Although I personally have never followed the AIP Diet exactly, I do believe that it stays true to the fundamental principles of natural healing. For that reason, the AIP diet is certainly an approach that is worth doing some more research on if you are searching for the best diet approach for you and your skin health.
So, is the AIP Diet good for psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis? While there certainly is no one size fits all diet approach that is going to work for everyone, the AIP Diet can definitely be effective for many people who are attempting to heal their skin disease naturally.
What is the AIP diet?
The AIP diet, also know as the autoimmune protocol is very similar to the paleo diet but is more restrictive in nature. With that in mind, AIP is ultimatley an elimination protocol and generally leaves the dieter in a position to reintroduce some of the restricted foods back into their diet as time goes on.
The foods that you will find at the foundation of the AIP diet are meat, fish, vegetables, and some fruit. The idea here is basically to follow a very strict and basic template in the beginning and slowly reintroduce other foods one at a time in order to have a basis for understanding how you react to certain foods.
As with other healing based diets, the AIP approach is focused on eliminating inflammation and nourishing the gut. Psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis are all gut related issues and correcting bad gut health is the only true way to reset your immune system and reverse these diseases.
What to eat
As I stated, the AIP diet is fairly restrictive in comparison to some other healing diets. But it is certainly not the most restrictive. Although this may make this diet approach tough for some people to follow, I personally think it can be quite satisfying and does a great job of focusing on foods that are proven to provide healing results. You really just need to have the motivation to embrace the diet.
Vegetables
Unless you are reading up on the carnivore diet, which is still somewhat suspicious to me, vegetables are going to be a huge part of whatever skin health diet you find. These foods are loaded with gut revitalizing micronutrients that can have a major impact on the healing process. Let me also add that nightshade vegetables are not a recommended AIP food.
Some of the allowed vegetables
- Asparagus
- Brocoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Leafy greens
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Cauliflower
- Cucumber
- Beets
- Mushrooms
- Onions
Fruits
Fruits are another one of those food groups that can play a huge role in skin disease reversal. While many diets you find will eliminate or restrict fruit, I have found all fruit to be great for me and my skin. With that in mind, the AIP diet suggests that you should limit your fruit intake to 2-4 servings a day.
Some of the allowed fruits
- Apple
- Banana
- Avocado
- Citrus
- Watermelon
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Pear
- Pomegranate
- Dates
Meat and Fish
No matter which diet you follow, I would highly suggest that you consume the most quality animal products you can find. Opting for organic meats that have been raised with no antibiotics or added hormones and wild caught fish is crucial in my option. I should also make the point that eggs are not included in the allowed foods list of the AIP diet.
Some of the allowed meat and fish
- Beef
- Chicken
- Salmon
- Cod
- Shellfish
- Turkey
- Venison
- Bison
- Duck
Fats
While AIP does not allow many foods that are widely considered healthy fats that I will touch on in the what not to eat section, there are certain fat sources that are allowed. Although I eat a few of the fat sources that AIP doesn’t allow, I do think that eliminating these fats at first is a good approach as they could cause digestive issues in some people.
Some of the allowed fasts
- Avocado oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Tallow
- Chicken fat
Herbs & Spices
Who doesn’t like exciting their food a little bit with some herbs and spices? Most herbs and spices will be allowed on just about any diet you find. With that in mind AIP does advise against certain herbs and spices that I will touch on in the next section.
Some of the allowed herbs and spices
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Mint
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Chives
- Bay leaf
- Parsley
- Dill
- Cinnamon
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- Garlic
- Ginger
Other
- Honey
- Coconut flour
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tapioca starch
- Carob powder
What not to eat
While the list of foods you can’t eat on AIP is certainly longer than the list of foods that you can eat, keep in mind that this is an elimination diet that is subject to reintroduction. If you follow this plan and are seeing great results, then begin carefully adding some of these foods back into your diet and see how you react.
Just keep in mind, that the foods that you reintroduce must be whole foods. Some of the foods on this list such as refined carbs, sugars, and alcohol are just unhealthy in general and hold no value in a healthy lifestyle.
Grains
Grains are a tricky subject for many people as there are certainly some grains that are healthier than others. With that said, the auto immune protocol suggests that you eliminate all grains. If you are going to eventually try reintroducing some grains back into your diet, I would recommend you go for things like oats or quinoa.
- Quinoa
- Breads
- Oats
- Barley
- Buckwheat
- Rice
- Bulger
- Corn
- Millets
Dairy
In my opinion, dairy is not a healthy food choice no matter what diet you follow. While some people who follow diets such as a ketogenic diet do include some dairy in their regimen, these foods are known to cause digestive issues and are probably not suitable for anyone attempting to heal their gut. The AIP diet shares this outlook
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- cream
- Butter
- Ghee
Legumes
I personally do currently include some legume in my diet. I really enjoy beans and I feel that my body has always reacted pretty well to them. I also like them because they are a great source of plant based protein. But if you are following AIP, eliminate the legumes for the time-being. These may be something you consider reintroducing as time goes on. Or not. Your choice.
- Black beans
- Garbanzo beans
- Lima beans
- Lentils
- peanuts
- Soybeans
- Cocoa
- Kidney beans
Nuts & Seeds
Nuts and seeds are another food group on the AIP’s do not eat list that I personally include in my diet. But that does not mean that I suggest everyone eats nuts and seeds. Some people do not react as well to these foods and should probably avoid them. Although hey are great sources of healthy fats and plant based protein for those who can handle them, I would not say that they are essential.
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Peanuts
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Coffee
Nightshades
If you do a quick google search of what foods you should avoid if you have psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis, you will find that nightshade vegetables are present on several different lists. Personally, I think that the negative effects of nightshades tend to be overstated. I have never had a problem with them. But of course, this does not mean that they are fine for everyone. If you are unsure, take the AIP approach and eliminate them for the time being and reevaluate your reaction to them at a later time.
- Eggplant
- Potatoes
- Peppers and red spices
- Tomatoes
- Goji berries
Other
- Eggs
- Refined carbs and sugar
- Alcohol
My take on AIP
I have already somewhat given my take on the AIP diet in the sections within this article. I personally do not follow this diet but I have taken a similar approach in the past. There is a lot of information out there concerning diet and which one is best for healing. Eventually, you are going to have to figure out for yourself what is best for you. In my opinion, the AIP diet is not a bad place to start.
This is a great way of separating yourself from all of the toxic and gut damaging foods that have become so prevalent and will give you an idea of how to start to build a diet that is based around nutrient dense nourishing foods.
I personally have my own take on what a healing diet should look like. But at the end of the day, I know how complex the subject of diet can be and I am ultimately an advocate for any diet that includes an abundance of whole foods.
Click here to download my free guide and learn more about the approach that I endorse. I know just how challenging and heartbreaking skin disease can be and I am committed to providing people with information concerning how to heal. I was able to reverse my skin disease through a holistic approach and so can you. Stay tuned and keep up with my content and I promise to do my best to help you reach a future free of skin disease.
