Also paleo, Whole30 compliant, and keto-friendly.
Her identical twin sister has Hashimoto's disease, in which the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland, along with celiac disease. Flanigan and her sister both follow the diet. As clients go through diet phases, Flanigan monitors their symptoms, and working with their doctors, she tracks results of medical tests to detect inflammation. Of clients' doctors, she says, about "25 percent are open and agreeable" to the diet, while the rest are resistant. Kirkpatrick says among her own patients, eliminating some of the paleo-restricted foods can have "remarkable" results for some: They no longer have gas, bloating or arthritic joint pain, for example. "So there is power here that science needs to catch up with to figure out, " she says. "What do we know from a scientific perspective about these foods and overall health? " The most important thing, Kirkpatrick says, whether people are trying the paleo method or some other type of elimination diet to calm their inflammation, is to work with their physician or dietitian.
Motivated patients say it makes them feel better. (Photo: Getty Images) Most people think of the paleo diet as the meat lover's way to lose weight. But some people with autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are turning to a refined paleo version to improve life-disrupting symptoms such as pain and fatigue. While medical experts not affiliated with the plan offer mixed feedback, patients willing to make the effort say the autoimmune paleo diet improves their quality of life. Cutting Food Groups Many people who follow the autoimmune protocol, which encompasses lifestyle as well as dietary changes, learned of it through the work of Sarah Ballantyne, who has an extensive background in medical research and whose most recent book is "The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body. " She makes the connection between autoimmune disease and diet on The Paleo Mom website. Related: 6 Reasons To Be Wary About Ordering Salmon The standard paleo diet starts with a strict elimination phase.