AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE and INFLAMMATION Claudia Pillow, PhD

What is an Autoimmune Disease (AD)? A disorder in which the body’s tissues are attacked by its own over stimulated immune system. The body is unable to distinguish between self and non-self and mistakenly considers healthy tissue a harmful substance (antigens). Antibodies are produced to attack perceived antigens signaling an inflammatory response. Each type of antibody is unique and defends the body against one type of antigen.

6 Quick Facts About Autoimmune Diseases There are more than 80 genetically complex ADs affecting over 50 million Americans. AD effects every system & site in body. Women account for 78% of all AD cases. AD is genetic, clustering in families, and a person with one is more likely to get another. AD is the 3rd most common disease after cancer and heart disease. The most common AD is celiac disease, an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye & barley.

2 Types of Autoimmune Disease

What defines Autoimmune Diseases? Tissue Damage & Inflammation

Autoimmune Disease Rates Rising 400% increase celiac disease in 40 years 25% increase diabetes in 10 years “With the rapid increase in autoimmune disease, it clearly suggests that environmental factors are at play due to the significant increase in these diseases. Genes do not change in such a short period of time.” Dr. Frederick Miller, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Why Do Women Suffer on Average 3x the Rate of Men? #1 Reason: Women’s Hormones Fluctuate More than Men Lupus & Sjogren's 9x rate Hashimoto 10X Graves 7x #2: Stress Copyright ©2011 by Dr. Claudia Pillow Not to be copied or reproduced without permission

Hormone Connection Thyroid produces metabolism regulating hormones Adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones including the “fight or flight” hormone, cortisol Insulin Hormone is a factor in diabetes Ghrelin (appetite) Hormone is a factor in obesity Lutein Hormone regulates estrogen & testosterone

Inflammation: Root Cause of Disease Too much inflammation= chronic disease Too little inflammation= infectious disease

3 Factors Determine Your Risk

What are Environmental Triggers What are Environmental Triggers? Factors that cause inflammation that YOU control! Food (gluten & dairy) Alcohol Hormones Stress Drugs (antibiotics & OTC) Infections (viral & bacteria) Toxins (smoke & chemicals)

What is a Leaky Gut? The gut is naturally permeable to very small molecules in order to absorb vital nutrients. Environmental triggers can cause the gut cells to release zonulin, a protein that can break apart tight junctions in the intestinal lining. Once these tight junctions get broken apart, you have a leaky gut. When your gut is leaky, things like toxins, microbes, and undigested food particles, escape from your intestines and travel throughout your body via your bloodstream. Your immune system marks these "foreign invaders" as pathogens and attacks them. The immune response to these invaders can appear in the form of any of the nine signs you have a leaky gut.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

9 Signs You Have Leaky Gut Digestive issues (gas, bloating, diarrhea, or IBS). Seasonal allergies or asthma. Hormonal imbalances (PMS, PCOS) Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. Mood and mind issues (depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD). Skin issues (acne, rosacea, or eczema). Diagnosis of candida overgrowth. Food allergies or food intolerances.

Is Your Immune System Overstimulated? 80% of the immune system surrounds the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore what we eat and digest directly affects us!

What is the Major Cause of Inflammation in the Body? Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, because we eat so much of it. Gliadin peptides in gluten, trigger an inflammatory reaction in sensitive people causing an immune t-cell response. Gluten sensitivity is measured by the presence of elevated gliadin antibodies (IgA & IgG) levels in blood. Current research: many gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, IBS) are related to IgA and IgG.

Gluten Sensitivity Spectrum Ingest gluten Immediate reaction IgE Allergy Delayed Reaction IgG/IgA Nonceliac Gluten Intolerance 1 in 10 Normal villi Autoimmune reaction Celiac disease 1 in 100 Flattened villi

How Do You Decrease Inflammation? 1. Remove the BAD toxic environmental triggers. 2. Replace with GOOD detoxifying lifestyle. 3. Repair leaky gut with gut-healing foods. 4. Rebalance your health.

AUTOIMMUNE DEFENSE Clean Food Green Living Ageless Beauty Genetics= 25% AD Environmental= 75% You have the POWER to MANAGE 75% of your autoimmune disorder Clean Food Green Living Ageless Beauty