Combine the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) and Stress Reduction

While most people think that the autoimmune protocol is all about food, it is so much more than that. Food is fundamental to great health - but we can be sick even if we eat 'perfectly' if we don't focus on lifestyle as well. This post will give you an introductory background as to why you should focus on stress reduction and I will review various techniques to help reduce stress. Stress reduction should be done in conjunction with following a healthy diet. Combining stress reduction with nutrient dense foods can have a significant positive affect on your health.

Stress causes physiological reactions, most of which are not positive for our health. When we are stressed our brain sends signals to the rest of our body so we can respond to the perceived threat. The problem is when we are chronically stressed our poor body is always in a state of reaction. Our heart beat increases, breathing becomes shallow, several hormones are released to process the various reactions, and on it goes.

The two main body systems that are affected by chronic stress are our digestive system and our blood sugar regulation functions.

Digestion: when we eat in a stressed state or are under chronic stress our entire digestive system is not able to function optimally. Stress impacts everything from the proper pH of our stomach to how efficiently we process and digest the food we eat.

Blood sugar regulation: bringing blood sugar into balance is a game changer for most people. Americans consume far more sugar than is healthy. Sugar causes a wide array of serious health issues from diabetes to cancer. Sugar increases inflammation, which can affect every region of your body. When we consume sugar or a highly processed diet our body reacts as if in a state of stress. Insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance are two of the bigger concerns that sugar related stress causes.

A few ways to reduce stress

Yoga: yoga has been around for thousands of years. There are several different styles of yoga so I suggest you try different ones to see which speaks to you. I started doing a stress reduction yoga in 1997 when I was a CPA and auditing large corporations, working long hours in an intense work environment. I found it extremely helpful to refocus and calm my mind.

Tai Chi: this is an ancient Chinese form of movement that is slow and methodical. You move and work on deep-breathing, your mind calms and it can improve balance and flexibility. A side note: our son found doing Tai chi helped calm his mind and refocus all that extra energy he had as a young child. He likely would have been considered hyperactive if he'd been in school (we homeschool) and even though he got a lot of exercise and movement in each day, he was still struggling to harness all his energy.

Mindfulness or Meditation: to me these are very similar and almost interchangeable. It is a practice of being present. It is not so much about thinking about nothing, but more about not letting your thousand random thoughts take over. I love practicing mindfulness/meditation. You can reap benefits in as little as ten minutes a day.

Movement: for me this is fundamental to not only great health but also a great outlook. I find moving each day to be necessary to support my health and my mind. Moving increases flexibility, decreases stress, helps support a balanced blood sugar, decreases anxiety and depression, gives you more energy, supports a healthy weight, and improves cognitive function. Wow, that is powerful! Movement doesn't have to be a 20 mile bike ride at top speed, it doesn't have to be a five mile run - just walk, swim, do yoga, go for a gentle bike ride or even hit a tennis ball around.

Nature: getting outside each day helps support better sleep and reduces stress. Try to get out in nature each day. It is wonderful to get outside upon waking to get some morning sun, a great source of vitamin D and it helps your circadian rhythm.

Eating AIP is amazingly helpful to put many autoimmune conditions into remission. But, diet alone is often not enough so focus on stress reduction - you'll sleep better, feel more positive, and be supporting your autoimmune disease naturally. Namaste