What is AIP?

Since we offer so many anti-inflammatory recipes, we often get asked what is AIP? The AIP diet is also known as the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol Diet. We encourage everyone that is battling any inflammatory or autoimmune diseases to adopt the AIP right away!

This seems to contradict our normal message of clean eating, and finding what works for you as an individual. However, we have a good reason for this belief, and will explain ourselves later in the article.

What is AIP?

The Autoimmune Paleo Diet (AIP) is a version of the paleo dietthat is specifically formulated for those with autoimmune diseases. It’s not meant to be a lifelong diet, but rather, serves as an elimination diet.

Through removing any possible allergens, then adding them back in stages, the AIP diet allows one to methodically identify what is contributing to their inflammation.

What can I eat on the AIP Diet?

At it’s beginning stages, the AIP diet consists of: mostly fruits and vegetables, grass fed/organic meat, fish, healthy fats and oils, coconut products, and grain/nut-free starches and flours.

What to Avoid

The AIP diet aims to eliminate any potentially inflammatory foods, such as: Nightshades, nuts, seeds, alcohol, eggs, anything artificial, cane sugar, cacao, most forms of caffeine, gums/emulsifiers, legumes, dairy, and grains.

What are the Benefits of the AIP Diet?

There are 3 main benefits of the AIP Diet, but some people experience more. However, we’ll cover these and then share some of our favorite clean eating recipes for the AIP diet.

Identifying Intolerances

Like stated above, identifying intolerances is the main purpose of the AIP diet, and for good reason! The diet suggests that you follow the diet for at least one month before beginning stage 1 of reintroductions.

This gives your body some time to heal, get any troublesome foods out of your system, and actually feel what it’s like without them. When re-introductions begin, the diet provides very structured stages for doing so. This assures that you can pinpoint the harmful food, eliminate it. Then, get back to re-introductions without having to start over. You can read about the 4 reintroduction stages here.

Reducing Inflammation

Again, although this is one of the main purposes of the AIP diet, it is extremely effective at reducing inflammation. Due to the nature of the diet, nearly all potentially inflammatory foods are eliminated during the initial phase.

Within a couple of weeks on the protocol, many people experience noticeable changes in their energy levels, symptoms, and mood.

Healing the Gut

Since inflammation can lead to leaky gut and intestinal permeability, the AIP diet helps give the gut time to heal. By eliminating foods that are consistently irritating your gut, overtime, the gut will begin healing, and restoring it’s integrity.

Like stated above, this diet is not meant to last forever. During the reintroduction phases, you will learn what works for your body, and what harms it. From here, you are able to curate a diet that promotes optimal health and healing for you personally.

3 Favorite AIP Diet Recipes:

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts: When creating this donut recipe, I specifically sought out anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense ingredients!

Celeriac Leek Soup: This delicious stew can be ready in as soon as 1 hour, or prepared in the slow cooker.

Savory Stuffed Mushrooms: These Savory Stuffed Mushrooms are so delicious and so quick and easy to prepare that you certainly don’t need to wait for a special occasion to enjoy them.

The AIP is a Temporary Elimination Diet

Following our opening statement that everyone should try the AIP diet, it all comes down to the fact that this is a temporary, elimination diet. Sick or not, many people don’t realize just how good they can feel until they experience what true health and vitality is.

When you learn to read your body’s signs and signals, and have identified what hurts it, and what makes it thrive, you get that much closer to achieving your own optimal health. So, if you’re curious as to your food intolerances, or if you’re experiencing optimal health, I would challenge you to dedicate one month to learning how to feel your best.