The Root Cause of Autoimmune Conditions (And Why Women Are Most Affected)

Autoimmune conditions are on the rise — and what many people don't realize is that they're not random. They are often the result of underlying imbalances in the body. In this episode of Health Hacks, Dr. Jeni St. Onge and Tara Peterson break down why autoimmune conditions happen, why women are disproportionately affected, and what a root-cause approach to healing may look like.

Approximately 80% of people with autoimmune conditions are women — and that's not a coincidence. Estrogen, hormonal shifts during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, and genetic factors all play a role in immune dysregulation. Add in gut health issues, environmental exposures, and chronic stress, and the picture becomes clearer.

Dr. Jeni explains how functional medicine approaches autoimmune conditions differently — looking at gut permeability, inflammation, hormones, and nutrient deficiencies rather than simply managing symptoms with medication.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why autoimmune conditions are not random — and what may be driving them
• Why women make up approximately 80% of autoimmune diagnoses
• The role of gut health, leaky gut, and dysbiosis in immune dysfunction
• How environmental toxins and chronic stress may trigger immune responses
• What a functional medicine approach to autoimmune healing looks like

Ready to explore what's really driving your symptoms?
Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Jeni at Thrive Chiropractic & Functional Health in Branson, MO:
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