Most people with autoimmune issue have food sensitivities. In fact, it may be that having a food sensitivity for a long time and continue to eat that food may be one of the reason why autoimmune develops in the first place.
But what causes food sensitivity? In short, it is damage to the gut causing increased intestinal permeability, also known as “leaky gut”.
Low stomach acid and lack of digestive enzymes can cause one not to break down food properly. And partially un-digested food particles can passed into the bloodstream via the leaky gut, thereby triggering the immune reaction.
But what causes leaky gut?
Patrick Holford writes in New Optimum Nutrition Bible…
“There are several possible reasons why a person become food allergic. Among these are lack of digestive enzymes, leaky gut, frequent exposure to foods containing irritant chemicals, immune deficiency leading to hypersensitivity of the immune system, microorganism imbalance in the gut leading to leaky gut syndrome, and no doubt many more.”
Gluten and GMOs are damaging to the gut and can cause leaky gut.