The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Guide

*This resource center is meant to be an overview and is not a comprehensive guide to implementing the Anti-Inflammatory diet. It is not intended for use as medical advice. For a more thorough guide, take a look here.

What Is It?

The anti-inflammatory diet is an elimination diet that aims to reduce or prevent chronic inflammation and related symptoms such as aches and pains, allergies, autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory issues by focusing on consuming whole, nutrient-dense foods.

How the Anti-Inflammatory Diet Works

While inflammation in the body can be useful in short bursts, when experienced over a long period of time, it can cause adverse side effects such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and more (Source). Many factors such as body weight, stress levels, and environmental toxins play a role in our body’s inflammatory response, and food is no exception. Therefore, it is important to manage our diets and remove highly processed and fried foods that are high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats and replace them with nutritious whole food ingredients. As a result, our bodies are better equipped to fight inflammation.

Who Can Benefit from an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

Anyone who suffers from inflammation or inflammation-related symptoms consumes a large amount of processed foods, or is predisposed to health conditions associated with inflammation within the body may find an anti-inflammatory diet beneficial.

How to Implement an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

I don’t recommend totally overhauling your diet overnight and tossing out all the foods you consume on a daily basis. This won’t be sustainable! Instead, start small, making simple swaps one at a time. For instance, if you use highly processed vegetable oils in your cooking, try replacing them with better options such as refined avocado oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil. Or, replace one fast food meal a week with a home-cooked meal prep option instead. Build on these habits week after week until you have eliminated inflammatory foods from your diet!

Foods to Limit/Not Include

Processed Meats: sausage, deli meat
Dairy: yogurt, milk, cheese
Refined Sugars: white flour, evaporated cane juice, corn syrup, fructose, etc.
Trans Fats: found in fried foods and fast foods
Processed Snack Foods: chips, crackers, cookies, etc.
Gluten: bread, pasta
Vegetable Oils: soybean, corn, peanut
Alcohol: beer, liquor, wine

Foods to Consume

Vegetables: a wide variety of fresh vegetables including dark, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts*
Fruit: whole fruit (not juice), especially berries and cherries
Fish: salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel
Herbs & Spices: turmeric, ginger, basil, oregano, thyme, cinnamon
Nuts & Seeds: walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds
Whole Grains: brown rice, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa
Beans & Legumes: black beans, lentils, chickpeas, black eye peas
Oils: Unrefined or refined avocado oil, coconut oil

*Nightshades: In general, nightshades can be included in an anti-inflammatory diet in moderation. However, you know your body best. So, if you feel you do not tolerate them well, swap them out for alternative vegetables!