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Episode #72: Sarah of ThePaleoMom.com Talks Autoimmune & Paleo!
Intro:
2:10 Routine for kids: planning around what’s natural for them.
6:36 All about ThePaleoMom.com, Sarah’s book on Autoimmune Paleo & The Paleo View podcast
Topics:
1. [16:15] Can/should an Autoimmune protocol be used as a preventative?
2. [29:40] Is my child at high risk based on family history? What to do?
3. [36:30] Safe to follow an AI protocol while Pregnant? How does an autoimmune condition change during/after pregnancy and during breastfeeding?
4. [41:40] Teen with Scoliosis, will an AI Protocol help?
5. [50:50] Have SIBO,SCD and Autoimmune, still scared to go starch free, help!
6. [1:03:30] Help with painful Lichen Sclerosis
7. [1:07:45] NSAIDS and the AI protocol
Links:
The Kid President's Pep Talk (something to make you happy!)
Pre order your copy of Sarah's new book The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease, Heal Your Body
Modifying Paleo for autoimmune conditions
The importance of fish in our diets
Should you worry about mercury in seafood?
Why everyone should eat organ meat
Why sun exposure is so important
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1. & 2. Can an Autoimmune protocol be used as a preventative?
Meredith says,
Is it necessary or suggested to follow autoimmune protocol as a preventative measure? Autoimmunity runs in my family, specifically MS, and wanted to know which “Practical Paleo” guidelines to follow. For those of us seeking to prevent specific diseases, is it enough to adhere to a basic paleo lifestyle, or should we also be cautious of nightshades, eggs, and other foods restricted on an autoimmune version of the paleo diet? Thank you both so much for all you do; I look forward to hearing your suggestions!
eat a “mostly paleo” diet, where I keep only paleo foods in the kitchen at home, but I won't stress too much over the oils or sometimes even grains when eating out. I do prepare the majority of my meals at home, eating out occasionally on weekends. Those meals at home consist of fish, eggs, vegetables, avocados (is it okay that I make “avocado” its own food group? It should be!), nuts, fruit, and grass-fed beef and organic poultry. I absolutely love the recipes in Practical Paleo and they've made paleo cooking something I look forward to.
My workouts vary, incorporating a mix of strength training (sometimes CrossFit), running (short distances), and yoga. I do my best to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night, which fluctuates in both directions based on my schedule.
My typical non-Paleo foods include occasional dairy once or twice per week (grass-fed butter, Greek yogurt, and sometimes cheese if dining out), rice in sushi (maybe once every two weeks), and maybe a once per week random item, often either when being cooked FOR at a restaurant or family meal, that may be either simply cooked in vegetable oil or at its worst, some sort of gluten-containing pasta. I try to avoid the latter, because it really makes me feel lousy after.
Michelle says,
My question is… does coming from a family with a lot of significant auto-immune diseases place a child at significantly higher risk for contracting an autoimmune disease? If so, are there additional foods that should be restricted on a child's diet (i.e., autoimmune protocol)? How does this balance out when the child is currently physically healthy and older than most of the other “paleo kids” that I've read about (to me, it's easier to convert your toddler to paleo when you're in control of their food choices, and they're not being bullied for bring carrots to kindergarten). Elizabeth's a little past the picture book stage!
I also meant to say that Elizabeth is signficiantly dyslexic. I've read that some people consider dyslexia (particulary the GAPS people) to be derived from an improper Omega 3/Omega 6 ratio. If so, I would love an explanation for why this ratio would have an impact on someone's word decoding ability. Have you ever heard of this?
I absolutely love your facebook posts on the 21-day sugar detox. They are very inspiring and helpful.
I just can't thank you (and all of the balanced bites crew) enough for all that you do!!
3. Safe to follow an AI protocol while Pregnant?
Jennifer says,
Hi! I just started following the AIP diet but found out I'm pregnant. Is it okay to try to stick to that or should I do regular Paleo to make sure I'm getting enough variety of nutrients.
Thanks!
4. Teen with Scoliosis, will an AI Protocol help?
Sylvie says,
Hi Diane and Liz, LOVE the podcast. You ladies are hilarious. Thank you!
I've been paleo for 6 months and have been transitioning my husband and kids for the last 3 or so months with great success. My 13 year old has severe scoliosis that is only getting worse (she's at 52 degrees at the moment). I'm working with a great doc in Wisconsin now to try to reverse this without resulting to the knife. Just wondering from a nutritional standpoint what should I supplement her diet with to support this process internally as well? I'm trying to sneak in bone broth into everything she eats and she begrudgingly is taking the fermented cod liver oil you guys rave about.
While her scoliosis has been diagnosed as idiopathic, I can't help but think there's an autoimmune component to it. Should I try putting her on the AI Protocol? I did a metametrix test for cross reactive grains and the only think that popped up is Casein. She wasn't even reactive to gluten and this was before it was removed from her diet.
She does cantilever scoliosis exercises 5 times a day 20 minutes each. Drinks lots of water. Is a picky eater but we're working on it. She just started menses a month ago. She sleeps 10 hours a day and is homeschooled.
Thanks so much
Sylvie
5. Have SIBO, SCD and Autoimmune, still scared to go starch free, help!
Ali asks,
I love your site and the podcast, and all of the wonderful info you provide. Quick question for you- I just got the definitive diagnosis for SIBO on Friday, and I am super frustrated since I already do a combo of SCD/autoimmune paleo (I have celiac, hashimotos, and colitis too) and I still am in pain all of the time. I get scared to go totally starch free, because that exacerbates the constipation that I already deal with. I drink lots of bone broth, take CLO butter blend (green pastures) and follow low FODMAPS. I still am reluctant to giving up butternut and other squashes as a source of my carbs, but know that my gut is still super funky. My GI doc has been having me take Lactulose as a medication to help with the constipation, but now I am worried to take it because it is a pure sugar and I don’t know if it is building more gut bacteria. Ideas? Should I sadly rid myself of my squash addiction? I am a health coach and therapist who helps people with autoimmune issues and GI problems and I am jealous that everyone else is feeling so great!
Thanks for the amazing work you do!
6. Help with painful Lichen Sclerosis
L.D. says,
Lichen Sclerosis – are you familiar with it? Autoimmune disorder affecting mainly menopausal women, but can occur in men and children. It manifests in genital area with white patches that burn and itch intensely and cause fissures. Stress and anger exacerbate condition. I was diagnosed with it 6 years ago. I went on Paleo diet two weeks ago, and felt a little better after that with some healing. Two days ago, I had one of the worst flare ups yet. Any ideas as to why? Corticosteroids are MDs basic method of treatment, but “no cure” available. I've avoided the western medicine approach, but am now desperate and re-thinking. Sometimes acupuncture calms it down. Do you think this might be a “healing crisis?”Please help — I'm sure you can imagine how painful and uncomfortable it is, yet alone the depression and anguish it causes.
7. NSAIDS and the AI protocol
I have just started the autoimmnue protocol of the paleo diet. I'm on day 4… I have suffered from chronic RA for 12 years now…and coming to the end of the long list of drugs to try and manage it. I am aware that NSAIDS are bad for leaky gut, as is birth control, both of which I use. But the NSAIDS I have to take right now with my biological infusion once a month – plus prednisone – because I cannot take methotrxate anymore due to huge hair loss. So my question is two part: what does one do to heal one self with this situation – if i cannot be without the NSAIDS – and I have heard that colostrum tablets or powder is excellent for healing the lining of the gut… but doesn't this contain milk? And am I allowed to take this on this protocol?
Cheers!
Diane & Liz
Comments 8
In an earlier episode, Liz talked about how sometimes when you write a question, the answer becomes obvious. After I submitted my question regarding my daughter, Elizabeth, I knew what we needed to do regarding her diet. She’s now strictly gluten-free and mostly paleo (although she loves a little gluten-free pizza with her friends). I would say she’s 90% paleo. I had no idea regarding the DHA supplement to help with her dyslexia, so I will be incorporating that into her diet soon.
The biggest benefit is so weird (and I know that you’ll actually understand). At her school, she starts math, breaks for lunch and returns to math. After eating lunch, she had the worst gas. I’m sure you remember that there is no bigger shame in middle school than farting. So, she would spend the entire second half of math squeezing her butt cheeks as close together as possible. This obviously impaired her ability to learn about inverse fractions and decimal conversions. All of that is gone and she’s a much happier girl (with an “A” in math!!).
I really can’t thank both Liz and Sarah enough for answering my question thoughtly and completely. All of your work is amazing. It’s drastically improved the health of my entire family. I’ve already pre-ordered your books (I already own Practical Paleo!) and am doing my best to spread the Paleo love!!
Finally, Liz, you may already know, but they’ve opened a restaurant called the Paleo Cafe in the RiverMarket. It’s actually inside the Opera Coffeehouse. It’s amazing!! Kansas City is getting on the Paleo Bandwagon!
First of all, thank you to Liz and Sarah for answering my question so thoroughly! Sarah’s comments on the signs and signals of autoimmune conditions really woke me up to the MANY warnings I need to heed and take precautions against. Since listening, I’ve remained completely gluten-free (following Sarah’s comment that those with autoimmune conditions “shouldn’t touch gluten with a ten-foot pole”) and intend to stay that way, no longer indulging myself in the occasional bite here and there. I have also been reading up more on the autoimmune protocol so I can continue to eat paleo, with those constraints “in mind”, rather than as requirements.
Second, thank you for introducing us to Sarah. I’d seen “The Paleo Mom” around, but, not being a mother, didn’t go hunting down her blog. After hearing Sarah guest host on Balanced Bites, I was very impressed and have been scouring her blog for all the information and insights she has to share, and also subscribed to her podcast. The autoimmunity slant is definitely something that I’ll be looking for moving forward, thanks to you!
This was a terrific podcast — thanks for giving Sarah Ballantyne this media exposure! I’m going to add her book to my Amazon wish list.
I absolutely love your podcasts! Such intelligent women with so much incredible and helpful information. Sarah Ballantyne was absolutely awesome! I listened to this one today and just pre-ordered her book… so psyched.
Thank you for all you do!
I have a severe hearing loss and cannot understand podcasts or enjoy podcasts. 🙁 How can I read the answers on the podcasts? I have Hashimoto’s, which runs strong in my family. I have a son. His TSH level was recently tested, and it was between 1 and 2, so they didn’t want to test his TPO or any other values. So frustrating. I was very interested in finding out the answer about whether you can prevent Hashi or not in spite of genetics. Thanks.
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