August 6, 2025 • 16 mins
Over 50 million Americans live with autoimmune diseases—yet few understand just how much diet and metabolic health shape these conditions. In this episode of The Health Pulse, we explore groundbreaking research showing that genetics account for only one-third of autoimmune risk. The remaining two-thirds? Environmental triggers, with diet leading the charge.
We unpack how refined carbohydrates, processed foods, and insulin resistance contribute to gut dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and molecular mimicry—a process that can trick your immune system into attacking your own tissues. From thyroid disease to rheumatoid arthritis and chronic skin conditions, we examine how diet shapes immune balance at the cellular level.
You’ll also discover emerging dietary strategies—like the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), ketogenic, and paleo approaches—that show promise in reducing autoimmune flares, improving energy, and restoring quality of life. Plus, we highlight the key lab markers that can uncover your personal inflammatory triggers and guide a personalized healing plan.
Whether you’re managing an autoimmune condition or simply curious about how food affects your immune health, this episode is packed with science-based strategies for healing from within.
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📅 Book your appointment or learn more at:
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The content discussed is based on research, expert insights, and reputable sources, but it does not replace professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. We strive to present accurate and up-to-date information, medical research is constantly evolving. Listeners should always verify details with trusted health organizations, before making any health-related decisions. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, such as severe pain, difficulty breathing, or other urgent symptoms, call your local emergency services immediately. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that The Health Pulse and its creators are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this episode. Your health and well-being should always be guided by the advice of qualified medical professionals.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Nicolette (00:01):
Welcome to the Health Pulse, your go-to source for
quick, actionable insights onhealth, wellness and diagnostics
.
Whether you're looking tooptimize your well-being or stay
informed about the latest inmedical testing, we've got you
covered.
Join us as we break down keyhealth topics in just minutes.
Let's dive in.
Rachel (00:25):
Welcome to the Deep Dive .
I just saw this statistic that,honestly, kind of stopped me in
my tracks.
Mark (00:31):
Oh yeah, what was it?
Rachel (00:32):
Get this Autoimmune diseases they're affecting over
50 million Americans.
Mark (00:40):
Wow, 50 million, that's huge.
Rachel (00:42):
Right, and here's the kicker they're a leading cause
of chronic illness, especiallyin women.
And you know, for ages it feltlike, well, that's just bad luck
, right?
Genetic lottery.
Mark (00:51):
Yeah, the bad genes explanation.
Rachel (00:53):
Exactly, but the science is really painting a different
picture.
Now.
It seems like environmentaltriggers, and especially our
diet, are massive drivers.
Mark (01:02):
That's the really interesting part, isn't it?
It shifts the focus.
If environment, if diet playssuch a big role, well, it kind
of blows things open forunderstanding and maybe, more
importantly, for actually doingsomething.
Rachel (01:13):
Precisely so that's what we're digging into today.
We're looking at a surprisinglyoverlooked factor here High
carbohydrate diets.
Mark (01:21):
The typical Western diet stuff.
Rachel (01:23):
Yeah, Our mission today is to unpack how all these
refined sugars, these processedstarches, how they do more than
just spike your blood sugar.
We're talking aboutfundamentally changing your gut
bacteria, fueling inflammationsystem-wide and basically
pushing your immune system intolike attack mode against itself.
Mark (01:42):
Which leads to a really powerful idea.
If your diet can be a trigger,maybe it can also be part of the
fix.
Rachel (01:53):
Exactly so.
For anyone listening who'sliving with an autoimmune
condition or maybe even suspectsthey might have one,
understanding this link, it'spretty crucial.
Your diet could literally be,you know, feeding the fire or
maybe calming the storm.
Mark (02:03):
Okay, so let's start peeling back those layers.
Where do we begin?
Rachel (02:06):
Right.
So just a quick refresher,though many listeners will know
this Autoimmune disorders happenwhen your own immune system
gets confused.
It starts attacking your body'sown healthy tissues.
Mark (02:15):
Instead of just going after like viruses or bacteria,
it misidentifies friend from foe.
Rachel (02:20):
Yeah, and that leads to this chronic activation, loads
of inflammation and actualtissue damage.
Mark (02:25):
And it's not just one or two rare diseases.
We're talking over 100different recognized autoimmune
conditions A hundred, wow yeah,affecting pretty much any part
of the body.
You know the common ones likeHashimoto's, thyroiditis,
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ms,psoriasis, even things like
Crohn's and colitis, theinflammatory bowel diseases.
(02:46):
It's a really wide spectrum.
Rachel (02:48):
That's huge and OK.
Genetics we always hear aboutgenes, right, but how much is
just genes?
Mark (02:54):
Well, that's where it gets interesting.
The NIH data looking atidentical twins people with
basically the same DNA showsgenes only account for about
maybe one third of the risk.
Rachel (03:05):
Only a third.
So what's the rest?
Mark (03:07):
The other two thirds, that's mostly environmental and
lifestyle triggers.
Rachel (03:10):
Ah, okay, like what.
Mark (03:12):
Things like diet, obviously, which we're focusing
on, but also gut healthinfections.
People have had stress levels,exposure to toxins, even
hormonal shifts.
It really broadens the picture.
Rachel (03:22):
It gives you more levers to pull, potentially.
Mark (03:24):
Exactly More agency.
Rachel (03:26):
So, across all these different diseases, what's the
common threat?
You mentioned inflammation.
Mark (03:30):
Yeah, chronic inflammation is really the hallmark.
It's like the immune system isjust stuck in the on position,
constantly activated, bleedingtoo Well, tissue destruction,
those awful cycles of flare-upsand then maybe remission and all
those symptoms, symptoms.
People struggle with thefatigue, the joint pain, skin
issues, that really frustratingbrain fog.
Rachel (03:50):
OK, so this sets up a really crucial idea, then.
Mark (03:53):
Which is.
Rachel (03:53):
That the metabolic environment you create, largely
through your diet, directlyshapes how your immune system
actually behaves.
Mark (03:59):
Bingo, and that's the perfect lead in to talking about
carbohydrates.
Rachel (04:03):
Right, so we know what autoimmunity is generally.
Now let's get to the how.
How do carbs specifically fuelthis whole inflammatory mess?
Because I mean, not all carbsare bad, surely?
Mark (04:15):
No, definitely not.
It's really about the type ofcarb, the amount and how often
you're eating them.
That's what really influencesthe immune system.
Rachel (04:23):
Okay, so what happens with the bad guys, the refined
stuff?
Mark (04:26):
Well, think about eating white bread, sugary cereals,
sodas, processed snacks.
Those cause really rapid bigspikes in your blood glucose.
Rachel (04:34):
Your blood sugar shoots up.
Mark (04:35):
Right and your body pumps out insulin to deal with it.
But if that happens over andover, day after day, your cells
can become less responsive tothat insulin.
That's insulin resistance.
Rachel (04:45):
And insulin resistance isn't just about blood sugar, is
it?
Mark (04:50):
no-transcript.
Chronically high blood sugarand insulin.
They're directly linked tohigher levels of
pro-inflammatory messengers,things called cytokines, like
IL-6, TNF-alpha and C-reactiveprotein or CRP.
Rachel (05:04):
And those are the things doctors often measure in
autoimmune conditions.
Mark (05:08):
Exactly.
They're often elevated in lupus, RA, Hashimoto's, you name it.
Plus, high blood sugar createssomething called oxidative
stress.
Rachel (05:15):
Okay, what's?
Mark (05:15):
that it generates these unstable molecules reactive
oxygen species, ros for short.
They damage cells and basicallypoke the immune system,
potentially activating thoseimmune cells that mistakenly
attack your own body.
Rachel (05:27):
So insulin resistance is like this, this hidden engine
driving the inflammation.
Mark (05:31):
You can definitely see it that way.
It messes with immune cellsignals, promotes belly fat,
which itself releasesinflammatory stuff.
And here's something really keyNIH research shows lots of
people with autoimmune diseaseshave underlying insulin
resistance, even if they're notoverweight.
Rachel (05:49):
Wow, so it's not just about weight.
That's a really important point.
Mark (05:52):
Absolutely crucial.
Metabolic health and immunehealth are just deeply
intertwined, which brings usneatly to the gut microbiome.
Rachel (06:00):
Ah the gut.
Everything seems to come backto the gut these days.
Mark (06:03):
Well, there's a good reason.
A disrupted gut microbiome, animbalance in your gut bacteria,
can really cause the immunesystem to go haywire.
Rachel (06:11):
Okay.
So how do refined carbsspecifically mess with our gut
bugs?
Mark (06:16):
Think of your gut like a garden Refined sugars and
starches.
They're like super fertilizerfor the weeds, the
pro-inflammatory, potentiallypathogenic microbes like certain
yeasts, candida or bacteriaklebsiella.
Rachel (06:28):
And they starve, the good guys.
Mark (06:29):
Pretty much.
They don't feed the beneficialspecies like acromantia or
bifidobacteria which we need fora healthy gut lining and immune
balance.
This imbalance is called gutdysbiosis.
Rachel (06:40):
Okay, dysbiosis, and that leads to.
Mark (06:44):
It promotes gut permeability.
You've probably heard it calledleaky gut.
Rachel (06:48):
Right leaky gut, so the gut lining gets weaker.
Mark (06:51):
Exactly and when it's leaky, things that should stay
inside the gut, like bacterialtoxins, especially one called
lipopolysaccharide or LPS, canslip into the bloodstream and
the immune system sees thosetoxins and freaks out.
It triggers a big immuneresponse, more inflammation, and
it can contribute to the immunesystem losing its ability to
tolerate your own tissues thatloss of self-tolerance we talked
(07:13):
about your own tissues, thatloss of self-tolerance we talked
about.
Rachel (07:16):
So the leaky gut literally lets trouble into the
bloodstream.
You mentioned molecular mimicryearlier.
How does that fit in?
Sounds complicated.
Mark (07:22):
It's kind of like a case of mistaken identity.
Sugars can increase a proteincalled zonulin.
More zonulin means looserconnections between gut cells,
hence more leakiness.
Okay, so undigested food bits,bacterial bits, toxins get
through.
The immune system flags them asinvaders, but sometimes the
molecular structure of thatinvader looks very similar to
(07:42):
some of your own body's tissues.
Rachel (07:45):
So the immune system learns to attack the invader.
Mark (07:47):
And then it accidentally starts attacking your own
cellular looking tissues too.
That's molecular mimicry too.
That's molecular mimicry.
We see potential links likegluten or casein exposure
potentially triggeringHashimoto's in susceptible
people, or gut-derived LPSworsening RA, or certain
microbes possibly linked to MSor lupus flares.
Rachel (08:07):
That's fascinating and kind of scary.
And you also mentioned thegut-brain link.
How does that play intoautoimmune symptoms like brain
fog or fatigue?
Mark (08:15):
Yeah, the gut-brain-immune axis is huge.
The microbes in your gutactually communicate with your
brain, so dysbiosis andinflammation in the gut can
directly impact mood, energy,focus, contributing to that
awful brain fog, anxiety andcrushing fatigue that so many
autoimmune patients experience.
Rachel (08:33):
Wow, okay, so it's clear how these carbs can cause
problems metabolically and inthe gut.
What's the actual researchevidence linking this Western
diet pattern to the rise inautoimmunity?
Is it solid?
Mark (08:43):
It's definitely getting more solid all the time.
Yeah, there's a growing body ofwork.
Several studies now link thattypical Western diet, high in
refined carbs, sugar processedfoods, with a higher prevalence
of autoimmune conditions.
Rachel (08:53):
Any specific examples.
Mark (08:55):
Sure, there was a big review back in 2017 in Frontiers
in Immunology.
It specifically pointed todiet-driven changes in the gut
microbiome and the gut liningintegrity as key environmental
triggers for things like IBD,lupus and MS.
Rachel (09:12):
Okay, so connecting the diet, the gut and the disease.
Mark (09:15):
Exactly.
And another study this oneconnecting the diet, the gut and
the disease, exactly.
And another study this one inthe journal Nutrients confirmed
that diets high inultra-processed carbs directly
mess up the gut, barrierfunction and promote immune
dysregulation.
Rachel (09:26):
And animal studies too.
Mark (09:28):
Yeah, there are animal models too.
Studies showing high-glucosediets actually make autoimmune
symptoms worse.
In models designed to mimicconditions like lupus and
rheumatoid arthritis, they seeincreased inflammatory markers,
more immune activation.
It connects the dots prettydirectly from the sugar to the
inflammation.
Rachel (09:44):
Okay, so that's the problem side.
What about solutions?
Does research show that cuttingback on these carbs actually
helps?
Mark (09:50):
Yes, and that's the really hopeful part, dietary
interventions that limit carbsand focus on reducing
inflammation are showing somereally promising results.
Rachel (09:57):
Like what kinds of diets ?
Mark (09:58):
We'll take the autoimmune protocol, or AIP diet.
There was a notable study in2021 looking at patients with
Hashimoto's and IBD.
Following the AIP diet led tosignificant improvements in
their fatigue, bowel symptomsand even markers of inflammation
.
That research had NIH backing,by the way.
Rachel (10:16):
AIP.
That's quite restrictiveinitially, isn't it?
Focusing on nutrient densityand eliminating potential
triggers?
Mark (10:22):
It is especially in the elimination phase, but the
results suggest it can be reallyeffective for some.
Then you also see positivereports, more clinical
observations perhaps, frompeople using ketogenic or
paleo-style diets.
What kinds of improvementsPeople often report less joint
pain, clearer thinking, lessbrain fog, improved skin
conditions.
The thinking is this comes fromlowering insulin levels,
(10:44):
reducing that oxidative stresswe talked about and helping to
restore gut integrity.
Rachel (10:48):
And for specific conditions like MS or lupus?
Anecdotally yes, and forspecific conditions like MS or
lupus.
Mark (10:51):
Anecdotally, yes, Many patients report fewer flares,
less fatigue, when they reallyminimize sugar, processed carbs
and often gluten.
Now we definitely need morelarge-scale formal trials for
confirmation, but the pattern inclinical practice in smaller
studies is pretty consistent andcompelling.
Rachel (11:10):
Okay, so let's try to summarize the research angle.
Refined carbs seem to clearlyramp up inflammation and mess
with immune regulation.
Check.
High sugar diets worsen leakygut and gut bacteria imbalances.
Double check.
And, on the flip side, dietsthat are anti-inflammatory,
lower in carbs Things like AIP,maybe keto or paleo they show
(11:30):
real promise for reducingsymptoms and flares.
Mark (11:33):
That sums it up nicely.
It's not necessarily a magicbullet for everyone.
Responses vary, but the trendis definitely there.
Dialing back the refined carbscan make a real difference.
Rachel (11:42):
Which brings us to making this personal Because, as
you said, responses vary.
Lab testing seems crucial here.
Autoimmune conditions aren'tjust one thing, right, they
involve metabolism, gut, immunesystem.
Mark (11:57):
Exactly.
It's a whole system picture.
Lab testing is a powerful toolto figure out what's really
driving the inflammation for anindividual, and then you can use
that info to track progress andactually tailor your nutrition,
including figuring out yourpersonal tolerance for
carbohydrates.
Rachel (12:07):
Okay, so what kind of labs are we talking about?
What should people look for?
Mark (12:11):
Well, you'd want to look at a few categories.
First, inflammation markersThings like HSCRP, that's high
sensitivity C-reactive protein,gives a general sense of
systemic inflammation.
Esr or SED rate is often usedto track activity in conditions
like lupus or RA.
You can even get more specificwith cytokine panels, looking at
things like IL-6 or TNF-alpha,those direct inflammatory
(12:34):
messengers.
Rachel (12:35):
Right, the ones linked to high blood sugar earlier, and
metabolic markers.
Mark (12:39):
Absolutely key.
Given the insulin resistanceconnection.
You want fasting insulin andfasting glucose Together.
They let you calculate OMAIR,which is a great early indicator
of insulin resistance.
Rachel (12:49):
Even before, blood sugar is technically high.
Mark (12:52):
Yes, often years before Then.
Hba1c gives you the longer-termview of blood sugar control
over about three months, and alipid panel is important.
Too often In insulin resistanceyou'll see high triglycerides
and low HDL cholesterol.
That pattern is a red flag formetabolic issues and
inflammation.
Rachel (13:10):
Okay, inflammation, metabolism.
What about the gut?
Can we test for leaky gut anddysbiosis?
Mark (13:17):
You sure can.
There's a marker called zonulinwhich is directly related to
intestinal permeability or leakygut.
You can also measure LPSantibodies, which indicate if
those bacterial toxins aregetting into your bloodstream
and triggering immune responses.
Rachel (13:30):
And the gut bacteria themselves.
Mark (13:32):
Yeah, for that.
You'd look at comprehensivestool testing Tests like the GI
map or Genova's GI effects giveyou a really detailed picture of
your gut microbiome beneficialbacteria, problematic bacteria,
yeast parasites, plus markers ofgut inflammation and digestion.
It's incredibly insightful.
Rachel (13:48):
Wow, it's detailed.
And finally the specificautoimmune markers.
Mark (13:52):
Right.
So there's the generalscreening test ANA, antinuclear
antibodies.
Then, depending on suspicion,you get more specific.
For Hashimoto's you'd check TPOand TG, antibodies For RA,
rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP.
For lupus, anti-DSDNA andanti-SMIF.
Celiac has its specificantibodies, MS has others.
(14:14):
It depends on the clinicalpicture.
Rachel (14:17):
So using these tests really gives you objective data.
It moves away from guesswork.
Mark (14:22):
Totally.
It empowers you.
Autoimmune care shouldn't beone size fits all.
These labs help pinpoint yourspecific imbalances and guide
dietary changes, including carbintake, for much better control,
hopefully fewer flares, andit's great that things like
at-home testing options likeQuickLab Mobile offers for some
of these, make it easier toactually monitor these things.
Rachel (14:42):
Makes it more accessible , less of a hassle.
Mark (14:44):
Exactly Understand your own body's landscape.
Rachel (14:46):
Okay, so, wrapping up our deep dive today, let's just
circle back to the core messageAutoimmune diseases.
Yeah, they're complex, butthey're not just random bad luck
.
Mark (14:55):
Right Underneath every flare-up, there's usually a
system under stressmetabolically, immunologically
and, as we focused on, oftennutritionally.
Rachel (15:03):
And a huge, often missed piece of that nutritional
stress excessive carbs,especially the refined processed
kinds.
Mark (15:11):
Yeah, just to quickly recap the impact these foods
spike blood sugar, sure, butthey also disrupt your gut
microbiome.
They weaken the gut barrierallowing things through, they
fuel that low-grade chronicinflammation and they basically
wind up an already confusedimmune system.
Rachel (15:27):
But and this is the crucial takeaway there's really
encouraging news here.
You actually have more controlthan maybe you realized.
Mark (15:33):
Absolutely.
By shifting towards a dietthat's anti-inflammatory,
lowering those problem carbs,focuses on gut health, and by
using lab testing to personalizeand track, you can often really
reduce flare frequency, calmdown that immune overactivity
and get back energy, clarity,stability.
Rachel (15:50):
It's about taking proactive steps.
Mark (15:52):
It really is.
So maybe a final thought toleave everyone with Go for it.
Autoimmunity might have rootsin your genes, sure, but you
don't have to feed it.
It's worth thinking really hardabout what exactly you are
feeding your system every day.
Nicolette (16:06):
Thanks for tuning into the Health Pulse.
If you found this episodehelpful, don't forget to
subscribe and share it withsomeone who might benefit.
For more health insights anddiagnostics, visit us online at
wwwquicklabmobilecom.
Stay informed, stay healthy andwe'll catch you in the next
episode.
Welcome to the Health Pulse, your go-to source for
quick, actionable insights onhealth, wellness and diagnostics
.
Whether you're looking tooptimize your well-being or stay
informed about the latest inmedical testing, we've got you
covered.
Join us as we break down keyhealth topics in just minutes.
Let's dive in.
Rachel (00:25):
Welcome to the Deep Dive .
I just saw this statistic that,honestly, kind of stopped me in
my tracks.
Mark (00:31):
Oh yeah, what was it?
Rachel (00:32):
Get this Autoimmune diseases they're affecting over
50 million Americans.
Mark (00:40):
Wow, 50 million, that's huge.
Rachel (00:42):
Right, and here's the kicker they're a leading cause
of chronic illness, especiallyin women.
And you know, for ages it feltlike, well, that's just bad luck
, right?
Genetic lottery.
Mark (00:51):
Yeah, the bad genes explanation.
Rachel (00:53):
Exactly, but the science is really painting a different
picture.
Now.
It seems like environmentaltriggers, and especially our
diet, are massive drivers.
Mark (01:02):
That's the really interesting part, isn't it?
It shifts the focus.
If environment, if diet playssuch a big role, well, it kind
of blows things open forunderstanding and maybe, more
importantly, for actually doingsomething.
Rachel (01:13):
Precisely so that's what we're digging into today.
We're looking at a surprisinglyoverlooked factor here High
carbohydrate diets.
Mark (01:21):
The typical Western diet stuff.
Rachel (01:23):
Yeah, Our mission today is to unpack how all these
refined sugars, these processedstarches, how they do more than
just spike your blood sugar.
We're talking aboutfundamentally changing your gut
bacteria, fueling inflammationsystem-wide and basically
pushing your immune system intolike attack mode against itself.
Mark (01:42):
Which leads to a really powerful idea.
If your diet can be a trigger,maybe it can also be part of the
fix.
Rachel (01:53):
Exactly so.
For anyone listening who'sliving with an autoimmune
condition or maybe even suspectsthey might have one,
understanding this link, it'spretty crucial.
Your diet could literally be,you know, feeding the fire or
maybe calming the storm.
Mark (02:03):
Okay, so let's start peeling back those layers.
Where do we begin?
Rachel (02:06):
Right.
So just a quick refresher,though many listeners will know
this Autoimmune disorders happenwhen your own immune system
gets confused.
It starts attacking your body'sown healthy tissues.
Mark (02:15):
Instead of just going after like viruses or bacteria,
it misidentifies friend from foe.
Rachel (02:20):
Yeah, and that leads to this chronic activation, loads
of inflammation and actualtissue damage.
Mark (02:25):
And it's not just one or two rare diseases.
We're talking over 100different recognized autoimmune
conditions A hundred, wow yeah,affecting pretty much any part
of the body.
You know the common ones likeHashimoto's, thyroiditis,
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ms,psoriasis, even things like
Crohn's and colitis, theinflammatory bowel diseases.
(02:46):
It's a really wide spectrum.
Rachel (02:48):
That's huge and OK.
Genetics we always hear aboutgenes, right, but how much is
just genes?
Mark (02:54):
Well, that's where it gets interesting.
The NIH data looking atidentical twins people with
basically the same DNA showsgenes only account for about
maybe one third of the risk.
Rachel (03:05):
Only a third.
So what's the rest?
Mark (03:07):
The other two thirds, that's mostly environmental and
lifestyle triggers.
Rachel (03:10):
Ah, okay, like what.
Mark (03:12):
Things like diet, obviously, which we're focusing
on, but also gut healthinfections.
People have had stress levels,exposure to toxins, even
hormonal shifts.
It really broadens the picture.
Rachel (03:22):
It gives you more levers to pull, potentially.
Mark (03:24):
Exactly More agency.
Rachel (03:26):
So, across all these different diseases, what's the
common threat?
You mentioned inflammation.
Mark (03:30):
Yeah, chronic inflammation is really the hallmark.
It's like the immune system isjust stuck in the on position,
constantly activated, bleedingtoo Well, tissue destruction,
those awful cycles of flare-upsand then maybe remission and all
those symptoms, symptoms.
People struggle with thefatigue, the joint pain, skin
issues, that really frustratingbrain fog.
Rachel (03:50):
OK, so this sets up a really crucial idea, then.
Mark (03:53):
Which is.
Rachel (03:53):
That the metabolic environment you create, largely
through your diet, directlyshapes how your immune system
actually behaves.
Mark (03:59):
Bingo, and that's the perfect lead in to talking about
carbohydrates.
Rachel (04:03):
Right, so we know what autoimmunity is generally.
Now let's get to the how.
How do carbs specifically fuelthis whole inflammatory mess?
Because I mean, not all carbsare bad, surely?
Mark (04:15):
No, definitely not.
It's really about the type ofcarb, the amount and how often
you're eating them.
That's what really influencesthe immune system.
Rachel (04:23):
Okay, so what happens with the bad guys, the refined
stuff?
Mark (04:26):
Well, think about eating white bread, sugary cereals,
sodas, processed snacks.
Those cause really rapid bigspikes in your blood glucose.
Rachel (04:34):
Your blood sugar shoots up.
Mark (04:35):
Right and your body pumps out insulin to deal with it.
But if that happens over andover, day after day, your cells
can become less responsive tothat insulin.
That's insulin resistance.
Rachel (04:45):
And insulin resistance isn't just about blood sugar, is
it?
Mark (04:50):
no-transcript.
Chronically high blood sugarand insulin.
They're directly linked tohigher levels of
pro-inflammatory messengers,things called cytokines, like
IL-6, TNF-alpha and C-reactiveprotein or CRP.
Rachel (05:04):
And those are the things doctors often measure in
autoimmune conditions.
Mark (05:08):
Exactly.
They're often elevated in lupus, RA, Hashimoto's, you name it.
Plus, high blood sugar createssomething called oxidative
stress.
Rachel (05:15):
Okay, what's?
Mark (05:15):
that it generates these unstable molecules reactive
oxygen species, ros for short.
They damage cells and basicallypoke the immune system,
potentially activating thoseimmune cells that mistakenly
attack your own body.
Rachel (05:27):
So insulin resistance is like this, this hidden engine
driving the inflammation.
Mark (05:31):
You can definitely see it that way.
It messes with immune cellsignals, promotes belly fat,
which itself releasesinflammatory stuff.
And here's something really keyNIH research shows lots of
people with autoimmune diseaseshave underlying insulin
resistance, even if they're notoverweight.
Rachel (05:49):
Wow, so it's not just about weight.
That's a really important point.
Mark (05:52):
Absolutely crucial.
Metabolic health and immunehealth are just deeply
intertwined, which brings usneatly to the gut microbiome.
Rachel (06:00):
Ah the gut.
Everything seems to come backto the gut these days.
Mark (06:03):
Well, there's a good reason.
A disrupted gut microbiome, animbalance in your gut bacteria,
can really cause the immunesystem to go haywire.
Rachel (06:11):
Okay.
So how do refined carbsspecifically mess with our gut
bugs?
Mark (06:16):
Think of your gut like a garden Refined sugars and
starches.
They're like super fertilizerfor the weeds, the
pro-inflammatory, potentiallypathogenic microbes like certain
yeasts, candida or bacteriaklebsiella.
Rachel (06:28):
And they starve, the good guys.
Mark (06:29):
Pretty much.
They don't feed the beneficialspecies like acromantia or
bifidobacteria which we need fora healthy gut lining and immune
balance.
This imbalance is called gutdysbiosis.
Rachel (06:40):
Okay, dysbiosis, and that leads to.
Mark (06:44):
It promotes gut permeability.
You've probably heard it calledleaky gut.
Rachel (06:48):
Right leaky gut, so the gut lining gets weaker.
Mark (06:51):
Exactly and when it's leaky, things that should stay
inside the gut, like bacterialtoxins, especially one called
lipopolysaccharide or LPS, canslip into the bloodstream and
the immune system sees thosetoxins and freaks out.
It triggers a big immuneresponse, more inflammation, and
it can contribute to the immunesystem losing its ability to
tolerate your own tissues thatloss of self-tolerance we talked
(07:13):
about your own tissues, thatloss of self-tolerance we talked
about.
Rachel (07:16):
So the leaky gut literally lets trouble into the
bloodstream.
You mentioned molecular mimicryearlier.
How does that fit in?
Sounds complicated.
Mark (07:22):
It's kind of like a case of mistaken identity.
Sugars can increase a proteincalled zonulin.
More zonulin means looserconnections between gut cells,
hence more leakiness.
Okay, so undigested food bits,bacterial bits, toxins get
through.
The immune system flags them asinvaders, but sometimes the
molecular structure of thatinvader looks very similar to
(07:42):
some of your own body's tissues.
Rachel (07:45):
So the immune system learns to attack the invader.
Mark (07:47):
And then it accidentally starts attacking your own
cellular looking tissues too.
That's molecular mimicry too.
That's molecular mimicry.
We see potential links likegluten or casein exposure
potentially triggeringHashimoto's in susceptible
people, or gut-derived LPSworsening RA, or certain
microbes possibly linked to MSor lupus flares.
Rachel (08:07):
That's fascinating and kind of scary.
And you also mentioned thegut-brain link.
How does that play intoautoimmune symptoms like brain
fog or fatigue?
Mark (08:15):
Yeah, the gut-brain-immune axis is huge.
The microbes in your gutactually communicate with your
brain, so dysbiosis andinflammation in the gut can
directly impact mood, energy,focus, contributing to that
awful brain fog, anxiety andcrushing fatigue that so many
autoimmune patients experience.
Rachel (08:33):
Wow, okay, so it's clear how these carbs can cause
problems metabolically and inthe gut.
What's the actual researchevidence linking this Western
diet pattern to the rise inautoimmunity?
Is it solid?
Mark (08:43):
It's definitely getting more solid all the time.
Yeah, there's a growing body ofwork.
Several studies now link thattypical Western diet, high in
refined carbs, sugar processedfoods, with a higher prevalence
of autoimmune conditions.
Rachel (08:53):
Any specific examples.
Mark (08:55):
Sure, there was a big review back in 2017 in Frontiers
in Immunology.
It specifically pointed todiet-driven changes in the gut
microbiome and the gut liningintegrity as key environmental
triggers for things like IBD,lupus and MS.
Rachel (09:12):
Okay, so connecting the diet, the gut and the disease.
Mark (09:15):
Exactly.
And another study this oneconnecting the diet, the gut and
the disease, exactly.
And another study this one inthe journal Nutrients confirmed
that diets high inultra-processed carbs directly
mess up the gut, barrierfunction and promote immune
dysregulation.
Rachel (09:26):
And animal studies too.
Mark (09:28):
Yeah, there are animal models too.
Studies showing high-glucosediets actually make autoimmune
symptoms worse.
In models designed to mimicconditions like lupus and
rheumatoid arthritis, they seeincreased inflammatory markers,
more immune activation.
It connects the dots prettydirectly from the sugar to the
inflammation.
Rachel (09:44):
Okay, so that's the problem side.
What about solutions?
Does research show that cuttingback on these carbs actually
helps?
Mark (09:50):
Yes, and that's the really hopeful part, dietary
interventions that limit carbsand focus on reducing
inflammation are showing somereally promising results.
Rachel (09:57):
Like what kinds of diets ?
Mark (09:58):
We'll take the autoimmune protocol, or AIP diet.
There was a notable study in2021 looking at patients with
Hashimoto's and IBD.
Following the AIP diet led tosignificant improvements in
their fatigue, bowel symptomsand even markers of inflammation
.
That research had NIH backing,by the way.
Rachel (10:16):
AIP.
That's quite restrictiveinitially, isn't it?
Focusing on nutrient densityand eliminating potential
triggers?
Mark (10:22):
It is especially in the elimination phase, but the
results suggest it can be reallyeffective for some.
Then you also see positivereports, more clinical
observations perhaps, frompeople using ketogenic or
paleo-style diets.
What kinds of improvementsPeople often report less joint
pain, clearer thinking, lessbrain fog, improved skin
conditions.
The thinking is this comes fromlowering insulin levels,
(10:44):
reducing that oxidative stresswe talked about and helping to
restore gut integrity.
Rachel (10:48):
And for specific conditions like MS or lupus?
Anecdotally yes, and forspecific conditions like MS or
lupus.
Mark (10:51):
Anecdotally, yes, Many patients report fewer flares,
less fatigue, when they reallyminimize sugar, processed carbs
and often gluten.
Now we definitely need morelarge-scale formal trials for
confirmation, but the pattern inclinical practice in smaller
studies is pretty consistent andcompelling.
Rachel (11:10):
Okay, so let's try to summarize the research angle.
Refined carbs seem to clearlyramp up inflammation and mess
with immune regulation.
Check.
High sugar diets worsen leakygut and gut bacteria imbalances.
Double check.
And, on the flip side, dietsthat are anti-inflammatory,
lower in carbs Things like AIP,maybe keto or paleo they show
(11:30):
real promise for reducingsymptoms and flares.
Mark (11:33):
That sums it up nicely.
It's not necessarily a magicbullet for everyone.
Responses vary, but the trendis definitely there.
Dialing back the refined carbscan make a real difference.
Rachel (11:42):
Which brings us to making this personal Because, as
you said, responses vary.
Lab testing seems crucial here.
Autoimmune conditions aren'tjust one thing, right, they
involve metabolism, gut, immunesystem.
Mark (11:57):
Exactly.
It's a whole system picture.
Lab testing is a powerful toolto figure out what's really
driving the inflammation for anindividual, and then you can use
that info to track progress andactually tailor your nutrition,
including figuring out yourpersonal tolerance for
carbohydrates.
Rachel (12:07):
Okay, so what kind of labs are we talking about?
What should people look for?
Mark (12:11):
Well, you'd want to look at a few categories.
First, inflammation markersThings like HSCRP, that's high
sensitivity C-reactive protein,gives a general sense of
systemic inflammation.
Esr or SED rate is often usedto track activity in conditions
like lupus or RA.
You can even get more specificwith cytokine panels, looking at
things like IL-6 or TNF-alpha,those direct inflammatory
(12:34):
messengers.
Rachel (12:35):
Right, the ones linked to high blood sugar earlier, and
metabolic markers.
Mark (12:39):
Absolutely key.
Given the insulin resistanceconnection.
You want fasting insulin andfasting glucose Together.
They let you calculate OMAIR,which is a great early indicator
of insulin resistance.
Rachel (12:49):
Even before, blood sugar is technically high.
Mark (12:52):
Yes, often years before Then.
Hba1c gives you the longer-termview of blood sugar control
over about three months, and alipid panel is important.
Too often In insulin resistanceyou'll see high triglycerides
and low HDL cholesterol.
That pattern is a red flag formetabolic issues and
inflammation.
Rachel (13:10):
Okay, inflammation, metabolism.
What about the gut?
Can we test for leaky gut anddysbiosis?
Mark (13:17):
You sure can.
There's a marker called zonulinwhich is directly related to
intestinal permeability or leakygut.
You can also measure LPSantibodies, which indicate if
those bacterial toxins aregetting into your bloodstream
and triggering immune responses.
Rachel (13:30):
And the gut bacteria themselves.
Mark (13:32):
Yeah, for that.
You'd look at comprehensivestool testing Tests like the GI
map or Genova's GI effects giveyou a really detailed picture of
your gut microbiome beneficialbacteria, problematic bacteria,
yeast parasites, plus markers ofgut inflammation and digestion.
It's incredibly insightful.
Rachel (13:48):
Wow, it's detailed.
And finally the specificautoimmune markers.
Mark (13:52):
Right.
So there's the generalscreening test ANA, antinuclear
antibodies.
Then, depending on suspicion,you get more specific.
For Hashimoto's you'd check TPOand TG, antibodies For RA,
rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP.
For lupus, anti-DSDNA andanti-SMIF.
Celiac has its specificantibodies, MS has others.
(14:14):
It depends on the clinicalpicture.
Rachel (14:17):
So using these tests really gives you objective data.
It moves away from guesswork.
Mark (14:22):
Totally.
It empowers you.
Autoimmune care shouldn't beone size fits all.
These labs help pinpoint yourspecific imbalances and guide
dietary changes, including carbintake, for much better control,
hopefully fewer flares, andit's great that things like
at-home testing options likeQuickLab Mobile offers for some
of these, make it easier toactually monitor these things.
Rachel (14:42):
Makes it more accessible , less of a hassle.
Mark (14:44):
Exactly Understand your own body's landscape.
Rachel (14:46):
Okay, so, wrapping up our deep dive today, let's just
circle back to the core messageAutoimmune diseases.
Yeah, they're complex, butthey're not just random bad luck
.
Mark (14:55):
Right Underneath every flare-up, there's usually a
system under stressmetabolically, immunologically
and, as we focused on, oftennutritionally.
Rachel (15:03):
And a huge, often missed piece of that nutritional
stress excessive carbs,especially the refined processed
kinds.
Mark (15:11):
Yeah, just to quickly recap the impact these foods
spike blood sugar, sure, butthey also disrupt your gut
microbiome.
They weaken the gut barrierallowing things through, they
fuel that low-grade chronicinflammation and they basically
wind up an already confusedimmune system.
Rachel (15:27):
But and this is the crucial takeaway there's really
encouraging news here.
You actually have more controlthan maybe you realized.
Mark (15:33):
Absolutely.
By shifting towards a dietthat's anti-inflammatory,
lowering those problem carbs,focuses on gut health, and by
using lab testing to personalizeand track, you can often really
reduce flare frequency, calmdown that immune overactivity
and get back energy, clarity,stability.
Rachel (15:50):
It's about taking proactive steps.
Mark (15:52):
It really is.
So maybe a final thought toleave everyone with Go for it.
Autoimmunity might have rootsin your genes, sure, but you
don't have to feed it.
It's worth thinking really hardabout what exactly you are
feeding your system every day.
Nicolette (16:06):
Thanks for tuning into the Health Pulse.
If you found this episodehelpful, don't forget to
subscribe and share it withsomeone who might benefit.
For more health insights anddiagnostics, visit us online at
wwwquicklabmobilecom.
Stay informed, stay healthy andwe'll catch you in the next
episode.
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