The Autoimmune Wellness Podcast

Episode 103: Environmental Toxins: What Actually Matters with Lara Adler

Spend a few minutes online learning about environmental toxins, and it can quickly start to feel like everything around you is a problem. From drinking water and food packaging to cookware, cleaning products, and the air inside our homes, there seems to be an endless list of things we're supposed to avoid.

For those of us living with autoimmune disease, this can feel especially overwhelming. We're already paying attention to nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, and medical care. Do we really need to worry about every chemical exposure, too?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Lara Adler, an environmental health educator and consultant who has spent more than 14 years helping health professionals understand the science of environmental chemical exposures.

Together, they explore what research actually tells us about environmental toxins, why dose and timing matter, and how to prioritize meaningful exposure reduction without fear, perfectionism, or expensive wellness products. They also share practical, budget-conscious strategies for improving indoor air quality, choosing water filtration, reducing plastic exposure, and selecting safer cookware.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What we know about environmental chemical exposures, immune health, and autoimmune disease
• Why dose, timing, duration, and route of exposure matter when evaluating health risks
• How endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect the body even at very low levels
• Why social media often oversimplifies environmental health research
• How to take environmental exposures seriously without becoming fearful or overwhelmed
• Simple, affordable ways to improve indoor air quality, including ventilation and filtration
• Why choosing the right water filter starts with understanding your local water quality
• How to think about pesticides and organic produce without sacrificing fruit and vegetable intake
• Whether washing and peeling produce can meaningfully reduce pesticide residues
• Where reducing plastic contact with food and water can make the biggest difference
• Which cookware materials Lara recommends and why
• Why individual choices matter, but broader policy changes are also essential

Resources:

• Follow Lara Adler on Instagram: @environmentaltoxinsnerd
• Lara's Substack: Talking Toxins
• Lara Adler's website: https://laraadler.com

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Environmental toxins: What actually matters?

01:52 – Introducing Lara Adler

03:35 – Environmental exposures, human health, and autoimmunity

09:15 – Understanding dose, timing, and cumulative exposure

12:26 – Why “the dose makes the poison” isn't always straightforward

18:45 – How social media oversimplifies environmental health

20:30 – Taking exposures seriously without fear

24:33 – Avoiding misleading wellness products

27:09 – Practical ways to improve indoor air quality

34:24 – Choosing the right water filtration system

42:11 – Pesticides, food packaging, and dietary exposure

48:04 – Washing and peeling produce to reduce residues

50:30 – Reducing exposure to plastics and microplastics

55:01 – Choosing safer, longer-lasting cookware

58:42 – Wrap-up and where to follow Lara Adler

My Healing Update: Autoimmunity, Perimenopause & Building Resilience (Ep 102)

What does healing look like 15 years into living with autoimmune disease? For Mickey Trescott, it looks a lot different than it did in the beginning. Instead of focusing on getting out of a health crisis, she's now thinking about maintaining stability, adapting to new challenges, and building resilience for the decades ahead.

In this personal update, Mickey shares how she's doing with celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and psoriatic arthritis, including why stability has been one of the most meaningful developments this year. She also discusses what she's eating after 15 years of AIP reintroductions, how her food tolerances continue to evolve, and why her approach remains focused on dietary diversity rather than restriction.

Mickey also shares some bigger changes involving perimenopause, hormone therapy, and bone health. From discovering osteopenia on her first DEXA scan to making unexpected progress with longstanding tendon pain, she explains how these experiences have reshaped her movement and strength-training goals. Throughout the episode, she reflects on the value of foundational habits, appropriate medical care, and learning to enjoy a good season of health without worrying about what might come next.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Mickey is eating 15 years after starting AIP and how her food tolerances have evolved
• How she's managing psoriatic arthritis, Hashimoto's, and celiac disease
• Why stability can be just as meaningful as making new changes
• How progesterone therapy has affected her sleep during perimenopause
• What she learned from discovering osteopenia on her first DEXA scan
• Her experience with testosterone therapy and unexpected improvements in tendon pain
• How physical therapy and progressive strength training are helping her build resilience
• Why reduced stress has been an important part of feeling better this year
• What's changed—and what hasn't—in her supplement routine
• Why long-term healing is about building the capacity to live your life, not achieving perfect health

Resources:

• Episode 56: My Healing Journey Update
• The New Autoimmune Protocol by Mickey Trescott
• The Autoimmune Protocol: https://theautoimmuneprotocol.com/
• Follow Mickey on Instagram: @mickeytrescott

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – What healing looks like 15 years into autoimmune disease

03:10 – What I'm eating these days

10:43 – My autoimmune update

13:22 – Hashimoto's and thyroid treatment update

15:32 – Perimenopause, hormone therapy, and sleep

19:06 – My DEXA scan and osteopenia surprise

22:13 – Testosterone, tendon pain, and getting stronger

25:18 – Stress, resilience, and enjoying a good season

28:00 – An update on supplements

29:14 – Wrap-up and closing

Episode 101: Navigating Health Information Online with Dr. Guillermo Ruiz

Health information has never been easier to access—and somehow, it’s never felt harder to know what to trust. Between new research, expert opinions, personal stories, social media, supplement claims, and the latest wellness trends, it can be difficult to separate what’s plausible, what’s promising, and what’s actually been demonstrated.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Dr. Guillermo Ruiz, a naturopathic physician who practices naturopathic endocrinology with a focus on metabolic health. His work centers on bringing an evidence-based approach to naturopathic and integrative medicine while remaining curious about emerging ideas.

Together, they explore how to navigate the gray areas of health information without becoming either overly skeptical or too quick to embrace the latest trend. They discuss how to evaluate health claims, why individual context matters, the difference between anecdotes and evidence, and how to think about risk when experimenting with diets, supplements, medications, and emerging therapies.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why having access to more health information doesn’t necessarily make health decisions easier
• Why individual biology and context can make one-size-fits-all health advice misleading
• How social media can turn useful health strategies into universal recommendations
• Why layering multiple restrictive diets or wellness strategies can create more problems
• How to look beyond a compelling headline to understand what a study actually found
• Why emerging treatments and supplements require weighing potential benefits against potential risks
• How personal stories can provide useful clues without being the same as scientific evidence
• Why “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe—and prescription medications aren’t automatically more dangerous
• Red flags to watch for in online health content, including absolute claims, cure language, and lack of nuance
• How to approach personal health experiments with clearer guardrails
• Why food, movement, sleep, and other foundational habits should come before chasing the latest health trend

Resources:

• Follow Dr. Guillermo Ruiz: @3030strong
• Contact Dr. Ruiz: guillermo@3030strong.com
• Dr. Ruiz Practice: Go Health

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – How do we know what health information to trust?

02:20 – Introducing Dr. Guillermo Ruiz

04:32 – Why navigating health information online is so challenging

17:56 – Evaluating health headlines, studies, and products

29:29 – How to navigate personal stories and anecdotes

34:12 – The hidden risks of supplements and herbal medicine

40:31 – Red flags in online health content

44:32 – How to approach personal experimentation with caution

50:39 – Wrap-up and where to follow Dr. Ruiz

Episode 100: AIP Community Q4 Update — Research, Advocacy & Community

Autoimmune wellness doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s shaped by the research being published, the advocacy happening on behalf of patients, and the communities that help turn information into something meaningful in everyday life.

In this Q4 Community Update—and the 100th episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast—Mickey Trescott catches up on some of the developments happening across the autoimmune landscape, with a focus on research, advocacy, and community.

First, immunologist and AIP Certified Coach Sybil Cooper, PhD, joins Mickey to discuss a newly published qualitative study exploring the experiences of people with rheumatoid arthritis who participated in an AIP intervention. They look beyond symptom outcomes to explore what it was actually like to implement AIP, the challenges participants faced, what kinds of support helped, and what their diets looked like one year later.

Next, Jaime Hartman joins Mickey to recap the Autoimmune Association’s Hope Journey Walk, where Team AIP participated in Washington, DC, Michigan, and virtually around the country. They discuss the importance of showing up as a community, raising awareness, and connecting AIP with the broader autoimmune research and advocacy landscape.

Finally, Jamie-Nicole Martin, founder and CEO of the AIP BIPOC Network, shares updates on the organization’s work supporting people navigating changes to insurance, medication, and food benefits, along with community outreach, an autoimmune and menopause research project, and plans to expand access to resources in the year ahead.

Together, these conversations show how research, advocacy, and community intersect—and why all three matter for people living with autoimmune disease.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What qualitative research can teach us about the real-world experience of following AIP
• What participants in the rheumatoid arthritis AIP study found most challenging
• What happened when researchers followed the RA participants one year later
• How Team AIP participated in the Autoimmune Association’s Hope Journey Walk
• Why connecting the AIP community with broader autoimmune advocacy and research matters
• How the AIP BIPOC Network is helping people navigate changing insurance, pharmacy, and food benefits
• What Jamie-Nicole’s autoimmune and menopause research project is exploring
• Why community resources need to evolve as people move through different stages of life with autoimmune disease

Resources:

• Exploring Participant Experiences With the Autoimmune Protocol Diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study
• Autoimmune Association – Hope Journey Walk, research, advocacy, and patient support
• AIP BIPOC Network
• AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction to the Q4 Community Update and Episode 100

01:56 – Research update with Sybil Cooper, PhD

03:00 – Understanding qualitative vs. quantitative research

05:20 – Challenges participants experienced implementing AIP

08:10 – The role of professional, household, and peer support

10:40 – What participants were eating one year later

13:15 – Reintroductions, long-term success, and lessons for the AIP community

15:50 – Jaime Hartman: Hope Journey Walk & Team AIP

17:20 – What the Hope Journey Walk was like

20:00 – Why Team AIP’s presence matters

22:40 – Community connection and the broader autoimmune movement

26:36 – Jamie-Nicole Martin: AIP BIPOC Network update

27:30 – Navigating changes to benefits and healthcare access

29:30 – Autoimmune disease and menopause research

31:00 – Community outreach and the Abilities Expo

33:00 – Connecting people with resources throughout the autoimmune journey

34:45 – What’s next for the AIP BIPOC Network

36:02 – Episode 100 reflections and wrap-up

Episode 99: ADHD, Women’s Health, and Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Jolene Brighten

What if the brain fog, overwhelm, forgetfulness, trouble focusing, or emotional intensity you’ve been blaming on hormones or autoimmune disease has another layer to it?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and bestselling author Dr. Jolene Brighten for a conversation about ADHD through the lens of women’s hormones, brain health, and autoimmune disease.

Together, they explore why ADHD can look different in women and why so many women aren’t diagnosed until later in life. They discuss how ADHD symptoms can shift throughout the menstrual cycle and become especially challenging during perimenopause, as well as the complex relationship between hormones, inflammation, the gut, and the brain. Dr. Brighten also shares her perspective on hormone replacement therapy for women with ADHD, practical ways to support the microbiome, and simple strategies for making nutrition, movement, and daily life more ADHD-friendly.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why ADHD often looks different in women and can go undiagnosed for decades
• What’s happening in the ADHD brain beyond problems with attention
• How estrogen, progesterone, and the menstrual cycle can influence ADHD symptoms
• Why perimenopause may reveal ADHD that was previously masked or well-compensated
• What women with ADHD should know about hormone replacement therapy
• What we know about the relationship between ADHD, inflammation, and autoimmune disease
• How gut health and food sensitivities may interact with ADHD symptoms
• Practical strategies for nutrition, movement, and reducing overwhelm with ADHD

Resources:

• Book: ADHD and Women by Dr. Jolene Brighten
• ADHD and Women resources and bonuses: https://drbrighten.com/adhdinwomen
• Podcast: The Dr. Brighten Show
• Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: @drjolenebrighten

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – ADHD, hormones, and autoimmune disease

01:59 – Introducing Dr. Jolene Brighten

04:10 – How ADHD presents in women

06:48 – What is going on in an ADHD brain?

11:19 – How ADHD symptoms change throughout the menstrual cycle

16:42 – How perimenopause affects ADHD

24:57 – How HRT can affect the ADHD brain

33:44 – The relationship between autoimmune disease and ADHD

37:58 – How to “microdose your microbiome”

43:12 – Food sensitivities and ADHD

45:54 – How to tackle overwhelm with ADHD

49:40 – Wrap-up and closing

Episode 98: Food Sensitivity Testing: What Tests Can and Can’t Tell You

Food sensitivity tests promise something incredibly appealing: send in a sample, receive a personalized list of reactive foods, and skip the uncertainty of elimination and reintroduction. But can these tests actually tell you which foods are causing your symptoms?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott takes a closer look at the science behind commercial food sensitivity testing, including IgG panels, MRT, ALCAT, and other commonly marketed approaches. She explains the important difference between a test being able to measure something in the body and that measurement actually being clinically useful.

Mickey also explores what it means for a diagnostic test to be properly validated, why major allergy organizations recommend against IgG food sensitivity testing, and why feeling better after following test results doesn’t necessarily prove that the test accurately identified your problem foods. Finally, she shares fascinating emerging research into food reactions that conventional testing may not yet capture—and explains why systematic elimination and reintroduction remain the most useful tools for building a personalized diet.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What IgG food sensitivity tests actually measure—and why a positive result doesn’t necessarily indicate a harmful reaction
• How MRT, ALCAT, and other food sensitivity tests work and where the evidence falls short
• The difference between analytical validity, clinical validity, and clinical utility
• Why feeling better after following test results doesn’t necessarily prove the test accurately identified your problem foods
• Why elimination and systematic reintroduction remain the best way to identify individual food tolerance
• What emerging research may tell us about food reactions conventional testing doesn’t capture
• Why unnecessary food restriction can have nutritional, financial, and quality-of-life consequences
• How to think about past food sensitivity test results without dismissing your own experience

Resources:

• Episode 54: A Deep Dive Into the AIP Reintroduction Process
• The Autoimmune Protocol: https://theautoimmuneprotocol.com
• Research on confocal laser endomicroscopy and food-related reactions in IBS (Study 1 and Study 2)

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Can food sensitivity tests really identify problem foods?

02:59 – IgG food sensitivity testing

07:16 – MRT, ALCAT, and other food sensitivity tests

12:31 – What does it mean for a test to be validated?

16:22 – But what if the test worked for me?

19:28 – Why elimination and reintroduction remain the gold standard

23:10 – Emerging research into food reactions we can’t yet test for

26:52 – Reframing food sensitivity testing

31:33 – Wrap-up and closing

Episode 97: Integrative Rheumatology: Bridging Medicine, Nutrition & Lifestyle with Dr. Micah Yu

For many people living with autoimmune disease, seeing a rheumatologist can bring up a lot of uncertainty—especially if you want to incorporate nutrition and lifestyle alongside conventional medical care.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Dr. Micah Yu, a quadruple board-certified physician specializing in rheumatology, internal medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine. Dr. Yu also lives with autoimmune arthritis himself, giving him a unique perspective as both physician and patient.

Together, they explore what integrative rheumatology actually looks like, why conventional medicine and lifestyle don't have to be an either/or choice, and how patients can build a healthcare team that supports the full picture of autoimmune health. They also discuss how to prepare for a rheumatology appointment, when medications may be necessary, and how nutrition and lifestyle can work alongside medical treatment.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Dr. Yu's experience with gout and spondyloarthritis shaped his approach to medicine
• What rheumatologists actually treat and why they often serve as "detectives" for complex cases
• Common misconceptions about rheumatologists, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine
• Why time constraints within conventional healthcare can make complex autoimmune care challenging
• What integrative and functional rheumatology looks like in practice
• Why medication and lifestyle interventions don't have to be mutually exclusive
• How to prepare for a rheumatology appointment and make the most of limited time
• Why tracking symptoms, medications, supplements, and your health history can help your physician
• How patients and their prescribing providers can approach medication changes when health improves
• Why building a multidisciplinary healthcare team can be valuable for autoimmune disease

Resources:

• Dr. Lifestyle: https://drlifestyle.org
• My Autoimmune MD: https://myautoimmunemd.com
• Social Media: @MyAutoimmuneMD
• Podcast: Autoimmune Alchemy

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why rheumatology and lifestyle medicine don't have to be either/or

02:15 – Introducing Dr. Micah Yu

03:41 – Dr. Yu's personal journey with autoimmune arthritis

07:40 – Rheumatology 101: What does a rheumatologist do?

10:15 – Common misconceptions about rheumatology

16:15 – What integrative and functional rheumatology looks like

19:40 – How to get the most out of a rheumatology appointment

22:02 – Combining medication with diet and lifestyle

25:27 – Hope for people living with autoimmune disease

27:34 – Dr. Yu's advice for building a healthcare team

28:22 – Wrap-up and where to follow Dr. Yu

Episode 96: Understanding Food Reactions: Why Foods Affect People Differently

One of the central goals of the Autoimmune Protocol is figuring out which foods work for you and which ones don’t. But when a symptom appears after eating a food, what actually counts as a food reaction—and does every reaction mean the same thing?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott explores the science of food reactions and why they can look so different from person to person. She breaks down the major categories of reactions, including food allergies, celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, digestive intolerances, and reactions to specific compounds in foods.

Mickey also explains why a reaction and its underlying mechanism aren’t necessarily the same thing, and why that distinction matters when personalizing your diet. She explores how dose, timing, preparation, digestive function, and other factors can influence food tolerance, plus why a reproducible reaction can still provide useful information even when science can’t yet explain exactly why it happens.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The many ways a food reaction can show up, including changes in autoimmune symptoms
• The difference between a food reaction and its underlying biological mechanism
• How food allergies, celiac disease, food sensitivities, and digestive intolerances differ
• Why dose, timing, preparation, and digestive function can influence food tolerance
• How compounds like histamine and sulfites can trigger symptoms in some people
• Why meaningful food reactions can occur even when we don’t fully understand the mechanism
• Why food reactions can be difficult to identify when symptoms fluctuate
• How AIP elimination and reintroduction help identify the foods that work for you

Resources:

• The Autoimmune Protocol: theautoimmuneprotocol.com
• The New Autoimmune Protocol by Mickey Trescott

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Understanding what constitutes a food reaction

03:24 – What can a food reaction actually look like?

07:29 – Food allergy: When the immune system reacts to food

15:22 – Gluten reactions: Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

21:54 – Food intolerances: When digestion and absorption are the problem

27:35 – Reactions to compounds in food: When it isn’t the food itself

35:37 – Why food reactions can be so hard to figure out

40:06 – Bringing it back to AIP: Finding the foods that work for you

42:06 – Wrap-up and closing

Episode 95: Understanding Perimenopause: A Beginner’s Guide with Dr. Mariza Snyder

Perimenopause can feel especially confusing when you’re already living with autoimmune disease. Changes in sleep, mood, energy, inflammation, cognition, and even how your body responds to familiar strategies can leave you wondering: Is this an autoimmune flare, perimenopause, or both?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by functional medicine practitioner, bestselling author, and women’s hormone health expert Dr. Mariza Snyder for a Perimenopause 101 conversation designed to help women understand what’s actually happening during this transition.

Together, they explore when perimenopause can begin, the surprising symptoms that often appear before cycle changes, and why fluctuating estrogen and progesterone may be especially disruptive for women managing autoimmune disease. They also discuss the foundational role of nutrition, sleep, strength training, metabolic health, and stress resilience, plus where hormone replacement therapy may fit into a personalized approach.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What perimenopause is and why it can begin as early as the late 30s
• Why symptoms can appear years before noticeable menstrual cycle changes
• Common early symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, brain fog, sleep disruption, and mood changes
• Why perimenopause and autoimmune flares can be difficult to distinguish
• How estrogen and progesterone interact with immune regulation and inflammation
• Why strategies that worked for years may suddenly feel less effective
• How tracking symptoms alongside your menstrual cycle can reveal important patterns
• Why blood sugar regulation, nutrition, sleep, strength, and stress resilience matter in perimenopause
• Dr. Mariza’s “landing the plane” strategy for improving your nighttime routine
• How to advocate for better perimenopause care and know when to seek additional support
• Where hormone replacement therapy may fit alongside foundational lifestyle strategies
• Why your needs may continue to change throughout the perimenopause transition

Resources:

• Book: The Perimenopause Revolution
• The Perimenopause Revolution resources: https://drmariza.com/book/
• Podcast: Energized with Dr. Mariza

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why perimenopause can be confusing with autoimmune disease

03:16 – Introducing Dr. Mariza Snyder

04:28 – Perimenopause 101: What are we dealing with?

10:28 – Common and surprising symptoms of perimenopause

17:14 – The perimenopause-autoimmune connection

23:22 – Why old strategies can stop working in perimenopause

28:27 – A foundational approach to perimenopause

35:28 – Knowing when to dig deeper and advocate for care

40:57 – Hormone replacement therapy in perimenopause

46:09 – Hope for autoimmune women navigating perimenopause

Episode 94: Food Nomad — Navigating the Emotional Journey of Autoimmune Disease with Imei Hsu

For many people, changing the way they eat because of autoimmune disease can feel like losing more than food. It can affect family traditions, cultural connection, travel, restaurants, and the simple feeling of belonging around a shared table.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Bernice Imei Hsu, registered nurse, licensed mental health counselor, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and AIP Certified Coach, to explore the emotional and cultural journey of living with dietary restrictions.

Five years after writing her Autoimmune Wellness article, "Bringing Culture Back to the Kitchen," Imei reflects on what she has learned about healing, reintroductions, adapting traditional foods, and becoming what she calls a "Food Nomad." Together, Mickey and Imei discuss why healing isn't simply about getting foods back. It's also about finding new ways to reconnect with culture, relationships, travel, and joy.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Imei means by becoming a "Food Nomad"
• Why dietary restrictions can affect identity, culture, and belonging
• Why adapting cultural recipes can take years of experimentation
• How reintroducing foods like soy helped Imei reconnect with family traditions
• What Imei learned from experimenting with gluten-free sourdough and other foods
• Why healing and food tolerance can continue evolving long after the elimination phase
• Ways to navigate family gatherings when you can't eat traditional foods
• How to give yourself permission to adapt traditions instead of perfectly recreating them
• What it means to become the "keeper of the food flame"
• Why grief around food and cultural traditions is a normal part of the autoimmune journey
• How to hold onto hope when you're still early in elimination or reintroductions

Resources:

• Bringing Culture Back to the Kitchen – Imei's original 2021 article on Autoimmune Wellness
• Imei Hsu on Instagram: @everydaywithimei

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Food, identity, belonging, and autoimmune disease

02:34 – Introducing Bernice Imei Hsu

03:39 – What it means to be a "Food Nomad"

06:17 – Revisiting "Bringing Culture Back to the Kitchen"

13:21 – The long game of healing and food reintroductions

18:19 – Gluten-free sourdough baking experiments

25:58 – Bringing culture back into the kitchen

31:48 – Food, belonging, and navigating relationships

37:55 – Giving yourself permission to adapt tradition

42:09 – Becoming the "keeper of the food flame"

46:12 – Encouragement for anyone grieving foods or traditions

48:24 – Wrap-up and where to follow Imei

Episode 93: Beyond the Studies — Results from the New Autoimmune Protocol Community

What happens when people put the Autoimmune Protocol into practice—not in a clinical trial, but in real life?

To celebrate the launch of The New Autoimmune Protocol, hundreds of readers joined a guided online community where they worked through the new Transition Phase, completed 30 days of either Core or Modified AIP, tracked their symptoms, and supported one another along the way.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott shares the results from this unique community experience. While this wasn't a formal research study, the symptom improvements closely mirrored many of the findings from published AIP research—and the participant stories reveal the power of preparation, accountability, and community support.

Together, these survey results offer a real-world look at what implementing AIP can look like, what people struggled with, what surprised them, and why healing is often about much more than food alone.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Mickey created a guided community alongside The New Autoimmune Protocol
• What surprised her most about who joined the program
• Why the new Transition Phase helped participants feel more prepared for elimination
• How overall autoimmune symptom severity changed after 30 days
• Which symptoms improved the most, including digestion, energy, sleep, pain, and brain fog
• Three standout participant stories that illustrate the range of real-world experiences
• How these community results compare with published AIP research
• Why symptom tracking is one of the most valuable tools during AIP
• The importance of community support when implementing dietary change
• How to join the ongoing Autoimmune Protocol community

Resources:

• The New Autoimmune Protocol – Mickey Trescott's updated guide featuring the Transition Phase, Core and Modified AIP, and personalized reintroductions
• The Autoimmune Protocol Community
• Episode 59: The First Published AIP Study in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Episode 61: AIP and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Research
• Episode 63: AIP IBD Gene Expression Study
• Episode 65: New Hashimoto's Research from Poland
• Episode 89: The First AIP Pilot Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Julianne Taylor

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction and overview of the community experience

02:39 – Why Mickey created The New Autoimmune Protocol community

06:38 – Who joined the community?

09:45 – The new Transition Phase in action

14:33 – What happened after 30 days?

17:16 – Overall autoimmune symptom improvements

19:12 – Energy and sleep results

20:03 – Digestive health improvements

21:53 – Joint pain and inflammation

22:42 – Brain fog, skin, and other symptom changes

23:59 – Three standout participant stories

28:58 – Comparing community results to published research

32:06 – Mickey's biggest takeaways

36:26 – An invitation to join the ongoing community

40:11 – Wrap-up and closing

Episode 92: Fiber, Gut Health & the Microbiome with Farzanah Nasser

Fiber is having a moment—but for people with autoimmune disease, digestive symptoms, or a history of restrictive diets, it can also feel confusing.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by UK-based naturopathic nutritionist, certified functional medicine practitioner, and author Farzanah Nasser to explore why fiber is one of the most overlooked nutrients in modern nutrition—and why it's so important for gut, immune, and overall health.

Together, they discuss how fiber nourishes the gut microbiome, supports immune function, and helps produce beneficial anti-inflammatory compounds. They also dive into why increasing fiber sometimes causes digestive discomfort, how to introduce it gradually, and practical strategies for reaching the recommended 30 grams per day—even for those with sensitive digestion or autoimmune disease.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why 96% of people aren't getting enough fiber
• How fiber feeds the gut microbiome and supports immune function
• The difference between probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics
• Why short-chain fatty acids are so important for gut and immune health
• Why increasing fiber too quickly can cause bloating and digestive symptoms
• Practical strategies for gradually increasing fiber intake
• Tips for improving bean tolerance through preparation methods
• How to approach fiber if you have IBS, IBD, SIBO, or sensitive digestion
• Why mindful eating and proper digestion matter when increasing fiber
• Favorite high-fiber foods for the Autoimmune Protocol and Modified AIP
• What 30 grams of fiber actually looks like in a day
• Simple ways to build more fiber into everyday meals

Resources:

• Website: https://farzanahnutrition.com
• Instagram: @farzanahnasser_nutrition
• Book: The Everyday High-Fiber Plan

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why fiber matters for autoimmune health

01:30 – Introducing Farzanah Nasser

03:28 – Why fiber deserves a rebrand

04:48 – What fiber is and why we need more of it

07:11 – How fiber feeds the gut microbiome

08:32 – Fiber, inflammation, and immune function

10:51 – Why fiber sometimes causes digestive symptoms

17:01 – Preparing beans for better digestion

19:28 – Fiber for IBS, IBD, SIBO, and sensitive digestion

23:16 – Optimizing digestion before increasing fiber

25:38 – Favorite high-fiber AIP foods

30:39 – What 30 grams of fiber looks like in real life

37:04 – Favorite recipes from The Everyday High-Fiber Plan

40:48 – Wrap-up and closing

Episode 91: Understanding Hair Loss and Autoimmune Disease with VJ Hamilton

Hair loss is one of the most common symptoms people experience with autoimmune disease—but it's also one of the most misunderstood. While many people assume it's simply part of having an autoimmune condition, hair loss can actually have many different causes, from immune dysfunction and nutrient deficiencies to hormone changes, chronic stress, and scalp inflammation.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by registered nutritionist, AIP Certified Coach, and founder of the Autoimmunity Nutrition Clinic, VJ Hamilton, to explore the many factors that influence hair health in people with autoimmune disease. VJ brings both professional expertise and personal experience, having lived with alopecia areata, psoriasis, and post-viral chronic fatigue syndrome herself.

Together, they discuss the different types of hair loss commonly seen in autoimmune patients, how to distinguish between them, and why identifying the underlying cause is essential for supporting healthy regrowth. They also explore nutrient deficiencies, gut health, hormones, stress, topical therapies, and why patience is such an important part of the healing process.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The different types of hair loss associated with autoimmune disease
• How alopecia areata differs from stress-, hormone-, and nutrient-related hair loss
• Why iron deficiency and low ferritin are common contributors to hair shedding
• The role of protein, B vitamins, zinc, selenium, vitamin D, and omega-3s in healthy hair growth
• How gut health and nutrient absorption influence hair health
• Why stress-related hair shedding often occurs months after a stressful event
• The importance of investigating the root cause rather than treating hair loss as a diagnosis
• Which supplements may be helpful—and which are often overhyped
• Topical strategies that may support scalp and follicle health
• Why hair is often one of the last tissues to recover during healing
• How to set realistic expectations for hair regrowth while addressing underlying health concerns

Resources:

VJ Hamilton

• Website: https://autoimmunenutritionclinic.com
• Instagram: @theautoimmunitynutritionist
• Podcast: The Autoimmune Reset

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why hair loss is so common in autoimmune disease

01:52 – Introducing VJ Hamilton

03:13 – VJ's journey with alopecia, psoriasis, and chronic fatigue

06:40 – Different types of hair loss in autoimmune disease

13:30 – Nutrient deficiencies and hair health

23:46 – Common root causes and what to investigate first

27:26 – Why stress-related hair shedding is delayed

30:34 – Helpful supplements (and common misconceptions)

35:15 – Topical treatments and scalp care

41:23 – Setting realistic expectations for hair regrowth

47:14 – Wrap-up and where to learn more

Episode 90: Gut Healing on AIP — What’s Really Happening | Deep Dive

When most people start the Autoimmune Protocol, they naturally focus on the food: what to remove, what to eat instead, and how to navigate all of the planning that comes with a major dietary change.

But one of the most important things happening during AIP is often something you can’t actually see—changes happening inside the gut itself.

Because AIP isn’t just designed to remove potential food triggers. It’s also designed to support systems commonly affected in autoimmune disease, including the gut lining, the microbiome, nutrient status, and immune regulation.

And those changes don’t always happen quickly or in a straight line.

For many people, healing happens gradually over time. Digestion may become more stable. Energy may improve. Foods that caused symptoms early on may become tolerable much later in the process.

In this episode of the AIP Deep Dive series, Mickey explains what’s actually happening in the gut during AIP and why healing often continues long after the elimination phase ends.

She explores intestinal permeability, the microbiome, nutrient density, lifestyle factors, and why healing is often more about rebuilding resilience than achieving perfection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the gut plays such an important role in autoimmune disease
• What intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) actually means
• How stress, sleep, and lifestyle affect gut healing
• What changes may happen in the microbiome during AIP
• Why nutrient density is essential for repair and immune regulation
• How reintroductions provide information about healing capacity
• Why healing and food tolerance can evolve over time
• How to approach setbacks and reactions with more patience and clarity

Resources:

• The New Autoimmune Protocol (Book) – A practical guide to implementing AIP with a focus on preparation, sustainability, and personalization
• The Nutrient Dense Kitchen – A cookbook and resource focused on nutrient density for healing
• AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with food lists, meal plans, and beginner tools
• Episode 51:The AIP in 2026

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction and Mickey’s personal gut healing story

04:35 – Why the gut matters in autoimmune disease

09:10 – Intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) explained

14:10 – How the microbiome shifts during AIP

17:55 – Why nutrient density supports repair

21:30 – The role of lifestyle, stress, and sleep

25:31 – Why healing isn’t linear

31:22 – Wrap-up and key takeaways

Episode 89: The Future of Autoimmune Research with Victoria Shanmugam, Director of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research

Autoimmune disease affects an estimated 50 million Americans, yet for decades these conditions have often received less attention, coordination, and funding than other major chronic diseases.

That landscape is beginning to change.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Dr. Victoria Shanmugam, rheumatologist, physician-scientist, and Director of the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR) at the National Institutes of Health. Created by Congress in 2023, the OADR was established to coordinate autoimmune disease research across the NIH and help accelerate progress in understanding, treating, preventing, and ultimately curing autoimmune diseases.

Together, Mickey and Dr. Shanmugam discuss why the office was created, how autoimmune research is evolving, and the most promising areas of innovation currently underway. They explore everything from environmental triggers and large-scale data platforms to early disease detection, CAR-T therapies, and the future of personalized autoimmune medicine.

This conversation offers a hopeful and practical look at where autoimmune research is headed—and what that progress could mean for patients over the next decade.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research was created and what its mission is
• How autoimmune diseases intersect with every organ system and NIH research institute
• What the first NIH-wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research includes
• Why studying multiple autoimmune diseases together may accelerate discoveries
• How environmental exposures may influence autoimmune disease risk and progression
• The role of large-scale collaborations and data-sharing platforms in research
• Why early detection and preclinical autoimmune disease are major areas of focus
• How Type 1 diabetes research is shaping new approaches to prevention
• What CAR-T therapies and other immune-targeted treatments may offer in the future
• Why patient participation and advocacy remain essential to research progress
• What researchers hope to achieve over the next five to ten years in autoimmune medicine

Resources:

• Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR)
• NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Autoimmune Disease Research
• OADR Quarterly Community Updates (Must Attend Live)
• NOURISH Challenge Initiative
• EXACT Plan Network (Environmental Exposures & Autoimmune Disease)

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why autoimmune research is entering a new era

01:41 – Introducing Dr. Victoria Shanmugam

03:29 – What is the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research?

04:58 – Why autoimmune diseases have historically been under-researched

07:19 – Goals of the OADR and coordination across NIH

09:54 – Studying more than 140 autoimmune diseases together

12:00 – The NOURISH challenge and nutrition research initiatives

14:07 – Promising areas of autoimmune disease research

16:09 – Environmental exposures and the EXACT Plan Network

17:28 – Autoimmune Centers of Excellence and cross-disease collaboration

18:34 – New clinical trials and prevention-focused research

20:02 – Early detection and preclinical autoimmune disease

21:18 – Data platforms and large-scale collaboration efforts

25:18 – How patients should think about research progress

26:32 – What the next 5–10 years may bring

28:49 – How patients can stay informed and engaged

30:16 – Why patient voices matter in research

31:00 – Wrap-up and closing reflections

Episode 88: The First AIP Pilot Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Julianne Taylor

Can dietary change meaningfully improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?

A recently published pilot study investigating the Autoimmune Protocol diet in adults with rheumatoid arthritis found improvements in patient-reported disease activity, pain, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life measures—with several participants reaching remission-level scores by the end of the intervention.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by registered nutritionist, AIP Certified Coach, and PhD candidate Julianne Taylor to discuss the first clinical trial investigating the Autoimmune Protocol in rheumatoid arthritis.

Julianne shares her personal journey into autoimmune nutrition research, explains how the study was designed, and walks through the results of the pilot trial—including improvements in fatigue, sleep, pain, and disease activity.

Together, they also explore the nuances and limitations of dietary research, discuss why individual responses vary, and dive into Julianne’s broader scoping review of elimination and reintroduction diets in rheumatoid arthritis spanning decades of research.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Julianne’s personal health experience led her into autoimmune nutrition research
• What a pilot feasibility study is and why it matters
• How the AIP rheumatoid arthritis study was designed
• Why patient-reported outcomes like fatigue and sleep are important in RA research
• What improvements participants experienced during the intervention
• Why some participants experienced challenges or adverse effects
• How nutrient density and food eliminations may both influence outcomes
• What historical elimination diet research in RA reveals about common trigger foods
• Why nightshades continue to be an important area of interest in autoimmune nutrition
• What future research on AIP and rheumatoid arthritis may explore next

Resources:

• Paleo Zone Nutrition(blog)
• Julianne Taylor Nutrition(website)
• Julianne Taylor on Instagram
• The First AIP Pilot Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Elimination, Reintroduction Diets, and Oral Food Challenge in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Scoping Review

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction to the first AIP rheumatoid arthritis pilot study

01:56 – Introducing Julianne Taylor

03:54 – Julianne’s personal health journey and early paleo research

11:34 – What a pilot feasibility study is

13:05 – The questionnaires used in the AIP RA pilot trial

17:07 – The AIP intervention and elimination phase

19:32 – Results of the rheumatoid arthritis pilot study

24:56 – Discussing adverse effects and individual variability

30:57 – Diet quality versus food eliminations

33:54 – Reviewing decades of elimination diet research in RA

38:48 – Common trigger foods identified in the literature

42:31 – Nightshades and rheumatoid arthritis

44:31 – Upcoming AIP and RA research

51:20 – What Julianne hopes clinicians and patients take away from the research

53:23 – Where to follow Julianne’s work online

Episode 87: Celebrating NAIP Launch Week & Creating Through Chronic Illness with Alaina Moore of Tennis

What does it take to keep creating when your body is struggling? How do you continue making meaningful work while navigating uncertainty, limitations, and chronic illness in real time?

In this special episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott celebrates the launch of The New Autoimmune Protocol with a deeply personal conversation featuring her longtime friend Alaina Moore—vocalist and songwriter of the indie band Tennis.

Instead of interviewing a guest, Mickey takes the guest seat herself as Alaina turns the tables to explore the creative process behind the new book, the realities of creating while chronically ill, and the surprising overlap between art, music, food, and healing.

Together, they discuss what it means to pursue creative work while managing chronic illness, how illness can shape identity and perspective, and why adapting to changing capacity is often part of the process. Alaina also shares her experience navigating dysphonia while recording and touring, while Mickey reflects on photographing The New Autoimmune Protocol during a severe autoimmune eye flare.

This conversation is honest, funny, emotional, and deeply relatable for anyone who has tried to keep showing up for meaningful work while living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How chronic illness can shape creativity, identity, and artistic work
• Why adapting to limitations is often part of the creative process
• The similarities between songwriting, recipe development, and visual storytelling
• How Mickey approaches recipe development, writing, and cookbook photography
• Why creative work often requires both structure and chaos
• How sensory imagination influences both music and cooking
• Alaina Moore’s experience recovering from dysphonia while touring with Tennis
• Mickey’s experience photographing a cookbook during an autoimmune eye flare
• Why accepting chronic illness can feel freeing instead of limiting
• The emotional impact of medical gaslighting and delayed diagnosis
• How creativity, music, and art can help people move through illness
• Why managing chronic illness is different from “overcoming” it

Resources:

Alaina Moore & Tennis

• Website: https://tennis-music.com
• Instagram: @tennisinc
• Playlist mentioned in the episode: Available here!

Mickey Trescott

• Book: The New Autoimmune Protocol

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction and NAIP launch week reflections

01:31 – Introducing Alaina Moore of Tennis

04:37 – Artists, chronic illness, and creative resilience

07:08 – Mickey’s writing and recipe development process

13:31 – Alaina’s songwriting process and creative structure

18:11 – Music, taste, and sensory imagination

25:07 – How Mickey perfects recipes

30:17 – Why Mickey shares her work publicly

32:56 – Creative breakthroughs and photographing the new book

39:02 – Alaina’s experience with dysphonia and vocal rehabilitation

44:11 – Accepting chronic illness and redefining healing

51:14 – Wrap-up and closing reflections

Episode 86: What Joy Can Survive? Chronic Illness and Healing with K.J. Ramsey

What if healing isn’t about getting rid of pain—but about learning how to remain fully alive within it?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by K.J. Ramsey, trauma-informed therapist, author, and chronic illness advocate. Her new memoir, The Place Between Our Pains, explores life with chronic illness, medical trauma, and the complicated relationship many of us have with our bodies when healing doesn’t look the way we expected.

Together, Mickey and K.J. explore what it means to live well even when symptoms persist. They discuss medical gaslighting, identity shifts, self-trust, redefining healing, and why joy and grief often coexist in the chronic illness experience.

K.J. also shares how journaling and creative practices helped her process pain, reconnect with herself, and remain present through years of illness and uncertainty.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How chronic illness can shape identity, especially in early adulthood
• Why medical gaslighting is so damaging—and how self-trust becomes essential
• The emotional impact of being sick without clear answers or validation
• How dissociation and disconnection from the body can develop during chronic illness
• Why speaking to your body with compassion changes the healing process
• What it means to redefine healing beyond symptom elimination
• How chronic illness can deepen connection, creativity, and joy
• Why grief and joy often coexist in the healing journey
• The role of journaling and creative practices in processing pain and stress
• How creativity can help transform suffering into meaning and aliveness
• Why “being fully alive” may matter more than becoming symptom-free

Resources:

K.J. Ramsey

• Website: https://www.kjramsey.com
• Instagram: @kjramseywrites
• Book: The Place Between Our Pains

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Introduction and trigger warning

01:04 – Introducing K.J. Ramsey and The Place Between Our Pains

04:33 – Identity and illness in early adulthood

09:20 – Medical gaslighting and self-trust

16:01 – Dissociation, embodiment, and learning to listen to the body

24:14 – Redefining healing and living fully with pain

32:19 – How illness changes us

40:15 – Journaling, creativity, and processing pain

52:08 – Wrap-up and closing reflections

Episode 85: Developing Your Personal Health Vision with Jaime Hartman

When starting the Autoimmune Protocol, it’s easy to focus on the details—what to eat, what to remove, and how to do everything “right.” But there’s a deeper question that often gets overlooked: what are you actually working toward?

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Jaime Hartman, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, educator, and co-teacher of the AIP Certified Coach Program, to explore the concept of a personal health vision.

This conversation introduces a foundational mindset shift—moving beyond short-term goals and into a clear, personalized vision of what health means to you. Jaime explains how this approach helps guide decisions, build resilience, and create a more sustainable path through AIP and beyond.

Together, they explore how defining your vision can help you stay grounded, communicate your needs, and navigate the complexities of chronic illness with more clarity and purpose.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between a health goal and a personal health vision
• Why having a clear vision makes AIP more sustainable and meaningful
• How different models of health (medical, holistic, and wellness) shape your perspective
• Why a personal health vision acts as a compass during challenging moments
• How to use your vision to make decisions about priorities, support, and care
• Real-life examples of how health vision influences daily choices and long-term strategy
• How your vision can help guide reintroductions and lifestyle flexibility
• Why personal values, relationships, and purpose are essential parts of healing
• Journaling prompts and visualization techniques to help define your vision
• How to approach this process if you feel discouraged, disconnected, or unsure what’s possible

Resources:

Jaime Hartman

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimehartman22/
• Website: https://gutsybynature.com
• AIP Summit: https://aipsummit.com

AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory: https://aipcertified.com

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why AIP needs a bigger “why” beyond food rules

01:57 – Introducing Jaime Hartman

03:10 – What a personal health vision is (vs. goals)

05:57 – Medical, holistic, and wellness models of health

09:45 – Why vision matters in autoimmune healing

12:09 – How to use your health vision in real life

17:11 – Journaling prompts to define your vision

22:59 – How to begin if you feel discouraged

25:00 – Final reflections and encouragement

Episode 84: Troubleshooting AIP — How to Identify What’s Going Wrong | Deep Dive

When you start the Autoimmune Protocol, it’s easy to expect a fairly straightforward path: remove certain foods, focus on nutrient density, support your lifestyle—and over time, feel better.

And for some people, that’s exactly what happens.

But for many others, the process feels more complicated. You might feel worse when you begin, struggle to stay consistent, stop seeing progress after a few months, or feel confused during reintroductions.

If you’ve ever wondered, What am I doing wrong? or Why isn’t this working for me?—you’re not alone.

In this episode of the AIP Deep Dive series, Mickey introduces troubleshooting as a normal and essential part of the process. Rather than seeing obstacles as failure, this episode reframes them as useful feedback—and gives you a clear way to identify what might be getting in the way and how to move forward.

Mickey explains when it actually makes sense to troubleshoot (and when it doesn’t), outlines the three main layers where issues tend to arise, and walks through how to make thoughtful adjustments without creating more confusion.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What troubleshooting really means—and why it doesn’t mean you’ve failed
• When to troubleshoot vs. when to give the process more time
• The three layers of troubleshooting: implementation, physiology, and medical factors
• Common challenges in each phase (transition, elimination, and reintroduction)
• Why lack of progress after 30–90 days may require a different approach
• How to avoid overcomplicating the process with too many changes at once
• Why mindset and patience play a key role in long-term success

Resources:

• The New Autoimmune Protocol (Book) – A practical guide to implementing AIP with a focus on preparation, sustainability, and personalization
• AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with food lists, meal plans, and beginner tools
• Episode 52:Tracking & Preparing for AIP

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – Why AIP doesn’t always go as expected

03:05 – What troubleshooting actually means

06:32 – When to troubleshoot—and when not to

09:51 – The three layers of troubleshooting

10:15 – Implementation challenges

11:58 – Physiological adjustments

13:41 – Underlying medical factors

14:57 – Troubleshooting across AIP phases

15:07 – Transition phase challenges

18:59 – Elimination phase troubleshooting

22:41 – Reintroduction phase challenges

25:19 – The mindset of troubleshooting

27:41 – Key takeaways and closing