AIP diet for autoimmune illnesses

I’m on my 5th AI disease, including primary biliary cholangitis, which attacks the bile ducts of the liver. I was specifically told not to do AIP, but to do the Mediterranean diet instead for its anti inflammatory effects (I was thinking about eliminating gluten- still not sure about that). Can you look into that instead of AIP which is so restrictive?

Thank you for your reply. I will talk to my neurologist and sees what she says. She is generally on board with me trying to figure things out and since she admits I am still a question mark, even to her, and thinks I might have UCTD, I don't see why she would think it is a bad idea. I will read more of this thread as there seems to be a lot of information. Thank you!

I am considering a trial of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as my fatigue and brain fog are not lifting. Fortunately, my pain is much better. Because of the lack of rheumatologists in my area, my diagnosis is unclear. The posted comments are very helpful, thanks to everyone. My understanding is that this diet is a tool for discriminating which foods or food groups are triggers for autoimmune flares. An elimination diet was suggested to me by several nutritional professionals over my adulthood. I resisted the suggestions as the diet seemed extreme at the time. Gluten and most dairy are problems for me, as are alcohol, sugars, lectins, nitrates and a few other things. I have been consistently gluten free for many years, but my motivation was low to avoid all the other things continually. Now I'm more motivated! My suggestion to bayhorse is this: my nutritionists mentioned a type of elimination protocol for those who cannot, for any reason, tolerate a total classic elmination diet. It was called a "rolling" pattern. Pick one food that may cause you trouble, i.e., corn? Give it up for a couple of weeks, keep careful notes, and then re-introduce slowly over a week or two. Keep doing this with other foods that you eat regularly. Don't forget spices! Not as accurate as a major elimination, but a beginning. You may want to seek out a professional who know about this. Also, if you can't tolerate much fat, try increasing volume of food by eating more frequently. It can be very small amounts. Watch out for increased agitated movement when cutting down on foods; that will burn up calories. Our bodies produce an endogenous speed when sensing starvation. A quiet half hour sitting after eating can help. Lastly, I use Morton's Lite Salt to prevent my PVC. It helps keep my electrolytes in balance with low sodium, magnesium and potassium. Just a sprinkle on top of food seems to help. Good fortune, everyone. And again, thanks for all the helpful information.

I’ve just noticed your weight. You didn’t mention your age but if you might be at risk for osteoporosis watch your calcium intake if you go on the AIP diet. It is so restrictive and you won’t be eating foods that supply a lot of calcium. What to eat for osteoporosis prevention is a whole other discussion….

Do you know why you were advised not to do AIP?

Thank you for your concern. I have osteoporosis and am on Tymlos injections for that. Still, hard to maintain weight given dietary restrictions. Not only am I gluten free, but I have heart disease, so am off most saturated fat, and salt. And I try not to eat refined sugar.

They said there wasn’t enough hard research. They said the Mediterranean diet was best.

I have been on an elimination/low fodmap/low histamine diet for 7 weeks now. I chose to combine all of these at one time so I could see how I react to individual foods as I add back 1 food at a time after my 8th week. I began to feel good after 1 month. But, I have a lot of weight to lose and have been losing. Your case is very different from mine bc of the weight. Ill be interested to hear what guidance you receive.

In my case, with rheumatoid arthritis, the AIP has been great; in two months, symptoms decreased by 80% at least. Certainly is restrictive and may be difficult at the beginning. Also, I have lost weight, but there are allowed carbs that you can use frequently and increase servings… about calcium, you have broccoli and spinach…
In my personal opinion worth a try!
(In case you decide to try, I strongly recommend checking the original source “paleomom” website)

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Hi, everyone. I haven't done the AIP diet per se, but I'm looking into what anti-inflammatory diet has evidence for helping me with an autoimmune neurological condition -- focal chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). I'm surprised at how confusing it is, and how much is based on speculation or rumor! I want to know what foods are supported by science to either eat or eliminate.

This paper from the journal Autoimmunity Reviews a few years back (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2017.05.007) shows the very complex role of coffee/caffeine, which I'm curious about because so many people say it needs to be eliminated. The authors describe how it is associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis and type I diabetes, but reduces the risk of things like ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis, while it has no demonstrable relationship with lupus or Crohn's disease.

And this paper from the journal Nutrients that came out about 6 months ago (https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15183910) also says coffee is associated with decreased cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, and has no demonstrable relationship with peripheral neuropathy.