SCS - How to take care of yourself if you have an autoimmune condition?
Autoimmune are certainly a very complex topic and individual work with a Naturopath or a Functional Medicine Practitioner is often required. However, here are some basics about how to take care of yourself and keep your immune system strong.
- Detoxification. We live in a world full of toxins from the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe in and cleaning products we use. Everybody suffers from this but especially those with autoimmune conditions. Prioritise liver detoxification. You can do special gentle cleanses once or twice a year using plants like milk thistle, artichoke and turmeric, B-complex vitamins and amino acids, antioxidants. Also, make sure you include foods in your daily diet that promote liver detoxification like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, beetroot, celery. Starting your day with a glass of warm water and lemon juice is ideal.
- Stress management. Statistics shows that most people with autoimmune conditions have some sort of adrenal issue resulting from prolonged stress. The best thing you can do about it is to let yourself rest. Prioritise sleep (studies show that in recovery you can sleep up to 10-12 a day, 8 is an absolute minimum). Minimise overworking and communicating with toxic people. Take regular days off and vacations. Do more things that you truly love. Adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and Holy Basil can also help.
- Digestive system. Our health starts with our digestion, and if you live with an autoimmune condition, you need to take extra care of it. Elimination diet excluding gluten, dairy, sugar, and processed foods often gives outstanding results. Many people have underlying conditions like leaky gut, candida, bacterial overgrowth, or H. Pylori. A Naturopath or Functional Medicine Practitioner can guide you and provide an individual plan. But even including more fresh greens and vegetables into your diet and eliminating processed foods, sugar and vegetable oil, can already produce a big change.