“All disease begins in the gut” and “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” Hippocrates stated these famous quotes about 2,400 years ago. That long ago, the reasons behind his statements weren’t fully understood, but he found a link between what you eat, how your gut is functioning, and your health. Today, it is better understood, and we now have a deeper understanding of how food and your gut play a role in healing autoimmune disease.
How The Gut Helps Heal Autoimmune Disease
Researchers say our immune system is in our gut. Meaning our digestive tract is our first line of defense. It has the power to let foreign invaders in or keep them out. It also breaks our food down into nutrients our cells can use. If our digestive tract allows invaders such as viruses and bacteria through the intestinal wall, we get sick. And if our digestive tract is unable to break our food down into usable nutrients (vitamins, minerals, energy), our bodies don’t have the building blocks for healthy cells and repair and the body becomes deficient in vitamins, minerals and energy.
The Role of the Gut and Autoimmune Disease
Our digestive tract is lined with billions of microorganisms called the microbiota or gut flora. These microorganisms are strains of bacteria and yeast. The bacteria is beneficial to our health in many ways including helping us break down food, producing vitamins, maintaining metabolism, helping control our mood and many, many more. There is a balance of “good” bacteria to “bad” bacteria and yeast. If this balance is off, symptoms can occur such as gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, belching, mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, muscle and joint pain and aching, weight gain, autoimmune disease, multiple food sensitivities, etc.
What Is Leaky Gut
An unhealthy gut will start to develop holes that allow things to pass through the wall that should not be allowed. This is called leaky gut. People with leaky gut have a much weaker wall. Viruses, bacteria that make us sick, toxins, and undigested food particles wreak havoc on our immune systems when passed through the intestinal wall. Once passed through, the immune system is kicked in causing inflammation and possibly leading to autoimmune disease.
Top Foods for Sealing Leaky Gut and Healing Autoimmune Disease
The goal is to build a healthy and strong wall to prevent further damage and calm the immune system. These are the top foods I find help to seal leaky gut and heal autoimmune disease.
Bone Broth for Healing Autoimmune Disease
Bone broth has the ability to heal the gut when consumed regularly. It is made up of protein, calcium, fat and collagen providing our bones and cell structure the nutrients needed to repair and rebuild. Collagen is the nutrient that helps make skin tight. As we age, we lose collagen, leading to flabby, loose skin. Bone broth has collagen to help tighten things up and heal autoimmune disease.
Bone broth is different than regular broth, though. The way it is made pulls all the beneficial nutrients out of the bones, unlike regular broth.
Fermented Foods for Healing Autoimmune Disease
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir and yogurt have beneficial bacteria. The bacteria act as little border patrol soldiers, keeping out the foreign invaders that want to or can do harm to you. Repopulating your gut with beneficial bacteria through the food you eat, is a great way to heal autoimmune disease.
Fiber for Healing Autoimmune Disease
Ok, technically fiber isn’t a food, but it’s in food. If you’re going to make sure you are repopulating your gut with healthy bugs, you have to feed them. That’s where fiber comes in. Fiber, especially prebiotic rich fiber, is food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Getting enough fiber is one great way of helping to seal your leaky gut and heal your autoimmune disease.
Let’s Connect!
Tell me, have you tried any of these foods to help heal your autoimmune disease and your gut? Respond with your favorite way to eat them. Also, please share this information or any of my content if you find it helpful!
