Approximately 24 million Americans suffer from an estimated 80 different autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Graves’ disease, type 1 diabetes and lupus, according to the Office on Women’s Health.

While it is the job of the immune system to protect us from disease, sometimes the mechanism goes awry and the immune system does a reverse turn, actually causing damage to the body. Experts say that the common denominator behind every autoimmune disorder is chronic inflammation. In fact, noted integrative physician Dr. Andrew Weil goes even one step further:

“It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses — including heart disease, many cancers and Alzheimer’s disease,” he says.

Common symptoms of autoimmune diseases are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscle pain
• Numbness and tingling
• Low-grade fever
• Hair loss
• Dry skin and redness

Here are eight foods that science says may be helpful to battle autoimmune disorders:

1. Halibut. One small portion of halibut contains an entire day’s worth of vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D has been linked to lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Turmeric. The main ingredient in turmeric, which is curcumin, encourages the immune system to become healthier. The Arthritis Foundation says curcumin suppresses the painful symptoms of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Broccoli. This cruciferous vegetable contains a potent antioxidant called glutathione, which is also an anti-inflammatory. Glutathione deficiency has been found in many people with autoimmune disorders.

4. Flaxseed. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that omega-3, the fatty acid found in flaxseed, is the most potent immune system modulator of any fatty acid. Many clinical trials attest to the benefits of omega-3 supplementation in relieving some of the most common autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s, lupus, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.

5. Sauerkraut. This inexpensive and readily available food is an excellent source of probiotics, which help to balance the good and bad bacteria in the gut. When the microbiome, or environment of our gut is imbalanced, we are more prone to autoimmune disorders. And the converse holds true, say experts. By rebalancing the microbiome, we can alleviate the symptoms of autoimmune disorders.

6. Green Tea. New studies examining the effect of green tea on autoimmune disease have been very promising, say experts. Researchers believe that green tea, due to its effect on special immune cells called “T-cells” and a high concentration of EGCG, is beneficial to both preventing and treating autoimmune disorders.

7. Fortified Cereal. This is another good source of vitamin D. Even one small serving of cereals containing enriched bran, fortified whole grain and raisin bran have between 12 to 13 percent of the recommend value for vitamin D.

8. Coconut Milk. People with autoimmune disorders know they should avoid eggs and dairy products but coconut milk has been shown to reduce inflammation and swelling, heal ulcers and neutralize bacteria and viruses.