When I feel like my physical is completely derailing – weight gain, inflammation, and pain from lupus – I know that is time re-think my dietary needs. For just over a year or so, I have tried out the Auto Immune Protocol (AIP) diet to try and ascertain my lupus triggers. It could be weather, mental or physical stress or what I’m eating or any combination of the above.
I have tried many different diets, but the most successful one thus far is the AIP diet. It’s the most restrictive but a life changer nonetheless. I found out that my biggest trigger is sugar, so I try to avoid it as much as possible when I’m on the AIP diet. The only sugars that I consume during this time are natural sugars in fruits, in which two fruit servings are allowed per day. That seems odd, but it works but I am able to eat as many vegetables (not including nightshades) as I want.
So, the way it works is that you eliminate foods and then slowly reintroduce them into your diet after a set amount of time to find out what you’re sensitive to or what your triggers are. For me, I was successful for twenty-one days straight my first time. I read somewhere that if you do something for that long, it becomes a habit. Well, it was a habit until the holiday came around and I was expected to bake cakes and rolls and when I ate some of the cake, I felt sick. I had migraines and felt nauseous. I hadn’t felt like that in a long time before that, so I knew it had to be the cake. But, if you fall off one day, just start over the next meal.
Here is a copy of the list I located of which foods to enjoy and those to avoid :
There are tons of lists, books and recipes on the internet, though this was the easiest list to understand. I’ve also joined several groups on Facebook which promote AIP diets for those with Chronic Illnesses. I would advise anyone trying it for the first time, to read as much about it as possible and speak with your doctor before trying it.
I’m on my Day #4 this time. I just ate a huge salad with lettuce, cranberries, and baked chicken and I can eat as much as I want…as long as it’s on the list. I can’t guarantee that you will lose weight and feel wonderful, but I have every time that I’ve been on it.
Well, good luck and I’m hoping this helps someone. 
Lupus has a way of masking itself as other ailments. In the past, I’ve had to go to opthamologists because I briefly lost sight in my eyes. They said it was swelling, gave me some medicine and told me to come back in a few days. When I lost hearing in both my ears, the audiologist said it was swelling in my ears, gave me some medicine and told me to come back in a few days. Once, my heart felt as if it was going to explode. It felt like it was too big for my chest (only way to define the pain). The emergency room physician said the tests determined that my heart was fine, the EKG didn’t show anything but gave me some Dilaudid and sent me home. It was if I’d made it up in my head, but I didn’t. So, now I just don’t go to the doctor whenever something happens. I figure it’s probably Lupus.
lavender fields creations 