How To Overcome The Two Causes Of Autoimmune Diseases

How To Live a Healthier Life in your 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, and beyond!

On Dec 5, 2001, two months after the US invasion of Afghanistan, a massive 2000-pound bomb killed three US Special Forces north of Kandahar.

Why did the GPS-guided bomb go off target and kill their own?

The reason is shocking.

The soldier who called in the air strike changed the battery on his GPS device in the middle of the bombing run.

Yes — he simply changed the batteries on the device.

What the soldier didn't know…once the batteries were changed…the GPS device rebooted.

And, once rebooted, the GPS device changed the target destination to HIS location.

A real tragedy.

In war…this is called friendly fire… it's what happens when one side kills its own in combat.

Why do I share this story with you?

Because something similar is happening in people who suffer from autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmune Diseases are SURGING

Sadly, 1 in 12 people in North America will develop an autoimmune disease.

And, If you're a woman…then you have a 1 in 9 chance.

Also…

There's also a good chance if you do get one…you won't even know it…since most autoimmune disease symptoms can mimic many other conditions.

Why are autoimmune diseases more common today?

There's a hidden war going on that's causing our immune system to malfunction.

Let me explain:

(Warning: I'm going to share an over-simplistic explanation of how our immune system works.)

From the moment of your conception…

Your very first cells have a protein that's unique to each and every one of us.

As your cells divide over and over again…

That protein becomes a part of EVERY cell in your body.

Think of it as a little barcode in every cell of your body.

That barcode (protein) tells your immune system the cell is friendly.

The immune system cells travel throughout your body and 'scan' every LIVING cell it encounters.

If the cell has the barcode (protein)…the immune system identifies it as 'you' and moves on.

But…

When the immune cell encounters a living cell that doesn't have the barcode (protein)…It identifies it as an enemy and triggers an immune response.

Again…. that's a simplistic overview.

Now…

For you to get an autoimmune disease…

Something has to happen to your immune system...

So it can no longer work properly…

And your immune system starts to view your own cells as the enemy.

For some of you…

Your immune system can no longer recognize your thyroid cells. When this happens, you get sluggish thyroid symptoms.

For others, the immune system can't recognize gut, joint, skin, brain, or even liver cells.

Cause and Effect

As I've said many times before…

Every autoimmune disease is the EFFECT.

Meaning — something else is the CAUSE.

So, What Causes The Friendly Fire?

Why do your immune system cells start to attack your own tissues?

To answer this question correctly… I'm going to reverse engineer a typical autoimmune disorder.

INFLAMMATION

All the cells in your body talk with each other using chemicals and hormones.

To do that…

All cells have receptors…mini-antennas…that detect the different chemicals and hormones your body makes.

The receptor's only job is to transmit the information from outside the cell to the inside.

For any hormone or chemical to work…

Your cell receptors have to be able to detect the hormone.

If your cell receptors aren't working correctly…they can't detect the chemical or hormone…and cell communication essentially dies.

Now…

Have you ever tried driving in thick fog?

The type of fog where you can barely see a few feet in front of your car?

That's what inflammation does to all your cell receptors. It makes it hard for receptors to detect chemicals and hormones.

When cells can't communicate…things go wrong.

Inflammation disrupts how your immune system cells talk to each other…and leads to FRIENDLY FIRE.

BUT…and this part is often overlooked…

Inflammation isn't Houdini. It doesn't just magically appear. Something has to cause it.

It isn't enough to simply say…inflammation is the cause of autoimmune diseases…and all you have to do is get rid of it, and you will be healed.

It's not that simple.

So, what causes the inflammation that leads to autoimmune diseases?

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

Now… I've been talking about this for years…and I'm glad to see the "science" finally catching up.

A new paper published in Frontiers In Immunology looked at the possible cause and effect between your gut microbiome and autoimmune diseases.

The study found both Leaky Gut Syndrome and a bad microbiome are present in autoimmune diseases.

The microbiome is a fancy way of saying the collection of bacteria living IN and ON your body.

Roughly 85% of the bacteria in our guts are good for us — IF we've got a healthy gut.

And… that's the catch.

Because…

Your gut can be a nasty swamp.

A breeding ground for unfriendly bacteria and other pathogens...

Which places you at constant risk of many illnesses.

One researcher performed lab tests on more than 500 people. He found the bacteria in their guts were 85% bad and 15% good…

Precisely the reverse of what it should be.

You see…

The way we live today… we've wiped out our friendly bacteria and allowed harmful microbes to take over.

Most doctors don't know this stuff. But it's getting harder to ignore.

And you may have heard of LEAKY GUT, but perhaps you're not entirely sure what it is…

Here's a quick explanation of how it's DIRECTLY related to so many debilitating health issues.

The "wall" of your gut, or your gut lining, is the barrier that protects the rest of your body against toxins.

It is the ONLY barrier between your BLOOD system and the food you eat.

You don't want CANDIDA, bacteria, parasites, undigested food, or toxins to get into your bloodstream. That's when your health is at risk.

When your gut lining begins to break down, toxins' leak' into your bloodstream and other systems of your body…creating a significant health hazard.

I know it's not pleasant to hear. Still, it's crucial for you to fully realize: that CANDIDA, bacteria, parasites, undigested food, and tiny pieces of poop (gross) are leaking into the rest of your body…

Through a soft, porous gut lining…wreaking havoc on the rest of your body!

THE TWO CAUSES OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Back to the study…

The researchers mentioned two ways Leaky Gut Syndrome and a bad microbiome can trigger an autoimmune disease.

First…

They can stimulate intestinal immune cells to migrate out of the gut, travel to peripheral organs, and attack.

So…because of Leaky Gut syndrome…gut immune cells can travel to your thyroid, for example, and attack the cells causing Hashimoto's.

Secondly…

Bacteria from your gut can travel through the gut lining caused by Leaky Gut Syndrome and cause an inflammatory and immune reaction anywhere in the body.

LEAKY GUT IS COMMON

Over the years…

I've been laughed at for suggesting most autoimmune diseases start in the gut. Many doctors have gone on record mocking the idea of Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Maybe now, rather than simply treating symptoms…doctors will finally fix the root cause of many autoimmune diseases.

I should also mention…

Leaky Gut Syndrome affects almost everyone at one time or another in their life.

It's common.

Not long ago…

The New York Post recently published a shocking article with the following headline…

"YOU'RE EATING A CREDIT CARD'S WORTH OF PLASTIC A WEEK — AND IT'S KILLING YOUR GUT. "

They cited new research suggesting we eat 5 grams of tiny plastic particles every week (the weight of a credit card)…

And…

These tiny plastics can change your gut bacteria composition…

Wreaking havoc on your gut.

Also, according to the study, the health effects of plastic…

"maybe irreversible."

Yes, that's right — permanent.

So…while it's impossible to escape eating plastics…

the researchers conclude:

"A healthy gut is more likely to ward off the health risk."

Of course…eating plastic isn't the only chemical you ingest.

93% of people tested in a large study had Glyphosate in their urine

Here's a quote from a study done on babies…

"In a 2005 study, researchers found 287 industrial chemicals, including pesticides, phthalates, dioxins, flame-retardants, and the breakdown chemicals of Teflon, in the fetal cord blood of ten newborn infants from around the country—transmitted to the infants by their mothers' exposures before and during pregnancy."

What do you think all that does to your gut?

Aside from chemicals…

Antibiotics, sweeteners, chlorine, stress, and vegetable oils can all kill your good bacteria and cause Leaky Gut Syndrome.

In short…

Leaky Gut Syndrome is nearly impossible to avoid.

What About Genetics?

Not everyone with Leaky Gut Syndrome will end up with an autoimmune disease.

The study in Frontiers In Immunology mentions the combination of a genetic disposition and Leaky Gut Syndrome increases the risk.

I get asked a lot about genetics.

"My dad and grandfather had a heart attack at 50. Does that mean I'm doomed?"

"What about the (insert gene here) for (insert disease here)?"

You even read in the news how…

Female celebrities have their breasts removed because they have a gene predisposing them to cancer.

So…

If you have a specific gene or family history of some disease…does that mean your destiny is sealed… Is there nothing you can do about it?

Well…

Let me share something I've shared in my clinic over the years…

Genetics loads the gun…but diet pulls the trigger.

What do I mean by that?

Most are predisposed to something.

I come from a long line of cancer in my family.

And my dad was diabetic.

I'm living my life assuming I'm at a higher risk for cancer and diabetes.

Genetics loaded the gun.

But…I know cancer and diabetes are primarily metabolic diseases…with MANY causes.

We live in a toxic, chemical-filled world.

We drink plastics in our drinking water.

We eat a lot of crappy foods.

We're putting estrogen-like chemicals on our skin, which happens to be our largest organ.

We're eating 160-plus pounds of sugar a year.

We're eating 70 pounds of vegetable oils a year.

We're highly stressed.

We don't get enough sleep.

We're surrounded by blue light at night that kills our circadian rhythm.

We don't build enough muscle and get enough exercise.

You get the point.

Now…we can't control a lot of that stuff.

We live on planet earth.

But…we can control what I believe is the most critical part…food.

As I've said many times…

Every bite of food you eat triggers a massive hormonal response in your body.

And these hormonal responses lead to either…fat burning or fat storage,

inflammation or anti-inflammation, aging or anti-aging.

If you're not feeling fantastic…

You have to ask yourself…

"Is what I'm eating right now causing or fighting inflammation?"

"Is this food building my immune system or destroying it?"

"Is what I just ate spiking my blood sugar and causing insulin problems, or is it keeping my sugar levels low?"

Food can be the medicine your body needs to fight disease…

Or it can be the POISON that weakens your system.

How To Fix Leaky Gut Syndrome and a Bad Microbiome?

Probiotics are the fancy word for friendly bacteria. It means "pro-life."

And…

Probiotics help you digest your food, boost your immune system, and control yeast and harmful bacteria (like those that cause excessive gas and ulcers).

I want you to know probiotics do much more than keep your gut healthy.

They keep your whole body healthy.

As I said earlier, your gut contains over 80 trillion bacteria.

But…so do your lungs, skin, heart, joints….and brain.

And, it turns out…

There's crosstalk between the bacteria in your gut and your lungs, brain, skin, joints, heart, and liver…

Meaning…

Whatever affects the bacteria in your gut…

Also affects the bacteria everywhere else in your body.

That's why probiotics can help with digestive problems like: