🤖IMPORTANT: Caring for Facebook Group Members

Navigating AI Bots in Our Community: A Call for Vigilance

Good Day Members,
 
I’m writing to alert you to an emerging issue in our group: the arrival of AI-generated Facebook profiles.
 
To protect our community, I am being extra vigilant and I need your help in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. I also wish to make certain that we can stay in touch.
 
I’m posting this information on my own website, as I’m legitimately concerned that our group might be shut down or receive a violation notice for sharing information like this directly on Facebook, as they may deem it to be “against community standards.” (I’ve been warned before, simply for directing people to AIP-related information they were seeking, because I’d suggested the same information to other members – so I can only imagine how this post would be received.)
 
Please continue reading to learn more about the situation and my recommendations.
_____________________________________________________________________

The Situation:

On January 2nd I read about the arrival of A.I. Profiles on Facebook in the A.I. Rundown (a newsletter that keeps me up-to-date on latest developments in A.I. tools – I’ve included this information below for your reference). The very same day I had SIX fake / A.I. profiles start commenting in our Facebook group!

  • The comments add no value what-so-ever.
  • At this time the AI Profiles seem to have no ulterior motives but I am concerned they could post misleading/incorrect information in their comments – something I’ve worked hard to avoid having happen in our group.
  • There seems to be no purpose for posting these elaborate and strange robotic sounding comments, except perhaps with intention to get members to interact/engage with them for research/A.I. learning.
  • They may only be here to gather information and learn, but I have trust issues with this. They could also spread false narratives/mis-information, or eventually lead members outside the safety of our group.
  • Before any of this started here in our group, I personally tested A.I.’s abilities when it comes to its understanding of the autoimmune protocol, and many times it failed – it included ingredient suggestions that were not compliant. The bottom line is that A.I. does not fully understand the AIP. 
  • Interestingly, I spot checked some other AIP groups that I belong to and I found the exact same A.I. profiles attempting interactions there with similar sounding robotic language. Very concerning to me, as I know those groups are not moderated as closely as ours.

What To Look For:

Their profile photos appear to be normal, so you can’t tell by that.

Below are a few samples of the seemingly benign comments, so you know how to spot them. 

A.I. is simply regurgitating the posts that I put together, trying to make their comments sound relevant.

Real people typically don’t write like this, and the first example is most concerning as it includes non-compliant serving suggestions and tries to get members to ask it questions about the ingredients in the dish! Sorry Bots … that’s my job!

“Crockpot Citrus Shredded Beef sounds delicious! This recipe likely uses the slow cooker to create tender, flavorful beef by combining citrus flavors like orange and lime with seasonings. It’s an easy and convenient way to prepare a savory meal with a burst of zesty freshness. Perfect for tacos, burritos, or even served over rice! Would you like a recipe suggestion or help with any specific ingredient in the dish?”

“These 5 AIP-friendly sauces sound delicious and perfect for adding flavor while staying compliant! For those following the AIP diet, it’s important to check ingredient labels, especially for items like balsamic vinegar, coconut cream, and broth to avoid added sweeteners or preservatives. Using fresh, whole ingredients like horseradish and ginger ensures the sauces stay clean and nutrient-dense. For shopping, check out our affiliate stores for easy access to compliant ingredients. Happy cooking!”

“Ginger Baked Salmon sounds absolutely delicious! Using fresh grated ginger adds such a wonderful flavor kick, and I love that it’s versatile enough to be enjoyed as leftovers too. The option to make it coconut-free with avocado oil is great for those with allergies or preferences. Plus, making it a one-pan meal with roasted veggies is super convenient. Definitely a perfect weeknight meal! Thanks for sharing the recipe!”

“This Spicy Horseradish Cauliflower Sauce sounds delicious, and it’s great to see it being tailored for the AIP! The tips on making sure the vegetable or chicken stock is compliant and using powdered wasabi instead of prepared horseradish are important for staying true to the protocol. The note about using non-fortified nutritional yeast is also key for AIP—many people aren’t aware of the difference, so it’s awesome you’re highlighting it. Thanks for sharing these helpful adjustments to make a flavorful, compliant sauce! It’s always great to find new ways to enjoy food while staying on track with dietary needs.”

Diligence & Decisions:

I want to assure you that I have always taken the safety of this group extremely seriously, and it’s only ramped up with the arrival of A.I. profiles on Facebook. Our health is at stake after all!

What I’m doing:

  • All members requests continue to be vetted. Our membership questions go beyond “yes” and “no.”
  • All of the profiles have had very normal looking profile pictures and cover photo
  • A.I. profiles I’ve run into thus far have answered membership questions appropriately, they appeared to have joined Facebook well over 10 years ago, they had what appeared to be valid profile pictures and “about” information – there were no red flags.
  • Upon further investigation of these profiles, in some cases their about information contained ridiculous information (having gone to school at “The Family Guy,” and links to the Facebook page on Facebook or Instagram on Instagram.)

Unfortunately, it’s too time consuming for me to delve into each member request and scrutinize their profiles before accepting them to the group (sometimes I have 50-100 requests twice a day!). 

With that, I’ve made the following decisions and will ask for your help as well.

  • Comments – Any comments suspected to be generated by A.I. will be removed (if you see suspicious comments, please feel free to report them to Admin. Simply click the “…” beside a comment and select “report comment to admin”) Thank you for your help with this!
  • Profiles – Any profile suspected to be fake or A.I. generated will be removed and blocked. 
  • Direct Messages – Please contact me immediately if you receive direct communication via Messenger from any profiles appearing to be strange or suspicious (even if they’re not A.I.)

If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, please feel free to contact me directly – click here.

What Does It Mean For This Group?

  • At this time I do not plan to ‘pause’ the group or discontinue my efforts there.
  • From the feedback I receive, our members value the content, daily motivation and assistance I provide daily.
  • If this issue gets out of hand and it takes up too much time, I may have to pause the group, meaning that new members would not be admitted and commenting would be shut down. All content would remain available to you. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this!

Solutions & Fail-Safes:

  • As I mentioned at the outset of this long post, I fear that I do not have complete control over our Facebook group and what happens there.
  • At any given time, Facebook could close it down for something they felt was inappropriate, mis-information, or promoting health care that they don’t agree with (sadly censorship on social media during the pandemic was very real, but we won’t get into that).
  • Since we don’t know what will happen in the future to our group on Facebook I encourage you to consider signing up for my AIP Recipe Collection Newsletter if you wish to continue receiving regular inspiration for your healing journey – click here.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.
 
Many thanks for your time in considering this important information and for your support in using my affiliate links for sourcing ingredients and items for your AIP lifestyle where possible.
 
Wishing you wellness and online safety,
Gail ♥
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 

The Rundown A.I.:

 
The Rundown: Meta just announced its ambitious push into AI-generated profiles and characters with plans to integrate these AI personas across Facebook and other platforms as part of a major engagement strategy.
 
The details:
  • Meta’s VP of product revealed AI profiles will exist alongside regular accounts, complete with bios, profile pictures, and content generation abilities.
  • The company has already launched trial AI character creation tools that have produced hundreds of thousands of characters, though most remain private.
  • Experts have warned about potential risks, citing the need for robust safeguards to prevent the technology from being weaponized and spreading false narratives.
Why it matters: Meta’s aggressive push to use AI for engagement has already sparked controversy, but the company’s long-term strategy could be focused on gathering training data for AI-driven “NPC” characters in virtual reality (NPC = a non-playable character that is controlled by the computer – i.e. Meta). Questions around the authenticity of AI-generated content will likely be a growing trend in 2025.
 
Read more on Fox Business News – click here
The Rundown A.I. Newsltter – click here
 

More News Around The Web:

This is BIG news – so much out there we can’t even keep up. If you want to learn more, here are just a few articles discussing the situation:

AIP Holiday Help

 

⭐🎄 For all of our Holiday Planners Out There 🎄⭐

‘Tis the season to plan ahead!
You know I’m all about preparation, so here’s a quick guide to rocking the holidays AIP-style! 🎁
 
🌲 Christmas / Hanukkah
🍪 Cookie Exchange
🍾 New Years … and more!
No one goes hungry or feels left out on my watch!
 

🔎 SEARCH SMARTER!

Looking for recipes or tips? Use the group search!
Not sure how to use the group search? Check out the instructions here —–> Facebook Group Search Instructions
 
Try specific items, like:
  • Eggnog
  • Mincemeat
  • Stuffing
  • Mocktails
  • Charcuterie
Or search for general terms or the hashtag : #holidays, #christmas, #appetizers, #potluck, #newyear, #gameday, #pubgrub.
For Football / Hockey Fans – try searching #gameday or #pubgrub, appetizers, potluck, etc.
 
♥ Reminder: All sweets and treats in moderation … I know there are lots of special occasions coming up but try not to go too crazy with the treats folks
 
💡Tip: Do NOT just click on these hashtags, FB has change the functionality of them again and clicking them will take you outside of the group to non-compliant posts.
 
💡 Tip: Search works best on a computer. Mobile can be finicky!

If you’re stuck, please submit a new post in the group, and I’ll help as soon as I can—but please try searching first, as I’m running on fumes these days!

🧾 RECIPE ROUND-UPS

Find holiday-ready AIP recipes in my newsletter archives! The December 2024 edition has a huge Christmas Day Roundup of over 40 recipes + 40% OFF the RealPlans Meal Planning App – perfect for AIP 🎁

💌 Sign up & access archives – click here
 
 

💡 SURVIVAL TIPS

Social Situations: Stay on track with these AIP-friendly strategies!
👉 Click Here to Read My Post
Substitutions in AIP Baking: No winging it! Here’s what to know:
👉 Click Here to Read My Post
Grain-Free Baking Academy: Struggling with AIP baking? These courses are a game-changer! (PLUS a Discount!)
👉 Click Here for All of the Details
 

🎁 AIP GIFT GUIDE

Need AIP gift ideas (for yourself or others)? Check this out – click here.
 

🎄 HOLIDAY DEALS

Save time and stress with these AIP-friendly offers:
 
🍽️ Paleo on the Go: Handmade AIP food delivered!
🎟️ Code: AIPRecipes ($15 off your first order)
👉 Order Here
 
🥩 US Wellness Meats: (including turkeys!)
🎟️ Code: AIPRecipe (Saves 15%)
👉 Order Here
 
🎁 Amazon Storefronts: Snacks, pantry items, and gift ideas—everything is organized in categorized shops! 
👉 Shop Here: Click for USA, Canada, & UK
 
Click here for MORE help sourcing food and click here for MORE DISCOUNTS from our current partners!
 
 

💐 WHY SHOP THROUGH OUR LINKS?

Using these links supports the work I do for this group (and keeps those sweet deals coming!). Plus, it’s a free way to give back. 💕 

If you appreciate my work, you can also support me directly here.
 
Happy Holidays & AIP-ing, everyone! 🎄

Create Your Own Functional Medicine Timeline

The Functional Medicine Timeline is used to bring your health story to life. Your timeline, form pre-conception to present, is the first step in determining how your health issues began and understanding their underlying causes.  

Your timeline will help you and your Functional Medicine Practitioner to identify health issues, important changes, stresses, medications used, and any other major life events. As you review your timeline, you will start to see some common trends, triggering events and a roadmap that often uncovers what led to your current state of health or dis-ease.

Chronology

The key to the timeline’s success is chronology. When organized in an orderly fashion — from preconception to the present moment — your medical history, life events and environmental exposures, can jump right off the page as a cause and effect relationship. Without this careful step-by-step chronological history taking exercise, such incidents can easily be overlooked or dismissed.

What We’re Looking For

As you answer the questions, it can be helpful to know what we’re looking for and how your Functional Medicine Practitioner is going to use the information. 

If you do eventually meet with a Functional Practitioner (and I highly recommend that you do), you may see them use a very simply one-page approach to plotting your timeline like this one below.

The left section of the matrix is what we’ll be concentrating on as you create your timeline. It concentrates on tracking antecedents, triggering events, and mediators/perpetuators.

In layman’s terms:

  1. Antecedents: – Things that may predispose you. For example family history, genetics, dietary insufficiency, infections, exposures to toxins, prescription drugs and more.
  2. Triggers: – An event, illness or exposure that you have ‘never been well since’. This could be physical or psychic trauma, microbes, toxins, memories, stressful events, infections. A trigger could also be a positive transformative moment where health improves suddenly.
  3. Mediators: – Things that perpetuate a condition, for example ongoing psychological stress, ongoing exposure to an environmental insult (ex. mold, chronic sleep deprivation or shift-work, inflammatory cytokines, and more).

The bottom of the matrix details lifestyle factors like sleep and relaxation, exercise and movement, nutrition and hydration, stress and resilience, and relationships and support networks. That and the centre section are items you’ll work on with your Functional MD.Functional Medicine Timeline

 

Let The Detective Work Begin

It’s time to get curious about your own health story … the detective work begins now … as we go back in time!

The timeline is divided into stages, beginning before you were even born and ending at present day. This exercise may take some time to complete, and you may need to consult with family members, but it’ll be worth the effort!

While some practitioners will simply draw a line on a piece of paper and plot your age and begin recording your major life events, I recommend copying and pasting the information below into a word/Google document so you can add your own details and edit it over time. Alternatively, if you don’t want to dedicate the time to this exercise, simply print it out and use a highlighter and pen to mark any events/health issues that apply to you.

Remember: The information below is simply a guideline of the type of things you should consider. Record anything and everything you think might be a factor for you.

If you read my post “Finding Your Root Cause,” you’ll remember I recommended a docuseries called “Betrayal – The Autoimmune Disease Solution They’re Not Telling You,” by Dr. Tom O’Bryan … watching it may provide you with some additional prompts for what to add to your timeline. 

Preconception & Birth

  • mother’s health before pregnancy
  • any complications in pregnancy (e.g. born prematurely, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, induced labor)
  • born on time / early / late, any interventions
  • birth complications
  • type of birth – vaginal / induced / cesarian section
  • breastfeeding initiated right away
  • bonding with mother at birth

Infant / Toddler (to age 3)

  • breast or bottle fed, formula fed (type of formula), length of breast feeding, mother’s health during breast feeding
  • colic
  • immunizations on schedule / any reactions
  • bonding with parents
  • any known stresses (mother suffered with postpartum depression)
  • age of first food introductions, what was first?
  • any reactions to foods in the first year?
  • allergies, asthma
  • eczema, skin conditions?
  • frequent ear infections? tubes in the ears
  • adenoids or tonsils out?
  • frequent croup?
  • weight gain / difficulty gaining weight
  • basic nutrition
  • daycare / preschool – started at what age
  • how many times antibiotics before age 4?
  • stomach / digestive problems (stomach aches, constipation diarrhea)
  • meeting developmental milestones?
  • dental history: regular brushing / flossing

Childhood (age 4 to puberty)

  • sick often?
  • lots of antibiotics?
  • weight – average, heavy, too small?
  • stresses / moves / changes / bullying / parents / siblings
  • how was nutrition (e.g. healthy, mostly unprocessed foods, lots of fast food, or somewhere in between)?
  • tonsils out?
  • athletics and activities – ages and intensity
  • stomach / digestive problems (stomach aches, constipation diarrhea)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • dental health – lots of fillings?

Puberty

  • what age? early (11 or younger), average (12 or 13), late (14 or over)?
  • hormonal issues (e.g. mood swings or acne?)
  • early breast development

Teenage Years

  • mood – depression / anxiety
  • stresses and changes
  • difficulties with school performance
  • heavy or painful periods
  • irregular or very late periods?
  • acne
  • digestive problems (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome IBS)?
  • many antibiotics (includes tetracycline, minocin or doxycycline for acne)
  • started oral contraceptives or other hormonal birth control?
  • pregnancy? to term or not?
  • athletics and activities
  • nutritional status
  • eating disorders
  • alcohol, tobacco, drug use

Early Adulthood (up to 28 years)

  • stresses / changes
  • medications, including oral or other hormonal contraceptives
  • digestive issues
  • nutrition
  • alcohol , drug, tobacco use
  • antibiotic use (includes urinary tract infections)
  • immune system function
  • employment / loss of employment / job stress / financial stress
  • travel / parasites, related immunizations
  • headaches, migraines
  • recurrent yeast infections
  • illnesses / hospitalizations / surgeries / wisdom teeth
  • birth of children – stress involved / post-partum depression / conditions during pregnancy
  • any health conditions
  • changes in weight
  • exercise, athletics
  • changes in menses
  • skin conditions
  • anything you have never been well since?

Mid-Adulthood (29 to 39 years)

  • as above
  • hormonal changes, menstrual cycle changes?
  • pregnancies, fertility treatments
  • new stresses, losses, changes
  • anything you have never been well since?

40’s

  • as above
  • hormonal changes – periods heavy / light / irregular
  • early menopause?
  • any other chronic or acute health issues
  • daily medications
  • anything you have never been well since?

50’s

  • as above
  • age of onset of menopause
  • any new chronic health conditions
  • weight changes
  • stresses through menopause
  • how long was menopause transition – difficult?

Beyond the 50’s

  • as above
  • any new health conditions
  • hospitalizations or surgeries?
  • medications used
  • anything you have never been well since?

Through The Years

  • list significant life events : marriage / living arrangements / housing / employment / relationships / emotional trauma / travel / major life stresses
  • loss of a friend / loved one / sibling / parent 
  • accident or traumatic event involving a friend / loved one / sibling / parent 
  • allergies /sensitivities to medications / foods
  • environmental exposures: smokers / pesticides or herbicides / water leaks / damp environments / mold / family pets / farm animals
  • diagnostics : MRI / CT scan / x-rays / scopes / ultrasound
  • injuries / hospitalizations / surgeries / major dental work
  • illnesses & conditions: gastrointestinal / respiratory / endocrine / metabolic / genital / urinary / inflammatory / immune / skin / neurological / mood / nerves / emotional / sleep issues
  • prescription use : you may be able to get a history of your prescriptions at your pharmacy

Family History

State of health / medical issues / current age or age at death / cause of death if deceased

  • Father
  • Mother
  • Maternal Grandfather
  • Maternal Grandmother
  • Paternal Grandfather
  • Paternal Grandfather
  • Siblings
  • Other relatives with significant health issues

It’s a good idea to keep a copy of this information – it will be helpful for any assessment with a healthcare practitioner in the future.

What’s Next?

“Find the cause, fix the cause, feel normal again!”

I recommend finding a Functional Medicine Practitioner and begin working with them to discover your root cause – Click here to find one near you – and be sure to take a copy of your timeline with you or send it to the latest member of your healthcare team before your appointment so they can get a good handle on where you’re at on your journey.

If you find it a challenge to find a practitioner near you, consider working with one remotely. If your financial situation doesn’t allow you to work with a Functional Practitioner, I would suggest checking into the option of working with a Certified AIP Coach – click here to find one.

—–

References:

The Institute of Functional Medicine – The Functional Matrix

With thanks to Restoration Health Care for having compiled the questions that disappeared when the Living Matrix program disappeared.

Fully Healthy

This post contains affiliate links.  Click here to see what that means.

UPDATE:  November 18, 2024 :

It’s with a heavy heart that I share some disappointing news. Recently, I discovered (quite by accident) that several of my “partners” have discontinued their affiliate programs without notice. Unfortunately, this means coupon codes you’ve come to rely on no longer work, and I’m left promoting their products without any compensation for my efforts.

One of the most notable losses is Fully Healthy. After some digging, I learned they’ve sold their business, and the new owners have quietly discontinued the affiliate program. This came as a surprise to me and many others who were previously partnered with the original owners of ShopAIP and Fully Healthy.

I’ve also noticed a steady decline in referred sales since Fully Healthy took over from ShopAIP. Whether that’s because you’ve found other places to shop, or because affiliate platforms have become unreliable (or worse, shop owners are redirecting sales by offering bigger discounts through newsletters), I can’t say for certain.

With that said, I’ve made the decision to stop promoting Fully Healthy at this time.

I know you’re not here to read about disappointing business practices, but affiliate income is what keeps this website running. If you’ve found my resources helpful, I hope you’ll consider supporting me by shopping with my current partners.

Shops I Recommend

If you’re looking for active partner coupons (including BIG SAVINGS on collagen, gelatin and more), click here to find discounts and shops I currently recommend.

My AIP Recipe Collection Storefronts on Amazon:

You can also support me by shopping through my curated AIP Amazon Storefronts. These are categorized to help you easily find products for your healing journey. I’m doing my best to keep everything up to date!

AIP Amazon Storefronts for the USA / Canada AND the UK.

If your location isn’t listed, simply click the nearest link, and Amazon should redirect you to products available in your region.

A word of caution:
Amazon sometimes inserts “similar picks” into my shops, and these are often NOT AIP-compliant. Keep an eye out and double-check all product ingredients to ensure they’re suitable for your stage of AIP.

Have a product suggestion?
If you’ve found an AIP-friendly product on Amazon (or elsewhere!) that you think deserves a spot in my storefronts, reach out here. I’d love to share your discovery with the AIP community—thank you!

 

…………..

PREVIOUS UPDATES

UPDATE:  March 11, 2023 : Shop AIP has re-branded and moved to a new site called Fully Healthy. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts to make a seamless transition, there have been issues with links and coupon codes and I’m faced with a LOT of updates across social media and my website.

In order to future-proof things, I’m redirecting the links from my Facebook Group to this page. I apologize for the extra step/click, but I want to make sure our links and savings codes are always up to date and easily accessible.

If you’ve bookmarked the Shop AIP link previously, please update it with our new Fully Healthy link and use it every time you shop!

IMPORTANT: Shopping with our links helps me negotiate better offers for the whole group as they see the volume of orders. Thank you!