The Autoimmune RESET
VJ Hamilton is a nutritionist, scientist, and autoimmune disease expert who founded The Autoimmunity Nutritionist Clinic, a Nutritional Therapy and Functional Medicine clinic specialising in autoimmune disease.
VJ combines her lived experience overcoming autoimmune disease symptoms with her knowledge of nutrition, health, biochemistry, and immunology to provide you with the most up-to-date research on autoimmune disease.
The Autoimmune RESET aims to provide you with the education and resources to empower you to take steps to transform your health and feel better than ever.
In each episode, VJ will share simple ways to uplevel your diet and lifestyle, key learnings from her own journey reversing autoimmune disease, and inspirational stories from those who have reset their autoimmune symptoms and are now thriving in life.
Health practitioners, mind and body experts, and scientists will be joining VJ as guests on the show, as well as those who have inspirational stories to share and are now thriving in everyday life!
And don't miss the short episodes every Friday, The Friday 5, in which VJ shares five healthy must-haves for you to explore over the weekend.
The Autoimmune RESET
What is Antigenic Load? And Why It Matters for Autoimmune Disease
In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET, I dive into a crucial but often overlooked concept: antigenic load—the total burden of foreign substances your immune system has to process. If you have an autoimmune disease or struggle with unexplained symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, or food sensitivities, understanding antigenic load could be a game-changer.
I break down the key mechanisms behind autoimmunity, including molecular mimicry, bystander activation, and the role of undigested food proteins in triggering immune responses. I also share insights from my own health journey and clinical experience, explaining why many people with autoimmune conditions feel worse after infections, stress, or dietary triggers.
We explore how antigenic load contributes to conditions like Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus—and, most importantly, how to reduce it through:
- Dietary changes (AIP, gluten-free, gut support)
- Reducing toxin exposure (pesticides, heavy metals, environmental triggers)
- Managing chronic infections (EBV, gut bacteria imbalances)
- Nervous system regulation (how tools like Nurosym support vagus nerve function)
- Detoxification strategies to support immune balance
If you’re looking for actionable steps to lower your antigenic load, calm your immune system, and regain control of your health, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now and join the conversation in The Autoimmune Forum
Check Out the Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:
- Interested in Food Reactivity Testing? Find out more here.
- Looking for a simple yet effective way to calm your nervous system? Check out Nurosym here —and as a subscriber, use code "VictoriaH10" for 10% off at checkout.
- Ready for change? Download your free copy of The Autoimmunity Recovery Plan here so you can get started.
- Prefer 1:1 support or want to explore functional testing? Find all my services here.
- Learn more about the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen list here.
Thanks for listening! You can join The Autoimmune Forum on Facebook or find me on Instagram @theautoimmunitynutritionist.