Is There Such a Thing as a Lipedema Diet, and Does It Work?

If you go online to look for information about lipedema, you may find articles about the lipedema diet. Various eating plans claim to improve the symptoms of lipedema or even cure it altogether. But how valid are these claims? Here, we look at some suggested diets to combat lipedema to see how well they work.

Can Any Diet Cure Lipedema?

No diet that can cure lipedema. In fact, there is no cure for this condition at present. Nevertheless, some diets may help improve inflammation and relieve some of the symptoms of the disease. Some sufferers find that avoiding certain foods helps to reduce some of their swelling and discomfort. Healthy eating may also help them to maintain a healthy body weight and avoid the most severe symptoms of lipedema. As lipedema progresses, it causes more mobility issues that make it harder to exercise and maintain a healthy weight. That can result in comorbidities developing, such as obesity, hypertension, and type II diabetes. Healthy eating can help to delay the development of those related conditions.

Is Lipedema Caused by Obesity?

There is a common misconception that obesity causes lipedema. That is not the case at all. In fact, they’re two very different conditions. Lipedema fat is itself different from regular fat. It doesn’t respond in the same way to dieting and exercising. When someone is obese, they can lose weight by consuming fewer calories than they burn. That process doesn’t work when you have lipedema. No amount of working out or reducing your calorie intake will get rid of lipedema fat.

Someone with lipedema may be obese, but they may also be slim or even have an eating disorder. There is, however, a connection between lipedema and obesity. Lipedema makes it hard to exercise, so patients can become more obese as time goes on and the disease progresses.

Also Read – A Specialist’s Guide to Lipedema Foods to Avoid

Could Eating a Specific Way Help to Manage Lipedema?

No diet can cure or reverse lipedema. But experts have found in studies that eating in specific ways could potentially help manage the condition. There are some healthy eating habits that those with lipedema can try to improve their overall well-being. These include avoiding sugar, salt, and dairy products. These healthy habits may help to enhance sufferers’ physical and emotional well-being in the long run.

What is the Rad Diet?

The RAD diet, or Rare Adipose Disorders diet, is one possible eating plan for lipedema sufferers to follow. It involves limiting the amount of dairy, animal proteins, fats, simple sugars, salt, and carbs you consume. It also involves eating more organic vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and healthy proteins. It’s important to note, though, that the RAD diet isn’t one size fits all. If someone has underlying conditions, they may not find this diet suitable. For example, someone with low blood pressure must consume more salt than this diet allows.

What is the Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Lipedema?

Some lipedema sufferers follow an anti-inflammatory diet plan. This way of eating involves consuming lots of colorful fruit and vegetables. It also means eating plenty of lean protein, beans, whole grains, spices, herbs, and fermented foods. These foods may help reduce inflammation in the body and relieves symptoms of lipedema.

Avoiding sugars, refined grains, high-salt foods, chemically-modified fats, some dairy products, and fatty proteins also helps to manage inflammation effectively.

Is Keto the Best Diet for Lipedema?

You may find articles online stating that the ketogenic diet is best for lipedema sufferers. This diet involves severely restricting carbohydrate intake to under 25g per day. It also involves eating lots of protein and healthy fats like olive oil. It may work because it burns fat instead of carbohydrates to produce energy for the body. That may promote a healthier body weight. It also helps to reduce inflammation by controlling glycemic peaks. There are downsides to this eating regime, though. Not only is it difficult to follow in the long term, but it also won’t eradicate existing lipedema fat.

What Are the Benefits of Specific Eating Regimes for Lipedema Sufferers?

There is little evidence that supports the use of any specific diet for lipedema sufferers. However, eating a healthy diet is certainly a good idea. It can help to reduce fluid retention, reduce inflammation, and boost mental well-being, as well as minimize further weight gain. It’s advisable that people with lipedema try to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible with a balanced diet.

What is the Best Treatment for Lipedema?

The best treatment for lipedema is surgery, in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Lipedema surgery involves undergoing liposuction of the affected areas. It addresses the cause of the disease – the diseased fat – and thus reduces pain and improves mobility. Surgery improves sufferers’ quality of life and restores their body shape to a more proportionate appearance.

To learn more about surgery in conjunction with a lipedema diet, get in touch with Dr. Su at ArtLipo now.