I just wanted to share how the Autoimmune Protocol diet has significantly improved my health. I have never been one for fad diets, but after my health had been declining for some time an my doctors telling me this was my new normal, I knew I had to do something. I see a nurse practitioner who mentioned a book called Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilipo. I also have Celiac's disease as well as Sjogrens and possibly Fibromyalgia, so I had already been gluten free for 1 1/2 years, but still had declining health. In as little as 2 weeks after following the recommendations in this book, my health started to significantly improve and has continued to get better for the last 8 months. My joint pain is almost gone, my peripheral neuropathy is almost gone, my brain fog is gone, my energy levels are much better, I can sleep through the night without sipping water. I feel this is the closest thing to a miracle that I have experienced since first getting sick 4 years ago. Plus, the recipes in the book are easy and delicious. There is also a blog and a book that has been extremely helpful by a woman with a PhD who also has autoimmune diseases. Sarah Ballantyne's book is "The Paleo Approach" and explains in detail with scientifically backed research how your diet can be affecting your autoimmune disease. Her blog is the called ThePaleoMom.com and also has a section on autoimmune diseases.
I want to be honest that following The Autoimmune Protocol is not easy since you remove all grains, eggs, sugar, caffeine, nuts and seeds, nightshade plants, and dairy from your diet. It has taken me awhile to get used to it, but when you are as sick as I was, the sacrifice has been more than worth it. I was at the point where I didn't think I would be able to take care of my 3 kids and now I can function again. I really hope this information can help some of you! Good luck!
Ive used the paleo diet since I was diagnosed 7 weeks ago and I also believe it helps. I miss bread , potatoes , rice but its beats the pain. It took less than a month and I noticed a difference.
Hello! I just started the AIP diet. I am a huge coffee drinker so the hardest part for me will be the no coffee. With this elimination diet, have you tried adding things back in or have you strictly stayed away from everything? Also, there are so many hidden sugars in everything that it is difficult to find healthy alternatives to foods I used to eat! I am hopeful that it will become easier once it becomes a habit, however.
I have a similar story. I was diagnosed with SS 3 1/2 years ago. The first thing I did is go Gluten Free. It helped some. In November of 2019 I started eating KETO to lose weight. Oh MY! I had no idea the other benefits of cutting carbs, grains and sugar from my diet! I have felt wonderful. I no longer need to lose weight; but, I will continue to eat this way the rest of my life if it keeps the SS from flaring up. Inflammation is a rare occurrence now!
I also have been eating Anti-inflammatory foods. I don’t follow any specific diet. But I have given up wheat, gluten, dairy of any kind (I really miss butter & cheese!), red meat, sugar, rice, processed meats like sausage, ham, bacon (so long Bacon, me dear sweet friend!), hot dogs, but after only two weeks, my joints feel better and I don’t have acid reflux or heartburn any more.
I really miss a lot of my favorite foods, and eating out is all but impossible, but I am making the most of what I can eat. I grow my own herbs, so I can season my foods so they are very flavorful.
I started this whole diet because my Rheumatologist wanted to put me on a new drug, which I do NOT want to do. I asked if there was any foods I could eat that might help, or foods I should avoid. He told me that, no, diet and nutrition would not make a difference. He does want me to take vitamins. But doesn’t feel diet and nutrition would play any part in lowering my inflammation. I am out to prove him wrong. I will be very interested to see my blood work results in May. If it has improved, I will make my case against chemical drugs to poison my body with.
I’m fighting mad at Shogrens attacking my body, and I’m fed up with not getting sound advice from the medical field. They are all just interested in pharmaceuticals. Push a pill on someone and feel like they have handed us a miracle cure. The potential side effects of all those drugs scare me more than Sjogrens.
It is my body, I’m going to take control over what I put into it.
That’s wonderful that you’re getting such a good response. I definitely tried dietary changes early on. I’m already a vegetarian but I took out dairy and gluten. I did it for around 3 months probably and I did not find any difference. It does seem like it’s a little bit Hit or Miss whether it works or not, but it certainly can’t hurt to try it and it seems like it’s helping you so that’s wonderful.