Is There a Link Between Autoimmune Disease and Nutrition?
A Paleo gluten-free diet or a vegan diet should you follow? Should omega-3 supplements or turmeric supplements pop up? About 23 million people in the United States who suffer from autoimmune diseases answer these questions every day. The Internet is full of books, websites, and blogs offering advice on how to avoid or treat autoimmune conditions by eating. Unfortunately, instead of solid scientific proof, much of it is based on hype and hope. What is an Autoimmune Disease? According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), a nonprofit health agency dedicated to increasing awareness of autoimmune diseases, autoimmunity is the No. 2 cause of chronic disease. Paula H. Mendelsohn, MPH, RD, LD, CCN, a Florida-based dietitian who specializes in treating autoimmune diseases, reports that about 5 percent of the U.S. population has been diagnosed and treated for an autoimmune disease, and another 10 percent to 20 percent have early-stage autoimmune symptoms an