The Autoimmune Solution audiobook

I didn't want to review this book until I had tried the author's diet for 30 days to see if it made a difference for me. I have struggled with fatigue and headaches for several years now (about 9), and I wanted to put this diet to the test to see if it was autoimmune related. I'm actually not sure if I have an autoimmune disease or not - I was diagnosed with Hashimotos about 4 years ago, but had my thyroid taken out just over 2 years ago due to cancer, and my endocrinologist told me I no longer have Hashimotos since my thyroid is gone. So I don't know.... The author of the book seems to think that the majority of us are on the autoimmune spectrum, so I figured I had nothing to lose by trying her diet. I have tried hormone balancing, and the headache situation has helped a lot by adding a certain hormone. I was still feeling fatigued all the time, though. The diet is very hard - or at least it was for me. No grains of any kind, no beans, no rice, no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, no sugar. So clean meat, fruits, and vegetables is all that's left. And then there are several forbidden vegetables: No tomatoes, no white potatoes, no corn, no peppers, no eggplant. And sea salt is the only salt allowed. You pretty much can't eat out or buy prepared foods. I think that's it. I didn't set out to lose any weight on this diet, I simply wanted to know if I would feel better. But in 30 days, I actually lost 15 pounds, so that was a bonus! I thought I had been overly optimistic when I put my weight on my driver's license form, but now I weigh several pounds less than what it says on my DL! I think I'll need to call the DMV to get that fixed! About 8 days into the diet, I was feeling very optimistic, and I felt less fatigued. After 30 days, I would say that I felt considerably less fatigued than before. I was starving all the time, though, because I felt that all foods were forbidden. I had to hold on to something almost every time I stood up because I was close to fainting.(No wonder I lost weight.) I did have several headaches during the 30 days of the diet, so about the same as before the diet. I don't think I can eat this way all the time, though, and I have already reintroduced eggs into my diet. I think I will reintroduce dairy soon, as I don't think I have a problem with dairy. I may end up just going gluten free, which sounds super-hard to me. But if I feel more energy from avoiding gluten, I guess it would be worth it. I like that she's an MD who has an autoimmune disease herself. I feel like the author knows what she's talking about. At the same time, I feel that she goes a little overboard with all the stuff you have to avoid. Who goes to an organic dentist??? So that was my experience - I am very impressed with anybody who can keep this diet up forever! It took a lot of self control for me!UPDATE 3/25/17: I thought I would write an update on what I've figured out. I have certainly learned that what I eat (or I should say don't eat) makes a big difference in how I feel. And I really didn't believe that it was food related for so many years! I have eaten gluten free now since July 2015, and for a whole year I felt so much better than before without the brain fog and headaches. Then in the summer of 2016 I took on a very stressful job. The company went under and the job only lasted a little over a month, but in the fall of 2016 I started having many bad days again. I knew there was probably something else in my diet I needed to avoid, but it wasn't until January 2017 that I eliminated dairy completely. I have been dairy and gluten free now in 2017 and things seem to be going really well again. But it is very hard to find gluten and dairy free versions of my favorite treat; chocolate; so it is a very hard diet for me. But I've gotta do it if I want to be able to work and feel well!

This book has been a life changer for me. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2009 after years of searching for an answer. I thought I found the solution in the form of taking prednisone for years. If you have ever taken prednisone for any long period of time, you know how great it seems at first, only to become your worst enemy. I was faced with difficulty just working a full time job. I read this book and immediately implemented Dr. Myers plan. Within two weeks I had energy I haven't felt in almost 20 years! My skin is glowing and I lost weight. I haven't had a flare up since I implemented this. I feel this book literally saved my life. It's well written and easy to understand. The recipes in it are amazing! I highly recommend this book to anyone with autoimmune issues.

I read this while staying with a friend recently diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. It was very enlightening and started me on a path toward healing and protecting myself from further health issues. Amy Myers is a Functional Medicine doctor and there are FM doctors who can help with other conditions such as diabetes, cancer etc. If you aren't familiar with this new medical movement, do some research or buy this book. It changed my life. I'm off gluten for 2 weeks now and I feel amazing. The pain and stiffness in my joints is gone and I don't feel swollen and bloated anymore. Most of what we accept as uncurable about our health can be changed through proper nutrition and care for our bodies. Don't wait until you are really sick, start to reverse the progression now.

Amazing explanation of some of the causes of autoimmune diseases, and a no-nonsense treatment protocol to help get people with these conditions feeling better. Great resource listings, recipes, supplement recommendations.

What I liked about this book is that she summarizes all the bits of information that I've come across about autoimmune disease and how to keep it under control all in one place. I haven't seen that in other autoimmune type books. She really covers every little piece that may contribute to autoimmunity. I also like that she provides information of useful supplements and recommendations for brands. I spend way too much time trying to find information about supplements that my doctor recommends I take and she makes it easier to know where to start. With that said, the book is quite overwhelming as there are so many things that can contribute to autoimmunity and most likely, they all do! I think the key is to start with one thing and take it one day at a time and add things as time and money allows. Personally, I've cut out chemicals from my home and use natural cleaners and clean body products. I've also gone gluten-free (which surprisingly was easier for me than trying to go diary free) and am in the process of trying to go diary free. I think I'll give her 30 day meal plan a try and bring back foods to see what I may be sensitive to. It's nice to have all the information in one place.

Once I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and on a medication with side effects nearly as bad as the symptoms the medication was supposed to help I knew I needed to seek alternative care. I'm so thankful that my google-ing lead me to this book. I follower Dr. any Meyers protocol to the letter and was able to completely reverse my symptoms and heal. Before reading the Autoimmune Solution I was experiencing daily pain that effected my day to day activities, now it is rare that I experience any symptoms or flair ups. If you are curious about the gut, brain, health connection, read this book. It was lift changing for me.

I gave this book 5 stars because it has given me so much more hope than any modern medical practitioner ever has, but waiting for follow up and labs in a few months to see if it actually helped! If it didn’t then I’m coming back and rating this book a negative-5!!! 🙂 Otherwise, very easy to read, very relatable, full and detailed explanations to aid the reader in understanding. Overall very good... just hope it works 🤞

The Autoimmune Solution an excellent resource for anyone who seeks better health. Although the title suggests it would be suitable for only those with autoimmune conditions, the concepts apply to all chronic disease. Readers pursuing optimal health would be wise to invest time understanding the principles Dr. Myers explains in her book. But for those with autoimmune disease or other chronic conditions, it is truly a 'must read' - your quality of life could very well depend on it. The author is an MD who incorporates a Functional Medicine approach in her practice. Functional medicine is a medical approach that focuses on identifying the causes of disease rather than just treating the symptoms. It seeks to understand the origins of chronic disease so that meaningful treatment and prevention methods can be developed and implemented. The functional medicine approach is a partnership between the patient and the doctor. The goal of this partnership is to bring the patient back to health as well as to teach the patient about the core principles of health maintenance and prevention. For years, there was no guidance for those suffering from autoimmune conditions. Doctors and patients were operating under an outdated paradigm which assumed the patient was stuck with the genetic hand they were dealt. We now know that genetics is only a part of the picture - about 25 percent. That means 75 percent is within our control. This knowledge is so empowering! Science is advancing quickly and so much information is now available for anyone willing to listen, take the time and do the work needed to make the necessary lifestyle changes. It may take a few years - or more than a few years - for this information to be taught in all medical schools, and for conventional MD's to catch up with the science, but thankfully there are Functional Medicine doctors out there now (https://www.functionalmedicine.org) and many excellent resources such as this to guide those with autoimmunity and other chronic issues.Knowledge is power - this book helps give you power over your future.

This is the best book that I have read for helpful advice if you are suffering from chronic autoimmune issues.