What Is the Autoimmune Protocol Diet?

Most treatment options for individuals living with autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriatic arthritis, are lifelong medications that suppress or modify the immune system. For patients looking for additional ways to manage their systems, the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet aims to reduce inflammation, pain, and other symptoms caused by autoimmune diseases.

A healthy immune system is present to create antibodies that attack foreign or harmful cells in the body. However, in individuals with rheumatic disorders the immune system tends to produce antibodies that, rather than fight infections, damage healthy cells, leading to chronic inflammation and pain.

Individuals with rheumatic diseases may also have abnormal gut microbiomes and flora. Experts believe there may be a link between the inflammation they experience and the permeability of their gut. Although scientific evidence is currently limited, a handful of studies suggest that the AIP diet may reduce inflammation or symptoms caused by it, at least among a subset of people with certain autoimmune disorders.

This is where the AIP diet may be beneficial. This diet resembles the paleo diet both in the types of anti-inflammatory foods allowed, dietary triggers avoided, as well as in the phases that comprise it.

The initial phase is an elimination that involves the reduction or removal of foods believed to cause gut inflammation, imbalances between levels of good and bad bacteria in the gut, or an immune response. During this phase, foods like grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes peppers, eggs, and dairy are avoided. Tobacco, alcohol, coffee, oils, food additives, refined and processed sugars are also recommended to avoid.

Now the reintroduction phase can start. During this phase, the avoided foods are gradually reintroduced into the diet, one at a time, based on the person’s tolerance. The goal of this phase is to identify which foods contribute to a person’s symptoms and reintroduce all foods that don’t cause any symptoms while continuing to avoid those that do. This allows for the widest dietary variety a person can tolerate. During this phase, foods should be reintroduced one at a time, allowing for 5–7 days before reintroducing a different food. This gives a person enough time to notice if any of their symptoms reappear with certain foods before continuing the reintroduction process.

Transitioning to an anti-inflammatory AIP diet does take effort and commitment. Start slowly by crowding out unhealthy foods with better options. Explore new recipes and stick with it - many see reduced symptoms in four to eight weeks. An AIP diet, combined with medication, can provide a powerful two-pronged approach to managing rheumatic diseases.