Several leading health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, recently reported a disturbing increase in diagnoses of three autoimmune diseases: diabetes, lupus and celiac disease.

The American Diabetes Association reported a 23 percent increase in type 1 diabetes cases over an eight-year period. As for celiac, it’s now estimated that one in 133 Americans are affected. And the Lupus Foundation of America reports that 1.5 million Americans have some form of lupus.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders, which are defined as conditions in which “the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissues.” The damage can take place in different areas of the body.

With celiac disease, the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestines, preventing the absorption of food. Eating gluten (found in many grains including wheat, barley and rye) exacerbates the damage. In the case of lupus, a variety of organs can be affected, including the skin, joints, kidneys and brain. With type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreas, causing it to produce less insulin.

Experts are not certain exactly what causes these autoimmune reactions, but it is likely more than one factor. While genetics play a role, research is demonstrating a strong connection between the environment and development of autoimmune conditions.

“The rapid increase in autoimmune diseases clearly suggests that environmental factors are at play,” says Virginia T. Ladd, president and executive director of the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association.

Frederick W. Miller, MD, PhD, acting director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences agrees that the increase in autoimmune diagnoses can be linked to our surroundings. “The best way to combat the rise in autoimmune disease,” Miller says, “is to do research to understand the genetic and environmental risk factors for them so that those who are at highest risk for developing disease after certain environmental exposures might be able to minimize those exposures and prevent the development of autoimmune diseases.”

Toxins that affect the immune system can come from the air we breathe, the water we drink and the foods we eat. According to Wellness Times editorial advisor Lise Alschuler, ND, the best way to reduce the impact of these toxins is to support the detoxification system in the body via a healthy diet, dietary supplements and lifestyle factors such as getting enough sleep.