Take 20: Health Podcast Series | EP01: Understanding Autoimmunity | Samantha & Alkesh

Summary

In this wellness-focused podcast, the hosts discuss the rising prevalence of autoimmune conditions linked to modern lifestyles and environmental toxins. They emphasize the importance of understanding autoimmunity and offer practical advice on reducing toxin intake, such as adopting a clean diet, filtering water, and using clean cosmetics. The conversation also touches on the significance of stress management and the role of sleep in supporting the body's natural detoxification processes. The episode concludes with a teaser for the next segment, which will delve deeper into detox pathways beyond popular diet trends.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Autoimmunity is a widespread condition linked to modern lifestyles and the high levels of environmental toxins we encounter daily.
• 🛡️ The immune system's role in autoimmunity is to protect us from pathogens, but it sometimes mistakenly attacks our own healthy tissues.
• 📈 There has been an exponential increase in autoimmune conditions, surpassing the number of cases for diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.
• 🔄 Autoimmunity occurs when there's an imbalance between the toxic input and the body's detoxification output.
• 🍽️ To reduce toxin input, adopt a clean diet that minimizes processed foods and focuses on whole, fresh ingredients.
• 💧 Filter your water to ensure it's free from contaminants, and consider remineralizing it with natural salts for added health benefits.
• 🧴 Be mindful of the products you use, including cosmetics and deodorants, and opt for those with clean, non-toxic ingredients.
• 💤 Prioritize good sleep as it's crucial for the body's detoxification processes and overall health.
• 🧘‍♂️ Manage stress by setting aside time for relaxation and activities you enjoy, as stress can contribute to the onset of autoimmune conditions.
• 🏃‍♀️ Engage in regular physical activity to support the body's detox pathways and improve overall well-being.
• 🔄 Understanding and supporting the body's natural detox pathways, such as the lymphatic system and the functions of the liver and kidneys, is key to managing autoimmunity.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'Take 20' wellness content series?

The 'Take 20' series focuses on providing high-quality wellness content that is relatable and applicable to everyday life, based on years of research and experience to help people navigate their lives better.

What is autoimmunity and why is it important for everyone to understand it?

Autoimmunity is a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues. It's important for everyone to understand because it's not exclusive to certain people and is often related to modern lifestyles and environmental toxins.

What are some common autoimmune disorders mentioned in the script?

Some common autoimmune disorders mentioned are rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Why has there been a steep rise in autoimmune conditions?

The rise in autoimmune conditions is largely attributed to modern lifestyles, including the high amount of environmental toxins in day-to-day life, which disrupts the balance between toxic input and detox output within the body.

What is the relationship between sleep and the body's detoxification process?

Most of the body's detoxification happens during sleep, particularly when we are in the 'rest and digest' phase. Good, sound sleep is crucial for the body's ability to detoxify waste products from chemical processes.

What are some simple and inexpensive ways to reduce the risk of developing an autoimmune condition?

Three simple ways include eating a clean diet with minimally processed foods, filtering water to remove toxins, and ensuring good sleep quality to support the body's natural detox pathways.

Why is reducing toxin input and facilitating detoxification pathways key to managing autoimmunity?

Reducing toxin input and facilitating detoxification pathways help balance the body's internal environment, preventing the immune system from attacking healthy tissues due to an overload of toxins.

How does stress impact the body's ability to detoxify?

Stress can keep the body in a 'fight or flight' mode, which can interfere with the 'rest and digest' phase necessary for detoxification. High stress levels can also lead to poor sleep, further hindering the detox process.

What misconception exists in the market about clean products, and what is the reality?

The misconception is that clean products are expensive. However, the reality is that good, clean products can be reasonably priced and are not necessarily costly.

How does physical movement support the body's detoxification process?

Physical movement and sweating help the body get rid of toxins and support the detox pathways, contributing to overall health and potentially reducing the risk of autoimmune conditions.

What is the significance of having a good headspace before sleep and how can it be achieved?

A good headspace before sleep is important for entering the 'rest and digest' phase, which aids in detoxification. It can be achieved by spending quality time with loved ones, engaging in relaxing activities, and reducing exposure to stressors before bedtime.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 The Modern Plague of Autoimmunity

This paragraph introduces the concept of autoimmunity as a widespread issue deeply rooted in modern lifestyles and environmental toxins. It emphasizes the importance of understanding autoimmunity, which is not exclusive to certain individuals but can affect many unknowingly. The speaker, a wellness professional named Alkes, discusses the rise in autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which are now more prevalent than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined. The paragraph also highlights the importance of reducing toxin exposure and facilitating the body's natural detoxification pathways as a means to prevent autoimmunity.

05:02

🛑 Managing Autoimmunity Through Lifestyle Adjustments

The second paragraph delves into the challenges of managing autoimmunity in the face of an unavoidable 'modern curse' of environmental toxins. It suggests that the key to prevention lies in reducing toxic input and supporting the body's detoxification processes. The speaker refutes the misconception that detoxification requires drastic measures or is limited to short-term dietary changes. Instead, the focus should be on facilitating the body's inherent detox pathways, such as through proper sleep, which is crucial for the body's rest and digest phase, and reducing stress, which can hinder the body's ability to detoxify effectively.

10:04

🍽️ Three Simple Steps to Prevent Autoimmunity

In this paragraph, the discussion turns to practical advice on how to prevent autoimmunity. The speaker outlines three simple and inexpensive steps: eating a clean diet with minimally processed foods, filtering water to ensure its purity, and using clean ingredients in personal care products. The importance of not just physical but also mental detoxification is emphasized, suggesting that taking time to destress and engage in activities that bring joy can support overall health and help prevent the onset of autoimmune conditions.

15:05

💤 The Importance of Sleep and Movement for Autoimmune Health

The final paragraph underscores the significance of sleep and physical movement in maintaining health and preventing autoimmune disorders. It explains that quality sleep is vital for the body's detoxification process, as the rest and digest phase is activated during rest. The paragraph also touches on the societal pressures that prioritize work over well-being and how this can contribute to the rise of autoimmune conditions. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about the onset of their autoimmune condition following a period of extreme stress, highlighting the interconnectedness of mental and physical health.

Keywords

💡Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity refers to a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the rise of autoimmune disorders and their relation to modern lifestyles. The script mentions common autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, emphasizing the importance of understanding autoimmunity to prevent such conditions.

💡Environmental Toxins

Environmental toxins are harmful substances in the surroundings that can negatively impact health. In the context of the video, they are identified as a significant factor contributing to the rise in autoimmune conditions due to their prevalence in modern life, including in cookware, cosmetics, clothing, and air quality. The script suggests that the high level of these toxins is a 'modern curse' that the body struggles to detoxify effectively.

💡Detoxification

Detoxification, or detox, is the body's process of eliminating toxins to maintain health. The video emphasizes the importance of supporting the body's natural detox pathways, such as the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system, rather than relying on external detox programs. It is suggested that facilitating detoxification can help prevent or manage autoimmune conditions by reducing the toxic load on the body.

💡Toxic Load

Toxic load refers to the total burden of toxins an individual carries, which can impact health when imbalanced with the body's detoxification capacity. The script discusses the concept of toxic load in relation to the rise of autoimmune diseases, suggesting that modern lifestyles have increased this load beyond what the body can effectively process and eliminate.

💡Wellness

Wellness is a state of being in good health, both physically and mentally. The video, under the 'Take 20' initiative, aims to provide wellness-related content to help viewers improve their everyday life. Wellness is a key concept as it encompasses the various aspects of health discussed, including nutrition, fitness, mental health, and strategies to prevent or manage autoimmune conditions.

💡Inflammation

Inflammation is the body's natural response to harmful stimuli, but chronic inflammation can lead to various health issues, including autoimmune diseases. The script mentions that while medication can reduce inflammation, addressing the root cause of the imbalance between toxin input and detox output is crucial for long-term management of autoimmune conditions.

💡Stress

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to demanding or threatening situations. The video links stress to the rise in autoimmune conditions, as high stress levels can disrupt sleep and the body's detoxification processes. It suggests that managing stress through relaxation and self-care is important for preventing or mitigating autoimmune disorders.

💡Nutrition

Nutrition refers to the process of consuming and utilizing nutrients for growth, maintenance, and overall health. The script emphasizes the importance of a clean diet, which consists of minimally processed foods, to reduce the toxic input into the body. It suggests that understanding how different foods affect one's body is crucial for preventing autoimmune conditions.

💡Sleep

Sleep is a natural state of rest for the mind and body, essential for health and well-being. The video highlights the role of sleep in the body's detoxification processes, stating that good, restful sleep is vital for overall health. It also suggests that poor sleep quality can contribute to the rise of autoimmune conditions by hindering the body's ability to detoxify.

💡Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is a network of organs and vessels that help rid the body of toxins, waste, and excess fluid. In the script, it is mentioned as one of the body's natural detox pathways that can be supported to prevent or manage autoimmune conditions. The importance of keeping this system healthy is underscored as part of the overall wellness approach.

💡Remission

Remission refers to a period during which the symptoms of a disease have decreased or disappeared, although the disease may not be entirely cured. The video discusses the challenges of achieving long-term remission from autoimmune conditions through medication alone, without addressing the underlying imbalance of toxin input and detox output.

Highlights

Autoimmunity is a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues.

The rise in autoimmune conditions is linked to modern lifestyles and environmental toxins.

Autoimmunity is not exclusive to certain individuals and can affect anyone.

Common autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Autoimmune conditions are diagnosed through specific antibodies detected in blood work.

The increase in autoimmune cases is attributed to an imbalance between toxic input and detox output in the body.

Environmental toxins are prevalent in cookware, cosmetics, clothing, and the air we breathe.

Reducing toxin load and facilitating the body's detoxification pathways are key to managing autoimmunity.

Detoxification in the body occurs naturally through mechanisms like sweating and the lymphatic system.

Medicinal treatments for autoimmunity may not address the root cause if the toxic load is not managed.

Stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet contribute to the rise in autoimmune conditions.

Good sleep is crucial for the body's detoxification process.

A clean diet, free from processed foods, can help reduce the toxin input into the body.

Filtered water is essential for removing harmful substances and providing necessary minerals.

Choosing clean ingredients in products like deodorants and cosmetics can reduce exposure to toxins.

Stress management and self-care are vital for maintaining a healthy immune system.

Physical activity supports the body's detox pathways and mental well-being.

The importance of understanding and managing autoimmunity for long-term health.

Transcripts

autoimmunity is I think something that

everyone should have an understanding of

because autoimmunity is not exclusively

a disease that you know certain people

go through most of it has to do with the

modern Lifestyles the amount of

environmental toxins that we have in our

day-to-day life is very high it's just a

modern curse that we have for a lack of

a better term what would be the three

things simple basic things inexpensive

things that they can do to prevent this

issue hi everyone welcome to take 20

take 20 is our effort to bring you high

quality Wellness related content that

you can relate to and apply to your

everyday life now this content is based

on years of research and experience and

is meant to help you navigate your life

better I've known alkes for a while now

we've been working closely for the last

two years and the things that I have

learned in this span of time I wish I

had known before I also believe that

this information should be available to

all everyone should have an access to

and an understanding of this information

to like help us better control our lives

so join me as we learn explore and make

our lives

better thank you so much for this

introduction Sam so let me just start by

introducing myself I ales I'm a wellness

professional based out of toono

just by the virtue of the clients that I

have they are famous and they are

celebrated for the kind of work that

they do my body of work involves

coaching people in the realm of

nutrition fitness and health and also

counseling people in the field of uh

mental emotional and spiritual

well-being as a good fortune I have had

the opportunity to work with you for

over the past 2 years and be a part of

this uh journey and I'm really looking

forward to sharing the insights that we

learned

over the past 2 years and can't wait to

get started with this okay so I I think

the elephant in the room for us the

biggest topic that we have been closely

working on is autoimmunity so let's like

dive straight in and I would like to ask

you what is

autoimmunity yeah autoimmunity is I

think something that everyone should

have an understanding of because

autoimmunity is not exclusive ly a

disease that you know certain people go

through many people go in and out of

Auto immunity but they do not realize it

so autoimmunity just to explain it in

simple terms would be our immune

function is uh supposed to protect us

from bacterial viral pathogens but many

of times what happens is that our immune

system ends up attacking the own our own

healthy tissues that we

have and in my recent experience as a

coach most of the clients uh that

approach me have been going through the

same and you know these are very common

disorders like rheumatoid arthritis

irritable bowel disease lupus multiple

sclerosis that that are very commonly

detected in the blood work that we get

there are specific antibodies that can

be detected in the blood work and if

they're elevated then it would qualify

you having an autoimmune condition and

it's on the rise so yeah I was actually

quite surprised to know that the number

of autoimmune cases has expon have

exponentially increased and the number

of cases are

actually cancer patients heart disease

diabetes put together is now the cases

of autoimmune conditions and why do you

think that there is such a steep rise in

this disease it's not really a disease

it's a condition yeah most of it has to

do with the modern Lifestyles that we

are living now

but in order to understand that we need

to understand why autoimmunity happens

at the first place so to immunity

happens when the balance between the

toxic input and the detox output within

the body is off and the kind of

lifestyle that we Le now the amount of

environmental toxins that we have in our

day-to-day life is very high it's in the

cookware that we use it's in the

Cosmetics that we use it's in the kind

of clothes that we wear it's in the kind

of air that we breathe so it's just a

modern curse that we have for a lack of

a better term that the amount of

environmental toxins that we have has

been higher than ever so let's just say

if we were living in a time where it's

50 years ago from now the environmental

toxin around us would be would be much

less and most of the people who go

through an autoimmune condition are at a

stage where the input is quite High of

the Toxin and they are not able to detox

that at the at the same rate So when you

say the toxic load right now let's be

honest we can't control that yeah it it

just is quite impossible as you said

it's a modern curse we cannot avoid it

so but what what does one do I know that

I have have been sitting and checking

ingredients putting air purifiers doing

just incredibly drastic measures to

counter my condition but that's not

practical for everyone so we really need

to what would you say uh the smallest

and the easiest things that one could do

to prevent such a

problem yeah I think managing

autoimmunity is basically The Art of

Doing less and which which none of us

are aware of and which we are completely

against it like the youth and the young

we are about the hustle culture yeah so

what you're saying is exactly opposite

of that yeah yeah and when I talk about

the toxic in input versus the teox

output so we have to reduce the to toxin

load that we have and we have to

facilitate the body's detoxification

Pathways that there are and when I use

the word detox our mind immediately goes

towards green juices and all the 12 week

thing 12 day challenges it's none of

that our bodies have inbu detox Pathways

like selting is one of those we have the

lymphatic system within us our organs

like liver and kidney do it on a regular

basis and if we focus on doing more

things that will facilitate that and

doing less things which will get us uh

less toxin load I think that is the key

to managing

autoimmunity at this point in time and

also that's also the reason why many

people don't get a long-term

remission while going the medicinal

route right because you can take

medicines to cut the inflammation down

but if you're not fixing the things that

is causing this imbalance of toxin input

versus detox output then it's always

going to be an ongoing process that and

you're G going to take medicines in

order to get the inflammation down so

the reason I wanted to do this with you

this this podcast was because I really

bu after the experience that the

harrowing experience that I've been

through and well an autoimmune condition

is lifelong so with what I'm dealing

with right now as well i' rather people

be safe than sorry so there are many

people who most people who believe that

I'm healthy I eat well I have great

jeans this can't happen to me I am

guilty of being one of those people

because I worked out I woke up early I

laughed a lot I ate ate healthy I worked

out crazy yeah so what would you say

tell people who think that they are

above this or Beyond this and this

cannot possibly happen to them yeah more

than thinking that this will not happen

to them if you have a biological body

then this is going to happen to you

because our body is at a continuous

state of processing things and when it

processes things that chemical process

has some waste products and the body has

to detoxify those waste products that's

how the human body works I can

understand where that thought comes from

because this is not something that you

realize immediately the effects of this

are not immediately realized but this

happens over a long duration of time

because it requires a certain degree of

buildup and when the body reaches the

threshold of that Builder body goes into

something called a threat response and

and it's a aftermath of the threat

response that body realizes a threat

within itself and that's the reason

immune system attacks the healthy cells

that you have because it launches a

systemwide attack and it's not the fault

of immune system here your immune system

is trying to protect you from the

buildup that there is but the way in

which it's doing that is causing us more

harm than good at this point in time so

would you say an extremely stressful

lifestyle bad eating habits and

prioritizing work

career could be why these conditions are

also on the rise the extreme amount of

stress yeah all the things that you

mentioned right now will contribute

towards that so most of the detox of the

body happens when we are

asleep and if one has a good sound sleep

most of the things in from that

perspective are taken care of but

nowadays and we all know how important

sleep is for us and now nowadays it's

like it's like a boon to have a good

sound restful

sleep um because people who can't sleep

right now are just banging their

heads I feel you I feel you yeah because

our mind is usually dwindling between

two phases one is fight and flight the

other one is rest and digest and when we

are asleep the rest and digest phase

kicks in and that's when most of this

process takes place but if we are always

forward looking towards our work our

stress levels are high body can't

differentiate between an actual threat

and a perceived threat so when the body

is in fight and flight mode even if

you're physically asleep your mind will

be constantly engaged in some thought or

the other also there is something quite

rewarding if we are hustling towards

work it is considered to be as

professional yeah and Society rewards

that yes but in the longer term that

does come back and you know cause all

this so it's all inter related this so

all the things that you talked about

does contribute to this for sure yes

okay I remember

specifically the year before I had this

problem that this problem arose it was

an extremely difficult year for me and I

remember I specifically remember the day

that I think my friend/ partner SL

manager himank and I we were traveling

back from Mumbai and I and this was in

June of the year before the last and I

remember telling him that that finally I

feel calm I haven't felt a little

relaxed that and little calm in in a

very very long time and I finally feel

like I can breathe and I can go to sleep

and I can now wake up and focus on my

work and be the best that I can be at

work and I woke up with this condition

um all your friends would really want to

know the journey you have taken and what

all the things that you have done

because I think it was a really really

Brave step that you took at that point

in time and I think that is something

that should be out and people should

know about it for sure right go like

yeah I will get into that but before

that while we end this first episode

what would be the the three things that

you would ask people to do simple basic

things inexpensive things that they can

do

to prevent this issue yeah so if I were

to have three takeaways uh that one

should be doing in order to prevent this

is number one is to reduce the toxin

input that we have talked about and that

can be in multiple ways number one is to

eat a very clean diet you mean not

processed foods when you say that

nothing from a tin from a pack packet

from a plastic bottle are you saying

that like fresh fresh food freshly

cooked at home is that what you would

say yeah so clean food would be the food

that is minimally processed or you have

the food in its more primitive form then

I think it's going to be a better

Prospect for you over a period of time I

have realized that a Clean Diet look

different for different PE people yeah

if a food you eat is making you feel

gassy if making you feel bloated if it's

making you have acid reflux then the

food is not right for you because that

is causing your gut to be irritated so

stay away from that that kind kind of

food that's uh number one filter your

water for sure this is something that is

very very important was very very

important for me to to drink only

filtered water yeah is that reverse

osmosis uh to to have that and carry a

bottle with you as as childish as as it

may look but it is of it is very very

important to drink good

water yeah for sure and we can't

emphasize much on how much how precious

reverse osmosis water can be for your

and if you have the choice if you

remineralize it by using ancient salt or

just Himalayan pink salt and consume it

that will be really really nice would

you say that just once in your bottle

put Himalayan pink salt or all through

the day put a pinch of Himalayan pink

salt so let's just say if you have a 1

liter of water if you just put one pinch

or even less than like 1/4 teaspoon and

have your water it will be a better

Prospect because reverse osmosis strips

the water out of all everything that it

has and that would include minerals too

and traditionally if you drink spring

water if you can have fresh spring water

that's nice but we have an understanding

not everyone can have that yeah so just

remineralizing your water would a great

deal

yeah also the kind of uh products that

we use the kind of deod that we use the

kind of Cosmetics that we

use try to look for clean ingredients

and there is this huge misconception in

the market that a clean product would be

an expensive product Oh my God I'm

guilty yeah of of of thinking that I

think that we all think that that if

it's if it's expensive they must

be they must be looking after us but I

was very very wrong yeah yeah so that's

certainly not not the case and and also

good things in life are not very

expensive that they are pretty they

might not be cheap but they're very

reasonable for sure and and apart from

that being in a good head space always

if you are stressed take time to

distress your yourself I'm not asking to

leave your profession and do anything if

you have 14 hours in a day where you're

away and if you're wired for 12 hours at

least give those two hours to yourself

spend time with friends spend with

family unwind do things di that you love

that's another important thing and

stagnancy is the biggest culprit of an

autoimmune condition because if you are

not moving and if you are stagnant you

kind of hamper the detox Pathways that

the body has and moving and sweating

kind of helps you to get rid of a lot of

things and it also does a lot of things

for you mentally as well so if you were

to ask me what are the two biggest

things you know I don't can't do

anything what are the two biggest things

that I should be doing is to sleep sound

sleep in a way that your brain is not

wired so if you're wanting to spend

quality time with friends and family do

that before you sleep so that you sleep

in a good head space that's number one

and number two is when you wake up or

any other time in the day move the more

you move the more things flow through

your body and the more you support the

detox pathes that you have and that will

be a key to managing an autoimmune

disorder for sure more about detox

Pathways in our next segment uh I would

like to know more in detail about the

different detox Pathways and uh because

you just completely dissed all of the

fat diets and said that there is more to

detox so that's something that I would

like to discuss about in our next

segment

[Music]

yeah