AIP BIPOC Roundtable

Diversity in the foods you consume is important no matter what dietary structure you adhere to. However, nutrient density is especially important to those with autoimmune disease and is the core the AIP diet. However, as more people with autoimmune are learning about AIP as a complementary approach to managing their symptoms, there has been an increasing number of people who fall on one of two side of the AIP spectrum:

1. either they think it is too hard, restrictive and/or expensive and therefore never start or quit, OR
2. they have a strict adherence to the protocol by not reintroducing foods and all, essentially eliminating entire categories of nutrient-dense foods from their diet indefinitely.

Neither one of these is optimal for managing autoimmune symptoms.

Those in impoverished BIPOC communities, are often times on the end of the spectrum where they quit or never start the autoimmune protocol because of barriers associated with the social determinants of health and the cultural aspects of AIP.

However, by focusing on nutrient density through food diversity, no matter what diet philosophy you adhere to (or even if you don’t adhere to one at all), during this round table you will learn how to better manage your health and optimize success by focusing on “Nourishment, Not Judgement” through Nutrivore.

The Autoimmune Protocol, abbreviated AIP, is a complementary approach to chronic disease management focused on providing the body with the nutritional resources required for immune regulation, gut health, hormone regulation and tissue healing while removing inflammatory stimuli from both diet and lifestyle. The AIP diet provides balanced and complete nutrition while avoiding processed and refined foods and empty calories

However, there are several reasons why people may do the AIP incorrectly, including:

1. Not seeking professional guidance: It can be helpful to work with a healthcare professional or health coach when starting the AIP to ensure that it is done correctly and to address any concerns or questions that may arise.
2. Not fully understanding the protocol: Some people may start the AIP without fully understanding what foods are allowed and not allowed on the protocol. This can lead to confusion and potentially eating foods that are not allowed, which can hinder the effectiveness of the diet.
3. Not giving it enough time: The AIP is not a quick fix and requires a commitment to stick to the protocol for an extended period of time. Some people may give up too soon, not allowing enough time for their body to heal and adjust to the new diet.
4. Not addressing underlying issues: The AIP is designed to reduce inflammation and support the immune system, but it may not be effective if underlying issues are not addressed. For example, stress, poor sleep, and lack of exercise can all contribute to inflammation and autoimmune symptoms.
5. Not getting enough nutrients: Eliminating certain foods on the AIP can lead to nutrient deficiencies if adequate substitutions are not made. It is important to ensure that the diet is well-rounded and includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods.

During This Roundtable, we will provide information, tools, and resources to better help you navigate the autoimmune protocol by helping you:

1. Understand the rationale behind AIP: By understanding the rationale behind the AIP, you can better appreciate why certain foods are restricted or allowed. This can help you make informed decisions about your diet and make it easier to stick to the protocol.
2. Get clarity on the process of identifying trigger foods: The AIP is designed to help identify and eliminate trigger foods that may be contributing to autoimmune symptoms. When you eliminate trigger foods on AIP, they are not all supposed to be permanently removed. By understanding the importance of the reintroduction phase and which foods are likely to trigger your symptoms, you can be more vigilant about avoiding those foods, while still incorporating the non-triggering foods into your diet.
3. Find suitable alternatives: AIP requires eliminating many foods that are commonly consumed in a standard Western diet as well as culturally relevant foods. By educating yourself about suitable alternatives and substitutions, you can ensure that you're still consuming a balanced and nutrient-dense diet.
4. Avoid potential pitfalls: There are many potential pitfalls and mistakes that individuals can make when following the AIP. Educating yourself about common pitfalls, such as not getting enough nutrients can help avoid them and stay on track.

After attending this Roundtable, you will be better educated about AIP, better able to make informed decisions about your diet, less likely avoid potential pitfalls while on AIP, and be able to better manage your autoimmune condition. Ultimately, you will feel more confident and empowered as you navigate the protocol.

Award-winning public speaker, New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned health expert, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, PhD believes the key to improving public health is scientific literacy. She creates educational resources to help people improve their day-to-day diet and lifestyle choices, empowered and informed by the most current evidenced-based scientific research.

Dr. Sarah began her career as a science communicator and health educator when she launched her original website, ThePaleoMom.com, in 2011. On this platform, Dr. Sarah combined her background in medical research with her experience using diet and lifestyle to mitigate a dozen diagnosed health conditions to create a wealth of educational resources and amass an audience of millions. Since then, Dr. Sarah has continued to follow the science—diving deep into immune health, metabolic health, gut microbiome health, nutritional sciences, and the compelling evidence for health at any size—while also observing the harm of healthism, diet culture, dogmatic misinformation and predatory marketing. With Nutrivore, Dr. Sarah seeks to create a positive and inclusive approach to dietary guidance, based in science and devoid of dogma, using nutrient density and sufficiency as its basic principles:

Jamie Nicole is a certified autoimmune paleo (AIP) coach, life coach fitness instructor, health & wellness motivational speaker, board member of a federally qualified health center the Founder and CEO of The Natural HEALing Coach, LLC whose passion and purpose are not only to educate women with autoimmune disease to live an AIP lifestyle, but to help remove the inequities that exist in the AIP BIPOC community that are barriers to the successful implementation of AIP.

In a time where self-love, body awareness, and inner healing reign supreme, Jamie’s success in overcoming health complications associated with food sensitivities and autoimmune disease provided hard-won and extremely valuable first-hand knowledge on integrative wellness solutions. Her experience and methodology have proven to reduce pain, improve energy, increase productivity, and manage stress. In 2020, Jamie’s holistic approach led her to create her signature Autoimmune Health Restoration System for others with autoimmune disease on the verge of losing faith in healthcare and wellness solutions. Her clients have gained confidence, achieved better relationships with food, and discovered the keys that unlock their freedom from being shackled to their disease.

Through her one-on-one and group health coaching programs, Jamie helps her clients identify what might be triggering their symptoms, empowers them to value their choices, and teaches them how to take control of their bodies and gain freedom & balance through Healthy Eating and Active Living.