AIP diet for autoimmune illnesses

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.

Jump to this post

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.

Jump to this post