The Mel Robbins Podcast

#260 - Why 80% of Autoimmune Diseases Happen to Women & Solutions From a Renowned MD

Dr. Sara Szal

February 17, 2025

Summary

This podcast explores the increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases, particularly in women, and the interplay of genetic, environmental, and societal factors contributing to these conditions. Hosted by Mel Robbins, the episode features Dr. Sara Saul, a specialist in chronic health conditions, who sheds light on the root causes of autoimmune diseases—genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and leaky gut. Women are disproportionately affected, partly due to biological elements such as hormonal changes and societal stressors rooted in caregiving roles and trauma. The episode also emphasizes lifestyle medicine as a central approach to addressing these issues, highlighting the importance of diet, stress management, sleep, and targeting root causes over symptoms. Additional topics include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as risk factors, unexplored health conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and POTS, and actionable steps such as elimination diets and breathing techniques to mitigate symptoms. Dr. Saul delivers a hopeful message: the body has an innate capacity to heal when supported holistically. The discussion concludes with practical advice for self-empowerment and building long-term health resilience.

Audio recap

0:000:00

Key Points

-Autoimmune diseases arise from a combination of genetic predisposition, leaky gut, and lifestyle or environmental triggers such as stress, trauma, and hormonal fluctuations.
-Women are disproportionately impacted, with about 80% of autoimmune diseases occurring in women, driven by biological and societal factors like caregiving roles and unresolved trauma.
-Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) significantly increase the risk of developing autoimmune conditions due to their long-term effects on immune regulation.
-Unresolved trauma and chronic stress can dysregulate key biological systems, and creating a sense of safety within the body is crucial for healing.
-Conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and POTS highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with autoimmune diseases and the importance of lifestyle management.
-Lifestyle medicine promotes targeting root causes—such as diet, sleep, and trauma—rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical approaches.
-Dietary interventions, such as elimination diets to address leaky gut, can reduce triggers and alleviate symptoms, though individual responses vary.
-Breathing techniques like diaphragmatic breathing are powerful tools for regulating stress and improving physiological function.
-Practical changes such as resolving past trauma, managing stress, and adopting holistic approaches support the body’s natural capacity to heal.