Choosing the Right Healing Diet

Processed foods, pesticides, medications, and toxins damage the gut microbiome which in turn drives a range of digestive, autoimmune and neurological illness. Various “Healing diets” work to heal the gut and calm the immune system and vary depending on the gut, genetics and environment.

In general, we recommend:

Organic, fresh, whole food diet
No/minimal refined flours and sugars
No processed foods, artificial additives, colorings or preservatives
Plenty of filtered water containing minerals is essential.

The Mindd Healing Diet Guide: Features & Benefits of Different Diets

Selecting the most appropriate healing diet as a focus for yourself or someone you care for can be confusing or overwhelming.

It is important to have a thorough understanding of what your options are in order to make the best selection.

Professional advice can support clear choices for a healing diet

Being guided by a knowledgeable practitioner who has assessed your entire health picture can support you in getting the best dietary guidance. By consulting with a skilled practitioner, such as a naturopath, nutritionist or integrative medicine physician, you are giving yourself an opportunity to receive an objective perspective of your health from a professional.

Your practitioner will develop a good understanding of your health goals, and upon treating, particular attention and focus will be placed on the areas of your health which requires nurturing.

Choosing a healing diet – ask the right questions

Below are a few key points to consider when selecting a healing diet. Ask yourself the following questions.

This list is by no means exhaustive, however, it makes for a great starting point. Additionally, the table below will also help point you in the right direction.

Do you have food sensitivities?
Are you in need of digestive support?
Is blood sugar management a concern?
Is weight loss a priority?
Do you have an autoimmune condition?
Do you suffer from skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne rosacea?

Diet	Key attributes	Pros	Cons	Conditions
Autoimmune Paleo More here…	Reduces inflammation Focuses on autoimmune conditions Focus on gut health Focus on gut health Strict cutting of food groups	Nutrient dense Plenty of variety Many tasty and exciting AIP recipes	May be expensive Strict avoidance of triggers Could be difficult eating out Not suitable for vegetarians/vegans Could be a long-term commitment	Autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis) Coeliac Disease Adrenal Fatigue Recurrent infections, low immunity Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Multiple Sclerosis
Body Ecology Diet More here…	General ‘clean eating’ and ‘body balancing’ Combines Eastern medicine and Western philosophies	A well-rounded whole foods diet Can be ‘personalized’	Structural, may not suit everyone 7 principles to adhere to.	Autism Irritable bowel syndrome Adrenal fatigue Food allergies and intolerances Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance Hormonal imbalances Leaky gut syndrome Various autoimmune diseases Mould disease/exposure
The Elimination Diet More here…	Dietary method to identify foods which may be causing unpleasant physical reactions Focus on gut healing once offending foods are eliminated	Useful method to pinpoint offending foods Systematic, structural method to follow Majority of people will experience an improvement	Time-consuming It is easy to make a mistake and stray from the structural nature of the diet Not for anaphylactic reactions to food Eating out may be hard	People who are having difficulties pinpointing whether their symptoms are linked to specific foods.
The GAPS Diet More here…	A strict diet which focuses on gut and brain health. Systematic protocol to follow in order to ‘reset’ gut health.	Supports overall gut function. Rebalances flora and healing gut wall Supports immune function and detoxification	Restrictive, hard for children at school Not much variety in the initial stages Histamine and glutamate sensitive people may react negatively to bone broth Not suitable for vegetarians/vegans Eating out is hard Long-term commitment A lot of preparation and cooking	Coeliac disease Crohn’s disease Ulcerative colitis ADHD Autism Spectrum Disorders Bipolar Schizophrenia Depression PANDAS/PANs Post Acute Infectious Syndrome
Gluten Free Casein Free Diet More here…	Avoiding inflammatory foods to optimize gastrointestinal function. Reducing inflammation and autistic symptoms.	Aids to stabilize moods in children with autism Reduces inflammation in gut	Can be difficult for children who are not familiar with what foods contain gluten and casein Can be quite restrictive when eating out Many ‘kids foods’ contain gluten and/or casein.	Autism Spectrum Disorders Irritable Bowel Syndrome PANDAS/PANs Post Acute Infectious Syndrome
The Ketogenic Diet More here…	Low carbohydrate High fat Targeted for weight loss, however, there are many benefits for neurological conditions	Effective once you are in ketosis	Eating a very low carbohydrate diet can be very hard Requires preparation Need to regularly check ketone levels Easy to slip out of ketosis Not suitable for vegetarians/vegans	Epilepsy Multiple Sclerosis Obesity Alzheimer’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease
Low FODMAPs Diet More here…	For those with a sensitivity to certain fermentable carbohydrates found in plant matter	Systematic, with an elimination and reintroduction phase Still plenty of room for variety in the diet	People will usually need to stick to a low FODMAP diet long-term Can be complicated to determine what your threshold for a certain food is	Irritable bowel syndrome
Paleolithic Diet More here…	Modern paleo diet includes meat, vegetables and fruit. No dairy, and no grains. High protein, high fiber, medium to high fat, and medium to low carbohydrates	Good ratio of fats, low in inflammatory fats High antioxidants, from a high intake of fruit and vegetables Better quality meats from grass-fed and/or organic sources Can aid in weight loss	People may struggle with elimination carbohydrates in the form of grains Can be expensive May be too low in carbohydrates for some athletes Social events and dining out may be challenging	Irritable bowel syndrome Thyroid conditions Obesity Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Endometriosis Fertility preparation Gluten intolerance PANDAS/PANs Post Acute Infectious Syndrome
Specific Carbohydrate Diet More here…	Only monosaccharides are allowed to be eaten, other forms of carbohydrates are not allowed as they require much more effort to digest. Focus on rebalancing gut bacteria	Long-term dietary solution Aids in a majority of digestive conditions May aid with immunity, mood and balances gut flora	Strict and rigid Requires preparation and commitment Challenging to dine out or eat at social events Not for vegetarians/vegans Trigger foods are permanently eliminated Histamine and glutamate sensitive people may react negatively to bone broth	Coeliac disease Crohn’s disease Ulcerative Colitis Diverticulitis Cystic Fibrosis Food Intolerances Autism Spectrum Disorders Irritable bowel syndrome Dysbiosis PANDAS/PANs Post Acute Infectious Syndrome
The Weston A Price Diet More here…	Non-refined foods and food ingredients Whole animal products including organ meats, cartilage, skin, and lard Includes whole grains Encourages fermented foods	Nutrient dense, high in vitamins, enzymes, minerals Plenty of variety Fermented foods beneficial for gut health	High fat intake may be difficult for some to tolerate Not easy to follow for vegetarians/vegans	Dental problems Musculoskeletal issues (e.g.: arthritis, osteoporosis) Diabetes Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diet Profile Research and Writing: Kimberly Kushner BHSc (Nutritional Medicine), BHSc (Naturopathy) for MINDD

Choosing the Right Healing Diet

In general, we recommend:

The Mindd Healing Diet Guide: Features & Benefits of Different Diets

Professional advice can support clear choices for a healing diet

Choosing a healing diet – ask the right questions

Diet

Key attributes

Pros

Cons

Conditions