An autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet is a combination of the elimination and paleolithic diets. Basically, it is the diet of the paleolithic men but it is stricter than the standard paleo diet because it doesn't entertain inflammatory foods such as seeds, nuts, eggs, peppers, among others.
An AIP diet also takes lifestyle factors such as social activity, sleep hygiene, and stress management into consideration.
The AIP diet aims to help you avoid pro-inflammatory foods while feeding your body nutritious foods. These nutrient-dense foods regulate your immune system so you can attain a healthier microbiome. They also regulate your endocrine system and help you in maintaining a healthy gut lining.
Researchers have conducted a lot of studies to determine the relationship between an AIP diet and healthy living. The results of these studies have been very positive.
Here are the top 6 studies that can encourage you to try the AIP diet.
Does AIP Diet Help Improve Gut Bacteria?
A 2014 study conducted in north-central Tanzania on the Hadzabe ethnic group showed that they had higher levels of biodiversity and microbial diversity than their Italian counterparts that acted as control subjects.
What's more fascinating about the study is that the Bifidobacterium bacteria lacked in Hadzabe adults. These bacteria usually result from a diary and/or meat diet.
The study also found that the gut microbiota in women differed from that of men. This could be because of the sexual division of food and labor in the tribe.
The results of this study strongly suggest that the hunter-gatherer diet has some effect on the presence or absence of gut microbiota.
Gut bacteria and good bacteria. They help combat obesity, improve depression symptoms, enhance the immune system, and provide many other benefits to the body.
Does AIP Diet Improve the Quality of Life for People Suffering From Autoimmune Diseases?
A 1997 study on rheumatoid arthritis and food sensitivity found out that between 30 to 40% of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis have symptoms significantly reduced when they resort to elimination diets. This positive response occurs within 10 to 20 days.
The study also found out that the symptoms will reappear when the offending foods get reintroduced into your diet. After comparing fasting and the elimination diet, the study concluded that fasting is even more effective because it can make you realize positive results within just three days.
Does AIP Diet Help ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that affects self-control, the ability to sit still, and the ability to be attentive. If your child is suffering from ADHD, you may consider introducing him/her to an elimination diet.
An INCA study on 100 children with ADHD showed that there was a significant improvement (greater than 40%) after restricting the children to an elimination diet.
In the study, the researcher assigned the 100 children randomly to healthy or restricted diets for five weeks after which they conducted blood tests to determine their levels of improvement on the ADHD rating scale. The study concluded that the elimination diet has a positive effect on children suffering from ADHD.
Does AIP Diet Help With IBD?
Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD refers to disorders involving the inflammation of the digestive tract. When you are suffering from IBD, you can experience weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, and severe diarrhea. IBD is enervative and may lead to life-threatening complications.
The good news is that an AIP diet can help alleviate this condition. A study conducted by Dr. Konijeti to evaluate the efficacy of AIP diet for patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's showed that 11 out of 15 participants (five with ulcerative, six with Crohn's) showed positive results by week six of the study.
Does AIP Diet Help With Migraine?
Are you suffering from migraines? A study conducted in Turkey to investigate the effectiveness of the AIP diet on patients with migraine can give you some hope. In the study, 21 women got tested for about 300 food allergens.
The researchers allocated the subjects randomly to either a provocation or an elimination diet. There was a great reduction in migraine cases in women who were on the elimination diet. In conclusion, the study stated that the elimination diet can reduce the frequency and duration of migraine attacks.
Does AIP Diet Help With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT)?
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that destroys the thyroid gland. It is also known as Hashimoto's disease or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. HT may not show any symptoms in the early stages, but in the later stages, it can make the thyroid to enlarge and form a goiter.
Researchers conducted a study to find out whether AIP could improve autoimmune and inflammatory markers, thyroid functions, symptom burden, and quality of life of women with HT.
The study involved 17 women with HT and aged between 20 to 45. Three of them had elevated thyroid antibodies while 14 were already on thyroid medications. This group of women comprised of both overweight and normal-weight women. The results were remarkable.
After the 10-week program:
- All the participants showed improved quality of life in terms of bodily pain, mental health, energy, and even physical functioning.
- There was a dramatic decrease in HT symptoms in all the participants. The reported improvements included a decrease in muscle and joint pain, diarrhea/constipation, and bloating. There were improvements in energy, cognition and mood, and also in skin conditions such as dry skin, hives, acne, and eczema.
- There was a decrease in inflammation
- About half of the women on thyroid medication reduced their medication
The study concluded that the AIP diet can improve the general conditions of women diagnosed with HT.
Is An AIP Diet Safe?
An AIP diet is very safe but before you start on the diet, it is advisable to seek the input of your doctor. You should take special care when you have some anatomical abnormalities. This is because an obstruction can occur from the high-fiber died if your gastrointestinal tract is narrow.
Another reason why you need the input of a doctor is that an AIP diet can reactivate your eating disorder. Contact us for more information.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
https://autoimmunewellness.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
https://autoimmunewellness.