My AIP journey started with joint pain and inflammation. Here’s how the Autoimmune Protocol helped me reconnect with my body, food, and ancestral healing.
When I started the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), I was in survival mode. I was dealing with joint pain, fatigue, inflammation, and the constant frustration of feeling unwell—but never having clear answers. Doctors offered prescriptions. I wanted healing.
The AIP framework felt overwhelming at first. It meant cutting out a lot of foods I leaned on—grains, nightshades, coffee, seed oils, and more. And as someone who’s been an avid coffee drinker for years, giving it up wasn’t just a dietary change—it was emotional. Coffee is a seed, and seeds are excluded from the elimination phase of AIP. Letting go of my morning ritual was hard, and honestly, still is.
Transitioning into this lifestyle hasn’t been easy. It requires prep, patience, and a complete mindset shift. There’s grief in letting go of old habits—but also empowerment in choosing healing every day.
What surprised me most? AIP felt familiar. The broths, slow cooking, herbal teas, and gut-friendly meals reminded me of my abuelita’s kitchen. Healing wasn’t just nutritional—it was cultural. It felt like coming home.
Since beginning this journey, my inflammation markers have improved. My joint pain is manageable. My energy is steadier. But more importantly, I trust my body again. I make space for rest. I treat food as medicine and ritual.
This path also opened the door to something bigger. That’s why I’m becoming a certified naturopath—to understand the root causes of illness and bring ancestral wisdom back into the conversation around healing.
If you’re just starting AIP, know this: it’s not a quick fix. It’s a lifestyle for true health—rooted in intention, consistency, and cultural connection.
Let’s keep healing—one ritual at a time.
-Sandra
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