AIP is the Auto Immune Protocol (sometimes called Auto-Immune Paleo). The most important thing to remember about the AIP is that it is NOT a diet – it is a PROTOCOL that includes dietary interventions.
Aside from diet, the protocol addresses lifestyle, sleep, and emotional health. If these things are not addressed, the diet part may not be enough to help you heal! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but, if you work 60 hours a week and only sleep for 5-6 hours a night, that’s probably not helping your health.
And then there’s stress. Sometimes we can’t avoid it (your mean boss, rambunctious kids, rush hour traffic, a parent who is now living with you, health issues, etc.). However, balancing that stress and how we deal with it is key. Self-care in the form of meditation, exercise, and saying no when possible can all help with stress levels. Easier said than done, I know. I’ll be writing more about stress in future posts.
So, the diet part of AIP goes like this: You eliminate potentially inflammatory foods for a while (30 days minimum, but 90 days is better). Then you systematically and carefully add back in foods one at a time to see what you react to, if anything.
This process can take a while, sometimes years, so patience is key! If you have been sick a long time, you probably won’t heal overnight.
I did about 2.5 months of strict AIP before I added back in eggs. I have since reintroduced many other things here and there (tomatoes, peppers, certain nuts, seeds, ghee, white rice, GF oats among other things) and consider my diet to be “modified Paleo” or “AIP with reintroductions” at this time.
Almost 4 years later I still feel my best when I’m strict with the diet part, but I can now have a cup of coffee, some tea, chocolate, or some seeds, oats, or rice once in a great while without “feeling it”.
THAT SAID: I’ve learned that reactions are cumulative for me, so I don’t push it with these non-compliant foods.
After AIP most of us have to dig deeper. For me, this was addressing heavy metal issues (I had a quite a few mercury amalgams and I was in NYC during 9/11), candida, FODMAP and histamine/oxalate issues.
Everyone will veer off in different directions, but AIP is a great first step for all of us.
Check out this post for more details on how to start the AIP.
MY OFFER TO YOU.
In light of all that’s been going on in this world, I would like to offer you, dear reader, some coaching.
I will listen deeply, offer empathy, and help you make sense of what’s going on in the world right now. It does not have to be about nutrition or autoimmune issues. We can talk about anything that’s on your mind.
We can talk about anything that’s on your mind:
- creating new habits in this “new normal” – or maintaining current habits
- work challenges – either working from home or being out of work
- figuring out how to best spend your time with your now at-home children (and still retain your sanity)
- how to cope if you have too much free time, or if you are finding it hard to strike a work-time vs. free-time balance in light of recent changes
- how best to manage stress
- guilty feelings about not having to go work or the gym or maybe cheating on your diet
- feeling ok doing absolutely nothing for a while
- helping you create structure in your life and a plan moving forward – whatever that may mean to you
- help you regain control if you are feeling out of control
- if you are a health care worker, I can offer empathy and support for what you are facing right now.
To book your Complimentary “Meet & Greet” Session and Assessment, click here.
Be well, everyone, and I look forward to meeting you.
Sandy
Sandy Swanson is a Certified Functional Health Coach who received her training from Chris Kresser’s ADAPT Health Coach training course (A-CFHC) and is also a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). You can learn more about her here and more about what coaching is here.
