The Root Cause of Autoimmunity

There is no doubt that autoimmune diseases are on the rise and our increasing environmental exposures to toxins and chemicals is fueling the risk. The research is sound says Douglas Kerr, MD, in the book, The Autoimmune Epidemic.

Donna Jackson Nakazawa, autoimmune specialist says six out of seven doctors miss the autoimmune diagnoses. The toxicity of the body shuts down normal function causing subsequent illness.

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Nakazawa suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome, a condition where the immune system  attacks the nerves. People who suffer from GB have great difficulty walking, with severe chronic pain. She refers to chemical triggers of autoimmune disease as autogens. Her attention to toxins and chemicals changed her course.

Ahmet Hoke, MD, Ph.D, associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins was interviewed by Nakazawa pointing out, “Both fibromyalgia (characterized by chronic widespread muscle pain, fatigue and multiple tender points) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or CFS, characterized by severe chronic fatigue for six months or longer, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain or other symptoms) may well be autoimmune diseases. However, in most autoimmune diseases, blood tests and lab markers help clue clinicians into the fact that an autoimmune process is taking place in the body.” (page 269).

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride says we are ill due to toxins, we are too toxic a society.

Dr. Mark Hyman says environmental toxins are the most leading cause of autoimmune disease. 

Eric Zielinski, DC, MPH(c) says when this toxic overload happens, the conventional medical solution is to add pharmaceutical drugs which add to what he calls a chemical soup within the body which suppresses the immune system further. 

The Environmental Protection Agency says over 4.9 billion pounds of toxic chemicals and over six million pounds of mercury are released into the air every year. 

In 2009 the 4th National Report on Human Exposure To Environmental Chemicals was released showing 212 chemicals in our body. To find a chemical in the body, they test for the chemical. The study found the chemicals tested. There is no way to tell how many other chemicals are in the body unless each one is studied. 

“I’m telling you PBA is a problem. If you get a BPA Free bottle, it still used something, the chemical form, to make plastic uses another form of BPA. So it may not be BPA, it’ll be PBD. There’s no solution to the plastic problem we’re in – you’ve got to go glass. We haven’t done any studies on BPD, we have done a bunch of studies on BPA,” Dr. Zielinski says.

Once the danger of the plastic toxin was found, the manufacturing process changed. However, the change is not necessarily good for our health, it appears to only be good for the manufacturing company.

Zielinski says,”It’s a marketing ploy. You go to the health food stores, everyone’s saying no BPA. Ok, great, but what else are you using? You can’t just take out a main raw material our of your plastic and say ok, we just created a healthy plastic. No! You’ve replaced it with another chemical that we’re going to find out kills people.”

Zielinski goes on to say, “In 90 percent of the US population, BPA can be found in our urine. There’s virtually no way we can avoid it. From the plastic pipes you have in your house, PVC pipes instead of copper- we’ve got to do whatever we can do.”

Plastics are found in the linings of canned goods, in food service, in disposable cutlery, in our clothes, in our water and in our air system. 

Converting to glass and removing plastics from our clothing is expensive, but worth the reduction in toxic load. However, more work needs to be done to be fully proactive. Being mindful in this manner should not be an exhaustive effort of labor. The stress of the matter can be damaging. Doing what you can, every day making a little effort, can greatly affect your health in a positive manner. 

Removing plastics, removing man made chemicals from your hygiene products and food, removing plastics from your clothes and removing chemicals and toxins from your water, including water fountain water, and air supply is no small task, but for our health, is necessary. 

*Nourishing Plot is written by Becky Plotner, ND, traditional naturopath, CGP, D.PSc. who sees clients in Rossville, Georgia. She works as a Certified GAPS Practitioner who sees clients in her office, Skype and phone. She has been published in Wise Traditions, spoken at two Weston A. Price Conferences, Certified GAPS Practitioner Trainings, has been on many radio shows, television shows and writes for Nourishing Plot. Since her son was delivered from the effects of autism (Asperger’s syndrome), ADHD, bipolar disorder/manic depression, hypoglycemia and dyslexia, through food, she continued her education specializing in Leaky Gut and parasitology through Duke University, finishing with distinction. She is a Chapter Leader for The Weston A. Price Foundation. becky.nourishingplot@hotmail.com

“GAPS™ and Gut and Psychology Syndrome™ are the trademark and copyright of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. The right of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Patent and Designs Act 1988.