There are a variety of dietary protocols designed to support wellness in the presence of autoimmune disease. Some are more effective and easier to implement than others; we provide a survey of such diets for our members so that you can identify which, and which approach, may be best for you. The Autoimmune Protocol or “AIP” is one such protocol that has been gaining in popularity due to its effectiveness in first calming inflammation through an elimination diet, and then helping individuals find the widest range of foods to safely eat without reigniting symptoms. There are now clinical study results* demonstrating the effectiveness of this particular diet in addition to the many testimonials on record. Members are invited to learn more about it.
Two important observations come to light when learning about how to pursue a healing-based approach to managing autoimmune disease. One is that experts agree that an important key lies in the gut — no matter through which part of the body the disease presents. And the second is that the treatment protocol involves making changes in lifestyle.
Think about that for a moment. You can make significant improvement in your quality of life – or the quality of life of your loved one suffering from autoimmune disease — by improving diet and other factors that affect gut health, as well as by making improvements in lifestyle habits. This means that it’s within your power to improve quality of life.
I had a hard time with the drugs prescribed for me when I was first diagnosed with a serious chronic autoimmune illness. I was running out of options. But then functional medicine changed my life. I am not dependent on pharmaceutical drugs, and my quality of life has improved dramatically. Where I was originally told that I’d need to be on medication every day for the rest of my life, I’m so glad to be able to say that that’s not what’s happening.
I find it fascinating and rewarding to do the detective work on what’s causing illness versus just treating the symptoms. We’re looking into what’s causing issues for my son, and I’m able to bring my investigative experience and interest in learning more about functional medicine to identify a healthier approach, which is helping him be more successful with his day-to-day quality of life.
I never imagined that Rhuematoid Arthritis could be related to thyroid disease, IBD, and other autoimmune conditions. It just didn’t seem related – after all, we see different specialists for each of those illnesses, don’t we? Functional medicine is opening up a whole new world for me. I never thought gluten was a problem for me – again, it didn’t seem related, since I don’t have digestive disorders. But I’m thrilled to be feeling better and in less pain. It’s never too late to start!
