Understanding Autoimmune: When Your Body Fights Itself

In this episode of The Integrative Edge, we’re breaking down the complex and often misunderstood world of autoimmunity—what it is, why it happens, and how functional medicine approaches it differently. Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, leading to chronic inflammation, organ dysfunction, and a wide variety of symptoms. With over 100 known autoimmune diseases—including Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis—it’s more common than many realize, especially among women. We explore the underlying contributors to autoimmunity, including chronic gut dysfunction, infections, toxin exposure, and stress. While genetics play a role, we talk about the concept of “genes loading the gun and the environment pulling the trigger,” meaning environmental and lifestyle factors often activate these conditions. Triggers like leaky gut, mold and mycotoxins, food sensitivities, chronic infections (like EBV or Lyme), trauma, and stress can all contribute to the perfect storm. We also walk through the early signs and symptoms that often go overlooked: fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, skin rashes, digestive issues, hair loss, mood swings, and more. Too often, these symptoms are brushed off or misdiagnosed—especially in women—and many people go years without answers. That’s why testing matters. We discuss functional testing options such as autoimmune antibody panels, gut testing for pathogens and permeability, mycotoxin and heavy metal screenings, food sensitivity testing, and inflammatory markers that can provide clearer insight into what's really happening beneath the surface. Most importantly, we want you to know: you are not broken. Autoimmunity doesn’t mean your body is attacking you for no reason—it means it’s responding to something it perceives as a threat. With the right support, root-cause testing, and lifestyle interventions, it's absolutely possible to see symptoms improve or even go into remission. You have more power than you think, and we’re here to guide you back to balance. Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover?  Email us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you! Please leave us a review if you find this podcast insightful and beneficial. Your health transformation starts here!Follow Our Business Platforms! Stay connected and follow our three platforms for health, performance, and rehabilitation insights: True North PerformanceWebsite: TrueNorthPerform.com Instagram: @true_north_kelly1 & @truenorthperformancewisconsin Facebook: True North Performance Uplifted Oncology RehabWebsite: UpliftedOncologyRehab.com Instagram: @upliftedoncology Facebook: Uplifted Oncology Rehab Innate Healing and PerformanceWebsite: InnateHealingAndPerformance.com Instagram: @dr.kymberly.klimek Facebook: Innate Healing and Performance