Individuals with Lyme disease often suffer from an array of debilitating symptoms. While antibiotics are the first line of treatment, people often utilize a combination of therapies to treat and manage their Lyme disease and symptoms.

While no specific diet has been clinically proven to reduce Lyme symptoms, evidence suggests that an anti-inflammatory diet may help. Keep reading to discover more about what an anti-inflammatory diet is, foods to include, and foods to avoid.

What is Lyme Disease and How Does it Affect The Body?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks. It can impact every system of the body, especially the immune system. While the symptoms mimic those of many autoimmune diseases, it is not an autoimmune disease.

Once someone is infected with Lyme disease, immune function is immediately impacted. Due to the nature of Lyme disease, the immune system may initially weaken and then transition to working overtime to fight the infection. An overactive immune system wrongly determines things to be dangerous to the body that are not dangerous. This overreaction may also cause inflammation and the potential development of adverse symptoms throughout the body as a result of this inflammatory response.

Some Lyme symptoms include joint and muscle pain throughout the body, neck stiffness, severe headaches, fatigue, insomnia, weakness, and shortness of breath. Some even experience further symptoms such as loss of muscle function, nerve damage, or adverse GI symptoms. A classic sign of Lyme disease is a round, red rash at the site of the infected tick bite. However, not everyone experiences this. 

Many of the symptoms of Lyme disease are pretty generalized and can be linked to many different conditions. Additionally, testing for Lyme is somewhat difficult. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult to get diagnosed quickly and accurately. 

Joint Pain and Swelling

Lyme arthritis, an autoimmune condition caused by Lyme disease, causes joint pain and swelling, most commonly in the knees. Other large joints like the shoulder, jaw, ankle, or elbow are sometimes also impacted. The swelling and pain may be transient or affect multiple areas of the body.

Neck Stiffness

Neck stiffness is associated with the development of Lyme disease. For some, it is the first symptom they notice.

Severe Headaches

Headaches are often some of the first symptoms of Lyme disease. A persistent or unusual headache should be cause for concern.

Shortness of Breath

Lyme carditis happens when Lyme disease causes inflammation of the heart muscle. This can cause shortness of breath and is usually accompanied by other symptoms, including fever, and body aches.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom of Lyme disease and can range from mildly tired to exhausted. For some, fatigue interferes with their everyday life. 

Insomnia and Poor Sleep Quality

Many people with Lyme disease report experiencing insomnia and having poor sleep quality. One small study reported that, compared to controls, those with Lyme disease took longer to fall asleep, decreased sleep efficiency, and had more frequency of waking up during the night.

Nerve Damage, Weakness, and Muscle Function Changes

Lyme disease may impact the central, peripheral, or autonomic nervous systems, resulting in neurologic Lyme disease. The signs and symptoms of neurologic Lyme result from the part of the affected nervous system.

When peripheral nerves are affected by Lyme disease, radiculoneuropathy may develop with the resulting symptoms of numbness, weakness, shooting pains, or tingling in the arms or legs.

Those with Lyme disease may also experience migratory musculoskeletal pain and changes in muscle, muscle paralysis such as facial palsy, or muscle tremors.

GI Symptoms

Those with Lyme disease have reported constipation, gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. Additionally, one study showed that those with post-treatment Lyme disease had distinct changes in their gut microbiomes compared to healthy control subjects. Since 70% to 80% of the immune cells are in the gut when the immune system is upregulated, the gastrointestinal system is also impacted.

Red Rash

Lyme disease may initially present with a red “bulls-eye” or target-shaped rash. The rash may expand and spread over time. However, not everyone infected with Lyme disease develops a rash.

How Does Your Diet Affect Lyme Disease Symptoms?

Inflammation occurs when the immune system triggers a response to something harmful in the body, such as an infection or a toxin. A cut that becomes red and swollen is an example of inflammation.

Certain foods, like those high in saturated fats, refined flour, and refined sugar, are all recognized as inflammation-causing. Avoiding these kinds of foods may help reduce symptoms for Lyme patients.

What Is the Lyme Disease Diet?

While no specific diet has been proven to cure Lyme disease, some evidence shows that an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce inflammation and provide relief for Lyme disease symptoms. There are many different ways to follow an anti-inflammatory diet, and this may look different from one person to the next as our bodies are unique and may react differently to different foods.

An anti-inflammatory diet does not have to be expensive and filled with organic foods. To manage costs, purchase fruits and vegetables that are available. Frozen fruits and vegetables are the second-best option, and canned fruits and vegetables that do not contain added sodium are better than none. Canned fruits should be packed in 100% juice, not syrup, to limit the amount of refined sugar.

The tips below provide additional guidance on foods to include and avoid in your anti-inflammatory eating.

Prioritize Fruits and Vegetables

Colorful fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants and phytochemicals. Both are anti-inflammatory and may help fight the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The recommendation is to get 7 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily from whole foods.

While this sounds like a lot, a registered dietitian can help you find creative ways to meet your daily need for fruits and vegetables. They can also help with preparation and recipe ideas to make them a part of every meal. 

Understanding the serving sizes of fruits and vegetables can help you fit them into your diet. 

A serving of fruit is:

• About the size of your fist for whole fruit
• One cup of chopped/diced fresh or canned fruit (canned in 100% juice, not syrup)
• A half cup of dried fruit
• A half cup of 100% fruit juice

The serving sizes for vegetables are:

• One cup of raw vegetables
• A half cup of cooked or juiced vegetables
• Three cups of leafy greens

Add Healthy Fats

Omega-3s are a type of healthy fat that have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body, so it’s essential to obtain enough of these through food.

Including two to three servings of fatty fish (The best benefit comes from wild-caught fish), such as salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, or mackerel weekly helps you get omega-3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids. Good plant sources of omega-3s include certain nuts and seeds like walnuts, chia, and flax seeds. Cooking with extra virgin olive oil or using it to top a salad instead of a dairy-based dressing can also help. If you don’t consume these foods often enough or don’t enjoy them, a high-quality omega-3 supplement may be beneficial.

Eggs also contain anti-inflammatory properties and can be included in a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends one egg a day. Hens fed a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids produce eggs that are also higher in omega-3 fatty acids than standard eggs. To further increase your omega-3 intake, look for eggs labeled as high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Stay Hydrated

Fluids keep your body hydrated and help flush toxins out of your body. Toxins can contribute to inflammation, so drinking plenty of fluids to remove them from your body can help reduce inflammation.

Some beverages consumed without added sugars, such as green, black, and white teas, contain anti-inflammatory compounds. If you drink tea, it’s important to be aware of the caffeine content to ensure you can sleep.

Include High-Fiber Foods

Eating foods high in fiber can improve gut health and reduce inflammation. It is recommended for men to consume at least 38 grams of fiber daily, while women should consume at least 25 grams. Fiber is another benefit of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, most of which are naturally high in fiber. Whole grains such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, beans, and lentils are great fiber sources.  

Add Flavor with Herbs and Spices

Many herbs and spices have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the most studied herbs and spices to reduce inflammation include:

• Turmeric
• Black pepper
• Ginger
• Red pepper
• Cinnamon
• Garlic
• Cardamom

Including these and other herbs and spices in cooking may help reduce chronic inflammation.

Increase Whole Foods, Limit Processed Foods

The ultimate goal of establishing an anti-inflammatory diet is to increase your intake of whole foods packed with nutrients while limiting the amount of highly processed foods you eat. Aim to eat foods closest to their natural state and limit the amount of additive ingredients you consume. Processed foods should be minimized or avoided. Certain foods, like hot dogs, sausages, bacon, and lunch meats, in addition to packaged foods, such as crackers, candies, cereals, cookies, and chips, are highly processed and contain pro-inflammatory compounds. Foods made from refined grains, refined oils, and added sugars should also be minimized or avoided to reduce inflammation.

What About A Gluten Free Diet?

While gluten causes inflammation in some people, this is not the case for most. A gluten-free diet is not required, but some Lyme patients choose to try going gluten-free to see if it helps alleviate their Lyme symptoms.

People with increased inflammation and immune response are more likely to have food sensitivities that can further contribute to inflammation. However, this is not one-size-fits-all, and these triggers are unique to each individual. 

A dietitian can help you determine if you are getting the right amounts of needed nutrients to help combat inflammation and help you make any necessary alterations to your diet. Finding the perfect Lyme diet for each patient is a challenging process and is best done with a qualified medical nutrition professional, like a Registered Dietitian.

Conclusion

An anti-inflammatory diet follows the main principles of good nutrition and emphasizes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats with the addition of foods that provide specific anti-inflammatory benefits to reduce inflammation. However, many people find transitioning to an anti-inflammatory diet daunting.

Our team of Registered Dietitians can help. We understand that managing Lyme disease, along with any other medical conditions, takes knowledge and expertise. Our team has the background and experience to help Lyme patients create and follow a personalized Lyme disease diet. Contact us today to discover how we can help you.