If you live with an autoimmune condition, you already know the pattern: good weeks, then a flare that seems to come from nowhere. Fatigue, sore joints, gut upset, brain fog. Different diagnoses, but the same underlying cause: chronic inflammation, often rooted in the gut microbiome. Research has found gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in your gut bacteria, is a common link across most autoimmune conditions studied. It weakens the gut lining, making it more permeable or “leaky” and letting bacterial fragments into your bloodstream that keep your immune system on constant alert.

I know this from personal experience. I was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease in my 20s and spent decades managing symptoms when medication alone wasn’t enough. What finally changed things was functional testing. Microbiome stool testing and SIBO breath testing showed me that dysbiosis was actually driving my inflammation.

Finally, I could treat it, rather than guess.

Here’s what I’ve learned, clinically and personally: in autoimmune disease, the gut microbiome is often where inflammation starts — and where we have the most leverage to improve it.

First, not all inflammation is bad

Inflammation is your immune system’s way of protecting you. Cut your finger, catch a virus or get stung by a bee, and your body sends in a rapid-response team to contain the damage and start repairs.

Acute inflammation is short and protective. You’ll notice redness, heat, swelling, pain or loss of function, and it resolves within days to a couple of weeks. The outcome is healing.

Chronic inflammation is low-grade and never fully switches off. It’s often subtle: fatigue, aches, gut symptoms, brain fog, recurring flares that can persist for months or years, causing ongoing damage to cells, tissues and organs.

Over time, chronic inflammation stops being a response to disease and becomes part of what drives it.

What keeps chronic inflammation switched on?

In autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly targets the body’s own healthy tissue — the thyroid in Hashimoto’s, the joints in rheumatoid arthritis, the gut lining in Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Each condition looks different, but chronic inflammation is the common driver of symptom severity. Common contributors include:

• An unresolved trigger — an infection or injury that never fully settled
• Gut dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) — more on this below
• A diet heavy in ultra-processed food, added sugar and refined flour, and low in fibre and plants
• Ongoing stress and poor sleep, which shift the immune system into an overactive state
• Movement extremes — inactivity promotes inflammatory visceral fat, while chronic over-training can add to the load
• Environmental exposures — pollution, chemicals, smoking

Whether it’s the cause or the consequence, bringing down inflammation is central to managing chronic illness.

The gut microbiome and autoimmune disease: where it often starts

If there’s one place to look when you want to reduce inflammation in autoimmune disease, it’s your gut. Most of your immune tissue sits just beneath your gut lining, separated from trillions of microbes by a barrier only one cell thick.

That proximity is deliberate. From birth, your gut microbes train your immune system to tell friend from foe — what to tolerate (food, beneficial bacteria, your own tissues) and what to attack (genuine pathogens). Autoimmunity is, at its core, a breakdown in that tolerance.

Genes load the gun, but they don’t fully explain who develops autoimmune disease. In animal studies, mice that are genetically prone to arthritis stay healthy when raised germ free and develop joint inflammation once specific gut bacteria are introduced. Your microbiome is one of the most important environmental triggers, and unlike your genes, it’s something you can change.

4 ways an imbalanced microbiome fuels autoimmunity

1. A leaky gut barrier. Dysbiosis weakens the tight junctions between gut lining cells. Bacterial fragments such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and partially digested food proteins then slip into circulation, keeping the immune system on constant high alert.

2. Losing your anti-inflammatory bacteria. Beneficial species ferment fibre into short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate. Butyrate feeds your gut lining and supports regulatory T cells (Tregs) — the immune system’s peacekeepers. Lose those bacteria and the balance tips toward inflammatory Th17 cells, which drive tissue damage in many autoimmune conditions.

3. Mistaken identity. Some bacterial proteins closely resemble human ones. When the immune system mounts a response against a microbe, it can cross-react with similar-looking proteins in your own tissues — a process called molecular mimicry.

4. Bacteria in the wrong place. In a 2018 study published in Science, a gut bacterium called Enterococcus gallinarum crossed a damaged gut barrier into the liver and lymph nodes of autoimmune-prone mice and triggered autoantibodies. Researchers then found the same microbe in liver biopsies from people with lupus and autoimmune liver disease.

What a microbiome test can show you

This is why I don’t start with a generic anti-inflammatory list. Two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different gut drivers. A comprehensive stool test can show:

• Diversity — how resilient your gut ecosystem is
• Your butyrate producers — whether species like Faecalibacteria prausnitzii and Roseburia are present in healthy numbers
• Inflammatory and opportunistic species — overgrowths linked with immune activation
• Gut barrier and inflammation markers — such as zonulin, calprotectin and secretory IgA, depending on the test
• Fungal and parasitic overgrowth

Where the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) fits

The Autoimmune Protocol is an elimination-and-reintroduction diet. It temporarily removes foods that commonly aggravate the immune system or gut: grains, gluten, dairy, eggs, legumes, nightshades, nuts, seeds, refined sugar, alcohol and processed foods while doubling down on nutrient-dense vegetables, quality protein and healthy fats. Foods are then reintroduced one at a time to see what you actually tolerate.

The research is still small, but encouraging:

• IBD: In a pilot study of 15 people with active Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, 73% reached clinical remission by week 6, and all maintained it through the maintenance phase. Quality-of-life scores also improved.
• Hashimoto’s: A 10 weeks study in 17 women found significant improvements in quality of life and symptom burden, with signs of reduced systemic inflammation (measured by CRP). Thyroid antibodies didn’t shift in that timeframe, but I have seen them shift over time.

AIP is a short-term tool, not a forever diet and the reintroduction phase is key. Staying restricted long-term can narrow your microbiome and risk nutrient gaps. Microbiome testing alongside can show whether your priority is restoring fibre-loving bacteria, addressing overgrowth or repairing the gut barrier.

6 gut-first ways to reduce inflammation in autoimmune disease

1. Feed your anti-inflammatory gut bacteria

This is the foundation everything else builds on. Your butyrate-producing bacteria need fermentable fibre to thrive, and in return they calm your immune system and strengthen your gut barrier.

• Prebiotic fibres: cooked-then-cooled potato or rice, green banana, oats, ground flaxseed, leeks, onions and asparagus (if tolerated)
• Polyphenols: berries, extra virgin olive oil, green tea, cacao and pomegranate help feed beneficial species such as Akkermansia
• Fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir or coconut yoghurt — start with a teaspoon and build up
• Go slowly: if fibre makes you bloat, that’s a clue, not a failure. It can point to SIBO or slow motility, and it’s worth testing before you push through.

A note on probiotics: benefits are strain-specific, and a generic supermarket product may do little for your gut. Your test results show which bacteria actually need support.

2. Eat the rainbow — your microbes love variety

Colourful plants are packed with phytonutrients: the compounds that give food its colour, flavour and aroma, and act as antioxidants that help quieten inflammation. Variety matters as much as volume — different plant fibres feed different gut bacteria. Aim for 30 different plants a week, counting vegetables, fruit, herbs and spices, and lean on dark leafy greens.

3. Cook with anti-inflammatory spices

Turmeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon and cloves all have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties — and they count toward your plant total.

4. Check your vitamin D

Vitamin D helps regulate immune function, and low levels are common in people with autoimmune conditions. Unless you send enough time outdoors without sunscreen in the mornings before the heat of the day, supplementation may be the better option. Food sources include salmon, sardines and eggs.

5. Protect your sleep

Sleep is when your body repairs and recalibrates its immune response — even one bad night raises inflammatory markers. Aim for 7–9 hours with a consistent bed and wake time. Switch off screens an hour before bed, keep the room cool and dark, and use whatever helps you wind down: breathwork, a bath, music, a book.

6. Lower your stress load

Chronic stress keeps cortisol and inflammatory signalling elevated and directly affects your gut via the gut–brain axis. Mindfulness meditation, yoga and tai chi have all been shown to improve stress resilience, and research suggests mindfulness practices may reduce inflammation in chronic inflammatory disease. Start with five minutes a day.

Bonus: move most days. Regular moderate movement such as walking, swimming or strength work lowers inflammatory markers. Match intensity to your energy — in a flare, gentle beats intense.

Test, don’t guess

Symptoms tell you something is wrong. They don’t always tell you why.

I combine microbiome testing, SIBO breath testing (when indicated) and a review of your pathology with a detailed health history. That shows me what’s driving your inflammation, so your food, supplement and lifestyle plan is built around you.

Struggling with autoimmune or gut symptoms? Book a discovery call here.

If you’re ready to understand your gut health a little better, follow along on Instagram. 💚

In clinic, I often see women who are on thyroid medication, whose blood tests look “normal”, and who still feel tired, bloated, foggy and constipated. Medication replaces the hormone. It doesn’t address why the immune system is attacking the thyroid in the first place, and that is where the gut comes in.

How does the thyroid work?

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. Its hormones help regulate almost every system in your body, including metabolism, energy, body temperature, heart rate, digestion, mood, brain function and bone health.

The thyroid uses iodine and the amino acid tyrosine from your diet to make two main hormones:

• T4 (thyroxine): about 80% of what the thyroid releases. T4 is a storage form that needs to be converted into T3 before your cells can use it.
• T3 (triiodothyronine): the active hormone. The thyroid makes a small amount directly, and most of your T3 is made from T4 in tissues like the liver, kidneys and gut.

Your brain controls how much hormone the thyroid makes. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which tells the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then tells the thyroid to produce more T4 and T3. This feedback loop is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis.

This system can be thrown off by nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress, infections, environmental toxins, inflammation, gut dysbiosis and autoimmunity.

Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease

There are two main types of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common. The immune system attacks the thyroid, causing inflammation and gradual damage to thyroid cells, so over time the thyroid makes less hormone (hypothyroidism). Symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, feeling cold, dry skin, thinning hair, joint and muscle aches, low mood and heavy periods. It is far more common in women.

Graves’ disease happens when antibodies switch the thyroid on, so it makes too much hormone (hyperthyroidism). Symptoms can include weight loss, a racing heart, loose bowels, sweating, anxiety, poor sleep, shaky hands and lighter periods.

Once you have one autoimmune condition, you’re more likely to develop another. Hashimoto’s often occurs alongside coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome.

The gut and thyroid connection

Researchers now talk about a “gut-thyroid axis”. Your gut and your thyroid affect each other in both directions, and when one is out of balance, the other usually is too.

Dysbiosis and leaky gut. People with Hashimoto’s and Graves’ tend to have different gut bacteria to people without thyroid disease. When the microbiome is out of balance, the gut lining becomes more permeable and lets bacterial fragments into the bloodstream. This keeps the immune system on alert and can make thyroid autoimmunity worse. I explain this in more detail in How Your Gut Microbiome Drives Inflammation in Autoimmune Disease.

Nutrient absorption. Your thyroid depends on selenium, zinc, iron and iodine, and your gut bacteria play a key role in absorbing them. You can eat well and still be low if your gut isn’t absorbing properly.

Hormone recycling. Gut bacteria help reactivate thyroid hormone that the liver has packaged up for removal, so more of it goes back into circulation.

Medication absorption. Thyroid medication is absorbed in the small intestine. Coeliac disease, H. pylori infection, low stomach acid and inflammatory bowel conditions can all reduce how much you absorb. If your dose keeps creeping up, your gut is worth checking.

SIBO. A slow thyroid slows the gut, and a sluggish gut is a set-up for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. A 2025 study found people with hypothyroidism were about twice as likely to develop SIBO, and the risk was higher again with autoimmune thyroiditis. This is one reason bloating and constipation are so common with Hashimoto’s.

Coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is more common in people with autoimmune thyroid disease. It damages the gut lining, affects nutrient and medication absorption, and is easy to miss because the symptoms can be subtle.

Testing: look at the thyroid and the gut

Thyroid symptoms overlap with so many other conditions that they’re easy to miss. A detailed personal and family history is often the first clue that the thyroid needs testing.

A full thyroid panel, not just TSH, should include:

• TSH: high usually means an underactive thyroid, low usually means an overactive one
• Free T4 and free T3: how much hormone is available, and how well you’re converting T4 into active T3
• Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Ab) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb): raised in Hashimoto’s
• TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb): raised in Graves’ disease

Your doctor may also order a thyroid ultrasound to check for nodules or enlargement.

Gut testing is where we find out what’s driving the immune response:

• Microbiome stool testing to look at diversity, beneficial bacteria, inflammatory species and gut barrier markers
• SIBO breath testing if you have bloating, gas, constipation or reflux
• Coeliac screening through your GP, before removing gluten, because the blood test needs gluten in your diet to be accurate
• Nutrient levels such as iron studies, vitamin D and zinc

Test don’t guess. Two people with the same antibody levels can have very different things going on in their gut microbiome.

Where does AIP fit?

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is an elimination and reintroduction diet. For a period of time, it removes foods that can trigger an immune response in some people (gluten and other grains, dairy, eggs, legumes, nightshades, nuts, seeds, refined sugar, alcohol and processed foods). The focus is on vegetables, quality protein and healthy fats. Foods are then brought back one at a time so you can see what you actually react to.

In a 10-week study of 17 women with Hashimoto’s, AIP significantly improved quality of life and symptoms, and lowered a marker of inflammation (hs-CRP). Thyroid antibodies didn’t change in that time. It’s a small study, but it supports what I see in practice. People often feel much better even when their medication dose stays the same.

AIP is a short-term tool, and the reintroduction phase is the most important part. Microbiome testing shows which beneficial bacteria are missing or low, which helps me prioritise the foods to bring back first. Fibre is usually the most important, because it feeds the bacteria that produce anti-inflammatory compounds like butyrate. Staying restricted for too long starves these bacteria, so a guided reintroduction is important.

Nutrients that support the thyroid

• Selenium: an analysis of 35 studies found selenium lowered TPO antibodies in people with Hashimoto’s. Brazil nuts are a rich source, but the amount varies a lot between nuts, so supplements should be dosed carefully.
• Zinc: needed to make thyroid hormone and convert T4 to T3.
• Vitamin D: helps regulate the immune system, and low levels are common in autoimmune disease.
• Iron: low iron stores can slow thyroid hormone production.
• Iodine, with care: the thyroid needs iodine, but too much can trigger or worsen Hashimoto’s. Don’t take iodine supplements or kelp without professional advice.

Stress, sleep and regular movement all matter too. Chronic stress affects both your thyroid and your gut, so it’s part of any plan I put together.

Ready to look deeper?

If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s or Graves’ and you’re still struggling with fatigue, bloating, constipation or brain fog, your gut is a good place to start. I combine microbiome testing, SIBO breath testing (when needed) and a review of your pathology, then build a plan around what’s actually going on for you.

Book a discovery call here.

If you’re ready to understand your gut health a little better, follow along on Instagram. 💚

REFERENCES

Abbott RD, Sadowski A, Alt AG. Efficacy of the autoimmune protocol diet as part of a multi-disciplinary, supported lifestyle intervention for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Cureus. 2019;11(4):e4556. doi:10.7759/cureus.4556. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.4556

Busto Silva I, Puig-Domingo M. The impact of thyroid disorders on the gut microbiome: emerging mechanisms and clinical relevance. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2026;70(spec issue 1):e250075. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/12679698

Hughes K, Eastman CJ. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: how to spot the diagnosis and how to manage it. Med Today. 2017;18(9):27-32. https://medicinetoday.com.au/mt/2017/september/feature-article/hashimotos-thyroiditis-how-spot-diagnosis-and-how-manage-it

Huwiler VV, Maissen-Abgottspon S, Stanga Z, et al. Selenium supplementation in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Thyroid. 2024;34(3):295-313. doi:10.1089/thy.2023.0556. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10951571/

IBD is an immune-mediated condition that causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. The two main types are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). There’s no single cause. Genetics, immune dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, a Western-style diet low in fibre and high in ultra-processed food, antibiotic use, smoking (for Crohn’s), stress and poor sleep can all play a part.

Research is also showing that UC may have a true autoimmune component. People who go on to develop UC can carry antibodies against integrin αvβ6, a protein that helps hold the gut barrier together, and these antibodies can appear up to 10 years before diagnosis. It’s another sign of how central the gut barrier is in IBD.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

UC and Crohn’s share many symptoms, including abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhoea, urgency, a feeling of incomplete emptying, blood or mucus in the stool, fatigue, poor appetite, weight loss and sometimes fever. Both follow a pattern of flares and remission, and both can range from mild to severe. They are still quite different conditions.

Ulcerative colitis affects the inner lining of the large intestine. It starts in the rectum and spreads upwards in one continuous stretch. The ulcers can bleed and produce mucus or pus, and ongoing blood loss can lead to iron deficiency anaemia.

Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, but most often involves the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the colon. Inflammation can go through the full thickness of the bowel wall and appears in patches, with healthy sections in between. When the small intestine is affected, it can interfere with absorbing nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D and fats.

The gut microbiome in IBD

The gut microbiome is one of the most studied areas in IBD research, and the patterns are consistent. People with Crohn’s and UC tend to have:

• Lower diversity. Fewer different types of bacteria, which makes the gut ecosystem less resilient.
• Fewer butyrate producers. Bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii turn fibre into butyrate, which feeds the cells lining the bowel and helps calm the immune system. F. prausnitzii is often low in Crohn’s, and lower levels have been linked with a higher risk of the disease coming back after surgery.
• More inflammatory bacteria. Some species thrive in an inflamed gut and keep the immune system switched on.
• A weaker gut barrier. The protective mucus layer thins and the gut lining becomes more permeable, so bacteria come into closer contact with immune cells.

It becomes a cycle. Dysbiosis drives inflammation, and inflammation changes the environment in a way that favours more dysbiosis. I explain this process in more detail in How Your Gut Microbiome Drives Inflammation in Autoimmune Disease.

SIBO is common too. A 2025 analysis found around 31% of people with IBD had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, much higher than in healthy people. The risk was higher after bowel surgery and in stricturing Crohn’s. SIBO can cause bloating, gas and diarrhoea that look a lot like a flare, so it’s worth testing when symptoms don’t match your inflammation markers.

Is IBD different from IBS?

Yes. The symptoms can look similar, but they are very different conditions.

IBD is driven by the immune system. It causes inflammation and damage to the gut lining that can be seen on colonoscopy and biopsy, and inflammation markers in the blood and stool are usually raised.

IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. There’s no visible damage on colonoscopy and inflammation markers are usually normal. Gut sensitivity, motility changes, dysbiosis, SIBO, food triggers, stress and past gut infections can all play a part.

It’s possible to have both. Some people with IBD in remission still have IBS-type symptoms, which is why Microbiome testing is so important. Microbiome testing shows where the imbalance of bacteria is and we can then use selective prebiotics and probiotics to favourably change the composition of the gut microbiota.

How is IBD diagnosed and what happens next?

Diagnosis is done by your gastroenterologist who will use a combination of tests:

• Blood tests to check for inflammation (such as CRP), anaemia and nutrient deficiencies like iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
• Faecal calprotectin, a stool test that measures inflammation in the bowel and helps tell IBD apart from IBS
• PCR Stool tests to rule out infection
• Colonoscopy with biopsy, the main test for confirming IBD and telling UC and Crohn’s apart
• Gastroscopy if Crohn’s may be affecting the upper digestive tract
• MRI, CT, bowel ultrasound or capsule endoscopy to look at the small intestine, which a colonoscopy can’t fully reach

Gut testing

Once IBD is diagnosed, the next question is what’s driving the inflammation in your gut. This is what I look at starting with a detailed history: when your symptoms began, how severe they are, and what makes them better or worse. I then use:

• Microbiome stool testing to see your diversity, which beneficial bacteria are missing or low, which inflammatory species are overgrown, and markers of gut barrier health
• SIBO breath testing if bloating, gas or diarrhoea don’t match your inflammation markers
• A review of your pathology, especially iron, B12, vitamin D and zinc

Managing IBD with AIP

There’s no cure for IBD, but diet, targeted supplements and lifestyle changes can ease symptoms, reduce the severity of flares and help you stay in remission for longer. This works alongside your medical treatment, not instead of it.

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is an elimination and reintroduction diet that can be very effective at reducing inflammation. Foods that can trigger an immune response in some people (gluten and other grains, dairy, eggs, legumes, nightshades, nuts, seeds, refined sugar, alcohol and processed foods) are removed for a short period of time. The focus is on nutrient-dense fruit and vegetables, quality protein and healthy fats. Foods are then brought back one at a time to see what you actually react to. Stress management, sleep and movement are part of the protocol too.

IBD was the first condition AIP was studied in. In a pilot study of 15 people with active Crohn’s or UC, 73% were in clinical remission by week 6, and they stayed in remission through the rest of the study. Most participants were still on their usual medication, so AIP was used as an add-on.

Reintroduction and fibre

AIP is a short-term tool, and the reintroduction phase is the most important part. Your microbiome results show which beneficial bacteria are missing or low, which helps me prioritise the foods to bring back first. Fibre is usually the most important, because it feeds the bacteria that make butyrate, and butyrate is one of the main things that helps settle inflammation in the bowel. We start with gentle, cooked and soluble fibres and build up slowly.

A note on strictures. If you have Crohn’s with a narrowed section of bowel, high amounts of insoluble fibre (raw vegetables, skins, seeds, nuts and tough fibrous foods) can raise the risk of a blockage. International IBD dietary guidance recommends limiting insoluble fibre in this situation, so your plan needs to be adjusted around it.

Other things that help

International dietary guidance for IBD also suggests:

• Eating more oily fish such as salmon and sardines for omega-3s
• Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Cutting back on ultra-processed foods, especially those containing emulsifiers like carrageenan, carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80
• Reducing red and processed meat

It’s also important to correct nutrient deficiencies, especially iron, vitamin B12, selenium, vitamin D and zinc, which are common in IBD.

Ready to look deeper?

If you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis and you’re still dealing with flares, bloating, fatigue or unpredictable bowels, your microbiome is a good place to start. In my Gut Program, we combine microbiome testing, SIBO breath testing when needed and a review of your pathology, then build a plan around what your gut actually needs.

Living with IBD and want support? Book a consultation with me here: https://dashboard.healthbank.io/practitioner/vicky-ellenport

References

Feng X, Hu J, Zhang X. Prevalence and predictors of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025;11:1490506. doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1490506. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1490506/full

Konijeti GG, Kim N, Lewis JD, et al. Efficacy of the autoimmune protocol diet for inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2017;23(11):2054-2060. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000001221. https://doi.org/10.1097/MIB.0000000000001221

Levine A, Rhodes JM, Lindsay JO, et al. Dietary guidance from the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(6):1381-1392. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2020.01.046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2020.01.046

Livanos AE, Dunn A, Fischer J, et al. Anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies are a novel biomarker that antedate ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 2023;164(4):619-629. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2022.12.042. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36634824/

Sokol H, Pigneur B, Watterlot L, et al. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is an anti-inflammatory commensal bacterium identified by gut microbiota analysis of Crohn disease patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(43):16731-16736. doi:10.1073/pnas.0804812105

#Inflammatoryboweldisease #Crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #AIP #IBD #gutmicrobiome #clinicalnutritionist #personalisednutrition

Autoimmune disease is a malfunction of the immune system.

The fundamental role of the immune system is to protect the body from invading pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. In Autoimmune Disease (AID), the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body’s own tissues as a threat and produces autoantibodies. This results in inflammation and damage to cells, tissues and organs which can impair normal functioning.

Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune disease affects around 5% of Australians and there are around 80 different known autoimmune conditions, with many more diseases that are suspected to be autoimmune in origin. Many are difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Most autoimmune diseases are chronic and lifelong, and their incidence is increasing year on year in most countries around the world.

Some of the more common autoimmune diseases include: Coeliac Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Type 1 Diabetes, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease) and Psoriasis. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are conditions that are suspected to have autoimmune origins.

Why does the Immune System malfunction?

Though the exact causes of autoimmune disease remain unknown, there are certain risk factors that increase the chances of developing an autoimmune condition.

Genetics accounts for approximately one third of this risk, while the remaining risk is thought to come from environmental triggers such as exposure to pollution, toxins, viruses, intestinal dysbiosis (causing leaky gut) and diet and lifestyle factors.

So what does this mean for you?

This means that autoimmune disease is directly linked to your food choices and how you choose to live your life. What this suggests is that you can manage your autoimmune disease by changing your diet and making more informed choices about sleep, activity, and stress.

The Autoimmune Protocol

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is a comprehensive program which focuses on diet and lifestyle factors known to be important modulators of immune function. Healing is supported by the removal of inflammatory stimuli to reduce the chronic inflammation that causes tissue damage.

That may seem like a lot to ‘digest’, so a certified AIP practitioner can help you put this into practice.

The Autoimmune Protocol provides guidelines for both diet and lifestyle changes to successfully manage the symptoms of autoimmune disease.

About the AIP Diet

The AIP diet consists of an elimination strategy, cutting out the foods that are most likely to be holding back our health. After a period of time, many of the excluded foods, especially those that have nutritional merit, can be reintroduced.

The AIP diet provides balanced and complete nutrition by prescribing nutrient dense foods while avoiding processed & refined foods.

The AIP Lifestyle

Lifestyle factors including high stress, poor sleep and minimal activity can contribute to inflammation and increase the risk of immune dysfunction leading to the onset or flare up of autoimmune disease.

The AIP provides strategies for improved sleep, stress management and regular physical activity as these are important immune modulators and are key to successfully managing AID.

Is this lifestyle difficult to maintain?

Autoimmune diseases are difficult to manage and at times can feel out of control.

By adopting diet and lifestyle strategies, such as the Autoimmune Protocol, the frequency and severity of symptoms may be reduced and quality of life improved.

If you are someone who has been recently diagnosed with an AID, or maybe you have been struggling to manage your AID for some time, the Autoimmune Protocol is for you. Book in for a Complimentary Discovery Session with Vicky to find out more. https://thenutritionfactor.com.au/book-appointment/