Sadly as a 50+ year old woman, we are at an increased risk of getting an autoimmune condition.
Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system starts to attack and damage our own body. There many different types and the risk of getting more than one is common. This is thought to be because, regardless of the condition, they all share some common features.
Some of the common autoimmune conditions I see in clinic include:
- Thyroid- such as hashimotos and graves disease
- Joints and ligaments- such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
- Skin- such as psoriasis.
- Endocrine conditions- such as type 1 diabetes or endometriosis
- Gut- such as coeliac disease.
Why does the risk increase in menopause?
During menopause our oestrogen levels decline and this switches on inflammation which can impact our gut and immune system and increase the risk of autoimmune disease. Research has shown that 70% of all autoimmune conditions affect women and the risk increases after menopause.
In clinic we can run tests to measure inflammatory markers, antibodies, and nutrient levels. We often run stool tests, DNA and toxic load tests which can all help identify where the root cause may be coming from.
We look at genetics as having a family history of autoimmune disease can increase the risk of developing one as well.
We look closely at diet becaue certain foods, such as ultra processed foods and gluten, can trigger autoimmunity.
We always look into the level of stress, be it work, relationships, nutrient deficiencies, poor diet, trauma, loneliness, poor sleep.
We look at toxic load, including from diet, environmental toxins, such as heavy metals, pollution and pesticides which can all disrupt our immune system and trigger autoimmune response.
And, we look at gut health because when the gut microbiome is disrupted, it can lead to leaky gut which increases inflammation and can trigger an autoimmune response.
4 ways you can support your body:
- Diet – a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet can be helpful in reducing inflammation and supporting your gut and immune function.
- Supporting gut health –taking our comprehensive stool test can give us so much information about inflammation and immunology within your gut, the balance of good to bad bacteria, whether there are any pathogens, such as candida or infections such as H pylori or SIBO. From here, we can run a tried and tested, evidence based gut supporting protocol, that can support your gut health with diet and targeted supplements.
- Reducing toxins – this may involve switching to natural household and personal care products, see My Shop. Reducing exposure to pesticides and other chemicals in food, limiting plastics and filtering water.
- Managing stress – chronic stress can lead to inflammation and immune dysregulation, which can trigger autoimmune reactions.
I am Lucy Childerley, an award winning, certified personal trainer, nutritionist and hormone specialist. I work, predominantly with women of all ages, on a one on a one to basis, offering bespoke nutritional packages. I also work alongside 2 other incredible women to offer our corporate events service, Wellbeing for Women in the Workplace. Here we offer health, wealth and career support to female employees on a one to one basis as well as webinars, workshops and much more. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more.
Finally, I am also a Tropic ambassador, because I believe what we put on our body is as important as what we put in it.
If you would like help to get back on track and feel like yourself again or would like information on how to support the women in your place, I’d love to help. You can get in touch below:
Lucy
Book a free 15 mins call- HERE | Facebook | Instagram | My Shop
Recent Comments