Men who suffer from autoimmune disorders may benefit from trying the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet, which aims to reduce inflammation, fatigue, pain and other symptoms.
This elimination diet involves cutting certain foods out of your diet for weeks to note if there are any benefits to your health. The AIP diet is similar to the paleo diet in that it’s mostly focused on proteins, vegetables and fruits (but not nuts and seeds). The focus is on consuming foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients while avoiding additives (including sugar) that might trigger an autoimmune response.
What to eat on the AIP Diet
Although this list isn’t complete, it gives you a general idea of what you may be asked to eat while on the AIP Diet:
- lean meats and liver
- small amounts of fruits
- any vegetables (except vegetables from the nightshade family)
- fermented foods
- olive, avocado and coconut oil
- seafood that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids
What to avoid
Besides the obvious (fast foods, sugars and food additives), you should avoid the following foods and drinks until you know they aren’t triggering autoimmune symptoms:
- alcohol
- eggs
- grains
- dairy products
- coffee
- legumes
- some vegetable oils
- nuts and seeds
- nightshade vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes)
Why the AIP Diet might help
Experts have theorized that autoimmune conditions begin with a leaky gut. So, if your gut’s bacteria reaches other parts of the body, the toxins and viruses can trigger inflammation. By eating the foods on the AIP Diet, you may be able to change the bacterial composition of your gut and prevent the immune system from attacking tissues.
Some research indicates that food allergies may make the gut wall more porous.
More research needs to be done, but some studies have shown that volunteers on the AIP Diet reported fewer symptoms and an improved quality of life.
