Erin O'Hara: naturopath and wellness expert explains why women are more likely to get autoimmune conditions

Research shows women account for an estimated 78 percent of people with autoimmune conditions. 

Women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions due to a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. 

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains further - and reveals how women can reduce the risks.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News talks'b Well this time now, and.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Aeron O'Hara is with us. Good morning, Good morning. So
I've learned something this morning. I had no idea that
women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Yeah, we've talked a lot about autoimmune conditions, but actually, yeah,
women are at a much much higher rate of getting
autoimmune conditions. It's estimated about seventy eight percent of people
with auto immune conditions are women. And there's numerous reasons
why that is, but they actually have women have up
to four times increased breasts for autoimmune conditions, and a

(00:45):
lot of it comes down to sex. Hormones, and hormones
have a big effect on what triggers off an autoimmune condition. Now,
if you don't know what an autoimmune condition is, it's
when the body's immune system is mistakenly attacking your own
healthy cells and tissue as thinking that it's foreign disease

(01:06):
or bacteria or something like that, and so the body's
basically attacking itself. Now, one link that they have found
is the hormones and the effect that hormones haves on
your immune system. Now, estrogen, which is mainly the woman's
female hormone, but actually men do have some estrogen as well,
is known to boost your immune function. So obviously if

(01:28):
you have a lot more esogen in your body, then
you have a higher immune response, but also that it
means that you're more highly likely to get it on
autoimmune condition because you have that extra esogen. And that's
where I'll usually see in my clinic. Times when people
get autoimmune conditions are usually through those times of change

(01:50):
with estrogen, so particularly menopause or perimenopause where you've got
a lot more esien fluctuations. Then we'll find that these
autoimmune switches will just turn on with that change in estrogen.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
The glory years is what we're going to call it.
Now you're the glory years.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
Is absolutely The other hormone that actually helps protect you
and has an immune suppressive or lowering immune function is
actually testosterone. So that's where men's rest is slightly lower
because they are more testosterone dominant as men and women
have a much lower amount of testosterone.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Okay, so how can women reduce the risk of developing
an autoimmune condition?

Speaker 3 (02:31):
Then I think sometimes it's about knowing if you do
have genetic history in your family of autoimmune conditions. I
am one of them and actually been a little bit
more proactive of knowing that you're actually at a higher risk.
But also anti inflammatory diets really really helpful, so that
if you don't know what that is, eating more fruits
and vegetables, so getting lots of antioxidants in there, as

(02:54):
well as anti inflammatory foods like more fish and fish
or wheel good fats like nazieds Avocadoiterranean.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Diets often been described as a good one at antiflatry diet.

Speaker 3 (03:06):
Nice easy way of describing it. Yep, anti inflammatory diet
is basically Mediterranean diet. Also considering your gut, how there's
a big link between gut and autoimmune as well, So
looking about sort of what you're eating and getting more
prebiotic foods so a range of those foods from fermented
foods soauerkraut, yogurt, all those things are so good for

(03:30):
the gut as well as lots of fiber, so different
types of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. Looking at
your exercise, so maybe keeping it sort of more low intensity,
also working out a bit of strength, not overs genuous
and not getting into running supermarathons or ultramarathons. Maybe not
the best for you if you are at a higher
risk of hitting autoimmune and managing your stress because stress

(03:53):
can also be a big trigger for setting off an
autoimmune condition as well, so it's always about keeping that
balance and then for women in particular, managing esigen levels,
so looking after yourself as special through those times of
hormone changes, particularly pyramenopause. Erin thank you so much, appreciate
your time.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
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