All About Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The anti-inflammatory diet of Dr. Weil is not a diet chart in a proper way as it is not generally a weight loss program.

On the other hand, an anti-inflammatory diet is not about eating or constricting your diet for a certain period, rather it is a way to select and prepare anti-Inflammatory foods entirely based on scientific knowledge. This, in turn, helps you to maintain an optimum weight.

Chronic inflammation has been the root cause of several illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Inflammation causes the body’s surface to become red, inflicting swelling and pain. The body’s healing response activates your immunity during an injury or infection.

However, when inflammation has no purpose, it usually damages the body and causes severe illness.

A few symptoms of inflammation are tremendous stress and the lack of proper exercise; at times, it can also be genetic. Even exposure to toxic elements like smoking cigarettes can cause inflammation.

The good news is with the proper diet; you can control this and reduce the chances of having a long-term disease.

Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid

 

Before we start with the anti-inflammatory food pyramid, let us first understand Dr. Weil’s concept of the anti-inflammatory diet.

The anti-inflammatory diet mainly reduces chronic inflammation and illnesses like heart disease and cancer. They do this by ensuring that the patients are leading a healthy life.

This concept was first proposed by Dr. Andrew Weil, a doctor of medicine and author of a numeral of books based on food, aging, and humans on how to live healthily.

Although mainly based on the Mediterranean diet, this diet contains a few extra foods, such as dark chocolate and green tea. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory diet includes a variety of fresh foods and heavily emphasizes the consumption of fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables.

According to Doctor Weil, this food contains phytonutrients, natural chemical compounds, usually in plants. These compounds are beneficial for human health to prevent several chronic diseases.

Additionally, the anti-inflammatory food pyramid recommends consuming foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and discards the consumption of processed food. However, some websites suggest that the anti-inflammatory diet can be continued as the 21-day anti-inflammatory diet or for short periods. Still, Doctor Weil says it is a lifelong change, not a temporary fix to your health problems.

 

Dr. Weil’s Anti-inflammatory Food Program

 

  • The anti-inflammatory diet by Dr. Weil mainly focuses on cutting down saturated fats, which can be found in various sources like butter, fatty meat, cream, etc. Additionally, you can also stop consuming margarine and partially hydrogen oils. Alternatively, you could switch your diet entirely based on extra virgin olive oil nuts, Omega-3 fatty acids, and avocado, known to reduce inflammation in the human body.
  • You can also get substantial Omega 3 from cold water fish like salmons, sardines, and Herring. However, suppose you are not eating oily fish once or twice a week. In that case, Dr. Weill recommends a daily fish oil supplement containing Omega 3, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (PPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
  • You should consider consuming less protein if you have a chronic liver or kidney problem or are allergic to certain autoimmune diseases. Cut down on the consumption of animal protein apart from fish and highly processed cheese or yogurt. Try incorporating more vegetable protein from soya beans and beans in particular, and make yourself acquainted with the consumption of many available soya foods.
  • Fibers are suitable for your body, and you can achieve a lot of strength and nutrients from various fruits, berries, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Phytonutrients help to protect your body from aging and certain cardiovascular diseases and neurogenerative diseases, as well as from toxins and cancer. You can start consuming various fruits and vegetables from different spectrums, focusing mainly on orange and yellow fruits and green, dark, leafy vegetables.
  • Vitamins and minerals are an essential way to provide your body with micronutrients. You can get plenty of them by eating fresh fruits that act as antioxidants. The intake of Vitamin E and Vitamin C, as well as Selenium and Cartenoids, helps regulate a regular menstrual cycle and supplies energy to your body.
  • You should consider taking up calcium supplements, specifically calcium citrate. However, this depends on your daily calorie intake.

Wrapping Up!

 

The anti-inflammatory diet by Dr. Weil is not only a temporary solution to fix all your health problems but also a way of leading a healthy and balanced life.

However, if you have certain health conditions and are unsure whether or not to start with the anti-inflammatory diet, it is always suggested to get checked by your dietician or doctor.

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