What Is the Autoimmune Protocol?
The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is a stricter version of the Paleo diet designed to reduce immune system reactivity by eliminating the foods most likely to trigger inflammation, disrupt the gut microbiome, and contribute to molecular mimicry — a key driver of autoimmune activity.
For fertility patients, immune dysregulation is a significant and often underaddressed contributor to implantation failure, recurrent pregnancy loss, and poor IVF outcomes. This protocol addresses that root cause directly.
The Two Phases
Remove all potential food triggers. The elimination has two stages: Transition (Weeks 1–2) and Maintenance (Weeks 3–4).
Systematically reintroduce eliminated foods one at a time to identify your personal triggers. Only begin when symptoms have measurably improved.
Transition & Kitchen Reset
The first two weeks are about transition — moving from your current diet to the AIP elimination. The goal is not perfection; it is momentum. Clear your pantry, stock your kitchen with AIP-compliant staples, and begin removing the foods that drive inflammation and immune reactivity.
The autoimmune-fertility connection is well established. Elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) impair endometrial receptivity, disrupt ovarian function, and increase miscarriage risk. Weeks 1–2 begin the process of reducing the antigenic load on the immune system — a prerequisite for the immune modulation that follows.
- All grains (wheat, rice, oats, corn, quinoa)
- All dairy products
- All legumes and beans
- All nuts and seeds
- Nightshade vegetables (tomato, capsicum, eggplant, potato)
- Eggs
- Coffee and alcohol
- Refined sugar and processed foods
- Industrialised seed oils (canola, sunflower, vegetable)
- Soy in all forms
- Chocolate and cocoa
- Nightshade-based spices (paprika, chilli, cayenne)
- Bone broth — daily, as a base for soups or sipped warm
- Pasture-raised and grass-fed meats (beef, lamb, chicken, turkey)
- Wild-caught seafood (salmon, sardines, mackerel, prawns)
- Organ meats — liver once or twice per week for nutrient density
- All non-nightshade vegetables in abundance
- Starchy vegetables — sweet potato, cassava, taro, plantain
- Coconut products — milk, cream, oil, butter, yoghurt
- Healthy fats — olive oil (cold), avocado, tallow, duck fat
- AIP-compliant sweeteners — raw honey, pure maple syrup (in moderation)
- Collagen peptides — add to smoothies, soups, or warm drinks
- Cultured foods — coconut yoghurt, water kefir, sauerkraut
- Herbal teas — ginger, chamomile, nettle, raspberry leaf
- Bone broth (homemade or quality store-bought)
- Grass-fed beef mince and cuts
- Pasture-raised chicken
- Wild-caught salmon and sardines
- Chicken or beef liver
- Collagen peptides (unflavoured)
- Coconut oil (for low-medium heat)
- Tallow or lard (for high heat)
- Duck fat (for medium heat)
- Extra virgin olive oil (cold use only)
- Coconut butter
- Avocado (whole)
- Coconut milk (full fat, BPA-free can)
- Coconut cream
- Cassava flour
- Tapioca flour / starch
- Green banana flour
- Raw honey (local, organic)
- Pure maple syrup
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sweet potato
- Cassava / yuca
- Plantain
- Taro
- Zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower
- Leafy greens — kale, silverbeet, spinach
- Beetroot, carrot, parsnip
- Cucumber, celery, asparagus
- Coconut yoghurt (unsweetened)
- Sauerkraut (nightshade-free)
- Water kefir
- Coconut kefir
- Fresh ginger and turmeric
- Garlic and onion
- Fresh herbs — basil, parsley, coriander, thyme, rosemary
- AIP-safe spices — cinnamon, mace, saffron, cloves, vanilla
- Herbal teas — ginger, chamomile, nettle, raspberry leaf, peppermint
What to Track Each Day
Your symptoms journal is a clinical tool. It documents your baseline, tracks your response to the elimination, and provides the diagnostic data needed to guide reintroduction. Bring it to every consultation.
This protocol is designed to be followed under the guidance of your practitioner. If symptoms worsen or you have concerns, contact your B.Nourishd practitioner before continuing.
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