Sarah Ballantyne's Autoimmune Protocol
baconslave
Posts: 7,026 Member
Has anyone had a favorable experience doing this protocol for reducing inflammation?
I'm planning on embarking on an AIP to see if I can improve the symptoms of what is increasingly looking like Sjogren's Syndrome. Hoping to get at least a small improvement in symptoms so that I don't end up with irreversible eye damage. And also so I can sleep for more than an hour at a time.
It is very restrictive.
Is it good or is there a better one?
I'm wanting to stay keto through it if possible.
And does anyone do turmeric, and it actually work? Other spices or herb that work to reduce inflammation?
Recipes to help a cheese/dairy addict? I'm afraid I may starve to death. I do have real coconut milk to work with though. Not a fan, but it will do.
Thoughts?
I'm planning on embarking on an AIP to see if I can improve the symptoms of what is increasingly looking like Sjogren's Syndrome. Hoping to get at least a small improvement in symptoms so that I don't end up with irreversible eye damage. And also so I can sleep for more than an hour at a time.
It is very restrictive.
Is it good or is there a better one?
I'm wanting to stay keto through it if possible.
And does anyone do turmeric, and it actually work? Other spices or herb that work to reduce inflammation?
Recipes to help a cheese/dairy addict? I'm afraid I may starve to death. I do have real coconut milk to work with though. Not a fan, but it will do.
Thoughts?
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Replies
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baconslave wrote: »Has anyone had a favorable experience doing this protocol for reducing inflammation?
I'm planning on embarking on an AIP to see if I can improve the symptoms of what is increasingly looking like Sjogren's Syndrome. Hoping to get at least a small improvement in symptoms so that I don't end up with irreversible eye damage. And also so I can sleep for more than an hour at a time.
It is very restrictive.
Is it good or is there a better one?
I'm wanting to stay keto through it if possible.
And does anyone do turmeric, and it actually work? Other spices or herb that work to reduce inflammation?
Recipes to help a cheese/dairy addict? I'm afraid I may starve to death. I do have real coconut milk to work with though. Not a fan, but it will do.
Thoughts?
Haven't heard of that protocol, (I'll look into it) or that condition ~ but there are dozens of anti-inflammatory regimes. For gut dysbiosis, I'm doing the "Bone Broth diet".
And I have heard that Turmeric, Ginger and cinnamon are all superfood anti-inflammatories.
I'm thinking about making some homemade mustard/tumeric/vinegar as a condiment for my meats.
I hope this helps,
Dan the Man from Michigan
Keto / The Recipe Water Fasting / E.A.S.Y. Exercise Program
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baconslave wrote: »Has anyone had a favorable experience doing this protocol for reducing inflammation?
I'm planning on embarking on an AIP to see if I can improve the symptoms of what is increasingly looking like Sjogren's Syndrome. Hoping to get at least a small improvement in symptoms so that I don't end up with irreversible eye damage. And also so I can sleep for more than an hour at a time.
It is very restrictive.
Is it good or is there a better one?
I'm wanting to stay keto through it if possible.
And does anyone do turmeric, and it actually work? Other spices or herb that work to reduce inflammation?
Recipes to help a cheese/dairy addict? I'm afraid I may starve to death. I do have real coconut milk to work with though. Not a fan, but it will do.
Thoughts?
Haven't heard of that protocol, (I'll look into it) or that condition ~ but there are dozens of anti-inflammatory regimes. For gut dysbiosis, I'm doing the "Bone Broth diet".
And I have heard that Turmeric, Ginger and cinnamon are all superfood anti-inflammatories.
I'm thinking about making some homemade mustard/tumeric/vinegar as a condiment for my meats.
I hope this helps,
Dan the Man from Michigan
Keto / The Recipe Water Fasting / E.A.S.Y. Exercise Program
Thanks, Dan.0 -
It looks like an elimination diet. Cutting out sugar and all forms of grains fixed me OK. I need to see if there are other things I need to eliminate or add.
The wife as been using Turmeric and Cinnamon for years and I have hit her stash the last several days seeing if they help in any way that I can tell.
I do think continuing to read/test is important.0 -
Dr. Ballantyne has a good rep and her AIP has helped a lot of people.
Check out Dr. Terry Wahls too.1 -
Dr. Ballantyne has some recipes on her website (thepaleomom.com/), and so does
asquirrelinthekitchen.com/
autoimmune-paleo.com/recipes/
grazedandenthused.com/http://
To stay keto on top of it, obviously, you'd have to made some adjustments, but it's do-able.0 -
AIP is arguably the de facto way of eating for dealing with autoimmune conditions. I know a few people who follow it and have vastly improved quality of life because of it.
It does take some adjustment, but there are a ton of resources now to help.1 -
I like Wahls' Protocol It is similar in some of what it cuts out.
I think there is something to those diets... as much as I HATE to admit it. I know that dairy can be an issue for me. Nuts seem to catch up with me too. Coffee? I almost don't care - I'll take the pain instead.
My arthritis is falring up on me this spring too. I have been bone tired for weeks. That feeling of coming down with the flu without ever getting it, and my joints just hurt. That's part of the reason I am doing the all animal April, I need a strict plan to get me back to a better place. Sometimes getting strict seems to turn things around for a long while (or it is just a happy coincidence).
I hope it works for you. You've had a hard go lately.1 -
I've followed it for the past 2.5 years. It's a tough transition, but the most restrictive phase is only a month or so. It's ok to try and re-introduce the food you miss the most first.
The first time I started AIP there was one item that I didn't eliminate, and I still had benefit of the protocol. About a year or so later, I did another elimination phase and was able to eliminate it then.
Dr Ballentyne doesn't advocate for a low-carb approach in AI diseases, as ketosis can cause flares for some people. Many people point to a period of rapid weight loss as the onset of their AI disease, as well, but I wonder if that can be due to an acute-on-chronic micronutrient malnutrition.
Many people think of the AIP as only restrictive, but it's not. It's important to remember that it's a healing diet, meaning there's a lot of emphasis on nutrient dense foods.
@baconslave you might find you have to increase your carb limit a bit to manage the 6-9 servings of various veggies a day (I don't recall your current carb goals, but when I'm on the full AIP I typically can get as low as 70net carbs)
The biggest benefit, for me, was seeing which foods cause flares, and which contribute to other signs of joint pain and inflammation. Once you go through the elimination phase, your inflammatory symptoms will subside. I'm guessing that the body's endogenous anti-inflammatory pathways also down- regulate. During re-introduction, when you get an inflammatory response it is quite noticeable. I was surprised to find that I react to almonds and soy most strongly (worse than gluten for me)-- these were foods I had eaten regularly prior to the AIP. Other foods that I reacted to and was surprised about were tomatoes, most grains (some white rice is ok), sugars, corn and corn products. Some of these I can tolerate in small amounts, others I avoid as best I can.
AIP hasn't cured my primary AI disorders. But, it has eliminated most of my joint and muscle pains and helps keep me out of Myasthenic Crises (i.e. Respiratory failure) which is a bonus. It's also cleared up my skin and helped stop GERD.
All of Dr Ballentyne's info is available free on her PaleoMom website. For recipes, however, I prefer AutoimmuneProtocol.com (Angie and Mickey run this site, they also have a 6-week transition to AIP program), Phoenix Helix, and Curious Coconut for recipes.1 -
Thank you all for the detailed information and thoughtful responses.
I had a conversation with DH last night; he seems to think it's his business what is on my plate and thinks I'm part of a low-carb cult and therefore crazy. But he conceded that at this point, something has to happen, and one of the recommendations for treatment for SS is an anti-inflammatory diet.
I am so miserable at night and can't sleep for more than an hour at a time because I don't produce enough of the right kind of tears. My eyelids stick to my eye. The other dry-body symptoms and fatigue are highly annoying and uncomfortable, but the eyes are the dealbreaker. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's a brief blog post about it. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/baconslave/view/chasing-silver-linings-828468
I accidentally slept too deeply last night (couldn't help it-too exhausted) that I had another corneal erosion. I may have to start setting an alarm to wake me to reapply ointment and drops to avoid rips. I'm hoping that finding a source of dietary-induced inflammation will make my body ease off on attacking my moisture glands. There is no cure and very little treatment for Sjogren's. I'm in danger of losing my vision over time. I'm not looking for a miracle recovery, just a decrease in symptoms so I can function and stop injuring my eye just because I dare to sleep. I can't homeschool my kids or drive if I can't see, and an exhausted mom is a poor parent. The next step is probably either amniotic lenses applied to my eyes or surgery to create scar tissue that will keep my cornea attached. Both very expensive and probably painful in more than the wallet. And that still doesn't address the issue of the apocalyptic severe dry eye. I feel so awful for bankrupting my family over my health.
It is so frustrating to change your whole lifestyle, and work so hard to achieve optimal health so you can be the best mom and wife you can be, and then for your body to betray you like this. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to that feel. I've given up so much (career, identity, independence, and food indulgence). And now I have to sacrifice more. But that's reality, and I have to live with it. It's almost like grief. I went through grief over having to divorce myself from the crappy carbs, and endlessly mocked myself for the petty nonsense of that reaction. If nothing else, I guess, I'll just have to further develop my emotional detachment to food. It will really just be fuel. No coffee? No tea? No dairy? Part of me just says: Please just shoot me. But I have kids and a spouse I'm letting down with that mentality. I'm not going to do that. In the end, it's just food. So I'll stop being a whiny brat and suck it up and be a big girl. Just like through all the other awful crap life throws at me, I'll survive. There are people who have it worse. Stop sniveling, Jess.
Thanks for listening.
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((Hugs))0
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I also struggle with an autoimmune disease, which presents a mix of lupus and SS. I take plaquenil, and have started restasis for the dry eye, as well as artificial tears all day long. My eyelids are acting like sandpaper on my corneas and causing abrasions. Your situation sounds much more serious. I apply hot compresses to my closed eyes several times a day. For me, it does provide some temporary relief.
I have to say reading your post, I realize that I share a lot of the same feelings about being betrayed by my body. I have noticed improvements with this WOE though.
I hope things improve for you.
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In a world of illness and symptoms you can't control, diet is something you can.
And a piece of unsolicited advice: make a list of the foods that you can eat. It will shift your focus away from thinking of what you've lost. Make a list of how SS hasn't affected your life, and be grateful for it. Start a gratitude journal, and log 3 things each day that you're grateful for.
The pity parties will suck your energy, and the stress makes your inflammatory reaction worse. You have to learn how to move through that muck without becoming stuck in it.1
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