Testing an Autoimmune Diet

I’m really interested in the link between gut health and autoimmunity. And I’m curious to know if the autoimmune diet I tried back in 2018 could’ve actually made a real difference to my alopecia – if only I’d stuck to it!

So I went to see a Functional Medicine (FM doctor) when I was home in Ireland last summer (2019) to explore this link further. 

To see whether my gut health could be affecting my hair, plus whether it might be the cause of chronic daily headaches that I’ve been having for 2 years now. (I know. Not fun.)

The doctor ran some tests on my microbiome and diagnosed me with gut dysbiosis. She told me that this can lead to autoimmune conditions, plus mental illnesses such as brain fog, anxiety and depression – due to its effect on our neurotransmitters. I can relate to that.

What the doctor advised… 

• A 5-day gut cleanse. During this time, I’ll only drink smoothies made from water and “medical food” – a protein and vitamin-rich powder to ensure I’m still getting all the nutrients I need.
• An elimination diet for at least 30 days. This includes cutting out dairy, wheat/gluten, alcohol, sugar, soy and soybean products. Yikes… but I CAN have one coffee a day. Yay!
• A supplementation plan for at least 30 days. My range of goodies include Vitamin B and D, Magnesium and a good probiotic. Plus a fish oil in liquid form. Yum.