In this episode of Autoimmune Alchemy, Dr. Melissa Mondala welcomes Dr. Peter Kan — board-certified chiropractor, functional neurologist, and functional medicine expert known for bridging the gut–brain–immune connection. Dr. Kan works extensively with Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjögren’s, mixed connective tissue disease, MS, and patients with “autoimmune of unknown origin.” In this conversation, he breaks down why autoimmune patients so often struggle with food sensitivities, inflammatory flares, neurological symptoms, and overlapping autoimmune conditions that traditional medicine misses. He explains the difference between allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances, why “food can be medicine or poison,” and how immune pathways like T-reg cells, Th17 activation, NF-kB, and leaky gut shape the autoimmune experience. He also shares strategic supplements, lifestyle foundations, and a practical roadmap for people who are overwhelmed, undiagnosed, or stuck in flare cycles.

Time Stamps

[0:00] — Understanding the Gut–Brain–Immune Connection
[1:40] — How Food Sensitivities Trigger Autoimmune Flares
[3:27] — Why Autoimmune Symptoms Spread Throughout the Body
[5:44] — Allergies vs. Sensitivities vs. Intolerances Explained
[8:34] — Foundational Supplements for Reducing Inflammation
[10:54] — T-Reg Cells, Glutathione & Immune Modulation
[14:17] — Elimination Diets, Testing & Reintroductions
[16:57] — Personalizing Your Autoimmune Nutrition Plan

Key Takeaways

• Discover how food sensitivities ignite autoimmune flares by ramping up the immune system and triggering tissue inflammation.
• Understand why many patients have “autoimmune of unknown origin” long before receiving an official diagnosis.
• Explore the difference between allergies (IgE), sensitivities (IgG/IgA), and intolerances (enzyme-based) — and why each requires a different treatment approach.
• Learn how food reactions can show up as fatigue, brain fog, sinus issues, weight changes, joint pain, skin symptoms, or mood shifts — not just digestive problems.
• Uncover how regulatory T-cells work as the “brake pedal” of the immune system, and why supporting them helps quiet autoimmune activity and move toward remission.

Dr. Peter Kan brings clarity to one of the most confusing and overwhelming parts of autoimmune disease: the relationship between food, inflammation, and immune dysregulation. His science-backed but practical approach helps patients understand why they react to so many foods, how to begin healing gut and immune pathways, and how to move toward remission through immune modulation — not fear or restriction. This conversation offers hope, direction, and a clear roadmap for anyone lost in the world of autoimmune flares.

About Your Hosts:

Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM
Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University’s Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women’s wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

For more information, please visit https://myautoimmunemd.com.