What is the AIP diet?
The autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet is a structured elimination diet designed to manage symptoms of autoimmune diseases by minimizing inflammation. Rooted in the principles of the Paleo diet (Konijeti et al., 2017), it excludes foods known to exacerbate immune responses and focuses on incorporating nutrient-dense options to promote healing. This diet is particularly beneficial for individuals with autoimmune disease conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease.
This autoimmune protocol diet consists of three phases:
Elimination phase
In this phase, potential inflammatory triggers, including grains, legumes, dairy, nuts, seeds, nightshade vegetables, refined sugars, processed foods, minimally processed vegetable oils, alcohol, and food additives, are removed. The goal is to reduce immune activation and inflammation.
Reintroduction phase
Foods are reintroduced systematically to evaluate their impact on symptoms. This helps pinpoint specific triggers that may need permanent exclusion, such as certain food additives or processed foods.
Maintenance phase
During this phase, a personalized, sustainable approach is established by integrating safe, nutrient-dense foods while avoiding known inflammatory triggers. This phase aims for long-term autoimmune control and symptom management.










