Wellness

[Mindy D]

Just in case you are wondering what’s in or out on this diet, here’s a list:

Foods to eat on the AIP diet

These include:

• meat and fish, preferably not factory raised
• vegetables (but not nightshades, such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes)
• sweet potatoes
• fruit (in small quantities)
• coconut milk
• avocado, olive, and coconut oil
• dairy-free fermented foods, such as kombucha, kefir made with coconut milk, sauerkraut, and kimchi
• honey or maple syrup (but only to be used occasionally, in small quantities)
• fresh non-seed herbs, such as basil, mint, and oregano
• green tea and non-seed herbal teas
• bone broth
• vinegars, such as apple cider and balsamic

Foods to avoid on the AIP diet

These include:

• all grains, such as oats, rice, and wheat
• all dairy
• eggs
• legumes, such as beans and peanuts
• nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes)
• all sugars, including sugar replacements (except for occasional use of honey)
• butter and ghee
• all oils (except for avocado, coconut, and olive)
• food additives
• alcohol

[GingerPeach]

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@LTT1 wrote:

Has anyone tried this diet?

If so, what have you found to eat?

It is very restricted!

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When I followed such a plan for several months from summer into fall (based on Amy Myers' book, The Autoimmune Solution: Prevent and Reverse the Full Spectrum of Inflammatory Symptoms and Diseases), my RA symptoms improved significantly.  I wish I had had enough belief in myself to keep going through the temptations of the holiday/cold weather season because the same symptoms came back.  (Medication notwithstanding.)  I'm just now getting back into the plan, @LTT1 .

There are issues with many of these books as to recipes and specifics of amounts of ingredients, but once you have the general principles, you can make it work.  I didn't feel as restricted as I expected (other than my lifelong issues with cake and ice cream!).

[Deree]

I was going to start a new thread about the Autoimmune Protocol but then found this one.  I wanted to clear up a few misconceptions I found reading this thread.

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is a food elimination and reintroduction protocol designed for those who have autoimmune disease although it is generally an anti-inflammatory diet for anyone who has an inflammatory condition.  It is NOT A FAD DIET AND NOT A DIET TO LOSE WEIGHT although depending on what you eat you can have weight loss as a pleasant side effect.

I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but that diagnosis is questionable and was discounted by a second rheumatologist.  Nevertheless there is inflammation in my body which can be caused by anything from autoimmune disease to infectious diseases or viruses or bacterial infections or even cancers.

The basis for most disease can be traced to an unhealthy gut.  That is when the gut flora (balance of bacteria) are out of whack.  An imbalance in gut flora often causes disease.  To restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut you go on an anti-inflammatory diet such as AIP.  Certain foods have been proven to cause inflammation. These include gluten, dairy, nightshades, certain oils and certain vegetables.

I've always been a healthy and active person. Before I started the AIP a few weeks ago I was profoundly fatigued, slightly dizzy and headachy all the time, felt generally weak especially my legs and my breathing was somehow affected. After 3 weeks on the AIP my energy was back, I felt strong, and headaches and dizziness were gone.  I will continue on the AIP for around 90 days after which I will begin reintroducing foods according to a proven reintroduction schedule.  In this way I will be able to see what foods if any cause a negative reaction.  I will probably never eat gluten or dairy again as those are most suspect to cause problems.

Although I was overwhelmed just thinking about going on this protocol (as everyone who goes on AIP is without exception) it was entirely unfounded.  It is not as restrictive as it appears on the surface. It is slightly more restrictive than Paleo Diet but not nearly as restrictive as the Keto Diet (which by the way I believe is not healthy certainly not for any length of time). There is a wide variety of meat, poultry and fish that can be eaten. I've never eaten red meat before so I stick to poultry and fish.  There is a very wide variety of vegetables that are allowed and vegetables make up 75% of each meal.  There is also healthy fat allowed like olive oil and avocado oil.  And fruit is permitted although I stick to lower sugar berries only.

The food is surprisingly good and I have discovered creative and very tasty ways to make this work.

It is so critically important to make people aware of the Autoimmune Protocol especially if you have an autoimmune disease as rheumatologists will not volunteer this option.  All they want to do is prescribe toxic drugs.  I would urge everyone who is suffering from a chronic health condition to research the protocol, join online forums to hear what others are saying and speak with your doc to make sure you can do this.  It can be a lifechanger and life saver!

[sydsgma1]

I have a severe autoimmune disease and my rheumatologist said the best diet is one that includes all,foods in moderation. I am severely anemic so need to eat protein and iron rich foods.

My niece has a PhD in nutrition and said in her studies very restrictive dits can do harm unless one has an issue like celiac disease or diabetes.

[Deree]

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@sydsgma1 wrote:

I have a severe autoimmune disease and my rheumatologist said the best diet is one that includes all,foods in moderation. I am severely anemic so need to eat protein and iron rich foods.

My niece has a PhD in nutrition and said in her studies very restrictive dits can do harm unless one has an issue like celiac disease or diabetes.

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I am not trying to sway you or sell you in any way.  Just know that doctors in general and especially specialists like rheumies are not nutrition-savvy and without getting into it here also have a vested interest in drugs in many cases.  I have personally been failed by more than a couple of doctors in the past which is why I always do my own research and never take the word of a doctor or anyone else for that matter. 

As I said the AIP is NOT meant to be a forever eating plan.  It is meant to heal an unhealthy gut thereby reducing inflammation in the body thereby ameliorating disease.  I have done enough research and I have read enough of others' experiences and results as well as my own results to believe that this diet works for so many in reducing inflammation.  There is story after story of those with severe AI disease who at least have been able to get off some of their meds or at least drastically reduce the dosages of their meds. And it is not an unhealthy diet for the shorter term.  How can you say that protein, vegetables, and fruit are unhealthy with an emphasis on vegetables?  High protein and high fat as in Keto?  Yes.  Not AIP.

If you try the AIP for a couple of weeks you may find you feel a whole lot better. That means you are reducing inflammation in your body.  BTW organ meats are highly recommended on the AIP as they are nutrient-dense. They are also excellent sources of iron. Liver contains 36% of the RDI per serving. Organ meats are also rich in many other nutrients, such as selenium, vitamin A and choline. I eat chicken livers with sauteed mushrooms, onion and other vegetables.  Also high in iron are shellfish, turkey, red meat, spinach, broccoli, leafy greens and many others, all permitted on AIP.  But I'm sure you also take an iron supplement.

People are resistant to change.  If they've been eating a certain way their entire lifetime, they shudder at the thought of not being able to have their favorite foods.  My feeling is if I have a disease I'm going to try to resolve it with diet first before drugs.

So it's up to each individual whether they choose to do research, make an informed decision or simply listen to their doctor or others.  Doctors are not gods and far from it in the area of nutrition.

[Deree]

For anyone who would like a head start with the research you can google Dr. Cordain autoimmune protocol, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Mickey Trescott and Angie Alt (Autoimmune Wellness site) and also join the online forum AIP Healing Diet and Support as well as join a forum for your specific autoimmune or other disease. 

[LTT1]

@Deree @sfnative 

i just saw my original thread updated! YAY🎉 

Cannot  even tell you how much my life has changed!

Abiding by the AIP Protocol diet has made me look at food differently.

I still manage to eat all food groups!

Taking LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) has also eased my side effects and symptoms!

Of course, I want all of my friends here to know so they can get the same benefits if this applies.

Have started adding in a few "sinful" foods because I can now tolerate more.

My diagnoses: Lichen Planopilaris; Lichen Planus; fibromyalgia; osteoarthritis; CVID; chronic sinusitis; IBS (gone); GERD (have stopped omeprazole).

[Deree]

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@LTT1 wrote:

@Deree @sfnative 

i just saw my original thread updated! YAY🎉 

Cannot  even tell you how much my life has changed!

Abiding by the AIP Protocol diet has made me look at food differently.

I still manage to eat all food groups!

Taking LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) has also eased my side effects and symptoms!

Of course, I want all of my friends here to know so they can get the same benefits if this applies.

Have started adding in a few "sinful" foods because I can now tolerate more.

My diagnoses: Lichen Planopilaris; Lichen Planus; fibromyalgia; osteoarthritis; CVID; chronic sinusitis; IBS (gone); GERD (have stopped omeprazole).

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Fantastic news!  Though I'm not surprised. :-)   Should my symptoms get worse (I may be pre-clinical) I would also look into LDN.  I also have in the back of my mind going to a Functional Med doc but they're quite expensive.  Hopefully I can "knip" anything in the bud by doing this before I become full blown.

You are so right when you say how you learn to look at food differently.  At the very outset of AIP I didn't think about being deprived at all.  I just thought with every bite of compliant food that I took I was healing my body.  Unfortunately sometimes it takes getting sick to realize the power and importance of good food.

[QueenDanceALot]

I did a version of this AIP diet several years ago, when I was diagnosed with leaky gut by my integrative doctor, only my list of OK foods was even more restrictive.  It was very tough to stick with it, but I did for almost a year.  It was very successful and I felt great (when I wasn't avoiding restaurants ).  I could only eat about 8 or 10 foods (or less, if I recollect my allowable food list completely).  Chicken was the only animal protein, and even vegetables were severely limited (spinach, beets, carrots, lettuce), as well as fruit(could only have strawberries and kiwi).

I then started reintroducing a greater variety of vegetables, and then fruits, and did very well.  Seems that when I started adding any gluten grains was when I started going downhill again.

Today I eat no gluten (I was dairy free for a long time before). as prescribed by my naturopath, and of course no processed foods and processed sugars. 

It is well known that leaky gut is a big risk factor for autoimmune disorders.  Gut health is paramount for all aspects of health!

[hckynut]

Reading all of this has me wondering how so many of my friends, some just people I know have made it. I'm talking people my age, 80, and a couple closer to 90. They are generally all pretty healthy(a subjective word to some), and very physically fit. I know from talking with them that none of them eat even close to things mentioned here.

I eat what works best for my lifestyle and have followed, for the most part, similar eating for over 4 decades. Said it here before that I would never suggest anyone follow my choice of daily nourishment. Some of the basic foods? Yes, but that's about it.

Unless some of the present diseases did not exist in the last century, it makes me wonder why/how there are "specific diets" for many different diseases in today's world, that are deemed " necessary by eating experts(?) for those with specific health issues or conditions. How did so many born in 1900 and earlier live to a 3 digit age! 

This post is not about how anyone chooses to eat, it is just my commentary after reading posts in this thread, along with so many I have read in this forum and others for O so many years now.

hckynut