There’s a lot of evidence that plant-based diets are beneficial for people with autoimmune diseases. By flooding the body with colorful antioxidants, comprehensive micronutrients, and diverse fiber, people with inflammatory conditions can really benefit from this lifestyle change.
Physicians have been using different versions of plant-based diets for decades now and noticed great improvements – sometimes even full reversal (!) – in their autoimmune patients.
So, many people will try a plant-based diet, and find they don’t thrive. Or they don’t get better. Or worse, they feel worse.
What’s going wrong???
Eating a whole-food, plant-based diet often isn’t enough for a person with an autoimmune disease. While this is the foundation for maintaining health, there are other steps that facilitate repair and healthy regeneration.
As I like to say, it takes a healing, anti-inflammatory, whole-food, plant-based diet for disease reversal.
Over the years, I have helped people troubleshoot their autoimmune diseases, and have noticed some common factors holding people back.
Here are 7 reasons autoimmune patients nay not feel better on a plant-based diet:
- You’re still eating pro-inflammatory foods, even in small amounts. This includes processed vegan foods, oils, excess salt, sugar, and/or animal products.
- You’re not eating enough micronutrients. It’s not just the absence of pro-inflammatory foods; you have to actually eat LOTS of healing nutrients throughout the day. Raw green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and colorful low glycemic veggies are the hallmark of the plan. It should be most of what you eat while healing. This can be done through large salads, green smoothies, green juices, and snacking on raw veggies.
- You haven’t removed your food triggers. For some, it’s dairy, eggs, animal products, sugar. For many others, it’s gluten or other grains. Any processed food, even if it’s vegan, can also cause symptoms, as can certain plant-based foods in some people. While this is very individualized, there may be a few foods that should be removed temporarily to facilitate healing. Doing an elimination diet and keeping a food-symptom journal can be paramount, and occasionally food sensitivity testing can be helpful.
- You’re not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids. It’s all about the balance, and the scales should be tipped toward the omega-3 fatty acids while healing.
- You haven’t healed your gut. This includes resolving inflammation, establishing a healthful balance of the microbiome, healing the gut lining, and optimizing the digestive process. Only then will the immune system be able to quiet down and take a breather. This can be done through eating fiber–rich foods as well as lots and lots of micronutrients, taking a good probiotic, and avoiding food triggers. Sometimes, a more specific gut-healing plan is also necessary.
- You have other triggers. Stress and lack of sleep will also keep your immune system revved up and continuously stimulated, as will occult infections, toxins such as mold or heavy metals, air or water pollution, or other exposures. Here you can play detective and work with a knowledgeable physician to find hidden triggers. You can also invest more time in lifestyle factors such as quality sleep, mind-body work, and daily movement.
- It just takes more time. It took a lifetime to build the disease, it will take some time to heal it, too. It can be like peeling an onion – there are layers to the healing and it may occur in small increments. Be patient, seek help when needed, and believe in your body’s ability to heal.
Good morning! My name is Amy Weldon and I live in Poteau, Oklahoma. I’m 50 years old now and have been fighting Sjogren’s Syndrome for 10 years and inflammatory arthritis for 5 years now. I’ve been on a plant based diet since March of 2016. I have done the Paddison Progam and group forum, been in contact with the McDougall’s, drank Dr. Goldner’s green smoothies for 3 years, and now, in February of 2020 I went to TrueNorth in Santa Rosa, California and fasted for 10 days.
I should be the poster child for this article. I try to be extremely careful but then I get so thin and sick of my simple baseline foods to eliminate inflammation. I have recently had a UTI, oh myyyyy, and had to go on a round of antibiotics from a local doctor I use for lab work. And now my arthritis is back with a vengeance! I haven’t ever had it like this! And I’ve been really bad before!
I’ve recently had a telemed call with Dr. Soler at TrueNorth but he is very vague in his approach with me, and of course, fasting is not easy when you have to work. I’m in need of GUUIDANCE! I do hope so very badly that you can help me!
Thank you.
Amy Weldon
Hi Amy,
Thanks for your message! You certainly have been through a lot. I would love to get to work with you, as your path is similar to mine in many ways. I don’t cover OK, as of right now, unfortunately. If you are ever in one of my states, then I can do a visit with you. I’m looking to start a class soon, too, and then maybe I could help you!
I hope you start feeling better soon!
Kindly,
Chris Miller
Hi Amy, my name is Hannah, I’m a 38 year old mother of three, I have suffered with ongoing fatigue for 5 years now, and ever increasing hormonal issues, chronic low iron and recently diagnosed vitiligo. I have put a lot of effort into pursuing better health and have really tried to inform myself to learn what I can, I am currently WFPB (was leading increasingly up to this diet for years) and recently did the Dr Goldner rapid recovery diet for six weeks, my digestion drastically improved but I sympathize with the low energy from a seeming lack of calories. After transitioning from rapid recovery back to a WFPB diet I almost immediately faced gastrointestinal issues, that may he due to leaky gut. So I am now going back onto a mostly raw food plant based diet, to try a sort of elimination diet experiment.
I thought if you would like we could be in touch to encourage one another and share tips or things we are learning.
My email is hannah.passi@gmail.com
Just let me know!! 🙂
Amy, don’t take the antibiotic for UTI. Baking soda and water works along with D Mannose and cranberry. Just baking soda and water 2-3 times a day for two days might be all you need. Works for me.
Hello,
I am 53 and living with M.S. since I was 21 I have been sick 3 times and in the hospital once mostly when I was eating a meat-heavy diet! Can you help someone like me? I work for a hospital in the lab and have Blue Cross insurance, do you accept that?
Hi Julie,
Thanks for your message. Yes, I would be happy to work with you, as MS responds well to diet and lifestyle changes. We do not take insurance, but I will give you a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. You can make an appointment with me if you are in one of my 24 states at plantbasedtelehealth.com.