Detox is an effective treatment for many chronic health conditions, especially those that are due to problems with the immune system.

When we think about the immune system we think of coughs and colds, however this is just the tip of the iceberg. The body is built to cope with everyday immune skirmishes such as these, it’s when the immune system comes under prolonged fire that things can really start to go wrong.

Anyone with chronic allergies or an autoimmune disease can tell you what devastating effects  the immune system can have on the body when things start to go wrong.

Not only does leaky gut  predispose you to a weakened immune system, allergies and sensitivities it is thought to be a major contributing factor to autoimmune disease. There are many theories about the cause of autoimmune diseases. We know that for some reason the immune system becomes confused and starts to recognise our own tissue as foreign. One of the leading schools of thought is that faulty signalling of the immune system based around the gut is the most likely cause.

The gastrointestinal tract houses a majority of our immune system, around 70% of our immune cells live in and around the gut acting as border patrol, guarding against  potential invasion.

It is thought that leaky gut can affect our ability to launch an appropriate immune response. Particles of under-digested foods, bacteria and toxins can be absorbed across the gut lining and into our systemic circulation where the body forms antibodies which causes inflammation and a chronic low grade immune disruption. It is thought that somewhere in this process the signalling to the immune system becomes faulty and instead of attacking toxins, proteins or other substances the immune system starts to recognise our own proteins (tissues) as a foreign invader and attacks them instead.

There are very clear links between bacterial and parasitic gut infections and reactive or Rheumatoid Arthritis for example.

While science is still investigating the aetiology of autoimmune disease and allergies what we do know is that a detox that helps to clear and heal the gut and support healthy liver function is one of the best things you can do to support the immune system.

The diet  listed in this program is not only designed to support detoxification, it is significantly anti-inflammatory and is ideal for people with immune system disorders. If you have an autoimmune disease, progress may be slow and you will need to take a longer term approach to regulating the immune system through detox and diet, however it gives you the tools to help regulate and heal your immune system.

Read my article ‘The Silent Saboteur’ about auotimmunity

Published in Nature & Health Magazine 2015