Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to maximizing autoimmune health through the

paleo-autoimmune protocol and functional medicine. While there is no cure for autoimmune disease,

the choices we make every day can have a powerful impact on how we feel. I'm Eileen Laird, your host from

PhoenixHelix.com, and I reduced my rheumatoid arthritis pain by 95%, which took me from a life of

excruciating pain and disability back to a full and beautiful life. A short disclaimer, I'm neither a

doctor nor a nutritionist and the opinions expressed here are personal. Always consult with

your health care team before making

medical decisions. Now let's get on to the show. Welcome to Episode 178.

Our topic today is racial trauma and autoimmune disease.

People with the history of trauma are more likely to develop autoimmune disease

and to experience more severe symptoms as well.

We explored this connection in detail in episode 108 of this podcast. Today, we're going to be

talking about racial trauma. One of the ways it's unique is that it's ongoing. It's not an event

from the past that is now over. It's something experienced repeatedly in

unpredictable ways. And over the past year, a number of listeners have reached out to me to share

their experiences. Racial trauma isn't new, but it has been amplified during the pandemic.

One woman who reached out to me is Chinese American, and one of her greatest pleasures is running.

It's a form of meditation for her, but due to the rise in anti-Asian violence, it suddenly

felt unsafe. She was accosted herself while running. Another woman told me her story of ending up

in the hospital for the first time with a severe autoimmune flare. She's a black

woman who had been managing her condition well, but seeing multiple videos of black people being

killed filled her with fear and anxiety. That led to intense inflammation and autoimmune activity

...