Paleo Diet Can Help Treat Autoimmune Conditions

 

What is the paleo diet?

 

The basic belief of paleo/primal diet is that people should eat like their hunter-gatherer ancestors. In other words, what we should eat is the food that humans could obtain before the prosperity of agriculture. This requires us to eat only natural and unprocessed foods. Do not eat foods containing grains, legumes, processed, packaged foods and beverages.

 

What foods are included?

 

  • Pastured Meat & Eggs
  • Wild-caught Seafood
  • Organic Vegetables and Fruits
  • Nuts and Seeds
  • Oils and Fats: coconut oil, olive oil, butter from pastured cows, lard, tallow
  • Herbs & Spices

 

What foods are excluded?

 

  • Refined Grains: oatmeal, toast, muffins, pasta, pancakes, pizza dough, pita, bagels, etc.
  • Whole Grains: wheat, rice, barley, corn, rye, millet, bulgur wheat, and amaranth
  • Grain-like Seeds: quinoa, buckwheat
  • Legumes: beans, peas, soy
  • Processed Dairy Products: pasteurized cheese and milk, sugary yogurt, ice cream
  • Processed Foods & Beverages: protein bars, cookies, pretzels, snack packs, sweetened sodas, juice, energy drinks, hamburger, chicken nugget

 

What autoimmune conditions can the paleo diet help treat?

 

1. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

 

One study found that the AIP(autoimmune paleo diet) can improve clinical responses in IBD. The researchers monitored 18 adults with IBD who underwent an elimination diet for six weeks, followed by a five-week maintenance phase. At the end of the study, the participants all had an endoscopy. 

 

The study found that symptoms improved significantly in some people, but worsened in two of the participants who had ileal strictures, a common complication of Crohn's disease, before the study began.

 

Dietary changes can be used as an adjunct in the treatment of IBD. However, in practice, it is important to note that each individual’s condition is different and this treatment requires counseling and close follow-up. 

 

2. Celiac Disease

 

The paleo diet excludes gluten foods, so it is often used to treat celiac patients who are marked by gluten intolerance. For those diagnosed with celiac disease, following a gluten-free diet is necessary to fight symptoms. However, the paleo diet is not necessarily suitable for everyone who needs to treat celiac disease, and it is not the only option.

 

3. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

 

There is a study showing that the paleo diet may help with MS. For this research, 10 out of 13 participants enrolled in a two-week study, then went on to be observed over a 12-month period. Eventually, 8 people completed the study and 6 of them fully stuck with the paleo diet. Participants' symptoms improved significantly. Although there are successful cases, more studies are still needed to prove it.

 

4. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

 

Hashimoto thyroiditis affects 1 to 2 percent of people in the United States. It occurs more often in women than in men, which may be related to hormonal factors.

 

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease with symptoms including weight gain (metabolic disturbance), depression, and fatigue. Some evidence suggests that eating a Paleo diet can cure it. A low-carb diet (part Paleo in fact) may reduce thyroid antibodies that signify Hashimoto's disease. Before adopting a paleo diet, consult your physician about your Hashimoto's treatment.

 

5. Skin Conditions 

 

The paleo diet's ability to curb inflammation plays an important role in improving chronic skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. In a 2017 survey of people with psoriasis, nearly 70 percent reported a good response to the paleo diet.

 

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "People With IBD Have More Chronic Diseases."

2. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. "A Multimodal Intervention for Patients With Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Feasibility and Effect on Fatigue."

3. Dermatology and Therapy. "Dietary Behaviors in Psoriasis: Patient-Reported Outcomes From a U.S. National Survey."

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