Oh how I love to travel. A trip aboard is undoubtedly the highlight of my year and helps to break up the monotony of the daily grind. Punctuating the year with little trips keeps me focused, gives me purpose and reminds me what the sun looks like. We all need to make time for regular breaks whether at home or away as they are rewarding, restorative and feed your soul.

More than anywhere else, I adore Europe (please don't mention brexit). I love the people, the culture, the food, the hospitality, the architecture and those hidden mediterranean coves that no one else has found. I admire that they value family and community above all else in a way we have failed to grasp in the UK. The Italians and Spanish will come together with family and friends to luxuriate over prolonged lunches prepared with love and care. Every dish is a celebration of real ingredients. They take their time and understand the importance of sitting back and appreciating the small things in life. In the UK we are in a perpetual rush. We want to eat now, on the move, in between meetings. We are permanently racing against the clock, shrouded in a cloud of stress.

Even planning a break away becomes a taxing event. Our hectic lifestyle so deeply embedded in us that it takes a few days of being away to actually acclimatise and switch off.

When you're stressing over whether a third pair of flip flops are required or trying to recall the safe place where you left the plug adaptors, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you're going to be able to feed yourself when you arrive. If you're anything like me, food is a big part of the holiday experience, so trying to dine out abroad with an autoimmune disease or food intolerance can be frustrating and limiting. Particularly if you are on a restricted elimination diet.

After my initial diagnosis it never occurred to me to plan ahead. I ignorantly assumed I would always have plenty of choice when eating out. I was wrong. On one particular day trip to an unfamiliar beach, I arrived fully prepped for a good solid day of bronzing, but without a bite to eat. As the day progressed and the hunger grew, my only source of snacks was to be a vending machine or tiny local shop. The vending machine only dispensed variations of gluten and sugar laden treats so I ventured to the shop. In desperation I purchased some rice cakes, and a pot of peanut butter. This is far from ideal at the best of times, but when you are sat in direct sunlight of 30 degrees plus and your mouth is bone dry, the combination of rice cakes and peanut butter only serves to cement your mouth together for the rest of the day. Not to mention do nothing to quell a ravenous hunger.

To avoid your own rice cake gate, it simply takes a bit of forward planning. These are my top tips:

Research your destination
​Read up on your destination country. You should always be able to find gluten free/allergen free options but some countries are much more geared up for this than others. Some are so on it that they have their own coeliac and allergy societies that will list approved restaurants online, others simply don't have a clue and you'll need to exercise more caution. If you know what to expect, you won't be disappointed.

Allergy cards
Print a coeliac/allergy card in the language of your destination - these are readily available online. I have found travelling with a foreign coeliac card invaluable as it explains your condition so throughly there is little margin for being accidentally glutened. You should present it to your waiter as soon as you arrive and before you take your seat, that way you will know if they are happy to accommodate you and they can provide you with appropriate choices. If you don't feel confident that they can accommodate you, don't risk it and find an alternative restaurant.

Research restaurants
Research the local restaurants before you go and check out the menus. Drop them an e-mail if you can, explaining your allergies and intolerances and ask them if they are prepared to adapt dishes for you. If you have the option, pre-book a table so you know you definitely have some 'safe' meals lined up. If they really look after you then you know you can return there for another meal.

Supermarkets
Get on google maps before you go and locate the nearest supermarket or convenience store to your accommodation. Try to visit on your first day to assess what they have and stock up on some basic supplies and emergency snacks.

Get a kitchen
If you are prepared to at least to do a little cooking on holiday, I recommend staying in an apartment or rental property. If you have located a supermarket and you have your own kitchen you will always have options if you are finding yourself short of safe restaurants. This way you can at least prep your own breakfasts, make a picnic for days out and then head to safe restaurants for dinner.

Hotels
If you are staying in a hotel, inform them in advance of your dietary requirements and find out if there is a fridge in your room for supplies. Hotel breakfasts are typically a gluten fuelled affair and rarely friendly to restricted diets. Don't feel rude asking the hotel in advance if they can get something in specifically for you - they can only say no. If you are on a Paleo or AIP diet you will often find cold meats and fruit available.

Planes, trains and automobiles
​Take snacks with you for plane/ train/long car journeys. Plane food is poor at the best of times but when you have food intolerance/digestive condition its barely worth even glancing at the menu. You should be able to carry solid foods in your hand baggage - fruits, vegetables, veggie crisps and nuts. Just nothing in liquid form. If you aren't sure whether you can carry it on board, check with your airline and explain your condition.

Supplements
Take supplements with you to support your digestion in foreign lands.
Digestive enzymes will help to support the breakdown and assimilation of nutrients.
L-glutamine will soothe inflammation and support a distressed gut.
Probiotics to support gut flora. Optibac have a great range of probiotics and are a UK based company. They have a probiotic specifically for travelling and I have had great results with saccharomyces boulardii when abroad. Whats more, unlike other probiotics they do not require refrigeration. Both will help to prevent diarrhea and unsettled tummies.

Routine
This is a hard one when you are on holiday and just want to let go, but autoimmune conditions always benefit from a bit of routine. Now i'm not trying to sound like your mother, but if you don't stray wildly from your usual habits it will be worth it in the long run. Make sure you get plenty of R&R and don't over exert yourself. Try to maintain a reasonable sleep routine, drink plenty of water, get plenty of fresh air and enjoy the sun on your skin. Just a few nights missed sleep, some poor food choices and too much over indulgence will be enough to throw you off kilter and leave you struggling when you return home-sometimes for weeks on end. Enjoy everything in moderation knowing that you will still feel good when you return home.

Snacks
Pack snacks for any day trips or have a restaurant lined up at your destination. Don't risk rocking up somewhere and hoping they will cater for you. It will inevitably be the one time there's nothing on the menu and you are facing a three hour journey home in a coach hotter than the earths core.


If you are on a very strict elimination diet you will rarely find any options you can eat as they are, but please don't be disheartened. ​If there is nothing plain on the menu, don't be afraid to ask for something different -  I have done this plenty of times and you would be amazed by how accommodating people can be. I've had some of my best restaurant experiences abroad even on a very strict diet. I've had may meals that are totally compliant with the AIP, low FODMAP diet and taste fantastic, yet are so simple. Plus everything tastes better when you don't have to do the washing up.
If you are on a standard Paleo diet, you will generally find a plain fish/meat and veg or salad option.

The hardest thing here is knowing you are on holiday and wanting to indulge. The key is finding the perfect balance between letting go and still remembering to looking after yourself. Just plan ahead,and you won't be disappointed.


​

Way back when I was at University, I had a good friend who suffered from Diabetes. As a result she battled a seemingly relentless onslaught of health complications, and even started to lose her eyesight. She seemed to suffer continuously with one thing and another as autoimmunity took its toll. One evening we went for dinner and she took her time pouring over the menu. It was a burger bar, and as a strict vegetarian her options were scant. She then informed me it was getting harder to make food choices because she was suffering from a leaky gut. I had to ask her to repeat herself in case I had misheard. It sounded awfully like she said her gut was leaking. It came again ‘I have a leaky gut’ I laughed nervously, whilst also trying not to gag. I was too afraid to look at the floor in case it was forming some kind of puddle at her feet. Had she taken the appropriate measures to be out in public? Was she wearing some kind of Elastoplast to contain it? Needless to say I was sufficiently put off my dinner.
 
Several years later as my own health began to suffer, I made the grim realisation that I too had a leaky gut. As unappealing as this sounds, if you suffer from any form of inflammatory condition, multiple food sensitivities or autoimmune disease, then this may well apply to you too.
 
What exactly is Leaky Gut?
 
Hippocrates (not to be confused with that old guy in Bill and Ted) was spot on when he claimed ‘all disease begins in the gut’, and it’s only taken us 2000 years to realise he was right.
 
Numerous studies are now pinpointing the gut as being at the core of many chronic health conditions. Therefore maintaining and supporting optimum gut health really could be the answer to eliminating many of our modern diseases and autoimmune conditions.
 
Our gut is a long tube of twists and turns that runs from our mouth to our bowels, absorbing nutrients, digesting food and expelling waste. The walls of this tube form an impermeable barrier. The purpose of this intestinal wall barrier is to prevent toxins and undigested food particles entering in to our blood stream where they are not welcome.
 
In the case of leaky gut these protective barriers are tearing, breaking down and becoming permeable. As a result, undigested material and other foreign substances are passing through the intestine wall and ending up in the bloodstream and all hell is breaking loose. Systemic inflammation occurs as a result of these rogue intruders and the immune system launches an all out assault. It is this process that can then trigger the development of autoimmune disease.
 
What causes a Leaky gut?
 
Well at the risk of boring you and sounding repetitive, it’s the usual offenders.
 
Gluten
Grains
Pulses and legumes
Processed foods
Sugar
Conventional dairy products
Antibiotics
Chronic stress
Hormonal imbalance
Toxins
Gut flora imbalance
Previous infections
 Zonulin - Now this guy has a lot to answer for. This is not the name of a muscle bound Greek god, but a protein that contributes to leaky gut and the breakdown of the intestinal walls. The protein gliadin that is found in gluten containing grains increases the levels of zonulin in the body, initiating an attack on your digestive barrier, and fueling the autoimmune response.
 
 What are the symptoms?
 
Headaches
Bloating
Food sensitivities and intolerance's
Autoimmune disease
Digestive problems
Inflammatory bowel conditions
Thyroid conditions
Mal-absorption of vital nutrients
Eczema and psoriasis
Autism
Allergies
Obesity
Low energy
Joint pain
 
 
How can I heal Leaky gut?
 
Depending on how compromised your digestion is there are various approaches you can adopt to assist in healing your digestion. This requires a holistic approach to tackle all contributing factors. Very often just adapting your diet will not be enough.
 
Diet 
Obviously the first line of defense would be to remove all gut irritants from your diet. If you follow a Paleo diet you will have removed the main offenders already. However if you still feel you are not making progress, and your symptoms have not improved you may wish to consider adopting the AIP diet - at least while you heal.
 
Manage stress
This is so important but can be oh so very hard. Try to make time for yourself everyday to switch off, meditate, exercise and just breathe. If your head is spinning and you're breathing fire, you'll only halt your healing progress.
 
Supplements
There are a few supplements that can support a digestion in distress and form an important foundation to any gut healing protocol.
 
L – glutamine -  This is an essential amino acid with anti-inflammatory properties that works to repair and rebuild the intestinal walls.

Probiotics – to re-balance gut flora. These can come in supplement form, or if you tolerate them they are found naturally in fermented foods. Be cautious if you have FODMAP or Histamine intolerance.

Digestive enzymes – to support digestion and the assimilation of nutrients in a compromised digestive system.
 
The overall aim here is to remove the irritants, repair the gut lining, replace any deficiencies and re-balance the gut flora. By managing your diet and lifestyle factors you can eliminate the stress on your body and help to reduce the chronic levels of inflammation and put your autoimmune symptoms into remission. If possible,  find a natural health specialist or nutritionist to guide you through the process. No gut plasters are required, just a little TLC. Its probably not a discussion for the dinner table though.

​DISCLAIMER: The information on this blog is purely based on my own thoughts, views and opinions. I am telling these stories to share my experiences with you. The information does not constitute medical advice of any kind and is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. You should consult with a registered GP for guidance on any health related issues and not make any medical decisions based on the information contained within this site. I have no medical training, I am quite simply a coeliac with a story to share.

First things first, I have to say that everything I have learnt about this protocol has come from sources based in the USA. The AIP diet is a phenomenal healing tool for anyone suffering with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions but knowledge of it in the UK is scarce. It really does deserve to be shouted about. Quite simply, it has changed my life and left me feeling the best I've ever felt. EVER.

The autoimmune protocol was devised by the fabulous Sarah Ballantyne, AKA The Paleo Mom. What Sarah doesn't know about diet simply isn't worth knowing. If you haven't checked her out, and you are serious about your health, you must. She's an absolute fountain of knowledge for all things Paleo and autoimmune. Her hours of research and dedication to these subjects means she's done all the legwork for those of us with a misbehaving immune system, so we can just sit back and reap the health benefits of her hard work. The protocol takes all the principles of the standard Paleo diet and adapts it further to help put autoimmune conditions into remission. Don't get me wrong, this is not a 'cure' for autoimmune disease, once a coeliac always a coeliac. But it has the power to permanently alleviate all symptoms and make you feel like yourself again.

The diet aims to eliminate all food sources that are prone to stimulating an autoimmune response in the body, exacerbating symptoms. Because the connection between gut health and autoimmunity is so inextricably linked, the AIP also eliminates all foods that irritate and inflame the gut, allowing it some respite to heal. This is essential as poor gut health and impaired digestion are at the heart of many chronic diseases, and the stress of these conditions on the body only serves to aggravate the gut further, thus a vicious cycle of digestive distress.
When a weakened digestive tract becomes permeable, we are then left with a condition called leaky gut. We are then subject to poorly digested foods and nutrient malabsorption causing a world of problems ranging from hormonal imbalance to autoimmune attacks and systemic inflammation.

A key principle of the AIP is ensuring nutrient density throughout the diet. Impaired digestion leaves us with nutritional deficiencies which can be rebalanced over time naturally by consuming AIP compliant foods. Foods which can also help us to re-establish a healthy gut flora.

​What do I need to remove?

In addition to the foods already eliminated on a standard Paleo diet, you MUST also remove the following gut irritants and autoimmune triggers:

Dairy

Nightshade vegetables - Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, goji berries, paprika, cayenne pepper

Nuts and seeds (including cocoa and coffee)

Eggs

Alcohol

Artificial sweeteners


Once you have eliminated these, there is a strong focus placed on consuming more of the following:


Organ meat (livers, heart etc.) I promise you this isn't as vile as it sounds. They are one of the most nutrient dense food sources on the planet, so hold your nose, close your eyes, do what you need to do, but just eat them. Your body will thank you.

Bone broth - this is so easy to make and rich in gut healing l-glutamine. It's delicious added to soups and stews or even as a drink in its own right.

Fish and seafood

Grass fed meat

Vegetables- in abundance. As wide a variety as possible

Fruit - in moderate portions

Healthy fats - such as coconut oil, olives and avocados

Fermented foods - these are a natural source of friendly bacteria. You may want to go careful on these if your digestion is super sensitive or introduce them in small quantities to start with.

There are a few grey areas which are covered in detail by The Paleo Mom. Coconut for example is recommended in moderation. I for one cannot tolerate any coconut products at all other than coconut oil, so if in doubt, go easy.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Yes, I am aware that I've just told you chips, chocolate and coffee are out and I'm not even sorry. If you are not already on a standard paleo diet, you may want to make the transition to that way of eating first before attempting the AIP. If you are currently eating a regular western diet heavy in gluten, dairy and refined sugar, you may find the leap just too daunting and quite a shock to the system. However if you are 100% compliant with the AIP, I promise you will reap the rewards and any cravings will subside. Take things at your own pace and do what feels right for your body. Better still, if you can find a paleo dietician to work with they can guide you through the transition.

The AIP diet does not have to be forever but the length of time it takes to heal from one person to another will vary greatly, from anywhere between a few months to a few years. When you feel all your symptoms are totally in remission, you may wish to start making some re-introductions of the eliminated foods. Again, there will be those who can successfully reintroduce eliminated foods back into their diets and others who will need to permanently omit them. Some people may find such great relief in their symptoms that they chose to maintain an AIP diet forever, and it is completely safe to do so.

I can personally attribute the AIP to eliminating most of my symptoms and for making me feel human again on a day to day basis. Yes giving up chocolate and potatoes was cruel, but as a result I no longer consider myself to be a person living with a chronic condition, but somebody who is thriving and nourishing my body everyday. The beauty of the AIP, is that it is a lifestyle factoring in every aspect that contributes to health and wellness and does not just stop at diet. To restore vitality and true health it is also vital to prioritise healthy sleep, stress management, appropriate exercise, and build strong, healthy relationships. All these things work in synergy to bring balance and health to your life, if one is weak, it will undoubtedly have a knock on effect. Take one step at a time and don't try to address everything at once, this is also an exercise in patience.

​DISCLAIMER: The information on this blog is purely based on my own thoughts, views and opinions. I am telling these stories to share my experiences with you. The information does not constitute medical advice of any kind and is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. You should consult with a registered GP for guidance on any health related issues and not make any medical decisions based on the information contained within this site. I have no medical training, I am quite simply a coeliac with a story to share.

From the moment I was diagnosed, and throughout the months that led up to my misguided FODMAP adventure, my tireless research kept bringing me back to the same solution - The autoimmune protocol. A modified version of the Paleo diet, the 'AIP' is specifically tailored to manage and reverse the symptoms of autoimmune disease. The aim of the protocol is to eliminate all foods that may trigger an inappropriate immune response within the body and any that may irritate the digestion. As with the Paleo diet the focus is on nutrient density and correcting any deficiencies you may have.  I read so many case studies of those who had embraced the AIP lifestyle and watched a lifetime of symptoms fade, as their conditions were put into remission by this miraculous diet. I read blogs, I browsed articles and I scanned recipes.  I wont lie -  it looked extreme. Too much like hard work and just downright unappealing. I couldn't begin to comprehend how anybody could function on such a limited and uninspired diet and how that much meat could possibly be good for you. It looked so excessive I began to wonder if the AIP community was some kind of carnivorous satanic cult with obscure and nonsensical beliefs about the healing powers of food. I suspected witchcraft. There was no way I was going to follow a diet that encouraged stewing bones and eating animal organs. I dismissed it repeatedly despite its claims to alleviate my most troubling symptoms. It just wasn't appealing enough for me to buy into it. It was missing the allure that the glossy magazines give to  all these trendy super food diets, it just wasn't very photogenic.

In March of 2015 I turned 30 and decided to commemorate this hideous occasion with a trip to Paris.  By this point I had given the low FODMAP diet everything I'd got and more. Although my health was better than it had been three years previously, I still wasn't where I needed to be. I'd spent so long on this elimination diet - what should have been 6 weeks quickly became over a year. I decided that I'd served my time and if there were ever a place to treat myself to a few cheeky re-introductions it was in Paris. My husband and I spent a long weekend indulging in gluten free versions of everything typically French. We even had a full multi course breakfast in an entirely gluten free patisserie - bacon, eggs, pancakes, smoked salmon, bread, croissants rounded off with some kind of iced choux pastry bun bursting with custard. It was blissful and I savoured every sugar laden second. My stomach even did me the honour of not complaining afterwards. This was it. My hard work had paid off and I was on the mend. But clearly I was so hyped up on sugar and the heady delights of my Parisian jaunt that I missed all the warning signs, after all what goes up must come down. I didn't so much 'come down' after my gluttonous Parisian binge, I crashed hard in spectacular fashion. As soon as I returned home the irrational tears came, the moods swung and the hair loss increased dramatically. Every symptom I had ever had decided to make an appearance in some form or another. I was furious and disappointed in myself. I'd spent so long trying to heal and a few delectable treats later and I was back to square one. I hadn't eaten gluten. I hadn't even eaten that much in the way of FODMAPs, but whatever had happened, I was right back in autoimmune hell. I suffered for an entire month after and concluded that nothing I had eaten in Paris was worth this heart ache.

To add to my misery, when I returned from Paris I received my most recent set of thyroid blood results. I was being monitored every three months at that point. My TSH levels were still sky high. I just didn't understand, I thought I was doing everything right. My doctor recommended I commence with thyroid medication immediately, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it . I begged for three more months to try and rebalance my thyroid naturally with diet. He scoffed condescendingly, but decided to humour me, all the while assuring me that my TSH would only get worse and the next time I returned I would have to accept the medication.

I was desperate. I was so anti medication that I was prepared to do whatever it took to reclaim my health naturally. And sometimes when you are desperate you turn to witchcraft and carnivorous satanic cults.

I discovered the work of Sarah Ballantyne - The Paleo Mom, who had created the autoimmune protocol after years of thorough scientific research. It appeared that Sarah was in no way a witch or maniacal carnivore, but in fact a very clever lady with a PhD to boot. She didn't just spout claims, she backed it all up with enough science and logic to make your head spin. Now that I had seen the science behind the reasoning coming from a very credible source, the diet suddenly got my attention. Before I began, I had to address one major concern. I had struggled so much on the low FODMAP diet without any real guidance or resources, that the thought of eliminating more food terrified me. I was at my lowest ever weight and I couldn't afford to lose any more. More troublesome still was that the AIP requested the strict elimination of all nightshade vegetables, eggs and rice. My low FODMAP diet consisted mainly of those very ingredients. The AIP also encouraged the consumption of red meat for its rich nutritional value - something I had never even contemplated before. After all we are living in a society that demonises red meat as a contributor to a wide array of life threatening diseases. I now realise how ironic it is that we vilify red meat - one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, but happily send our children to school with a packed lunch  of white bread, chocolate biscuits and crisps without giving it a second thought.

I went in search of the seemingly impossible - a low FODMAP version of the AIP diet. There were a few recipes floating around on line, but they didn't fill me with inspiration. I had stumbled across an assistant of Sarah Ballantynes whose name kept cropping up - Christina Feindel. I was literally close to tears when I discovered Christina had produced an entire collection of low FODMAP, AIP recipes. And this wasn't a thoughtless collection of thrown together dishes, this was a months worth of carefully planned and nutritionally balanced meals. Meals that encouraged batch cooking so you could enjoy leftovers for lunch and had plenty of options for breakfast. Christina's considered approach meant that I didn't have to panic about calories, or whether I was consuming a balanced diet or if I was going to breakout in some hideous reaction. This low FODMAP, AIP plan became my bible, and still very much is.

I threw myself head first into a rich, nourishing diet of vegetables, very little fruit and high quality meat. And yes, I even bought a slow cooker to boil bones and started consuming liver - what's more I enjoyed it.

Over the course of the next two months I felt things beginning to change slowly and steadily. My moods began to feel slightly more even, my hair loss lessened, I got off to sleep much better though I still woke throughout the night, my digestion felt calmer and I slowly began to gain weight. No matter how much I ate on the low FODMAP diet I couldn't put on an ounce. I was absolutely loving my recipe plan and felt like I was making steps in the right direction, all  by simply eliminating a few select foods. This just serves to prove Sarah Ballantynes point - those non AIP low FODMAP foods (potatos, eggs etc) were inadvertently exacerbating my condition and halting my progress. I kept going with no intention of making any re-introductions. I was adamant I was going to get this right and I was more than content with what I was eating. Over the following three months things began to improve further. I felt so much better in myself and had phases of just feeling like a normal functioning human being again. My anxiety disappeared almost entirely and feelings of stress seemed to lessen. 6 months into the diet and my skin was silky smooth - it had NEVER felt like this. My aches and pains lessened, my body temperature improved, the pain in my leg disappeared entirely and I returned to my optimum weight. And when the weight returned, so did my menstrual cycle.

I returned to the GP to have my thyroid labs repeated. My TSH level had dropped slightly and my other thyroid levels had improved. He told me I was an anomaly as my results were not following the expected pattern of getting worse. I dodged another bullet and he let me escape again without a lifelong prescription. He gave me another 3 months before I needed to return again.

I was fully sold on the AIP diet and 100% committed. What felt like hard work initially, and a hell of a  lot of cooking was paying off. It very naturally became my way of life and way of eating and I didn't feel deprived. I continued to read the stories of others who had triumphed and I no longer felt the isolation and desperation I had on my low FODMAP diet, I felt a part of the wider AIP community of success stories.
 
During one of my AIP google marathons I discovered 'Grazed and enthused' the AIP and Paleo  labour of love by Alaena Haber. And I could not stop smiling. I bookmarked that bad boy instantly. The recipes are to die for and I have adapted them to suit my additional intolerances where necessary. Not only are the recipes awesome but Alaena is hilarious. Her posts are full of charm, sarcasm, humour and hope that there is a life to embrace after an autoimmune diagnosis, and sometimes quiet frankly you need a moment of silliness to keep you going.

These three aforementioned ladies - Sarah, Christina and Alaena have added the sparkle and the glamour to the diet that I failed to see first time round. I have made leaps and bounds with my health thanks to them and I am exceptionally grateful for the resources they so generously share. I wholeheartedly recommend checking them all out if you are on an autoimmune journey of your own and looking to manage your symptoms.

Prior to the AIP I would have put my health at about 50%, even on a gluten free diet. But I honestly feel the AIP has taken me to about 90%. I feel so much better in general that I almost  forget what my symptoms felt  like in the first place. What's just as important is learning that for all its phenomenal healing capabilities, your diet will only take you so far - there is still a bigger picture that contributes to your overall health and wellbeing. But once you have got your personalised protocol down, you will have built a strong foundation to support you with any other lifestyle changes. For me, those additional changes are the final phase of my journey.

My favourite AIP resources:

The Paleo Mom - Sarah Ballantyne.

Absolutely everything you could possibly ever need to know about the standard Paleo or AIP diet, plus a whole heap more. If you suffer from any kind of autoimmune condition, Sarah's research is a must read.

A clean plate - Christina Feindel.

Here you will find a whole host of amazing allergen free recipes and resources to support  all your dietary needs.

Please note if you follow the AIP low FODMAP plan in the UK, you will need to make a few substitutions on some ingredients unless you have a well stocked international foods store nearby. However I had made these work very well with substitutions - please feel free to email me for suggestions.

Grazed and Enthused - Alaena Haber.

A whole lot of fun and fabulous food. This is what elimination diets should be about.

​DISCLAIMER: The information on this blog is purely based on my own thoughts, views and opinions. I am telling these stories to share my experiences with you. The information does not constitute medical advice of any kind and is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. You should consult with a registered GP for guidance on any health related issues and not make any medical decisions based on the information contained within this site. I have no medical training, I am quite simply a coeliac with a story to share.