-changer for me. I started by eliminating gluten, dairy, and grains. I gave up being vegan, and after 25 years of not eating any meat, chicken, or fish, I added fish back. Hands down, food has made the biggest change in my health.⁠ Get in tune with your body and notice how you feel after you eat. Eat real food that is organic when possible. Seek to eliminate sugar and processed foods. Drink plenty of filtered water.
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5. Healing is a process and not an event

Consistency is key. Eating real food is one of the most powerful things you can do for your health. I have consistently taken collagen for nine years. It's made a huge difference in my hair, skin, and nails.⁠  Sleep is also very healing and restorative.  Make sure to prioritize getting 7-9 hours a night and notice how you feel.  Move your body.  Walking is so important, as is daily sun exposure.
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You can have great health and great hair, skin, and nails. But consistency is the key.  Make small changes that can add up to big results.  Find a doctor that wants to work with you to help you feel better.

I'm rooting for you!

In great health,

Elaine xo

This content is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be medical advice.  Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.