A client asked me the other day why so many more women get autoimmune disease than men (approximately 80 percent of all cases are women).
I’ve heard it blamed on hormones (just like everything else). But it’s not that simple.
Hormones may be a piece of the puzzle but it’s not the reason.
For autoimmunity to happen — which is where it *appears* the body is attacking itself — there has to be a perfect storm of factors all present at the same time.
One of these factors is enhanced intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut) where things that should stay in the gut (like food particles and bacteria) get into the blood stream and cause an immune response and inflammation.
You know what 2 of the top contributors of leaky gut are?
Oral birth control pills and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, Advil, aspirin, etc.).
Am I saying the pill and NSAIDs cause autoimmune disease?
NO.
Am I saying it’s interesting that 2 of the medications a lot of women rely on can set up one of the required conditions for autoimmune disease?
Yes.
I was on the pill for 10 years, and it wasn’t until after I’d developed rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, that a doctor told me this.
I’m sharing it with you today because I think it’s a travesty that women are prescribed something every day that they’re told nothing about.
No one tells us the pill can help set the stage for autoimmune disease.
No one tells us that it depletes magnesium, B6 and other critical nutrients the body relies on for everything from supporting the immune system to detoxing heavy metals.
Two other potential factors of that autoimmune perfect storm, BTW.
This isn’t to say the pill is bad. There are reasons for taking it and if I had to go back I’d probably still take it.
This is to say we deserve better.
We deserve to be informed — to be able to weigh the risks and the benefits and make an informed decision.
And with that information, we can seek out additional support to offset those risks — like working with a functional health practitioner to fill nutrient gaps, protect the gut, and possibly prevent worse.
If you’re concerned about being on the pill, or if you think its contributed to any sort of dis-ease in your body reach out to me.
As a functional health practitioner I work with women to help them restore balance within their bodies so they can get back to feeling like themselves again.
Want to chat about how I can help? Best thing to do is to grab a spot on calendar right here.
P.S. If you ever need more support, here are a few ways I can help you:
1. If you need some help and a plan in the kitchen, get my So Flippin’ Easy course (or try out the free mini course/plan here).
2. If you need a quick reset, grab the 5-Day RESET.
3. I’ve got gobs of recipes on the blog, too.
4. If you want something more personalized to you, grab a spot on my calendar and let’s chat.
