So…the AIP – ever heard of it? Autoimmune Protocol. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Well, quite frankly, IT IS!
There’s a lot of technical jargon out there about it. Science, studies, biochemistry, immunology – blah, blah, blah. Let me boil it down for you:
YOU CAN’T EAT ANYTHING YOU LIKE ANYMORE.
Yes, dear people, it’s true. Well, maybe “anymore” is an exaggeration, BUT IT WILL FEEL LIKE FOREVER. From what I’ve read, the AIP is supposed to be adhered to for at least 30 days (I’ve read some that have done it 90) and then s.l.o.w.l.y add one restricted food back in at a time. More specifically, add one food in, wait 72 hours and pay attention to any type of reaction. No reaction? Happy days are here again! That food isn’t a trigger and you may resume enjoyment of it. Then, introduce another, and so on…
So my awesome new doctor (a/k/a Super-doc) believes autoimmunity is at the root of my “issues” and strongly believes the AIP is the way to go, at least for now. This guy is really smart. I mean SCHMAAHT. He painstakingly explained a bunch of ya-ya medical, neurological and biochemical terminology to me – even used a PowerPoint to go over my test results. (A POWERPOINT?! REALLY?! Who does that sort of thing? Only Super-docs.) But honestly, my exhausted, little pea-brain could not keep up.
I DID hear him say AIP and I DID hear him ask, “If healing your body and eliminating triggers for an autoimmune disease means giving up dairy (butter, Pecorino Romano and raw cheddar), are you be willing to do it?” Suddenly, everything got dark and I felt like I was under hot lights.
“I’m full-blooded Italian. I’ve given up gluten and grains. Now you want my Pecorino?” (whiny voice) “Yes” I said “I’m willing…but I won’t like you for awhile…”
The truth is, I think I’ve finally reached the point in my life where food just isn’t worth it. I mean, I’ve always loved it, savored it, enjoyed making lots of it, eating it with friends and family. But when you feel bad every day and finally realize certain foods could be contributing to that, or even causing it, then it becomes not worth it. (at least to me at this point in life)
So here we are. No more white navy beans, peanut butter, chocolate, dairy, eggs, nightshades (peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, or any spices that come from peppers like chili powder and paprika), seeds (no tahini or spices that come from seeds like mustard, cumin, black pepper), or nuts. Virtually all the good stuff. Oh! There’s also no processed foods, NSAIDS, alcohol, extremely limited unrefined sugar (such as honey, maple syrup, molasses, coconut sugar) and no caffeine. AND fruit is very restricted. (Super-doc is allowing me two servings of low-glycemic fruits per day – one serving must be mixed berries. Thank you, SD.)
Sounds fun, huh? I think I’ll throw a party! BUT WE CAN’T SERVE ANY FOOD AT THE PARTY BECAUSE NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD COME!
I have a great attitude about this AIP, can you tell?
Where do we go from here? Well – I’ve found a couple of sources online that have been a big help. I’m going to list them at the end of this post. Lord willing, if my stress levels are down and I have the energy, I’d really like to track my meal plans and post them on the blog. Won’t THAT be fun? All of you will get (have) to see what I’m eating on a daily basis. I’m doing this in the hopes that someone else will be helped and encouraged to stay on the AIP track if they need to.
After all, If this crybaby can do it, ANYONE can. I think this video reflects my mood…Karen Carpenter singing, “I’ll Say Goodbye to Food Love”
Melissa Joulwan (of Well Fed cookbooks) – Mel charted 30 days of AIP and shared some wonderful recipes.
See where I charted 30 plus days of my AIP journey, filled with whining, musings, recipes, and fun videos (to keep my spirits up).
Ah, the awful AIP! I’m sorry you have to take it on — but it is educational. Good luck to you!
This was awesome:
“Science, studies, biochemistry, immunology – blah, blah, blah. Let me boil it down for you:
YOU CAN’T EAT ANYTHING YOU LIKE ANYMORE.”
That is EXACTLY how I felt when I did the AIP. But I did get some fun new recipes out of it that I’m still eating, so it wasn’t all bad. And I learned I *probably* have a slight sensitivity to eggs so I can’t eat them all the time. Good to know! Hope it goes smoothly for you!
MELICIOUS!!! Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I LOVE your cookbook and really appreciate your AIP tracking. I made the Italian roast in the crock pot and also the Golden Cauliflower soup – which are about the only things I can choke down at the moment. I’ve NEVER used the words “choke” and “down” together when it came to food and eating. So, that said, I’m totally bummed but hoping it will get easier as time goes on. I know there’s a reason for doing AIP, (there must be or I sure as heck wouldn’t be doing it) and if it helps in the long run then I’ll be glad. I’ll just whine on the journey.
I laughed out loud when you said you sat through meals “like a sullen teenager” because I’m there, sister. I am THERE.
Thanks again –
Jen
Just *thinking* about giving up spices gives me the heeby-jeebies. It was pretty rough. But you can do it! The way I finally managed it was to just kick in my supreme stubbornness. 😉
I would feel exactly the same way!!! It will be well worth it and you will do great at it – hang in there!!!!!
Jen, you always make me laugh. This post was so funny. Mostly because I know how you feel. Long ago I did a diet like this, at the time it was a diet to kill candida, but I could still eat eggs and nuts (so I guess I don’t know exactly how you feel), but everything else you listed, gone. I did not have kids at the time either.
Anyway, I am going to follow you closely with this diet and see how you do and I hope you will report on how you are feeling along the way.
Good luck!!
xo,
–Amber
Hi Jen,
Just wanted to thank you for writing about the AIP diet. At the moment I’m doing the same thing with my diet to try and control my Crohn’s disease symptoms. I’m doing a combination of the Paleo and the SCD diet but I’ve taken out all FOD map foods, nightshades, nuts, cheeses, fruits, and now eggs. Hopefully this week I’ll be adding some things back. This is particularly hard for my greek husband. We’ve had to learn there is another spice besides garlic :). It’s nice to see someone out there with a diet as strict as mine. Thanks and hang in there!
Hey Leslie-
Thank you so much for commenting on my post! So sorry that you have Crohn’s – I’m sure you know physical suffering very well. My nutritionist has a lot of experience with helping Crohn’s patients – no pressure, but let me know if you’d like her contact info.
Give your Greek husband a hug! I love his nationality! 🙂 I’m sure it IS hard for him – but sweet that he’s going the distance with you. Is garlic off the FOD map list? When my doc said no nightshades I said, “I’m Italian! No tomatoes?! Are you going to take away my garlic next?!?” I didn’t think I was in danger of losing my beloved garlic at that point, but now I’m worried…
Wish you the best with healing the Crohn’s and also with your diet – Please keep me posted. I’d love to hear how you’re doing.
XO
Jen
Hey Jen,
As far as garlic, I’ve found it listed on a lot of FOD map food lists. My recent method is to use a small amount of powered garlic, not a Greek amount and not fresh, and I seem to tolerate it well. I’m sure your nutritinist would have said something if it were a problem. I’ve also read that people who can’t have garlic use garlic infused olive oil with luck, I never tried it. One day I might take you up on the nutritionist. At the moment my hands are full, I just got out of the hospital for a week and I don’t want another follow up appointment ;). Maybe you posted it and I missed it but how are you handling breakfast without grains and eggs? I just took out eating eggs for good in my diet. Without grains and eggs my breakfasts are very lunchy. It looks like you are rocking out on the diet. Hang in there 🙂
So sorry you’ve been in the hospital! I miss eggs very much but when I was doing the SCD, I made a lot of grain free baked goods that replaced grains for me. Now that replacements are out on AIP, I’m mostly doing this protein shake that my doc recommended for breakfast. I add ice, water and coconut milk to make it creamy. I’m not usually a person who likes sweet things in the morning, but I’ve gotten used to it. (It’s sweetened with Stevia.) When I’m not on the shake (it’s a liver cleanse shake), I just heat up leftovers from dinner and pretend it’s breakfast. Not exciting, but it works.
Thanks! I hope you’re recovering well from your hospital stay!
XXOO
Jen