The Immune System Gone Rogue: A Simple Explanation

When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I finally had an explanation for why my body had been struggling for so long.

Like many people facing an autoimmune diagnosis, I felt relieved to have answers but overwhelmed trying to understand what it all meant. One of the biggest misconceptions about autoimmune disease is that the body is simply "attacking itself."

The reality is a little more complicated. Your immune system is designed to protect you, but in autoimmune conditions it becomes confused, mistakenly identifying healthy tissues as a threat.

Why is the immune system struggling in the first place?

Food-Related Contributors to Autoimmune Inflammation:

Ultra-processed foods found most prevalent in the United States over any other nation-

1. Excess added sugars

2. Refined carbohydrates

3. Industrial seed oils (highly processed vegetable oils)

4. Artificial food dyes and colorings

5. Artificial sweeteners

6. Preservatives and food additives

7. Emulsifiers (found in many packaged foods)

8. Gluten (for susceptible individuals)

9. Excess alcohol

10. Pesticide residues

11. Highly processed meats

12. Trans fats

13. Low fiber intake

14. Nutrient-poor, calorie-dense foods

When you get a diagnosis, it can feel like- “Here's your diagnosis. Here's your medication. We'll monitor you and see you back in a few months."

While medications can be essential and life-changing, many patients are left wondering what they can do day-to-day. That's often where nutrition, stress management, sleep, movement, gut health, and other lifestyle factors become part of the conversation.

Start Here: The Biggest Offenders to Reduce Inflammation

When working to lower autoimmune symptoms, it helps to start by removing the most inflammatory and disruptive foods first:

• Alcohol – Does increase gut permeability, disrupt sleep, burden the liver, and amplify inflammation.

• Industrial seed oils (corn, soybean, canola, sunflower) – Highly processed fats promote inflammatory pathways— even just in your daily coffee creamer!

• Trans fats / ultra-processed fats – Found in many packaged and fried foods; strongly linked to systemic inflammation.

• Gluten (for sensitive individuals or autoimmune conditions like celiac) – Can trigger immune activation and gut inflammation in susceptible people.

Then Focus On Adding Support:

• Increase fiber from real foods – Vegetables, berries, legumes, chia/flax, and whole foods help feed beneficial gut bacteria, support detox pathways, stabilize blood sugar, and promote regular elimination.

• Women need to eat 22-30 grams of fiber EVERYDAY

• Men need to eat 30-38 grams of fiber EVERYDAY

Fiber isn’t sexy or flashy in the way that weight loss shots or other “magic” pills are. It should be!

Fiber is crucial for immune health

• Feeds good gut bacteria – Fiber acts as fuel for beneficial microbes that help regulate immune function.

• Supports the gut barrier – A healthy microbiome helps maintain the lining of the gut, where a large part of the immune system lives.

• Reduces inflammation – Gut bacteria break down fiber into short-chain fatty acids that help calm inflammatory signals.

• Helps clear waste – Fiber supports regular elimination, reducing recirculation of waste products in the body.

• Balances blood sugar – Stable blood sugar helps prevent immune stress and inflammatory spikes.

  
  Fiber helps keep the gut ecosystem balanced—and a balanced gut is one of the most important foundations of a regulated immune system.

When you are dealing with autoimmune symptoms that keep showing up, sometimes you just need a clear starting point. A custom session helps narrow down your biggest triggers and what to actually focus on first, so you’re not guessing your way through it.

Set a Discovery call to chat with me about getting started-

Remember we are all BIOINDIVIDUAL, what works for one does not work the same for another.

We often take our health for granted—until we lose it. Caring for your health early can help prevent more serious problems later. Angie’s Real Food offers programs designed to support lasting wellness. Visit Angie’s Real Food and discover your path to better health today.

My weekly blog, Angie’s Insights, features a plethora of information and wellness tips. Read previous blog posts here: