In a nutshell, the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet is based on eliminating certain foods that may contribute to inflammation. For example, if a person with an autoimmune disease eliminates legumes from their diet for a while and feels better, they will know that completely leaving legumes behind is probably a very good idea. Except it may have nothing to do with their autoimmune disease or inflammation. It’s possible that you simply have food sensitivity, and that’s why you experience improvements. But let’s discuss that later. Now, let’s just see what AIP is all about. The following foods should be included in the elimination process:
Nightshades, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and white potatoes (Remember, avoiding nightshades has been only shown effective in a few studies that focused mostly on IBD)
Grains
Legumes
Dairy
Some vegetable oils
Coffee
Eggs
Nuts and seeds
Alcohol
Food additives
What can you eat then?
Any vegetables, except those from the nightshade family
High-quality seafood that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Fermented foods
Lean meats and liver
Small amounts of fruit
Oils, such as olive, coconut, and avocado oils
You eliminate the “forbidden” foods for 30-90 days, and wait…see what happens. Did your symptoms decreased? Are you feeling better? Great! No? Then you can slowly include those foods in your diet again. This can be a very useful process. I know people who found out that certain foods caused fatigue or more gastrointestinal problems.
But…stating that it works for everyone regardless of the type of autoimmune disease is a myth.
First of all, and again, there is very little research that supports the effectiveness of AIP diet. Second, almost all of those studies examined people who had IBD or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Way more research is needed.
There is another culprit of this diet. What if eliminating certain foods worsens an unrelated health issue? What if your body actually needs that foods for their nutrients? What if following this diet causes stress which is a huge factor in autoimmune diseases? AIP is not for everyone. Please don’t automatically believe the words of social media influencers and fake gurus. You should consult your doctors before you even try it.
Okay…and Lupus? AIP has recommendations that are beneficial for people with Lupus. Eat lots of veggies, leave behind food additives, and add omega-3 fatty acids.
Photo credit: Cleveland Clinic
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