The Everyday Bean

I apologize for taking so long to get back to my blog. I’ve been very ill with bronchitis and lagging energy. I think that I am finally on the upswing, thankfully.

Being sick has taught me that I need to take better care of my health. I have an autoimmune disorder that causes a great deal of pain in my joints. It also causes me to suffer severe fatigue related to anemia. Rather than suffer with the symptoms, I’ve decided to do something about it. I am going on the AIP diet. Let me say at the outset that I am not a medical doctor and nothing I say here should be construed as medical advice. Please seek the services of competent medical professionals if you decide to pursue this diet.

Essentially, the premise of the AIP diet is that certain types of foods trigger inflammation in the body. The goal of the diet is to reduce inflammation in the body. There are two phases of the diet: core and modified.

In the Core AIP diet, you can eat vegetables (except nightshades such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, white potatoes, and chilies. And some spices. You can also eat organ meats, meat and drink bone broth. You can eat fish and shellfish, herbs and spices, fermented foods, and healthy fats such as coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil.

In the Modified AIP diet, you can eat all of the foods from the core diet plus ghee, rice and pseudo grains, legumes (except peanuts and soy), and seeds including coffee and cocoa.

Anything that is not on this list is forbidden until the inflammation is under control and then you can reintroduce one inflammatory food at a time to gauge your response.

I plan to do this diet until my inflammation is completely under control, I’ve lost weight, and I have more energy. I will make sure that I eat a wide variety of foods and drink plenty of water. I will do my best to eat AIP compliant foods even during the holidays and birthdays, not because I want to deprive myself from regular food, but because I don’t want to have to start all over; I definitely don’t want to have a flare.

I will also do my best to document my meals each day. I’d love to know if any of you are doing the AIP diet. I’d love your tips and tricks!