Autoimmune Diseases and Nutrition

The immune system impacts overall health and wellness.

Diet plays an essential role in strengthening the immune system and helping you manage autoimmune diseases. LifeSpring Home Nutrition provides medically tailored meals (MTMs) and other food options that help you manage autoimmune diseases and nutrition.

Autoimmune protocol meal delivery reduces the risk of health complications or more severe symptoms. You can use the home-delivery services to manage or recover from diseases.

Understanding Autoimmune Diseases and Nutrition

The immune system plays a vital role in overall health and wellness. Your diet impacts the immune system in various ways.

Individuals with medical conditions affecting their immune system must monitor their diet more actively to reduce the risk of illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “People with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of food poisoning.”

Some of the most common autoimmune diseases include: 

• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Psoriasis 
• Irritable bowel disease (IBD)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis 

A primary care provider, registered dietitian (RD), immunology experts, or other medical professional can provide information on what foods to eat or avoid for specific autoimmune diseases.

What Are Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body, leading to inflammation and tissue damage.

According to MedlinePlus, “There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases.” In addition, “They can affect almost any part of your body.” A genetic component may play a role in the development of autoimmune conditions.

Diagnosis may not be straightforward for some autoimmune diseases. Often, it takes considerable time to receive an accurate diagnosis based on clinical observations.

Most autoimmune diseases do not have specific tests to confirm them. Medical professionals must eliminate other potential health issues to ensure an accurate diagnosis. The type of condition will impact what dietary changes have the most positive effect.

How Nutrition Impacts the Immune System

The foods you eat directly influence inflammation, immune function, and symptom management.

You may benefit from an elimination diet by removing foods that may worsen symptoms or make your condition more challenging to manage successfully.

Some of the known connections between your diet and immune response include:

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies impact the immune system’s ability to function 
• Ensuring the recommended amount of nutritional intake boosts the immune system
• Gut microbiota affect how the body absorbs nutrients 
• Getting the proper amount of carbohydrates fuels the immune system 
• Meals high in metabolites give the body additional energy for combating chronic diseases

Nutrients support or hinder immune regulation. Your primary care doctor or other medical professionals can provide you with dietary guidelines for managing your condition.

Why Meal Planning Matters for Autoimmune Health

Consistent, balanced meals reduce flares, improve energy, and support long-term well-being.

Nutrient timing, portion control, and minimizing dietary triggers can help you manage symptoms and side effects of autoimmune conditions. Premade meals make it easier to control dietary factors impacting health and wellness.

The Role of Anti-Inflammatory Diets in Autoimmune Conditions

Studies have shown that “[a]nti-inflammatory diets are based on a holistic life approach with a dietary focus on whole foods that are biodiverse and not overly processed.”

In addition, “Anti-inflammatory diets, most prominently the Mediterranean diet, promote the preferential consumption of unsaturated fats, such as peanuts, avocados, and fish, over foodstuffs with higher levels of saturated and trans fats, such as cured meats, red meat, and butter.”

LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers meals that fit a Mediterranean diet to reduce inflammation and promote heart health.

Key Principles of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Anti-inflammatory diets focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods that help reduce chronic inflammation. 

Some examples of foods LifeSpring Home Nutrition uses in immune-boosting meals include:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish, flaxseed, walnuts, etc.)
• Olive oil and healthy fats
• Lean proteins and legumes

Body weight may play a role in inflammation for some individuals. A Mediterranean diet or other healthy anti-inflammatory meals may help you lose weight.

According to the British Journal of Nutrition, “In general, adherence to diets with anti-inflammatory properties, characterised by a low glycaemic index and high levels of fruits, legumes, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, lean meat and healthy fats, while minimising processed foods, added sugars, saturated or trans-fatty acids, red meat, refined grains and sodium intake, can lead to significant reductions in body weight.”

The Mediterranean Diet and Autoimmunity

The Mediterranean diet has been linked to reduced inflammation and improved quality of life in autoimmune conditions. 

Home-delivered meals that use whole grains, olive oil, lean proteins, and plant-forward meals support a Mediterranean diet. Healthy ingredients in Mediterranean meals make it easier for you to manage weight, neurological conditions, chronic diseases, and recovery from or reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Elimination and Autoimmune Protocol Diets (AIP)

The AIP diet helps identify food triggers by removing and reintroducing certain foods to determine which foods may cause adverse reactions. 

Some of the foods commonly eliminated to check for inflammatory response include: 

• Gluten
• Dairy products
• Processed foods
• Nightshade vegetables

After eliminating a specific food, you monitor to determine if any health symptoms or side effects change before reintroducing it into the diet. You should also monitor after reintroducing the food in case you notice any changes to inflammatory responses.

A few potential benefits of using an elimination and AIP diet if you have rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, or other conditions include: 

• Improved gut health
• Reduced fatigue
• Fewer or less severe symptoms
• Reduced inflammation 
• Improved pain management 
• Increased quality of life

LifeSpring Home Nutrition supports AIP and elimination diets by providing a wide range of meal options, allowing you to easily remove and reintroduce various foods into your diet.

Specific Nutrients and Foods That Support Autoimmune Health

The specific type of autoimmune issue you experience will impact how diet affects your symptoms and overall wellness.

However, some foods provide relief from inflammation and other common health problems experienced by people with autoimmune conditions. Fatty acids, fermented foods, antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients support autoimmune health.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Joint Pain Relief

Many nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to reduce joint stiffness and inflammation in autoimmune conditions.

The most common sources of omega-3s include fatty fish, chia seeds, and flaxseeds. Introducing meals with omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the cytokine activity that contributes to inflammation.

Fermented Foods and the Gut Microbiome

A healthy gut microbiome supports immune regulation and reduces autoimmune flare-ups. 

Some popular fermented foods include:

• Sauerkraut
• Probiotic yogurt
• Kefir
• Kimchi

According to Nutrients, “The human gut microbiome has received much attention in recent years, with increasing evidence that it impacts both physical and mental health and that many metabolic disorders are associated with disruption to the gut microbiome.”

Fermented foods also reduce the risk of leaky gut syndrome (LGS), a condition that causes a breakdown in the intestinal lining.

Antioxidants and Whole Foods for Inflammation Control

Nutrients like antioxidants combat oxidative stress, a key driver in autoimmune disease progression. 

Common sources of antioxidants include: 

• Berries
• Leafy greens
• Green tea
• Colorful vegetables
• How 

LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers meals high in antioxidants. Foods with antioxidants improve immune resilience.

Common Dietary Triggers to Limit or Avoid

Your primary care doctor or another health professional may provide dietary guidelines for foods to avoid. 

Eliminating certain foods from your diet may provide beneficial effects by helping you manage chronic conditions more easily. Healthcare professionals use evidence-based interventions and nutritional education to help you replace dietary dysfunction with healthy alternatives, including medically tailored meals from home-delivery services.

Processed Foods and Autoimmune Symptoms

Highly processed foods can worsen inflammation and trigger symptom flares. 

Fast food, refined sugars, processed meats, and any ultra-processed foods have the potential to cause an increase in autoimmune symptoms. Western diet patterns have been linked through randomized trials and systematic reviews to increased autoimmune risk.

According to Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, “In particular, nutritional patterns collectively termed the ‘Western diet’, including high-fat and cholesterol, high-protein, high-sugar, and excess salt intake, as well as frequent consumption of processed and ‘fast foods’, [. . .] gained high interest as possible promoters of autoimmune diseases.”

LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers low-sodium and low-fat foods. The reduced sugar content and lean meats also increase overall health.

Gluten and Celiac Disease

Diet impacts how an autoimmune disease manifests.

Gluten can trigger severe immune reactions in those with celiac disease and may affect other autoimmune conditions. If you have a gluten sensitivity, gluten-free diets can help you manage your condition.

LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers gluten-free meal options to ensure you have access to nutritious meals that avoid ingredients that affect celiac disease. Gluten-friendly options make it easy to adjust your weekly meals to meet your specialized dietary needs.

Dairy Products and Inflammatory Responses

Some people with autoimmune conditions may experience flare-ups after consuming dairy products. 

A few alternative options include: 

• Almond milk
• Oat milk
• Coconut-based products
• Soy milk 

Removing dairy can significantly improve symptoms for individuals with dairy sensitivities. However, whole milk and dairy products have many helpful nutrients, and if you do not have milk sensitivities, drinking milk should not exacerbate your condition.

According to Advances in Nutrition, research has shown that “dairy foods do not increase concentrations of biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation.”

How LifeSpring Home Nutrition Supports Autoimmune Wellness

LifeSpring Home Nutrition encourages people to follow a healthy diet that supports autoimmune wellness.

Medically tailored meals and other food options can reduce inflammation and other common symptoms of conditions impacting the immune system by reducing foods that exacerbate symptoms and increasing foods that support immune system health.

Convenient, Healthy Meal Delivery Tailored to Your Needs

Frozen, nutritionally balanced meals are designed to fit your lifestyle — not the other way around. Meal options align with anti-inflammatory principles.

You can use weekly meal deliveries from LifeSpring Home Nutrition to support dietary flexibility for reintroduction or elimination diets. Convenient meals reduce food waste and give you something tasty to look forward to throughout your week. The easy heat-and-eat instructions allow you to have nutrient-rich meals whenever you want.

Supporting Every Stage of Your Autoimmune Journey

Whether you are newly diagnosed or managing symptoms long-term, nutrition plays a vital role.

Meals can aid in recovery during flare-ups, decreasing how long it takes before you feel back to normal. LifeSpring Home Nutrition also offers nutritional options for active lifestyles and work schedules, ensuring you always have the type of food you need to feel energized and healthy.

Preserving Dignity and Choice in Meal Planning

Home-delivered meals make weekly meal planning easy as you develop strategies for boosting your immune health. 

The ability to choose what you eat and when can significantly improve mental health and mood.

Having control over your meals supports both physical and emotional well-being by providing the following:

• Autonomy through menu variety
• Reduced stress around food preparation
• Improved relationship with food 

LifeSpring Home Nutrition believes in offering people the dignity of choice. You deserve to have the final day on what type of food you eat and when. Dietary autonomy can give you a greater sense of control over chronic conditions impacting your daily life.

Tips for Managing Autoimmune Conditions Through Nutrition

You can manage autoimmune diseases through nutrition and lifestyle changes under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

LifeSpring Home Nutrition provides communities with education and information about how to access nutritional support services.

Some of the risk factors for worsening autoimmune conditions include: 

• Obesity 
• Eating foods high in saturated fat
• Ultra-processed foods that have additives like sugar 
• Processed meat products 
• Environmental factors 
• High-fat diets
• Unhealthy dietary patterns
• Using unregulated dietary supplements without the oversight of a medical professional 

LifeSpring Home Nutrition helps you follow an autoimmune protocol diet. The online catalogue of meals includes immune-boosting dishes that support a healthy gut microbiota and reduce the risk of health complications. You can choose from a range of anti-inflammatory foods that help you manage the symptoms and side effects of autoimmune conditions.

Work With a Dietitian or Nutrition Expert

A trained dietitian can help tailor a plan to your specific autoimmune needs.

LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers people an opportunity to speak with an RD certified in providing nutritional education and advice. You can regularly check in with a dietitian or other medical expert to ensure your diet continues to support immune health.

Keep a Food and Symptom Journal

Everyone has different food triggers and sensitivities that impact their chronic diseases. 

Tracking what you eat and how you feel helps identify personal triggers. Keeping a physical or digital food and symptom journal can help you track foods that you may want to eliminate from your diet.

Focus on Balance, Not Perfection

Dietary changes rarely all happen at once or overnight. 

Small, consistent changes can have lasting benefits for autoimmune health. Focusing on a balanced approach to diet instead of trying to make every meal “perfect” reduces stress and allows you to feel more comfortable trying new foods.

Frequently Asked Questions About Autoimmune Nutrition

Below are some common questions people ask about autoimmune nutrition and the immune-boosting meals provided by LifeSpring Home Nutrition. 

Can diet cure autoimmune diseases?

No, but it can help manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

Many factors impact the development and management of autoimmune diseases. Meal delivery services can provide meal options that allow you to reduce the severity of symptoms, promoting better overall health.

Are frozen meals healthy for autoimmune diets?

Yes. When frozen meals are balanced, nutrient-rich, and free of common triggers, they provide a healthy source of immune system support.

Flash freezing food traps in nutrients and ensures each meal will taste delicious and offer you a balance of essential vitamins and minerals. The flexibility of frozen meals also offers you a convenient addition to your weekly diet, allowing you to reheat them at your convenience.

Do supplements help with autoimmune disorders?

Certain supplements can be beneficial when dealing with autoimmune disorders, but should be used under professional guidance.

Using supplements without the guidance of a medical professional may lead to serious health issues. You can work with a dietician, nutritionist, or other healthcare professional to determine if supplements will improve your health.

If you live with chronic autoimmune conditions, it can impact your diet and overall health. LifeSpring Home Nutrition can help you manage your condition through medically tailored and immune-boosting meals. To learn more about how to receive weekly meal delivery services, contact our office today by calling (800) 798-5767.