AIP Flours - The Ultimate Guide!!

[@CatherineGoodrich]

You have been a light throughout my aip process and I thank you so much for helping me to heal. So many channels and videos were posted by young, single people I couldn't relate to. Finding another mom who is balancing family life was an encouragement. I'm 2 months in and am feeling so much better! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@MicheleSpring]

Thanks so much for this comment! I have to admit it's been hard the last few months with my kids home, etc to provide content and watch all the young, single people make tons and tons and it's made me feel a bit insecure that I can't keep up. But I really appreciate you letting me know this as it makes me feel that what I CAN do is helpful!

[@travelthroughfog]

I just found you (came up in recommended videos) and BOY am I happy about it! Im finding answers to questions I didn't know I needed answers to. #bingeing!

[@MicheleSpring]

I'm so glad I can help! 💕

[@lilygiambarba]

This was such an excellent recap and totally interesting. I rarely watch videos -- would way prefer to read -- but this was a neat format and I appreciated the information so helpfully delivered. Just starting on the AIP diet and the flour substitute part was totally confusing. Earlier today I did a taste test with the Big 5 but gained so much from your review! Thank you.

[@MicheleSpring]

I'm so glad it helped!

[@ceylor9725]

This was such a great video!! Thank you, the editing and animations were so nice to look at !

[@MicheleSpring]

Aw, thanks! It took me DAYS to make, lol. But I know this one needed it - flours are a "dry" topic, lol! 😂

[@marinapentz9942]

Thank you, really helped me understand what changes I could make. Her is hoping my future holds AIP brownies.

[@michellehartford1124]

I just made my first batch of cassava flour!! EASY!!! I have used as a thickener For a shepherd's pie. It was runny. My next project is tapioca starch. Maybe some of that will work better. Pie was still delicious.

[@michellehartford1124]

Starting off was SLOW. But once I got the hang or it much faster. I cut the root into 2" or so sections. Muche easier to peel that way, I found. Taking out the core I used a small serrated knife. I cut the peeled sections into very thin slices, much easier than cutting through the whoe root. Since I live in So. Florida, I spread the slices on a cookie sheet and let them dry in the sun. A HIGH SPEED blender or the equivilent is required. I used Vitamix. Took less than 2 minutes.

[@WAMama84]

Michele thank you for all of these great AIP videos!

[@MicheleSpring]

You are so welcome!

[@ssss-fl3wc]

So iinformative and helpful. Thank you

[@MicheleSpring]

Glad it was helpful!

[@beckywood3]

Excited to try arrowroot flour to crisp up sweet potato fries!!

[@MicheleSpring]

Enjoy!

[@DuvAngel1]

Thankyou SO much for this information- I just went to the stores and bought as many ‘flours’ that were gluten-free that I could find- now to find the recipes. Researching them takes time- and you saved me a bunch!

[@MicheleSpring]

You are so welcome!! Glad I could save you the time! 💕

[@stephanieblanco7055]

I get tigernut products directly from TigerNutsUSA. They have the most affordable prices in bulk.

[@MicheleSpring]

Thanks for sharing! I haven't bought directly from them but will definitely check it out!!

[@emme6055]

This is exactly what I was looking for thank you!

[@MicheleSpring]

Glad to help!

[@kisslena]

Very informative! Thank you!💛

[@Utena0lover]

Love your videos as always! It would be really great to see some vegetarian/vegan aip recipes. They are really hard to come by, but it would be so great to be able to introduce more vegetarian/vegan meals in our diets.

[@dorisbetts3012]

Terrific info for newbies like me. Thank you for your impressive and thorough explanations.

[@RealWorldAIP]

Lol thanks for the shout out on the cricket flour!😄

[@MicheleSpring]

haha, no problem! I still laugh when I think about it 😂

[@RealWorldAIP]

@@MicheleSpring 🤣

[@blkscreen15]

super helpful. thank you.

[@emme6055]

I didnt know you were Thriving on paleo I have soo many of your recipes saved!

[@MicheleSpring]

Haha! Yep, that's me. It's hard to keep it all set so that people can make that connection (like decisions made 5 years ago for KZbin channel names that didn't match my blog, etc... oh well, haha)

[@tatianaogorodnikova4953]

Thank you for this amazing summary! So informative!! Do you happen to know anything about lupin flour? It is said to be keto friendly, do I have been wondering about AIP. However, I read that it includes some antinutrients... I would appreciate your take on it☀️

[@MicheleSpring]

I believe it's not AIP-friendly because it's a member of the legume family. I do know it's problematic for many with peanut and soy allergies, so even if it was "ok" for AIP I'd probably skip it during the elimination phase anyway because of that potential intolerance issue (even if you don't have peanut or soy issues). It's definitely an interesting flour though - I've used it a few times and it has such a strange mouthfeel to me - like it coats my tongue and feels super dry! I may not have used it correctly, lol, but I haven't been such a fan thus far. (by the way, don't make the first time using it be for breakfast when your sister-in-law comes to visit. That didn't turn out so well 😂)

[@turkeyduck6]

Thanks for helping us navigate this!

[@MicheleSpring]

You are most welcome 💕

[@robingarcia5062]

My AIP journey is going great and I have slowly transitioned to a more Paleo diet. One thing I definitely still cannot have is anything almond. What would be a good substitute for almond flour? I find so many great Paleo recipes but they always call for almond flour. They use almond flour as much as AIP uses coconut flour! 😅

[@MicheleSpring]

haha, you're so right - almond flour is a darling Paleo flour for sure. Um, you can make sunflower seed flour by grinding up unsalted sunflower seeds and that usually is a great substitute (do note that a chemical reaction may turn your baked goods green, but they're totally fine). If you can tolerate any other nuts, flours made from them are also usually ok to substitute - like cashew flour for example. And then sometimes, but not always, cassava flour will work as well. But I'd really search for a specific cassava flour recipe vs just substituting because of the whole gumminess issue, etc. You can also search for coconut flour-based recipes as there are quite a few really good ones out there that realize people are sensitive to nuts and need a good nut-free recipe.

[@tofelipwithlove1150]

Thank you, Michelle!!

[@MicheleSpring]

You're welcome! 💕

[@francineW1]

WOW! Thank you!!! Awesome info!!!

[@MicheleSpring]

You are so welcome!

[@sylviahowe2240]

Here in England I ate tiger nuts all the time in the late forties but they disappeared in the fifties never seen them since

[@carlyb4763]

PLEASE respond- how does AIP diet actually give you more energy and help with heart palpitations? I’m always tired and my heart is racing I have hashimotos after covid19 infection.. but my question is what is the science behind the AIP diet in reducing fatigue? I’m a very picky eater but I will do anything to feel better if it will ACTUALLY help. I’m just scared because no one can tell me how it helps fatigue that makes sense to me. Thanks so much! Love your videos keep it up :)

[@MicheleSpring]

So I have to be honest in saying that I'm not 100% sure exactly how long-covid may play into this but that I know of several people who do have an autoimmune disease and long-covid that have regained their energy after doing AIP. That all being said - the usual common mechanisms behind fatigue are vitamin and mineral deficiencies (Vitamin B12 and iron being some of the biggest culrpits) and hormonal imbalances. Typically both can be caused by and exacerbated by leaky gut and inflammation throughout the body. AIP seeks to reduce inflammation and heal the leaky gut by removing the foods that are known to cause and/or exacerbate leaky gut and foods that research has shown cause more issues with the autoimmune population. By doing so, one is usually able to absorb vitamins and minerals much more readily instead of them just passing through (which is what is probably happening to you right now). Plus our immune systems and also hormonal systems in general need a lot of nutrients to regulate properly, so when you're in a autoimmune-active state, you're using a ton just to keep that going and there are none left over to help replenish your energy stores. It takes a lot of energy to run your immune system, brain, vital organs, etc. In addition, if you currently eat a higher-carb/high-sugar diet your hormones may not work correctly anymore to replenish energy stores, furthering fatigue. Insulin sensitivity is one of these examples - if you are no longer sensitive to it, it can cause a cascade of downstream ramifications like fatigue. And this isn't just in diabetics, this is for anyone. You of course could still eat this way in AIP if you were to just eat cassava flour baked goods and sugary treats, but generally it helps get you to a more moderate carb level with more quality carbs from fruits and veggies that help restore the nutrient balance and hormonal balance. AIP is not the only way to go about all of this either, there certainly other other ways. AIP just is a very efficient, quick way to reduce the inflammation and heal leaky gut, and then therefore replenish nutrients and get you going because it does focus on these specific aspects of healing (rather than things like weight loss or healing dysbiosis or whatnot that other diets focus on).

[@carlyb4763]

@@MicheleSpring thank you soo much for that information. I’m just scared AIP diet will make my fatigue WORSE. Has this happened before? Is it just in the beginning? Do I really have to not eat gluten dairy or soy for my entire life..? Thanks so much

[@katrienvh4289]

It's hard to find cassavaflour in Belgium, most are a corse and darker kind that looks more like mixed almonds. I found 'fufu' 100 % cassava that seemed muchfiner on the picture in the webshop and ordered that, so I hope that's the wright one...

[@amara560]

Could you tell me how it turned out?

[@katrienvh4289]

@@amara560 it works great!

[@amara560]

@@katrienvh4289 Thank you so much for responding!

[@jessicap.brewster9567]

I’m wondering if you ever made any bread ? I’m looking for a bread recipe.

[@theperfectfit00]

Arrowroot flour makes the best fried chicken and fish

[@MissKris1128]

I recently purchased green banana flour. I haven’t used it yet, but I was thinking I could make banana bread and muffins with it. Have you tried banana flour?

[@MicheleSpring]

I have a few times and that's what I made - banana bread. But I think it was a regular Paleo banana bread recipe, not one that was AIP-friendly as it had eggs in it. It was ok, but I honestly liked regular banana bread made with other flours better, believe it or not. Just a weird texture for me compared to other flours.

[@0oidiodiaspora]

So helpful, thank you!! I've been looking and looking to find out if Baobab Fruit Powder is AIP. Do you by any chance have any info? A lot of "super foods" are an AIP mystery... would make a great video, hint hint :)

[@MicheleSpring]

Hmm, I'm not absolutely sure about baobab - but doing some quick research it looks like the powder *may* be from the seed? If so, then it wouldn't be AIP-friendly, at least during the elimination phase. I think it's mainly a concern because of the seed compounds. An article from Healthline says this (sourced from PubMed): "First, the seeds and pulp contain antinutrients, such as phytates, tannins and oxalic acid, that can reduce nutrient absorption and availability." So those alone would make it not AIP. Not saying it isn't a great superfood and wouldn't make a great addition to your diet after the elimination phase, because it certainly sounds like it has some amazing characteristics. But I'd just remove it for the elimination just to be on the safe side. That being said - if you're working with a practitioner and they recommend it, you can probably do it safely. Like I took maca successfully the entire time I did AIP the first time even though it's not "AIP", but my functional medicine practitioner worked with me on it.

[@PransPuth]

is it possible sago flour from branch of sago tree? since it's not made from grain or seed.

[@carrieholden3171]

Are there casava flour brands that are less grainy? I tried it and it and tiger flour and it was like eating sand paper? Is that normal?

[@MicheleSpring]

That's one reason I eat Anthony's brand because, to me at least, it was the less grainy of the brands. However, I think it's also a bit of a thing you need to get used to if coming from super soft, snowy-like wheat flour. I know when I first tried cassava flour I hated it - the texture, the taste, everything, but I then tried it several times and now I like it. It's just a matter of changing tastebuds/preferences that happens a lot when you switch from one way of eating to another. Kind of like how the sweet things we eat in a Standard American Diet seem normal and then you eat Paleo/AIP/grain-free for a few weeks and then try that sweet thing again and it tastes absolutely disgusting and you wonder how you ever liked it. I think we just get so used to things that it's hard to switch at first.

[@carrieholden3171]

@@MicheleSpring I’m so glad I’m not the only one! This really helped thank you! I ended up buying the Anthony’s brand and will give that a try. It’s nice to have someone who talks about these things in a real way so I can understand the role of these replacement flours! 🤗

[@olgaj9267]

And how about bamboo flour?🎋

[@AN-re5hy]

Nice video. Are Buckwheat and Amaranth AIP compliant? Do you have any video on their recipes? Pl send their links.

[@MicheleSpring]

No, sorry, they are not AIP compliant as they contain many of the same problematic compounds as grains and legumes. This isn't to say they're bad - but just should be removed during the elimination as they can aggravate an already leaky gut and prevent healing. Once you've healed though they can be reintroduced to see if they cause you issues.

[@princessbabibear4794]

Are you concerned about the cassava, tapioca and starches being an issue for optimal iron absorption in the body? I am definitely anemic and I'm trying to eat foods that help my body absorb iron the best.

[@MicheleSpring]

Nah, I'm not really worried about it. I suffer from anemia on and off (mainly because I have ridiculously heavy periods during Hashi's flares) and it's never been an issue for either me nor any of my clients to replenish and get back to good levels while eating these. They may have some effect on absorption, but nothing to be worried about. Plus you shouldn't make these a large part of your diet anyway - flour-based foods should be viewed as more of a treat, consumed on occasion with the bulk of your meals being mainly veggies, meats or seafood, fats, and fruits. When you look at it that way if there is a slight amount of impairment in absorption of iron from eating them, it wouldn't matter much.

[@GGora]

How about green banana flour ?

[@MicheleSpring]

yeah, I mention that at the end of the video - that there are a bunch of other flours like green banana flour that are available but I've not really explored them much and that there aren't a lot of recipes out there for them. So most people don't need to really worry about how to use them since they won't come across them much, but you definitely can use that if you prefer!

[@GGora]

Michele Spring yes I saw. Thank you. It worked well for me. I have to order tigernuts and it’ll take 3 weeks I’m sure by the time I get it. I don’t live in US

[@dominiquekanate8796]

Is’nt tapioca and cassava the same thing?

[@MicheleSpring]

They're from the same plant, but if you watch the video I explain the difference between the flours.

[@theawakening6323]

I’ve started AIP, but sometimes find I cheat due to family and work events.😢 how can you lower blood pressure on this diet?

[@MicheleSpring]

Blood pressure typically lowers naturally because the bodily inflammation settles down. I had terrible blood pressure before I did AIP - like 145/95 but after the diet it's consistently been around the 115/75 - ish area. As for the cheating - planning definitely helps. If you can always have items in your freezer to take out for those family and work events, then you don't find as much of a need to satisfy cravings with the food in front of you. This video may help --kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3WaoGx4iNGtiqs It talks about the holidays but really it can apply to any time.

[@theawakening6323]

@@MicheleSpring thank you. I find this whole process daunting. I feel like I’m mourning food. I’m Italian and I really feel excluded now. Love pastas, breads, etc. 😭

[@MicheleSpring]

@@theawakening6323 Have you tried the Jovial foods cassava flour pasta? It's AIP-compliant and we still eat it as our main pasta even though we don't eat AIP anymore...

[@theawakening6323]

@@MicheleSpring I just bought it! When can you stop doing AIP? Or is it a forever thing?

[@MicheleSpring]

@@theawakening6323 No, definitely not a forever thing - my latest video actually goes into the reintroduction of new foods: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4jbiZqVrbB7gNE

[@theperfectfit00]

Is buckwheat strict aip

[@MicheleSpring]

No, unfortunately it's considered to be a pseudo-grain so it's not included during the elimination phase.