autoimmune definition

A condition that involves the body’s immune system fighting against one’s own tissues.  There is wide speculation in what causes the body to fight against itself.  One theory is that the body cannot break down proteins properly; therefore, when encountering these partly digested proteins in the blood stream due to intestinal permeability, the body attacks itself.  Because fermentation breaks down protein prior to human digestion, people with autoimmune conditions are often able to eat fermented food items that normally would illicit an autoimmune response – such as homemade fermented yogurt and homemade organic whole wheat sourdough bread.