Is the Standard Canadian Diet Contributing to Autoimmune Disease Growth?

It is no news that the standard American diet (SAD) is the root cause of many diseases like diabetes and stroke. You may wonder whether the same can be said of Canada’s typical meals. Since the country has increasingly become multicultural over the years, it has adopted foreign cuisine to a large extent.

Today, most Canadians feast on a standard ‘Western’ diet, including staples like canola, cheese, bread, etc. Some common meal and snacking options for Canadians are doughnuts, mac-and-cheese, fish and chips, pancakes, burgers and pizzas, nachos, cinnamon buns, and sugar pies.

The original Canadian diet, with its large servings of fruits, raw vegetables, and whole grains has largely diminished. This spells terrible news that is not limited to lifestyle diseases.

In this article, we will discuss whether an average Canadian’s diet is putting them at risk of autoimmune disorders.

Table of Contents

Why the Role of Diet Matters

Let’s begin by mentioning an interesting study conducted by London-based scientists and its results. Experts found that the typical Western diet was responsible for the worldwide spread of autoimmune conditions.

Foods today contain such unidentifiable ingredients that the immune system is unable to distinguish between healthy and foreign cells. As a result, it ends up attacking itself in the form of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, etc.

This is a grave concern because autoimmune conditions do not presently have a medical cure. Matters can quickly become ugly when a body’s immune system decides to act against its highest interest. Giant cell myocarditis is one such example with a high one-year mortality rate.

Moreover, not all autoimmune condition treatments are approved by Health Canada. For instance – thyroid eye disease or TED is an aggressive form of thyroid autoimmune condition that affects the eye. Patients may suffer from severe symptoms like proptosis, nerve damage, etc.

The drug approved for its treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is Teprotumumab or Tepezza. The same manufactured by Horizon Therapeutics has yet to receive its approval for Canadian use.

Even if all of this were put aside, Tepezza’s success rate has been questionable. While it has proved to be effective, there are serious side effects involved, like partial or permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. An active Tepezza lawsuit across Federal courts was started for this very reason.

According to TorHoerman Law, the plaintiffs have alleged that the drug manufacturer was aware of the side effects but failed to issue proper risk warnings. Though the FDA has introduced warning labels as of 2023, Tepezza has not been recalled because it’s the only potent treatment against TED.

Even if Canada were to approve this treatment, it would come with risks and complications. In the final analysis, if diet does trigger autoimmune conditions, it is best to eat responsibly to avoid developing any.

Foods to Eat and Avoid to Prevent Autoimmune Conditions

Now, it is true that autoimmune conditions are not just triggered by diet. Other factors like a person’s genetic makeup and lifestyle stress also play a key role. The good news is that diet may help suppress genetic triggers for autoimmune conditions.

Let’s talk about the foods one must eat and avoid to prevent autoimmune disorders. We will be discussing a list of general foods here.

Unprocessed, whole-plant foods (closest to their natural form) are the absolute best.
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like berries, cabbage, kale, and other leafy greens must be consumed daily.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseeds, olive oil, soybeans, walnuts, etc., help reduce inflammation.
Fermented foods like kefir and kimchi improve gut health (wherein 70% of the immune system resides!).
Under the foods to avoid category comes all kinds of processed fats and sugars, refined grains, alcohol, and food additives. Any packaged food containing ingredients that are difficult to spell must be avoided as a thumb rule.

For people with certain food triggers, the elimination diet called the autoimmune protocol diet (AIP) may help.

Helping Your Body End the Fight Against Itself

As mentioned earlier, food is just one aspect of autoimmune triggers (albeit a significant one). You are what you eat, but it is equally true that you are what you do. For those diagnosed with any autoimmune disorders, a diet change is a must.

Besides physician-prescribed medications, certain healthy habits can suppress symptoms faster and improve quality of life. These include –

Regular exercise, especially low-impact activities such as cycling and swimming
Walking barefoot on dewy grass early in the morning
Adequate rest, which involves seven to eight hours of sound sleep every night. Those who suffer from insomnia may need to adopt healthy sleeping habits.
Proper stress management, even if it may require professional support
Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and consumption of drugs

Let’s close by quoting the words of a family nurse practitioner, Alexandra Lassem, “people tend to underestimate the impact of their dietary choices.” No wonder many are surprised at how great they feel after switching to a healthier diet.

A Canadian study developed on the link between autoimmune conditions and long COVID patients. Even on a global scale, autoimmune diseases are on the rise. The best policy is to practice prevention before it is too late.