Diet, Digestive Health, and Autoimmunity: The Foundations to an Autoimmune Disease Food Pyramid - Part 2

Abstract

Diet and dietary components are known to have a direct impact on the modifiable risk factors for autoimmune disease. In this study, we review a selection of popular diets - Mediterranean, vegetarian/vegan, Paleolithic, gluten-free, and a low arachidonic acid diet - for their effect on digestive health and autoimmune disease. Clinical trials of these diets demonstrated that including or excluding particular dietary components and modeling a diet based on whole food eating reduces intestinal dysbiosis, supports intestinal integrity, and modulates inflammation. Dietary strategies, such as limiting arachidonic acid to <90 mg per day, avoiding gluten-containing products, consuming fiber, incorporating fermented foods, increasing fruit and vegetable intake to above six portions daily, and moderating sodium and long-chain saturated fat consumption may improve digestive health. Incorporating these dietary aspects may lay the foundations for the development of an "Autoimmune Disease Food Pyramid"as a preventive health measure and a public health initiative.