(813) 886-9090 Virtual consultation
By Dr. Thomas Su | May 17, 2020

Is A Special Lipedema Diet the Answer?

If you’re suffering from lipedema, you’re probably seeking treatment to improve your quality of life. It’s no wonder, then, that so many sufferers wonder if a special lipedema diet could be the answer. Lipedema is a painful and debilitating condition, so finding a solution is key. Here, we take a closer look at the types of food you may need to eat. We also look at whether they can cure the condition.

An Eating Pattern for Lipedema Sufferers

It’s advisable for anyone suffering from lipedema to eat mainly whole foods. The best option is a plant-based diet that includes many colored fruit and vegetables and fermented foods.

Experts suggest you starve lipedema by steering clear of any added sugars. Fructose can be especially problematic. You should also avoid any refined grains, particularly those that contain gluten. You should also avoid chemically modified fats, as well as high-salt foods and animal products. If you avoid dairy products, you may notice benefits, too.

Whole foods are the best choice since prepared foods often contain salt, added sugar, unhealthy fats, soy, and other undesirable additives. Although juicing may seem to be a good idea, doctors don’t recommend it unless you can’t eat any solid foods. This is because juicing will break down the fiber. This removes a key digestive and nutritional health benefit. You should also minimize the amount of fruit juice you consume since it will raise your blood glucose too rapidly.

What Should I Eat Regularly in My Lipedema Diet?

Doctors who treat patients with lipedema advise their patients to include the following in their regular diets:

  • Brightly colored vegetables
  • Pulses, legumes, and beans
  • Berries
  • Citrus fruit 
  • Potatoes
  • Fruit
  • Yams and sweet potatoes
  • Grains 
  • Fermented food 
  • Minimally processed and fermented soy, such as edamame beans, tofu, tempeh, or miso
  • Nondairy unsweetened milk drinks, such as coconut, hemp, or almond milk
  • Tea and coffee

Which Foods Should You Only Consume in Limited Amounts?

There are some foods that lipedema sufferers should only consume in limited amounts. These include:

  • Brazil nuts (only eat 1 ounce per day)
  • Chocolate (the chocolate you consume should be a minimum of 70 percent cacao)
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Meat
  • Skinless poultry
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Healthy oils, such as avocado, coconut, sesame, and extra virgin olive
  • Condiments, such as mustard, horseradish, hot sauce, salsa, and soy sauce
  • Dried fruit
  • Red wine (up to three servings per week)

Which Foods Should I Avoid on A Lipedema Diet?

There are some products that lipedema sufferers should avoid. These include:

  • Grain products that contain gluten
  • Any gluten-free substitutes
  • Fried food 
  • Processed meat
  • Meat preserved with salt, nitrites, or nitrates 
  • Meat substitutes made from seitan, highly-processed soy, or gluten
  • Processed soy-based foods
  • Sugary snacks
  • Sugary sweeteners
  • Sweet condiments 
  • Diet or sugar-sweetened drinks 
  • Unhealthy fats and hydrogenated oils 
  • Liquor, beer, mixed drinks, or wine coolers 

Steer clear of these items, and you should find that you can gain a little more control over your condition. Nevertheless, changing your diet won’t eliminate lipedema. 

How Can I Treat Lipedema?

There is no cure for lipedema yet. However, you can treat it. While some doctors suggest that diet and exercise can make a difference, this isn’t always the case. In fact, many women become very distressed that a change in lifestyle doesn’t relieve their conditions.

The best way to treat lipedema is to have liposuction carried out by a skilled and experienced lipedema surgeon. This treatment will permanently remove the excess fat cells. This brings relief from pain and improves the patient’s mobility greatly. Eating a healthy lipedema diet won’t do any harm. However, it may not help you either. Therefore, it’s wise to eat well while seeking professional help from a lipedema surgeon for your problem. Contact the Artlipo team today to find out more about how we can help you.

flower
Transforming Lives, One Step at a Time
virtual consultation