Childhood Autoimmunity Is On The Rise And Toxins Might Be To Blame

Dec 4

Childhood autoimmunity is undeniably on the rise – with autoimmune disease diagnoses increasing at breakneck speeds over the last few decades.1 This rapid climb in autoimmune diseases begs the question – what role does our modern-day environment play in this intricate dance of immune dysfunction?

The answer to that question is – quite a bit. As it turns out, our increasingly toxic modern environments might just be one of the key factors triggering this concerning spike in childhood autoimmunity. So let’s dive into exactly how these troublesome toxins can possibly disrupt your little one's immune system to the point of triggering autoimmunity.

Childhood Autoimmunity Defined: What Exactly Are Autoimmune Diseases In Children?

Your little ones' immune system is their body’s built-in defense mechanism – always standing guard to protect them from bad guys (like bacteria, viruses, and other invaders that want to make them sick). Now, normally, their immune system has no problem differentiating between the “bad guys” and the “good guys” – i.e. their own healthy cells and tissues.

But in autoimmune diseases, their tiny immune system gets a little confused. Instead of just going after the bad stuff, like viruses and bacteria, it starts attacking their own healthy cells and tissues. It's like their immune system becomes a bit of a detective with a faulty magnifying glass, mistaking friends for foes.

Exactly what happens when the immune system begins mistakenly attacking your child's own body can vary greatly depending on what kind of tissues your immune system decides to target. So let’s zoom in on some of the more common childhood autoimmune conditions.

Common Autoimmune Diseases In Children

Some commonly diagnosed autoimmune diseases in children include:2,3

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): This is a group of chronic inflammatory joint conditions that affect children under the age of 16. It includes several subtypes, such as oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic arthritis.
Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to insulin deficiency.
Celiac Disease: An autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten, causing damage to the small intestine. Children with celiac disease must adhere to a gluten-free diet.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, and other internal organs.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: This autoimmune disorder targets the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and eventual hypothyroidism.
Graves' Disease: Another thyroid-related autoimmune disease, Graves' disease causes the overproduction of thyroid hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Addison's Disease: This autoimmune condition targetw the adrenal glands, leading to hormonal deficiencies, fatigue, weight loss, and skin pigmentation changes.
Autoimmune Hepatitis: An autoimmune attack on the liver causing inflammation, potentially progressing to cirrhosis; symptoms include jaundice, abdominal discomfort, and fatigue.
Scleroderma: A rare autoimmune disease affecting connective tissues, leading to skin tightening, joint pain, and, in systemic cases, potential organ damage.

So what on earth can cause your child's immune system to go haywire and begin attacking their body in the first place?

What Can Trigger An Autoimmune Disease In Kids?

The exact causes of autoimmunity are not fully understood. But it’s speculated that there are a multitude of underlying factors that come together to set the stage for the development of autoimmunity. Some of these potential underlying factors include:4,5,6,7,8,9

Genetics: Your genes are like the instruction manual that tell your cells how to operate. So certain genetic codes can potentially increase your childs susceptibility to developing autoimmunity.
Epigenetic changes: Your genes might be the instruction manual, but epigenetic changes can dictate whether not certain genes are turned on or expressed. Lifestyle factors can influence whether or not certain genes are turned on or off – ultimately impacting whether or not autoimmunity develops.
Hidden infections: Sometimes, invading pathogens can essentially “hide out” in the body – triggering low-level inflammation and immune activation. Over time this can tire and deplete the immune system –making it more likely to make mistakes and spiral into an autoimmune response. For example, viral infections like Epstein-Barr virus have been linked to the onset of some autoimmune diseases.
Hormones: Hormonal changes can influence the immune system and contribute to autoimmunity.
Immune system dysfunction: Problems with the immune system's regulatory mechanisms can lead to autoimmunity. Normally, the immune system can differentiate between self and non-self, but in autoimmune diseases, this discrimination can break down.
Leaky gut syndrome: The gut plays a monumental role in keeping the immune system balanced. You see, your gut is designed to stay sealed up tight – keeping germs, toxins, and waste locked up to be removed when you go to the bathroom while selectively letting nutrients pass into your bloodstream. If this barrier is compromised, these unsavory substances can make their way into your little ones' bloodstream and overwhelm their immune system – which can contribute to autoimmunity.
Gut dysbiosis: The gut barrier isn’t the only part of the gut that plays a role in the immune system. The microbiome – or the microbes that reside in your child's gut – interacts with their immune cells to orchestrate their immune response. When this delicate balance gets thrown out of whack, it can throw their immune system off-kilter.
Stress: Chronic stress can affect the immune system and may play a role in triggering or exacerbating autoimmune diseases. That’s because stress triggers the release of hormones that cause your body to essentially get stuck in “fight or flight” mode – which subsequently suppresses the immune system. Over time this can disrupt the balance of your childs immune response.
Diet and lifestyle: Diet and lifestyle choices can have a major impact on autoimmunity. That’s because lifestyle affects all of the other underlying triggers – like genetic expression, gut health, stress levels, and so on, and so forth.

But there’s another heavy-hitting underlying factor that’s often overlooked – your child's exposure to toxins in their everyday environment.

What Are Toxins?

Toxins, also known as environmental toxins, are harmful substances that can have adverse effects on living organisms – including humans. These toxins can come from various sources and may be natural or man-made. Common environmental toxins include:

Air Pollutants: Harmful gasses, particulate matter, and chemicals released from industrial processes, transportation, and natural sources like wildfires.
Water Contaminants: Chemical pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial agents that can contaminate water sources, including drinking water.
Pesticides and Herbicides: Chemicals used in agriculture to control pests and weeds that can have negative effects on the environment and human health.
Heavy Metals: Elements like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can contaminate soil, water, and food sources.
Industrial Chemicals: Various chemicals used in manufacturing processes, such as solvents, plastics, and hazardous waste.
Mold and Fungal Toxins: Certain molds produce mycotoxins that can be harmful if ingested or inhaled.
Food Additives and Contaminants: Synthetic additives, preservatives, and contaminants in food products.
Household Chemicals: Cleaning products, paints, and other household items that may contain harmful chemicals.
Radiation: Exposure to ionizing radiation from sources like nuclear power plants, X-rays, radioactive materials, and even EMFs.
Pharmaceuticals: Improper disposal or excretion of medications can lead to trace pharmaceutical contamination in water supplies.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to toxins. There are quite literally tens of thousands of different toxins floating around in our environment. And thanks to lax regulations and loopholes in policies, our world is becoming more and more toxic all the time.

So how exactly can exposure to these chemicals and toxins trigger autoimmunity?

How Can Toxins and Chemicals Trigger Autoimmunity In Children?

The problem with elevated and continuous exposure to these toxins in our environment is that they don’t just create one issue. Instead, they chip away at our health from all different angles. And it’s this combination of effects that can make toxins a major trigger for autoimmunity. Let’s zoom in on some of the primary ways that these toxins can contribute to the development of an off-kilter immune response include:10,11,12,13,14,15

Molecular Mimicry and Immunological Dysregulation:

Some toxins look like or have structures similar to the body's own molecules, like proteins or cell components. These toxins can disrupt the immune system's normal operation by affecting how it recognizes and responds to threats. You see, when toxins enter our body, they can interfere with the way our immune cells present foreign invaders and our own body's molecules to other immune cells.

This can lead to a mix-up in antigen presentation – the process by which immune cells display pieces of foreign invaders (antigens) or the body's own molecules to other immune cells, helping to trigger an immune response. Certain toxins can cause your little one’s immune cells to incorrectly display their own molecules as if they were invaders. This confuses the immune system, leading to a dysregulated immune response. As a result, immune cells may become overactive and begin to produce antibodies against both the toxins and similar self-molecules thinking they're the enemy.

Toll-Like Receptor Activation:

Toxins can activate specific receptors in our immune system called Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs). When these TLRs recognize toxins as foreign invaders, they initiate a signaling cascade that prompts the immune system to produce proinflammatory molecules like cytokines and chemokines.

Overstimulation of TLRs can trigger the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, contributing to inflammation and autoimmune responses.

Inflammation and Tissue Damage:

The immune response triggered by exposure to toxins causes a rise in inflammation. In short bursts, inflammation is intended to neutralize threats and jumpstart healing. But if left unchecked, chronic inflammation can cause oxidative stress – or damage to cellular structures and tissues.

This inflammation and tissue damage caused by toxins can set off a chain reaction that can further confuse your child’s immune system and initiate an autoimmune response.

Epigenetic Modifications:

Epigenetic changes are like tiny switches that control our genes. They can turn genes on or off without altering our DNA. And some toxins can flip these switches in a harmful way.

You see, certain toxins can mess with the switches by adding or removing chemical tags on your little one’s genes – which can ultimately cause problems in how their immune system works. For example, some switches that normally keep the immune system calm can be turned off, while others that promote inflammation can be turned on.

This mix-up of immune-related genes and pathways can potentially lead to an overactive or dysregulated immune response – increasing the risk of autoimmunity.

Leaky Gut and Altered Gut Microbiome:

Toxins may disrupt the intestinal barrier, causing "leaky gut" or increased intestinal permeability – allowing harmful molecules to seep into the bloodstream. This can spark widespread inflammation as the immune system tries to manage the influx of pathogens, toxins, and waste materials.

As your child’s gut barrier becomes weaker and weaker and inflammation climbs higher and higher, it further disrupts the delicate ecosystem of their gut microbiome. This combination of effects pushes their immune system further and further away from equilibrium.

Hormonal Disruption:

Toxins can interfere with the body's hormonal balance by disrupting the endocrine system, which regulates hormones. This disruption can lead to abnormal levels of hormones, potentially influencing the immune system and increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases. Many autoimmune diseases have a higher prevalence in females, highlighting the potential role of hormonal disruption in autoimmune disease development.

What’s the Solution? Tips for Addressing Toxins in Your Kids Environment

Addressing your little one’s and your entire family’s exposure to environmental toxins can have a significant impact on supporting a healthy, balanced immune response. Whether you’re trying to prevent the development of autoimmunity in your children or manage symptoms and flare-ups of an already present autoimmune condition, it can be immensely helpful to adopt a low-tox lifestyle.

Some of the most powerful ways to begin addressing toxins in your everyday life include:

Use Natural Cleaning Products: Choose environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaning products for your home.
Be Mindful of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Choose skincare and personal care products with minimal chemical additives.
Use Safe Cookware: Opt for cookware made of stainless steel, cast iron, or glass, and avoid non-stick cookware with Teflon.
Choose Organic Foods: Select organic fruits and vegetables to reduce pesticide exposure.
Filter Your Water: Use a high-quality water filter to remove contaminants, including heavy metals, from your drinking water.
Wash Fruits and Vegetables: Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before consumption to remove residual pesticides.
Be Cautious with Seafood: Be aware of mercury levels in fish and seafood, and choose low-mercury options.
Minimize Plastic Use: Use glass or stainless steel containers for food and beverages instead of plastic.
Reduce Canned Food Consumption: Canned foods can contain BPA in their linings. Opt for fresh or frozen alternatives.
Ventilate Your Home: Ensure proper ventilation in your home to reduce indoor air pollution and consider using air purifiers indoors.
Manage Household Mold: Address any water leaks and damp areas to prevent mold growth, which can release toxins.
Use Natural Pest Control: Opt for non-toxic pest control methods, like traps or natural repellents, instead of chemical pesticides.
Test Your Home for Radon: Radon gas is a common environmental toxin that can be found in some homes. Test for radon and take steps to mitigate it if necessary.
Avoid Smoking and Secondhand Smoke: Don't smoke around your kids and avoid exposing them to tobacco smoke.

Even making small shifts in your family’s lifestyle can have a drastic impact on the amount of toxins your little one is exposed to on a daily basis.

Looking for More Ways to Create A Low-Tox Lifestyle For Your Little Ones?

Avoiding toxins can feel overwhelming, to say the least. Looking at a giant list of changes you need to make to go “low-tox” can make it hard to know where to start. Especially when it feels like you have to change so much about your life to even make an impact.

But the truth is, you don’t have to be afraid of toxins (you’re never ever ever going to be able to avoid them entirely) and you don’t have to overhaul your whole life. Creating a low-tox lifestyle is about finding leverage points – changes you can make that have the biggest payoff in reducing toxins.

So if you’re unsure of where to start, I encourage you to download my free Tackling Toxins Guide. I’ll walk you through the heaviest-hitting changes you can make to drastically reduce toxins in your day-to-day life. And the best part is, once you make some of these changes, you can essentially “set it and forget it” – so it’s not something you have to be worried about constantly. Click here to download your free guide today.

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Courtney Tilton