Phoenix Helix: Autoimmune Resilience

Life on a healing diet means preparing most – if not all – of your own food. So, that’s a lotta cooking! Anything that saves us time and makes the process more efficient is a lifesaver. It’s also an important part of being able to stick with a healing diet. In this podcast episode, I have 3 wonderful guests. Together we’ll be sharing our best tips for making the most food in the least amount of time, without sacrificing nutrition or flavor. We'll be talking batch cooking, pressure cooking, Instant Pots, and more.

Our thyroid regulates the metabolism of every organ and cell in our body. That's why there's such a long and varied list of symptoms that can indicate a thyroid problem. Hashimoto's and Graves disease are autoimmune diseases which attack the thyroid, but thyroid issues are on the rise from other causes as well. In today's show, I speak with expert Elle Russ, author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution. We discuss why thyroid problems are becoming commonplace, how to test your thyroid function, what avenues are available for treatment, and the importance of self-advocacy.

When Lenore Eklund found that her Crohn's disease medication made her feel worse instead of better, her husband encouraged her to try the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which is similar to Paleo. The results were so dramatic that it inspired this film. However, the documentary isn't about her personal journey. Instead, it follows the lives of three people just beginning to embark on a healing diet. One tries the paleo autoimmune protocol, one tries SCD, and another tries 80/20 paleo. We see the dramatic positive impact these dietary changes have, but also the great challenges they face as they try to eat healthily in today's food culture. I love this documentary both for its honesty, and its ability to share the power of real food with mainstream America. If you follow a healing diet yourself, you will relate to the stars of this film. This is also a great film to share with friends, family, and anyone you know struggling with their health.

While my podcast usually focuses on autoimmune disease, I frequently get questions from people new to the paleo lifestyle, who are concerned about the effect of the paleo diet on their health. We’ve been taught in our lifetimes to fear fat, cholesterol and red meat, all of which are part of the paleo diet. And if we’re not afraid of these foods ourselves, our families often are. So, I thought it would be great to have an expert on the show to separate fact from fiction. Dr. Jack Wolfson is a cardiologist who follows the paleo diet and lifestyle himself, and recommends it to his patients. He answers questions on everything from diet, to medication, to which tests and procedures he thinks are beneficial and which ones are overdone.

Autoimmune disease doesn't exist in a bubble. Its onset changes our own lives dramatically, but it also impacts our relationships. In this episode, I interview three spouses of people with autoimmune disease, including my own husband Tom. We talk about what it's like to be married to someone with chronic illness, how they try to support the person they love, and how they also make sure they don’t get lost in the equation.

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses the power of positive suggestion to bring about subconscious change to our thoughts, feelings and behavior. Today, we talk about its application to life with autoimmune disease, and how it might be an effective tool to help us manage our stress and even alleviate chronic symptoms. My guest is licensed hypnotherapist, Kerry Jeffery, who also has autoimmune disease herself.

Finding a rheumatologist who combines paleo principles with functional medicine to address root causes, and conventional medicine to control symptoms when necessary, feels very much like finding a unicorn. One of my blog readers let me know about Dr. Melissa McNamara, who practices in the Bay Area of California, but also consults with people worldwide. She took time out of her busy schedule to share her treatment philosophy, when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis.

The decision of whether or not to take autoimmune medication is rarely an easy one. Not only that, but our decision might change over the course of our illness. This podcast was inspired by my decision in 2016 to start medication after 4 years on the paleo autoimmune protocol. In this episode, I share the reasons behind my choice and also interview 5 other people about their medication choices. My guests have a wide range of diagnoses and experiences. Some have always taken medication, some have never taken medication, and some have gone on or off medication, based on changes in how they feel. The important thing to know is that there is no one right choice for everyone. My goal with this podcast episode isn’t to provide answers, but just to highlight the complexity of this decision, and let us all know that we’re not alone. To be clear – this show isn’t designed to be medical advice. Definitely work with your doctors when deciding what choice is best for you.

One of the most popular episodes of this podcast is episode 15, where we covered the topic of Adrenal Fatigue for the first time. I’ve invited Christopher Kelly back onto the show, because there is a new DUTCH test that he believes is more accurate when diagnosing and treating adrenal fatigue. We also talk about how the label of Adrenal Fatigue is misleading, because the adrenals themselves are rarely the problem. The root cause lies someplace else altogether. The key to healing is diagnosing and treating the root cause, which will allow the adrenals to return to healthy function.

Today, we're going to cover some frequently asked questions about eating well for autoimmune health: (1) What's the optimal macronutrient ratio? (2) Are dietary fats healthy or harmful? (3) If we don't eat dairy, how do we get enough calcium? (4) How do we keep our blood sugar balanced? (5) If we're having trouble reaching a healthy weight, what can we do? (6) How can we troubleshoot digestive issues? (6) And more! Amy Kubal is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. She is one of the rare RD’s in our country who understands and advocates the paleo diet and lifestyle. She's sharing her expertise with us today.