10 Nov What About the Paleo Diet for Autoimmune?

The paleo diet has gained a lot of popularity in the past decade, but as with most fad diets, that popularity came along with tons of misconceptions. So, what exactly is the paleo diet? And why is it good for autoimmune?

What is the Paleo diet?

The Paleo diet is based on the idea that we should eat whole foods that would have been available to our ancestors before the advent of farming. That means a mostly plant based diet that excludes grains, legumes, and dairy, though lately Paleo’s trended toward being more meat heavy.

You’ve probably heard people refer to the paleo diet as the “caveman” diet, but in fact, this dietary framework is backed by our contemporary physiology and modern research. Studies have shown that the paleo diet offers TONS of benefits, from supporting healthy weight loss to reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. 

What I want to talk about today is the paleo diet’s role in reducing autoimmune symptoms.

The benefits of Paleo for autoimmune

Did you know that 70% of our immune system is housed in our gut!? Yeah, didn’t think so.

“Good” bacteria in your gut encourage the reproduction of T-cells, which are like the watchdogs of the immune system. They identify potential harmful “intruders” like viruses in your body. But, if you have too much “bad” bacteria in your gut, your T-cells can get confused and signal your immune system to start attacking its own cells. With your immune system in this weakened state, it’s easier for you to get sick and harder for you to recover. 

All that cell biology background is just to illustrate how crucial gut health is to sustaining a strong immune system and keeping yourself healthy. 

Unfortunately, a lot of the foods that have become staples of modern life can cause inflammation and activate the immune system. Processed foods like soft drinks, vegetable oil, dairy products, margarine, sugar, grains, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol can damage your gut wall over time.

The Paleo diet can help heal the intestinal wall and restore gut flora because of its emphasis on nutrient dense, whole foods. Paleo also cuts out food triggers like the processed foods mentioned above, as well as foods that are high in lectins like legumes, beans, and nightshades. 

Download my guide to healing and harmful foods according to the Paleo AIP!

But the Paleo diet isn’t a magic bullet. If you want to see real change, you’ll probably have to make some lifestyle changes because things like exercise, sleep, and stress strongly influence our food choices and behaviors. For example, when we’re stressed we tend to crave sugar and snack more. When we sleep better, we’re less stressed and more likely to make healthier food choices. 

The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol builds on the Paleo diet to create an entire framework for intentional living. Let’s take a closer look.

The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol

The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol works by targeting 4 known contributors to autoimmune disease:

1. Nutrient density. Our immune system depends on nutrients to function, so imbalances or deficiencies can contribute to the progression (or even the development!) of autoimmune diseases. Paleo provides a nutrient rich diet that can help strengthen your immune system, regulate hormone production, heal damaged tissue and more! Before you begin the AIP, you may want to get some lab work done to see whether or not you have any deficiencies. Learn more about the labs I offer. 

• Gut health. When your intestinal wall (or “gut”) is functioning properly, it strictly regulates what gets absorbed into the bloodstream. However, poor diet can create fissures and holes in the gut, causing inflammation and the introduction of “bad” bacteria to our system. This is called “leaky gut.” The foods and recipes suggested in the Paleo AIP help heal the intestinal wall and restore that barrier to boost your immune system. 

1. Hormone regulation. Our diet – amongst other lifestyle factors like sleep and stress – can dramatically affect our hormone levels. Hormones, in turn, stimulate our immune system. Eating too much sugary food or grazing throughout the day (rather than eating 3 square meals) can throw our hormonal equilibrium off kilter. That’s why the AIP offers meal plans and weekly plans that can help stabilize your hormone levels.
2. Immune system regulation. By balancing and carefully monitoring all of the above, the AIP helps you keep your immune system at optimal health! The Paleo Autoimmune Protocol does not heal autoimmune disease, but it can help reduce the risk of further damage. While medical treatment for autoimmune is often required, taking a whole-body approach to health can make all the difference. Don’t underestimate the benefits of eating and living healthy as part of your health care plan.

To learn more about the Paleo AIP check out this blog post.

To learn more about the services and programs I offer, simply click here.

Related posts:

Why the Autoimmune Protocol? Why Women are Especially at Risk for Autoimmune Diseases