Anti-inflammatory diet?

Jruzer

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any feedback on the anti-inflammatory diet? To be clear up front I'm not looking at this as a weight loss tool.

Twice now I've had doctors in my clinic recommend this diet to me, for two separate medical conditions. It's got my pseudo-science-sense tingling a little, but I don't have training in the relevant areas to make an informed judgement. Here's a link to the handout I was given:

http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/im/handout_ai_diet_patient.pdf

I'm a bit skeptical because 1) I've had it recommended for multiple different conditions, 2) it appears very "trendy", and 3) it seems very exclusionary: avoid red meat, dairy, artificial flavors/colors, aspartame, wheat, eggs, simple carbohydrates (but eat more fruit!).

Maybe there is something to it, and I'm open to trying at least some aspects of this.

ninerbuff

Most of it is pseudoscience. Inflammation can't be avoided just by what you eat. Exercise inflames muscle tissue. Not a bad thing. Sugar consumption (even just a little) causes inflammation (yes even fruit).
If one is suffering from things like arthritis, then it may be something to look into, but for the general population with no real health issues, there's no real need to do it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Jruzer

Thanks @ninerbuff. It was suggested as a tool to help mitigate mild rosacea--I'm not too keen on modifying my whole diet just to clear my skin up a bit.

rhtexasgal

I am going to throw in my two cents in here. Keep in mind that what I say is purely anecdotal. I have inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative colitis) and during times of flare, I did try to follow an anti-inflammatory diet similar to what you posted and it does work. However, once I achieved remission, I did add a few things back on my diet plan. Of course, once you have one auto-immune disorder, other ones tend to make themselves known. (I also got scalp psoriasis and minor eczema on my eyelids and around my nose).

If you have an extreme inflammatory health issue, I WOULD suggest a diet similar to this. However, if it is manageable, you might want to consider, dropping those things on the "do not eat" list, see how you feel, and then add one thing at a time back to your diet so you can find your triggers that might be irritating your health condition. I personally found that most dairy, simple carbs like the breads and wheat were my triggers but I felt better, more "whole" when I ate the eggs and red meat. (I am a protein type of person ... I feel better when my diet is higher in protein and also in fat).

To me, the "do not eat" portion of this diet (with the except of some grains, red meat and certain dairy products) are already a part of eating whole, unprocessed foods that is better for health. Those food dyes, artificial sweeteners, simple carbs should be limited in your eating plan anyway. Those things on the "eat more" list are good and are scientifically proven (too many sources to find) to be anti-inflammatory.

Anyone looking at my diet plan will know that I still consume some simple carbs, wheat products and dairy like ice cream. However, I pay for it later with bloating, lethargy, and being irritable. For instance, I wanted a donut (can you say HUGE simple carb?) for breakfast. I ate one, ok two, and for about 15 minutes I was fine then BAM! Crash and burn. It tastes good for those few minutes but misery lasts quite a while. I don't put myself through that too often.

MoiAussi93

I've never followed that specific diet. However, it is well known that certain foods tend to cause inflammation in the body. Some do it with everybody, and some only affect people with a sensitivity to that food. So it seems logical that avoiding those foods could help with conditions involving inflammation.

In terms of being suspicious because doctors have recommended the diet for multiple conditions...well inflammation is linked to MANY different diseases. Chronic inflammation is associated with a lot of negative health effects and many chronic diseases.

In terms of it being trendy...if some guy at your gym recommends it that might be a valid concern...but if multiple medical doctors recommend it then it seems to me your doctors aren't concerned with being trendy. If more than one doctor recommends something, it is generally a good idea to give it serious thought.

It is exclusionary because those foods have probably been shown to exacerbate inflammation in most people or at least certain people. Excluding them should solve, or at least reduce, the inflammation and whatever issues it is causing.

andielyn

So purely anecdotal on my end but I quit consuming artificial sweeteners (including the ones considered natural like stevia and Truvia) and chronic issues I was having my skin have completely gone away. Not rosacea, and I don't even know if there is a direct relationship but it might be worth a try. I did it because of recent research on artificial sweeteners on gut bacteria in particular, not for my skin issues. Coincidence or not, no more skin problems...yay!