Principles Flashcards

Which AIP principle addresses the role of circadian rhythm in immune health?

Answer: Aligning sleep, meal timing, and light exposure with natural light-dark cycles to support hormonal and immune regulation

Circadian misalignment disrupts cortisol, melatonin, and immune rhythms; AIP encourages lifestyle practices that reinforce natural biological clock cycles.

Why does AIP exclude NSAIDs and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications from the lifestyle protocol?

Answer: Chronic NSAID use damages the gut lining and increases intestinal permeability, counteracting the gut-healing goal of AIP

NSAIDs increase gut permeability by inhibiting prostaglandin-mediated mucus production and damaging epithelial cells, directly opposing AIP's gut-repair objective.

A client successfully completes AIP elimination and reintroduction. According to AIP principles, what is the long-term dietary goal?

Answer: Build the most varied, nutrient-dense diet possible that includes all individually tolerated foods while avoiding confirmed personal triggers

The long-term AIP vision is dietary expansion to maximize nutrient diversity and quality of life, guided by the personalized trigger map established during reintroduction.

Which statement best captures the AIP principle regarding movement and exercise?

Answer: Gentle, restorative movement is encouraged while high-intensity exercise is moderated to avoid spiking cortisol and inflammation

Overexercise raises cortisol and systemic inflammation, but appropriate low-to-moderate activity supports circulation, stress reduction, and immune regulation within AIP.

In the AIP model, which concept explains why two clients with the same diagnosis may need different elimination timelines?

Answer: Individual variation in gut microbiome composition, nutrient status, stress load, and disease severity produces different healing rates

AIP is inherently personalized because each client's unique biological terrain, lifestyle stressors, and disease history determine how quickly the elimination phase achieves its goals.

AIP emphasizes positive social connections as a healing tool because:

Answer: Strong social bonds reduce perceived stress, lower inflammatory cytokines, and support the nervous system's shift toward parasympathetic dominance

Psychosocial support lowers allostatic load, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and activates the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' state that promotes healing.

Which reintroduction stage order is generally recommended in the AIP protocol for most clients?

Answer: Start with least-reactive foods (e.g., egg yolks, legumes with pods) and progress toward more reactive foods (e.g., nightshades, grains)

AIP reintroduction is staged from lowest-risk foods to higher-risk ones, minimizing flare severity and providing a clear, interpretable signal for each food tested.