Inflammation Factor for Foods?

tz841
tz841 Posts: 20 Member
Hi. This morning when I went to the doctor's office, I was told about foods that have an inflammation factor. They gave me a website to look at and a brief introduction to it. After looking it up online, I just more confused than anything - I can't seem to find consistent information on it. And I'm discouraged. A lot of what is "good" (as in, anti-inflammatory) is not good for my Vitamin K levels, which need to stay low because Vitamin K interferes with my Coumadin.

Does anyone else follow the anti-inflammation factor when choosing their foods? If so, did you do it all at once or slowly incorporate these foods? Do you think it really makes a difference? I'm looking for any feedback on this...Thanks!

Replies

  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    Did your doctor tell you this??? I would go back if he did and ask for an explanation.
  • MissJanet55
    MissJanet55 Posts: 457 Member
    I bought a book called The Kick Acid Diet that explains it all. You're right, it's complicated, and there is tons of math. But it does have a comprehensive list of inflammatory foods, so you might find it helpful.

    I agree, though, that your doctor should explain this if he or she recommended it.
  • Jemmuno
    Jemmuno Posts: 413 Member
    Add Ginger to your diet!
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Yeah, if you are confused and the info seems to conflict with your other medical needs, then you should ask your doctor to help explain it better for you. I know that doctors sometimes recommend anti-inflammatory diets for certain health conditions (often means different things depending on the specific condition or issues you are dealing with). But, other than that I do not know much about it. Maybe if you shared the link, we might know what you are talking about.
  • misssiri
    misssiri Posts: 335 Member
    Vitamin K does not interfere with coumadin if you are consistent with your diet. If your Vitamin K levels are all over the place, they can't prescribe you the correct dosage. If you have broccoli for dinner and have your INR checked the following morning it can make a difference. I am sure that no one will ever tell you not to eat broccoli.
  • tz841
    tz841 Posts: 20 Member
    Thanks for the feedback. The website I was given is nutritiondata.self.com/help/inflammation. I was also looking at inflammationfactor.com. Actually, the information came from the person (doctor? nurse? Not sure what she is) at the Coumadin Clinic when I had my blood tested yesterday. She is encouraging me to go with less inflammatory foods. My numbers have been off lately, hence the reason I hate to change my diet significantly. Exercising makes my body metabolize the Coumadin faster, but losing weight will raise my blood (INR) number. That's why I need to be careful as to what I introduce into my body For example, I normally don't eat broccoli, so eating it would lower my numbers; I normally don't drink either, so having alcohol will affect it as well, but that would raise my numbers instead.) I don't mind adding or subtracting things to my diet, but I know that it's a balancing act all the time. So I just have to be careful. Foods that may be high in anti-inflammation may also be high in vitamin K, although that is not always the case.

    I guess I just was discouraged yesterday when trying to sort out - between diet, exercise and meds, it just seems so complicated and I just felt overwhelmed. I'm not going to stop watching my food intake, I'm not going to stop exercising, and I will continue to slowly introduce foods to my diet that in the past I wouldn't normally eat (things that are good for me), but yesterday I felt defeated in spite of any progress I had made.