The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet is a specialized form of the paleo diet, designed to help individuals with autoimmune diseases manage their symptoms. It focuses on eliminating potential dietary triggers to reduce inflammation and promote gut healing. While many fruits and vegetables are encouraged, green peas are notably absent from the approved list.
Reasons Green Peas are Excluded from AIP
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Legume Family:
- Green peas belong to the legume family, which is generally excluded from the AIP diet.
- Legumes contain compounds like lectins and saponins that can interfere with gut health.
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Lectins:
- Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrates and can damage the gut lining, leading to increased intestinal permeability or “leaky gut.”
- This condition allows toxins and partially digested food particles to enter the bloodstream, potentially triggering autoimmune responses.
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Phytic Acid:
- Legumes contain phytic acid, an antinutrient that binds minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, reducing their absorption in the digestive tract.
- For individuals with autoimmune conditions, maintaining optimal nutrient absorption is crucial, as deficiencies can exacerbate symptoms and hinder the body’s ability to heal.
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Digestive Issues:
- The high fiber content in legumes can be difficult to digest, leading to bloating, gas, and discomfort.
- Many people with autoimmune diseases have compromised digestive systems.
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Molecular Mimicry:
- Green peas contain certain proteins that can mimic the structure of gluten, a known trigger for many autoimmune conditions.
- This molecular mimicry can potentially lead to cross-reactivity, where the immune system mistakes the proteins in peas for gluten, triggering an autoimmune response.
Summary
In summary, green peas are excluded from the AIP diet due to their lectin and phytic acid content, potential to cause digestive issues, and risk of cross-reactivity with gluten. Avoiding these triggers allows individuals on the AIP diet to reduce inflammation, promote gut healing, and better manage their autoimmune symptoms.
eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. Baking Mixes
eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R. baking mixes are fully AIP compliant, which means they are free from all legumes, eggs, dairy, grains, gluten, nightshades, nuts, seeds, and more. Temporarily eliminating these foods from the diet can allow the gut to heal and the body to become less inflamed. We bring freedom and joy back to those on restorative, therapeutic diets, enabling you to indulge in delicious foods while allowing your gut to heal!
