Hooray! The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook by Mickey Trescott is finally available in hardback! What makes this cookbook so special? Well, not only is it packed full of over 110 fantastic recipes which are 100% paleo, the recipes also adhere to the autoimmune protocol (AIP). That means no eggs, no nuts, no nightshades and no sneaky seed-based spices in addition to no grains and legumes of course. But trust me, this isn’t a cookbook which will make you feel like you are on a “diet.” These are recipes you will want to have on hand even if you aren’t doing AIP. The fact that these recipes heal your gut is just a nice bonus.
If you’ve been eating paleo for a while and still have some persisting symptoms you can’t quite figure out perhaps a 30 day autoimmune protocol will help you figure out if you’re reacting to a few foods. Mickey explains how to reintroduce foods after 30 days so you can figure out which foods are triggering symptoms for you.
What is the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol?
Approximately 50 million people in the US alone suffer from autoimmune diseases, and the numbers are only expected to rise. Modern medicine has been horrendously ineffective in dealing with autoimmune diseases and generally recommends a slew of medicines and pills rather than anything to treat the actual cause of the problem. What is the cause? In most cases, it all comes down to your gut. If your gut becomes damaged and inflamed, then particles of undigested food can pass into your bloodstream. Your immune system attacks these particles but you end up with food sensitivities. The scary thing is that these undigested food particles often resemble parts of your own body. In confusion, your immune system can end up attacking itself, which is what happens in the case of autoimmune diseases.
People with food sensitivities, leaky gut syndrome, or full-blown autoimmune diseases can heal their gut (and reduce or reverse their symptoms) by sticking to a Paleo Autoimmune Protocol diet with a focus on nutrient density.
On AIP, in addition to the foods we eliminate on a paleo diet, you will also need to temporarily remove these foods from your diet for at least 30 days and then reintroduce to see if your symptoms reoccur:
- Eggs
- Nightshades (veggies and spices)
- Dairy
- Nuts and seeds
Switching to a paleo diet seems like a big enough challenge for people coming off of the Standard American Diet. So, I can understand how overwhelming the AIP diet seems. That is what is so beautiful about Mickey’s cookbook. The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook has so many recipes, and they are suited for pretty much any situation in your life. Quick meals for a busy weeknight? Check. Gourmet-style meals for a fancy dinner party? Check. Nutritious meals that even your kids will like? Check.
I’m a girl who needs a treat every once in a while, so I was really excited to try all of the delicious AIP dessert recipes in the book, like the cinnamon ginger baked pears which are soooo easy to make.
Along with the 110+ recipes, The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook also has two different 4-week meal plans complete with shopping lists. It doesn’t get any easier than that! Well, actually, it does because Mickey also gives you lots of useful tips for making AIP go more smoothly. Did I mention that Mickey is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and personal chef? So, you are getting advice from a true pro. Mickey has personally helped me troubleshoot some health issues in the past and her insight is something I can personally vouch for. Mickey is also battling two autoimmune diseases (Celiac and Hashimotos Thyroiditis) so she knows exactly how important the autoimmune protocol is for healing.
The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook is available in hardcover. There is also an eBook version, but the hardcover is more comprehensive and has more recipes than the eBook. You can buy the Hardcover here or buy the eBook here.
To give you an idea of how great this cookbook is, here is a tasty sample she was kind enough to let me share with you!
Garlic Mayo Recipe (Paleo, AIP)
Ingredients:
- ½ cup coconut concentrate (also known as coconut manna or coconut butter. You can buy it hereand Mickey also includes a recipe in her book for how to make it)
- ½ cup filtered water, warm
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic
- ¼ teaspoons salt
Instructions:
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high for a minute or two, until a thick sauce forms (when freshly made, it should resemble the consistency of conventional mayonnaise).
2. If the sauce is too thick, thin with water until the desired consistency is reached.
*Note: In order to measure the coconut concentrate, it is best to soften it in a warm water bath before use as it is solid at room temperature.
Storage: Keeps well in the refrigerator, but hardens. Let come to room temperature or warm to soften before serving.
See the cookbook for serving suggestions!
Get your copy of The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbookhere.
FAQs
Garlic. Another food I recommend you add to your AIP diet is garlic. Garlic is a prebiotic, so it feeds good bacteria in your gut. This can be helpful if you're suffering from an autoimmune disease because your gut and your immune system link together.
Are bananas OK for autoimmune? ›
Examples of foods you can eat while on the AIP diet include: Vegetables that aren't nightshade vegetables like cucumbers, spinach, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Fresh fruits like apples, oranges, mangos, strawberries, bananas and blueberries.
Is xanthan gum AIP compliant? ›
Guar gum comes from the endosperm of the guar bean and xantham gum is secreted by a bacteria called Xanthom*onas Camestris. Both guar gum and xantham gum have a high propensity for altering the gut microbiome and should be avoided on the autoimmune protocol.
Are chia seeds AIP compliant? ›
In Core AIP, all grains, grain-like seeds, and gluten are eliminated including oats, wheat, chia, quinoa and rice. Modified AIP permits rice and pseudo-grains.
Can garlic trigger autoimmune disease? ›
(3) Garlic
Unfortunately, the enhancement of immune response is counterproductive in people with autoimmune disease such as lupus, because their immune system is already overactive. As a result, people with lupus and lupus-like signs should avoid cooking with garlic and adding it to food.
How do you use garlic as an anti-inflammatory? ›
As if wasn't already super nutritious and low in calories, garlic also offers anti-inflammatory benefits. Garlic contains diallyl disulfide an anti-inflammatory compound that limits the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines. If you have sore and inflamed joints or muscles, you can rub them with garlic oil.
What is a super food for autoimmune? ›
Foods for Calming Autoimmune Disease Symptoms
- Leafy Greens. Caffeine and stress deplete magnesium, so incorporating food sources that add these nutrients back into your diet is increasingly more important in our fast-paced world. ...
- Turmeric. ...
- Broccoli and Cauliflower. ...
- Salmon. ...
- Berries. ...
- Sauerkraut.
First off, fruit itself is not restricted on the Autoimmune Protocol. Different varieties of fruit (especially colorful ones) come loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are a great compliment to a healing diet. While fruit can have a lot of sugar, that in itself is not reason enough to avoid it.
Is avocado AIP compliant? ›
You should also avoid certain medications during this phase, namely non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen. So what should you eat? The diet focuses on eating fresh produce. You can also eat meat and fish, bone broth, avocado, honey, vinegars, fresh herbs, sweet potatoes, and more.
Is Stevia allowed on AIP? ›
Non-AIP compliant sugars
In general, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and natural sweeteners that do not have calories (such as stevia) should be avoided, especially in the elimination phase of the AIP diet.
AIP-approved fruits to enjoy: Lemon. Guava. Cantaloupe.
Are chickpeas allowed on AIP diet? ›
Beans and Lentils
They also contain high amounts of fiber that can irritate some people's intestines. These are foods to avoid on AIP (particularly during elimination phase). This is more often the case with harder-to-digest varieties like black beans, red lentils, and chickpeas than white beans or split peas.
Why are there no tomatoes on AIP? ›
Tomatoes (skins and seeds) contain lectins which causes inflammation in susceptible people. Autoimmune people's antibodies when binding to self cause and can perpetuate inflammation. Short answer, no. The AIP diet excludes all foods in the nightshade family.
Are green beans OK on AIP? ›
Green beans are typically included in the paleo diet, but they should be avoided if you are currently in full elimination phase of the AIP or Autoimmune Protocol. They contain lectins and agglutinins, which are hard to digest, and they can compromise the lining of you guts.
What spices are not allowed on AIP? ›
What spices are NOT allowed on AIP?
- Allspice.
- Anise Seed.
- Annatto Seed.
- Black Caraway.
- Black Cumin.
- Black Pepper.
- Caraway.
- Cardamom.
Onions and garlic are among the highest-FODMAP foods and are also among the most commonly used on AIP, because we rely so much on them for flavoring. Despite this, we don't eliminate these foods, because SIBO is not an issue across the board for those with autoimmune disease.
What seasonings are allowed on AIP? ›
First, a list of AIP herbs and spices you probably already know and don't need much explanation. You can still use basil, bay leaves, chives, cilantro/coriander leaves, cinnamon, cloves, dill weed, garlic, ginger, onion powder, parsley, mints, marjoram, rosemary, sage, thyme, and vanilla bean.
What herbs should autoimmune patients avoid? ›
Experts believe echinacea stimulates the immune system. This may cause an exaggerated autoimmune response and an increase in flare-ups of symptoms in people with lupus. Taking echinacea long term may also cause a low white blood cell count.
