Today's episode features Ms Annie Rubin, she is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and a Certified Leap Therapist (CLT). Annie works with adults struggling with a host of symptoms from underlying inflammatory and autoimmune conditions that include pain, fatigue, digestive challenges and reduced quality of life. This week Meg & Kylie pick her brain about autoimmunity- we talk what is it, what symptoms might someone who has it experience and most importantly- what can someone who thinks they might have autoimmune problems DO about it?

In her work, Annie helps her clients implement a personalized nutrition roadmap designed to improve mobility, concentration and energy levels to ultimately live a vibrant and fulfilling life. She's also offering an amazing free workshop that goes live TOMORROW (June 21st, 2022) on how to discover the root cause & heal from your autoimmune disease triggers! 

Register for this free workshop here: https://annierubin.ck.page/f0b25cd096 (replay will be available if you sign up through that link until Saturday, June 25, 2022!)

You can also connect with Annie by visiting her website at www.annierubin.com or connect with her on Facebook at annierubinnutrition or on IG @the.autoimmune.dietitian

TLDL takeaways & action steps:

1) Autoimmune disease is when your body accidentally attacks itself. Many times there is a genetic predisposition that is "triggered" by something- like long term poor diet, stress, environmental toxins, etc.

2) It IS possible, in many cases, to manage your autoimmune disease to where it is basically in remission through diet & lifestyle changes

3) Autoimmune disease can effect ANY body system: skeletal/joints (Rheumatoid Arthritis), skin (eczema/psoriasis and to some extent even acne), gastrointestinal (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases- check out episode 009 on IBD with Ashley for more info on this!) and more!

4) Labs Annie recommends to explore if you might have an autoimmune disease: hsCRP and/or CRP, sedimentation rate, FULL thyroid panel (tune into the episode and episode 004 with Lacey Dunn to learn more about what that means!)

6) Who should be looking into whether autoimmune disease is a cause of their symptoms? Those who seem to have a ton of seemingly unrelated symptoms that there is no other answer for, like neurological conditions (brain fog, anxiety), skin issues, digestive issues, joint pain, chronic fatigue, etc!

7) Annie's action steps if you want to experiment on your own (aka see if these things help your symptoms)

-----> Cut out processed foods (tune into the episode to learn what that actually means!)

-----> Trial gluten & dairy free diet for at LEAST 1 month (at 100% effort!)

8) If it's an option, food sensitivity testing can be a really helpful option (but be careful! Not all food sensitivity testing is created equal!)