Healthy Holiday Eating: Gut-Friendly, AIP Diets

Struggling with autoimmune flares? Discover how an AIP diet plan helps uncover food triggers and gently support long-term healing.

Explore the differences between an anti-inflammatory diet vs. an autoimmune diet to support immune health, reduce triggers, and nourish your gut.

Learn how to naturally increase thyroid hormone levels with diet, lifestyle, and supplements, guided by Amy Myers MD.

Dr. Amy Myers offers unique lifestyle tips for thyroid support in women, including nutrient and supplementation guidance.

There’s a connection between gluten and thyroid health, particularly for individuals with autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease. Research suggests that gluten can contribute to leaky gut, a condition that allows harmful substances to enter the bloodstream, triggering an immune response that may mistakenly attack the thyroid. This process, known as molecular mimicry, occurs because gluten proteins resemble thyroid tissue, leading the immune system to target both. Eliminating gluten from the diet can reduce inflammation, support gut repair, and improve thyroid function, making it a crucial step for those managing thyroid disease.

Struggling with persistent eczema? Conventional eczema treatment often focuses on symptom relief rather than addressing the root causes. Functional medicine takes a different approach, identifying gut health and inflammation as key factors in eczema flare-ups. You can reverse your eczema symptoms by healing your gut, reducing inflammatory triggers, and restoring your microbiome. A tailored eczema treatment plan, including dietary changes, probiotics, and gut-repairing supplements, can help soothe your skin from the inside out. Take control of your eczema today with the functional 4R approach that promotes lasting skin and gut health.

Brain fog can stem from various causes, including stress, poor sleep, hormonal imbalances, and dietary deficiencies. Factors such as high sugar intake, refined carbohydrates, and vitamin B12 deficiency can contribute to cognitive sluggishness. Additionally, conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, gut imbalances, and chronic inflammation may play a role. Identifying and addressing the root causes of brain fog—whether through improved nutrition, stress management, or better sleep—can help restore mental clarity and focus.

Gluten intolerance has become increasingly common, potentially due to modern farming practices that prioritize yield over nutritional quality. Unlike celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder, gluten intolerance does not cause intestinal damage but can still trigger symptoms like bloating, brain fog, joint pain, and fatigue. Some research suggests that gluten may contribute to inflammation and exacerbate autoimmune conditions. The best way to determine sensitivity is through an elimination diet, where gluten is completely removed and then reintroduced to observe any reactions. Managing gluten intolerance requires strict avoidance, label checking, and sometimes supplements to aid digestion and detoxification.

Ever wonder what causes cancer? While genetics play a small role (5-10%), modern lifestyle factors significantly contribute to cancer, supporting the view that it is a metabolic disease. Key causes include processed foods, gut health issues, chronic infections, toxins, radiation, stress, and metabolic disorders. Poor diet, environmental toxins, and sedentary lifestyles increase acidity, inflammation, and oxidative stress, creating an environment for cancer to thrive. Conventional treatments focus on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, but functional medicine emphasizes prevention through diet, detoxification, stress management, and lifestyle changes.

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive breast cancer, classified as stage 0. It accounts for about 20-25% of breast cancer cases and remains localized without spreading to other tissues. While conventional medicine considers DCIS a form of cancer, it does not typically metastasize. Detection often occurs through mammograms, which identify calcifications. Alternative diagnostic options include QT Imaging, CTC blood tests, and thermography. Conventional treatments like surgery and radiation may not always be necessary, as many DCIS cases do not progress to invasive cancer. Managing inflammation, supporting gut health, and maintaining a balanced diet can help mitigate risks.

Reversing autoimmune disease is possible by addressing its root causes and adopting a functional approach to healing. Conventional medicine often focuses on symptom management through medications, but the key to how to reverse autoimmune disease lies in identifying and eliminating inflammatory triggers. By following a targeted approach rooted in functional medicine, you can learn how to reverse autoimmune disease and take back your health.

The autoimmune spectrum™ provides an understanding of how your body’s systems impact one another, and will help you get to the root cause of symptoms!