Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) – Core & Modified
Receiving an autoimmune disease diagnosis can be hard. Autoimmunity is life-long and there is no cure. The conventional approach focuses on symptom management through pain medication, steroids, or immune suppressive medications. Despite these being important and often crucial parts of autoimmune condition management, the quality of life often isn’t there. People with autoimmune conditions often feel powerless and resigned. Yet, there are powerful tools within everyone’s reach that are low-cost, have no side effects and can improve the quality of life!
I’m talking about the food you eat and the life you lead – that’s right, dietary and lifestyle interventions have an enormous impact on the immune system. They can both aggravate it and make the situation worse, or they can calm it down and allow the body to heal, resulting in reduction, and in some cases, complete resolution of symptoms.
One such approach is the Autoimmune Paleo or AIP. It’s a science-based dietary and lifestyle approach that helps regulate the immune system by:
- repairing the gut
- addressing nutrient deficiencies
- balancing hormones
The dietary part of the protocol is made of the elimination and reintroduction phases. The elimination phase removes foods that can drive inflammation and emphasises foods that are nutrient-dense. This phase typically lasts between 30-90 days depending on when you see a notable improvement in your symptoms. As its name suggests, the reintroduction phase reintroduces food removed in the elimination phase. The reintroductions are done one by one, which enables you to exactly identify which foods are problematic. This in turn allows us to create a specific, personalised diet, that’s both healing and anti-inflammatory.
| Foods to include in the elimination phase (Core AIP): | Foods to remove in the elimination phase (Core AIP): |
|---|---|
| meat, poultry, game and offal | all grains |
| fish, seafood & seaweed | all dairy |
| most vegetables | vegetables from the nightshade family such as tomatoes, pepper, potatoes, aubergine, chili |
| fruit | eggs |
| herbs & certain spices | processed foods, sugar & vegetable oils |
| coconut | all nuts & seeds |
| healthy fats & oils | certain spices |
| mushrooms | all beans & lentils |
The lifestyle part of the AIP includes support around areas that are massively important for the proper function of the immune system, namely:
- sleep support
- stress management
- adequate movement
- connection (both with other people and nature)
The AIP approach, which combines dietary and lifestyle changes, helps manage autoimmune disease in a way that’s possible for the person to reduce symptoms, regain their quality of life, and achieve lasting wellness.
The AIP can, and often is applied alongside conventional medical treatment and support as the goal is to use all the tools available to achieve the best possible health.
Core AIP and Modified AIP
There is a new, less restrictive version of the original AIP diet (the original protocol is now known as Core AIP). This modified version of the Autoimmune Protocol diet incorporates several of the foods that are typically avoided on Core AIP (like rice, for instance) — largely because there’s evidence to suggest that stricter is not always better (or necessary).
The main difference between the two protocols is that rice, seeds, pseudo-grains, ghee, coffee, cacao and most legumes (other than soy) are included in the modified version of the diet. These inclusions make the Autoimmune Protocol a whole lot more accessible (and affordable) for most.
Why AIP?
So far, all of my autoimmune clients have seen improvements on the AIP. Like with any other dietary approach, there will be people who will not react well to it. And this can be linked to their gut flora, dysbiosis, or enzyme deficiencies, which means these people may have to postpone the start of the AIP until gut issues are cleared. But that’s something to overcome if it happens. Most people will be able to stay on the diet without any issues.
I’ve also undertaken the AIP protocol twice myself, so I know first-hand the steps required to make it work! I can now fully support my clients in this approach to make sure they get the most out of it.
What conditions can AIP help with?
There are over 100 autoimmune conditions, so it’s not possible to have extensive research for every single one, but the research that has been done for the most common autoimmune conditions (Hashimoto’s, Eczema, Psoriasis, IBD) is very positive. On top of that, there is a tonne of recovery stories, based on the experiences of people who have tried the AIP. All of my clients so far have had great improvements, even after years of being on medication.
What if I’m vegan or vegetarian?
AIP may not be suitable for those who avoid meat or fish, as the elimination phase lacks plant protein sources, making meal balancing challenging. However, a modified AIP protocol now includes seeds, legumes (excluding soy), and pseudo-grains like quinoa or buckwheat and rice.
And if AIP feels too restrictive, there are less strict dietary approaches that can offer similar benefits. The choice depends on your symptoms, circumstances, motivation, and health risks associated with your condition. Please get in touch and let’s discuss your situation and the best way forward.
My promise to you
I won’t promise miraculous results or offer false hope. Autoimmunity can be unpredictable, making it difficult to predict the progress or speed of healing. However, I’m committed to doing my utmost to support your healing journey. Based on my experience, I believe trying AIP is a decision you’re unlikely to regret, as I’ve witnessed its positive impact numerous times. So, there’s nothing to lose by giving it a try!
And remember, there are other options beyond AIP available to you.
Do you want to find out more about the AIP?
As a certified AIP Coach, I’m here to help. If you’re curious about the AIP approach or any other options, I’m happy to chat. Book a free 20-minute inquiry call, and let’s explore how I can assist you.
