Immune system disorders cause unusually low or increased activity. In case of overactivity, the body attacks and damages its own tissues (autoimmune diseases). Immune deficiency diseases reduce the body’s ability to fight invaders, causing vulnerability to infections.
When a person has an immune disease, he may get the feeling of being overly anxious about the challenges to his health, worrying about whether his jeans are still fit. But managing your weight, especially when you have an immune disease, comes with many more benefits than just looking good.
The side effects of unhealthy weight gain (caused by the disease) begin equally for all of us with fatigue, joint pain, sleep problems and other diseases such as type 2 diabetes, but they can be exacerbated – to develop -fast or manifest with greater intensity.
After experiencing pain or any problem with your illness, your ability to prepare even simple meals may deteriorate due to constant fatigue and other symptoms, causing you to eat ready-made junk food. Your inability to exercise can also be a challenge that increases your tendency to gain weight in this condition.
As the immune disease progresses, even mobility can become a challenge. If you’ve come to this point, it’s time to make some major lifestyle changes while you still can. A healthy diet should be a high priority for you, because your cells depend on it. Healthy cells need a healthy environment to work optimally, but also to heal, regardless of your genes.
Everything is controlled at the cellular level:
- appetite, fat burning and fat storage
- energy production
- hormones
- tissue repair
- recovery from illness or injury
- disease resistance (including immunity)
- even aging itself
Your metabolism controls digestion, receives nutrients in the cell and removes waste products. You can thank your metabolism for your body’s ability to detoxify.
Your diet is essential, because metabolic processes depend on the nutrients you eat. These nutrients can be broken down to produce energy and critical proteins, such as DNA.
The presence of a toxic metabolism means that your DNA may be damaged, the cells may not receive all the nutrients they need, or your body may have a toxicity problem. Unfortunately, most people with autoimmune diseases have all 3 parts of this toxic trio.
If the natural detox of the body fails, the toxins progressively accumulate. Having a toxic body is a bit like swimming in a pool where the water has never been changed.
Your body depends on certain nutrients, to perform its basic functions well and if you can not get them, or for some reason your body can not absorb and use them, then the system begins to break down. It is important to realize that excessive weight gain is a symptom of a deeper problem.
When you reduce unhealthy toxic foods from your diet or eliminate them altogether and start eating more healthy foods, losing unnecessary weight becomes natural. This is actually the positive side effect of nourishing your body at the cellular level.
Successful weight loss begins with good gut health. If you do not have strong enough stomach acid, your body will not be able to absorb all these necessary minerals, such as iron, calcium, zinc, selenium, protein, vitamin B12 and many others.
You can take all the weight loss supplements the world has to offer, but if your digestion is not strong enough to break them down and absorb them, it will be just throwing money in the toilet, and weight loss will not happen soon. .
Is it necessary to consult a doctor?
Many people with immune disorders, including autoimmune, usually cannot get the correct diagnosis. In some cases, people are misdiagnosed with other diseases. Other times, doctors tell their patients that their symptoms are just in their head or related to stress just because their symptoms are unknown.
Often doctors do not perform blood tests for immune disorders. There is no test that confirms the diagnosis of the disease, but there are tests that can suggest or rule out the presence of suspected immune disease.
If your tests return negative, you may sometimes need to repeat the test at a later date. False-negative tests are possible when certain autoimmune conditions are in “remission” and the stress from the stress itself always affects the tests.
Once you have been diagnosed and know that your weight gain is actually caused by the disease, you should ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist who will monitor your health and condition and guide you through the weight loss process. while also giving you advice and a proper diet for your specific needs.
List of some of the immune and autoimmune diseases:
- Anaphylaxis
- Asthma
- Immunodeficiency
- Vasculitis
- Celiac disease
- Dermatomyositis
- Diabetes (type 1)
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Thyroiditis
- AIDS
- Vitiligo
- Crab
- Cutaneous tuberculosis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Malignant anemia
Suitable foods for people with immune problems and those that should be avoided
Certain foods are anti-inflammatory, causing the body to maintain a good immune balance. Here are some of them:
- Leafy vegetables – these calcium-rich vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals and can be easily added to cooking, salads or smoothies. Some of them are: kale, cabbage and broccoli
- Mushrooms – demonstrate huge anti-inflammatory potential. A 2005 study published in Inflammation Mediators found that mushrooms can promote anti-cancer activity, suppress immune diseases and help relieve allergies.
- Onion – this aromatic vegetable has long been well known for its beneficial effects – one is the fight against all immune diseases
- Squash – The pumpkin family includes a range of healthy eating options, such as squash, zucchini and squash. They are the best choice when it comes to helping with your anti-inflammatory efforts. They contain fatty acids (such as omega 3) and antioxidants, including zeaxanthin, lutein and beta-carotene
- Herbs and spices – some spices are especially useful when it comes to minimizing inflammation caused by immune problems and boosting the body’s healthy immune balance
The most suitable options for people suffering from these problems include ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves, garlic, cinnamon and turmeric – the latter is an extremely powerful, anti-inflammatory agent.
A study from 2007, published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, notes that curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric) helps with immune diseases.
- Probiotics -healthy probiotics (beneficial bacteria) can be very helpful in these diseases. Good sources may include fermented foods such as kimchi and sauerkraut, unsweetened yogurts, coconut kefir and probiotic supplements.
3 foods to avoid if you have an autoimmune disease
- Gluten – The key ingredient in many starchy foods is gluten, so eliminating it can be particularly challenging, but this ingredient is not suitable for those with immune diseases. Also, many people who struggle with the disease may also be sensitive to gluten
- Sugar – sugars in all forms (glucose, fructose and sucrose) disrupt the function of the immune system, reducing the ability of white blood cells to protect the body. It is best to minimize sugar consumption and keep it at about five percent of your diet plan.
- Animal products – many animal-based proteins, such as those found in meat, milk and eggs, can cause inflammation in the body
What to look out for during weight loss with immune diseases – side effects, consequences
Changes in hormonal balance
Most hormones in the body are based on body weight relative to the amounts produced. Few women expect their mood or menstrual cycle to change, but this happens quite often.
In a study published in the Journal of Oncology, researchers found that extra body fat was linked to elevated levels of estrogen and other hormones. The study also found that these hormone levels dropped significantly because obese and overweight women lose weight suddenly.
Risk of gallstones
Between 12-25% of people with immune diseases, who lose weight, can get gallstones. The gallbladder holds the bile that is produced in the liver. It secretes it in the small intestine when it is needed to break down fat molecules in the small intestine.
When losing weight, people with immune diseases may increase their risk of developing small stones in their gallbladder, which can eventually lead to obstruction, which over time may require surgical removal.
If you are losing a lot of weight and / or trying to lose weight, consult your doctor or specialist about any questions you may have.
Your weight is likely to return
The problem with losing weight in immune diseases is that not only is it difficult to lose weight, but also that they can come back quickly – soon after.
That is why it is important to work on healing and strengthening your body, and not only on losing weight. If you do not eliminate the cause of your weight gain in immune disease – the results you will get will not be lasting.