The Big D & Autoimmunity
(Vitamin D) + some valuable tips for those with a family history of autoimmune conditions or an autoimmune condition themselves.
Let’s discuss some practical and useful tips for preventing or mitigating autoimmune progression.
These tips are useful for anyone, as they are foundations to a life of wellness, but they may be especially helpful if you:
Have an autoimmune condition
Have a family history of autoimmune conditions or cancer
Have allergies
Have skin conditions that are acute or chronic
Have asthma
Are always getting sick
Don’t feel well rested in the AM
Have inconsistent bowel movements
Have menstrual irregularities
Doing most or ALL of these things is what helps each of them work individually. It’s all connected and one big cycle.
I also like to think of this process of managing autoimmunity or chronic illness as “rediscovering self”. This is not just from a cellular perspective, but a spiritual one. Where have you gotten lost? Away from your authenticity and childhood desires?
Most, if not all, autoimmune patients that I see are separated from authenticity and safety rather than intentionally getting lost.
Gut
Enhancing Vitamin D Receptor Sensitivity:
Vitamin D3
So much conflicting info out there about dosage and how best to get it so it’s worth getting your levels tested before supplementing. D + K2 + Magnesium (the triad for best absorption) can technically be acquired through diet but if you have an autoimmune condition, chances are you need help with supplementation.
+
Butyrate
A short-chain fatty acid produced by fermentation of dietary fiber by gut bacteria. Supplementation can be useful until your intestinal barrier is healed and functioning optimally.
+
Probiotics
I’m honestly sick of the word “probiotic” but there can be benefits for those with bad bacterial overgrowth or a poor good-to-bad bacterial ratio. It may be beneficial to alternate between live and spore-based probiotics every couple of months. I don’t believe in taking a probiotic every day for the rest of your life. I think of it just as I do herbal therapies or other supplements - useful for specific periods of time. Autoimmune conditions that continue to flare up are one of those times. It may be beneficial to take time off here and there, otherwise.
David Bilstrom talks about this combo, if you want more info.
What the research has to say about Vitamin D:
I didn’t bother rewording these snips because you’d lose the context and they’re already written well enough. Click anywhere on the paragraph to get redirected to the source article.
“in colon cells vitamin D-VDR induces the expression of transcription factors, immunomodulators, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effectors [37]. Vitamin D controls the expression of hundreds of different genes: At the same time it activates some key genes and represses others, inhibiting growth and promoting cell differentiation.”
“Most vitamin D effects are mediated by vitamin D receptors, which are able to regulate a large number of target genes, influencing, consequently, many cellular pathways. Interestingly, VDRs are actually expressed in almost every type of human cell, and they have been found to modulate the transcription of about 3% of human genes [5].”
Cortisol
Chronically high levels contribute to:
- Estrogen dominance
- High blood sugar
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Dysfunctional digestion
- Infertility
- Mood changes
- Immune system dysfunction
(everything, really)
My (biased) tool for combating chronic stress:
Acupuncture
Its benefits are not specific to autoimmune conditions. Still, autoimmune patients usually say that this is their only time to let go and its benefits seen in as little as 1x/week are undeniable. Stress, physically, mentally, and cellularly is always the culprit in chronic disease.
What acupuncture does: release of endogenous opioids, creation of a reflexive systemic anti-inflammatory response, vagus nerve stimulation, and immune cell modulation + more (I have a pinned post on my Substack about acupuncture’s effects).
Autoimmunity is dysfunction. Acupuncture is function through modulation.
Stress management is essential.
Oral Tolerance
aka tolerance for antigens introduced through the mouth with induction of regulatory T cells.
The main takeaway here is that a restrictive & prolonged (6+ months) diet for autoimmune management may induce more flare-ups when foods outside of that restrictive diet are then ingested.
Elimination first, then a reintroduction phase once your gut health has been tended to.
Marc Ryan talks about this, if you’re interested.
Light
Rule of thumb:
Get as much natural light in the morning and throughout the day as you can.
Get as much darkness throughout the night as you can.
Sunlight has so many benefits, one of which is its beneficial effect on gut bacteria and their daily oscillations.
Bonus: It’s also great for fetal eye development if the bump gets some sun.
The development of an autoimmune condition in adults can always be linked to a trigger. Covid, divorce, death, abuse, chemical exposure, smoking, the list goes on.
Dealing with the signs and symptoms of these, and similar events, can be the difference between developing an autoimmune condition and not.
Just like humans, the body can only take so much.
This is all for your information so you can work more closely with your practitioner, whether me or someone else, on getting to and maintaining wellness.
If you have any tips, tricks, or Q’s, get in touch!
Website for in-person and telehealth appointments: theidiosyncraticneedle.com
IG: kieradlayne
