The right diet can help ease pain and heal autoimmune diseases. In general, avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, grains, dairy and red meat, and focus on fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and fish.
Foods to avoid include grains, legumes, dairy, processed foods, refined sugars, industrial seed oils, eggs, nuts, seeds, nightshade vegetables, gum, alternative sweeteners, emulsifiers, and food thickeners, said Romano.
Antioxidant foods: Berries, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables (kale, cabbage, etc.), beans, tomatoes and beets. Omega-3 fatty acids: Olive oil, fish oil, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts or soybeans.
For many people, eggs are a healthy addition to their diet. But to a person with an autoimmune disease, eggs (especially egg whites) may cause issues. In addition, egg whites have a high incidence of allergy-related symptoms.
Focus on anti-inflammatory foods including wild fish and other sources of omega-3 fats, red and purple berries (these are rich in polyphenols), dark green leafy vegetables, orange sweet potatoes, and nuts. Add anti-inflammatory herbs, including turmeric (a source of curcumin), ginger, and rosemary, to your diet daily.
Cow's milk alternatives
Coconut milk is the best non-dairy milk alternative. It is AIP-friendly. Oat, hemp seed, almond, flaxseed, and cashew milks are not AIP-compliant because they come from nuts and seeds. Still, they are a better option than cow's milk to heal your gut and reduce symptoms.
Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice). Limit refined grains (like white rice and white bread).
AIP approved fruits include: Apples. Apricots. Bananas.
Protection against autoimmune diseases
Comparatively, within the acquired immune system, the caffeine content within coffee potentially suppresses the proliferation of Th1 and Th2 cells. As a result, coffee can reduce the damage caused by the release of cytokines due to overactive T- and B-cells.
Some of the foods to avoid that are known to affect the immune system in people with autoimmune diseases include: Nightshade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants. Grains like wheat, rice, oats, rye, barley, and foods made from grains such as breakfast cereals, bread, pasta.
Use nutrients such as fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, and probiotics to help calm your immune response naturally. Exercise regularly — it's a natural anti-inflammatory. Practice deep relaxation like yoga, deep breathing, biofeedback, or massage, because stress worsens the immune response.
Blueberry possesses antidepressant properties which may improve autoimmunity and reduce gastrointestinal infection.
(Spoiler: They don't.) "People with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may worry that these foods can lead to gut problems and, thus, worsen inflammation, but there's no evidence to support this fear," says Beaver.
Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and other nightshade vegetables are off-limits for patients with autoimmune disease. This is because these vegetables contain compounds such as the toxic glycoalkaloids that cause the immune system to overreact and induce inflammation.
Exclude/Limit Dairy. Products made with cow's milk can trigger inflammation. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that eliminating dairy products may reverse some autoimmune conditions. Focus on Healthy Plant Foods.
Psychological stress is reported to be a risk factor for autoimmune diseases, including Graves' disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Different types of stress and the length of time that stress is present might also affect the presentation of inflammatory autoimmune disease.
One of the compounds in green tea (EGCG) greatly increases important immune cells that help in the suppression of autoimmune disease.
Healthy probiotics (beneficial bacteria) can be helpful. Good sources may include fermented foods, such as kimchi and sauerkraut, unsweetened yogurts, coconut kefir, and probiotic supplements.
Avoid high doses of vitamin C, beta carotene, cat's claw, echinacea and ginseng, among others. Why add fuel to the fire? Doing so may cause you to slip out of remission and into more misery.
Other good whole-grain cereal choices include oatmeal and cream of wheat. Scientists believe that a low diversity of gut bacteria can contribute to some autoimmune diseases like Crohn's and rheumatoid arthritis. Fortunately, we can improve our microbiome with better food choices.
Like other sulfur-rich foods (cauliflower, radishes, cabbage, onions, kale), broccoli is rich in a powerful antioxidant called glutathione, which may help alleviate autoimmune diseases. It's key in taming chronic inflammation and protecting against oxidative stress.
An anti-inflammatory diet favors fruits and vegetables, foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains, lean protein, healthful fats, and spices. It discourages or limits the consumption of processed foods, red meats, and alcohol. The anti-inflammatory diet is not a specific regimen but rather a style of eating.