The Best Diet to Reverse Autoimmune Symptoms Naturally
Autoimmune disease is on the rise—impacting over 24 million Americans. If you’re dealing with symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, bloating, rashes, or brain fog, your immune system may be attacking your own tissues. But here’s the good news: your diet plays a powerful role in reversing autoimmune symptoms naturally.
While many popular diets promise relief, they often fall short because they don’t address the root causes: gut dysfunction, toxin buildup, chronic inflammation, and hormonal imbalance. That’s where the ASTR Diet, developed by Dr. Joseph Jacobs, comes in.
Why Diet Matters in Autoimmune Conditions
Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis often stem from:
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Leaky gut (intestinal permeability)
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Environmental toxins and food additives
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Chronic systemic inflammation
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Dysbiosis (microbial imbalance)
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Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, vitamin D, omega-3s)
A healing diet must go beyond calorie counting—it must repair the gut, reduce immune triggers, and nourish immune function.
📚 Fasano, 2012; Vojdani & Vojdani, 2015
The ASTR Diet: A Root-Cause Approach to Autoimmune Healing
Dr. Joseph Jacobs created the ASTR Diet after years of battling chronic pain and inflammation. It’s not a trendy elimination diet—it’s a strategic, science-based plan designed to:
✅ Remove what fuels inflammation
✅ Restore gut and liver health
✅ Rebuild immune balance naturally
What Makes the ASTR Diet Different?
Feature | AIP | Paleo | Vegan | ASTR Diet |
---|---|---|---|---|
Removes immune triggers (gluten, dairy, sugar) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Gut healing focus | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ✅ |
Reduces toxins and supports detox | ❌ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ |
Supports hormone and blood sugar balance | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ |
Designed for long-term healing | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ✅ |
1. Foods That Reverse Autoimmune Symptoms
The ASTR Diet emphasizes real, anti-inflammatory foods that promote healing at the cellular level:
✅ Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, arugula): Support detox and hormone balance
✅ Wild-caught fish and flaxseeds: Provide omega-3s to reduce inflammation
✅ Bone broth, garlic, ginger: Soothe the gut lining and fight pathogens
✅ Dark leafy greens: Rich in magnesium and folate for immune modulation
✅ Berries, turmeric, and rosemary: Packed with antioxidants that calm immune overactivity
📚 Calder, 2020; Zhang et al., 2019
2. Foods to Avoid During an Autoimmune Flare
Many “healthy” foods can worsen autoimmune symptoms by triggering inflammation or damaging the gut lining.
❌ Gluten and grains: Increase zonulin and gut permeability
❌ Conventional dairy: Contains casein and hormones that may mimic human tissue
❌ Refined seed oils: Promote oxidative stress and immune dysregulation
❌ Processed soy, corn, and additives: Fuel gut dysbiosis and immune confusion
❌ Sugar and artificial sweeteners: Feed bad bacteria and spike insulin and cortisol
📚 Fasano, 2012; Lerner & Matthias, 2015
3. Why the ASTR Diet Works When Others Fail
Most elimination or autoimmune protocols fall short because they:
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Focus only on food without addressing toxins or hormone balance
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Rely heavily on restrictive eating that’s hard to sustain
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Don’t restore the liver, microbiome, or mitochondrial function
The ASTR Diet is different. It’s a whole-body, root-cause healing strategy that includes:
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Intermittent fasting to reduce inflammation and support autophagy
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Toxin-free living (clean cookware, organic food, hormone-free proteins)
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Targeted nutrient repletion (selenium, zinc, vitamin A, B vitamins)
📘 Learn more in Dr. Joseph Jacobs’ book, Eat to Heal
Healing Takes More Than Just Avoiding Food Triggers
If you’re only cutting out gluten and hoping for the best—you’re missing the deeper healing path. The ASTR Diet empowers your body to:
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Heal the gut lining
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Remove inflammatory triggers
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Detox safely
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Rebalance the immune response
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Restore energy and reduce flares
Begin Healing Your Autoimmune Symptoms Today
You don’t have to live with daily pain, fatigue, and flares. With the right nutritional strategy, your body can heal—naturally.
📘 Start with Eat to Heal by Dr. Joseph Jacobs
👉 Then schedule a free ASTR Diet consultation with a trained health coach.
🔗 Book your free session here
References
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Calder, P. C. (2020). Nutrition and immunity: Lessons for autoimmune disease. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 3(1), 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000096
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Fasano, A. (2012). Zonulin and its regulation of intestinal barrier function. Physiological Reviews, 91(1), 151–175. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00003.2008
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Lerner, A., & Matthias, T. (2015). Gut–thyroid axis and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 181(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/cei.12661
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Vojdani, A., & Vojdani, E. (2015). Reaction of human monoclonal antibodies to dietary proteins and peptides. Scientific Reports, 5, 12933. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep12933
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Zhang, Y., et al. (2019). Dietary patterns and autoimmune inflammation. Nutrients, 11(4), 793. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040793