Why the Anti-inflammatory Diet Didn't Work for Me

I tried the anti-inflammatory diet and I really wanted it to work, but it didn't. I was so excited about it that my friend tried it too. We were both overweight and feeling unhealthy. She lost weight and feels better than she has in years. I gained weight and got sicker.

It has been almost a year, since I posted in this blog or any of my other blogs. My health hasn't been great, but I learned from trying the anti-inflammatory diet that I need certain foods to feel ok, and I've finally started losing the weight.

The problem that I had on the anti-inflammatory diet was not eating enough grains and carbs. Without grains and carbs, I had digestive problems and was hungry all the time. I became obsessed with food.

The diet that has been bringing improvements to my life is a plant-based whole food diet. I haven't completely given up animal products yet, but the fewer animal products I eat, the better I feel.

I've also been counting calories and making sure I get enough exercise every day. Eating plant-based whole foods, I rarely go over the number of calories recommended for my age and body type, which means I am not as hungry anymore. I'm getting more exercise because I feel better.

I'm glad that eating chicken and fish instead of homemade bread helps some people, like it did my friend. I say it just didn't work for me because different people really do have different nutritional needs. My dad can't eat the kinds of fruit and berries that I do. Another friend of mine can't eat wheat.

I simply can't get by with out those delicious whole grains.

20 Ways to Fight Inflammation with Toast

I am a little like Ron Swanson. I love breakfast food. I love all the breakfast food you can get in a diner, except sausage gravy and grits. I love sitting down to a plate with two eggs on it, four slices of bacon, a pile of fried potatoes, and buttered sourdough toast. The anti-inflammatory diet has taken half the eggs and everything else on that plate away from me.

Except for cheat days, my breakfasts menu rotates between four meals: smoothies, oatmeal, tofu scrambles, and avocado toast. Avocado toast is my favourite of those meals. I mash up half an avocado with some organic extra virgin olive oil, a squirt of lemon juice, and a clove of garlic. I shmear the mashed avocado on two slices of toasted whole grain probiotic bread and eat it with a basted egg.

If I am out of avocado, sometimes I have peanut butter and banana on my toast instead. Though, I still wish I could be like Elvis and add bacon. All of that is about to change!

In recent weeks, I found a bread that I love for toast. Now, I want more ways to eat it. I’ve found 20 ways to mix up my meals on toast munching mornings while sticking to my diet and fighting inflammation. If you try any of these ideas, leave a comment and tell me what you think.

1. Pesto Avocado Tomato toast

One slice of toast schmeared with pesto, topped with sliced avocado, topped with a slice of tomato, and garnished with sprouts. - Dr. Weil. 

2. Avocado Pomegranate Toast

Sliced Avocado + Crumbled Feta + Pomegranates + Olive Oil on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed.

3. Banana Almond Butter and Chia Seeds 

Sliced Banana + Almond Butter + Chia Seeds on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed.

4. Toasty Ants on a Log Toast

Thinly Sliced Celery + Raisins + Peanut Butter. - Buzzfeed.

5. Berries Edamame and Cheese Toast

Goat Cheese + Sliced Strawberries + Shelled Edamame + Balsamic Vinegar + Sea Salt on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed. 

6. Crunchy Hummus Toast

Hummus + Chopped Walnuts + Pomegranates on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed.

7. Feta Almond Date Toast

Chopped Mejdool Dates + Sliced Feta + Sliced Almonds on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed.

8. Plum Butter Toast

Sliced Plums + Sunflower Seed Butter + Flaxseed on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed.

9. Italian Egg Toast

Marinara Sauce + Poached Egg + Parmesan + Basil on whole grain toast. - Buzzfeed.

This recipe reminds me of shackshouka, but on toast with Italian spices.

Shacksouka. 

10. My Neighbour’s Garden Avocado Toast

It's the time of year when everyone has tomatoes and basil in their backyard. Smashed avocado, schmeared on toast, topped with chopped cherry tomatoes and basil. - The Kitchn.

11. Don’t-Kiss-Me-After-Breakfast Toast

Smashed avocado, schmeared on toast, topped with crumbled feta and chopped green onion. - The Kitchn.

12. The Importance of Being Cucumber Toast

Smashed avocado, schmeared on toast, topped with thinly sliced cucumber and dill. - Little Broken.

13. Sweet Little Monkey Avocado Toast

Smashed avocado, schmeared on toast, topped with thinly sliced banana, sprinkled with sunflower seeds, and drizzled in honey. - Little Broken

No avocado? No problem! Shmear the banana instead like I did: 

14. Two Layer Dip Avocado Toast

Smashed avocado, schmeared on toast, topped with hummus, topped with thinly sliced cucumber and dill. Basically, The Importance of Being Cucumber Toast with more protein! - Kitchen Treaty.

15. Almost Like Pancakes Toast

Mashed banana schmeared on whole grain toast, topped with blueberries, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. - Healthfully Ever After.

16. Curried Banana Toast

Mashed banana schmeared on whole grain toast, sprinted with curry powder, crystallized ginger, raisins, lime zest and juice. - Healthfully Ever After.

17. Garlic Shiitake Mushroom Breakfast Toast

The name says it all. The recipe is here, I would just use olive oil, no butter, and whole grain toast.

18. Greek Chick Peas on Toast

Chick peas, tomatoes, spices, and olives. The Recipe is here and again I would use my favourite bread.

19. Masala French Toast

This sounds like it would taste like curried eggs and bread. I would use my favourite bread and olive or canola oil instead of butter. The recipe is here. 

20. Cinnamon Ginger Chilli Peaches on Toast

Exactly what is sounds like the recipe is here.

Armed with these recipes, I might be eating a toast based diet until October. Please share comments, or other anti-inflammatory friendly recommendations below.

To find out more about my journey in exploring food as medicine, like my Facebook page.

Nightshades and Arthritis

I've been enjoying a bowl full of my friend's garden fresh tomatoes over the past few days, which lead me to thinking about nightshades. Many sources will tell you not to eat nightshades as part of an anti-inflammatory diet, but what are nightshades and should I avoid them?

Tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, and peppers (including cayenne and paprika, but not black pepper) are all part of the Solanaceae family, commonly referred to as nightshades. With the exception of those I just mentioned, most nightshades are poisonous, like belladonna, or the deadly nightshade made famous in MacBeth. Most people have no problem digesting edible nightshades. I rather enjoy cayenne, paprika, and tomatoes, but a case has been made that nightshades can cause problems for people with autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis.

The evidence for health risks associated with rheumatoid arthritis in humans is largely based on personal reports. Although, loads of evidence exists that edible nightshades cause joint and bone problems in cows and horses because of the way that their bodies process the potent form of vitamin D3 specific to nightshades. In cows and horses, nightshades prevent the metabolization of calcium, leaving calcium deposits in the soft tissue, instead of in the bones that need it. This leads to painful arthritis and inflammation in cows and horses.

Humans aren't cows and horses. Our bodies don't process vitamin D3 the same way, but the alkaloids and lectins in nightshades do cause some people to complain of discomfort.

The term 'alkaloid' refers to any nitrogenous organic compound that has a pronounced physiological reaction in humans, including everything from morphine to strychnine. A lectin is a protein that binds certain sugars. Lectins are also thought to play a role in immune function and body fat regulation.

"Because we don’t digest lectins, we often produce antibodies to them. Almost everyone has antibodies to some dietary lectins in their body. This means our responses vary. Certain foods can even become intolerable to someone after an immune system change or the gut is injured from another source. The presence of particular lectins can stimulate an immune system response. There are some lectins that no one should consume. 

Ever wonder why you don’t see sprouted red kidney beans?" - Source.

Alkaloids developed in plants as a defence mechanism against bugs. Humans use them as medicines, addictive drugs, and as insect repellants.

'While the plant is alive, these compounds work as its home-grown “bug spray,” defending it from pests and molds that would otherwise kill it. In other words, they’re designed to be toxic. In the poisonous members of the nightshade family, these chemicals are so concentrated that they have deadly effects on humans, but in the edible nightshades, they’re present in much smaller amounts, and mostly in the leaves and stems (which we don’t eat anyway).' - Source.

Being so much larger than a caterpillar, and because we don't eat kidney bean sprouts or tomato leaves, most people experience no reaction to alkaloids. I imagine it is like eating a non-organic carrot, or anything at most restaurants. The trace amounts in the foods we eat are fairly insignificant to healthy people. But what about me? What about people with autoimmune disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis?

"Healthy guts can deal with these chemicals just fine, but people whose digestive system is already compromised by an autoimmune disease have trouble with them. For example, some kinds of alkaloids increase the power of the immune response – exactly what you don’t want when you’re dealing with an autoimmune disorder." - Source.

This can be especially problematic for people dealing with autoimmune disorders that directly effect their digestive system because the cells lining the intestinal tract are often the first victims of alkaloids. Lectins cause the same reaction for some people, but again... the evidence is based solely on personal reports. And this evidence is not as strong as what we've learned from animals, but it's harder to keep us in such a controlled setting as... say... lab mice.

The Arthritis Foundation maintains:

"They also contain solanine, a chemical that has been branded the culprit in arthritis pain. There’s no scientific evidence to suggest that nightshades trigger arthritis flares. In fact, some experts believe these vegetables contain a potent nutrient mix that helps inhibit arthritis pain." - Source.

Certain nightshades have great health benefits. Cayenne pepper, for example (also one of my favourites), is also high in capsaicin, which works as an anti inflammatory in healthy bodies. Tomatoes are considered highly antioxidant, and are believed to help fight cancer (which runs in my family).

Nightshades are like gluten, only people who have a genuine sensitivity to them need to avoid them. For people, like me, with rheumatoid arthritis, it may be worthwhile to eliminate nightshades from your diet for 30 days to see if you notice any improvement. I'd say it can't hurt, but I really love cayenne and still have a bowl of tomatoes in my kitchen.

Rather than wasting my food for something that has yet to be proven, the alkaloid content in the nightshades I east can be reduced by preparing them properly. Peel your potatoes and don't eat them when they are sprouting, or unripe. Cook everything thoroughly. Cooking your food is a good idea most of the time anyway, as cooked foods are generally easier to digest than raw foods.

To find out more about my journey in exploring food as medicine, like my Facebook page.

Tofu Mushroom Lettuce Wraps

I love tofu!

It's been a while since I've written, so I thought I would come back writing about something I love.

My Tofu Mushroom Lettuce Wrap recipe is one of the simplest least expensive meals that I make and we usually gobble them up so quickly that I don't get a photo.

Tofu Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
10oz frozen shiitake mushrooms
1 14oz package extra firm tofu
1 small white onion
1 head of your favourite lettuce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tbspn canola oil
Sriracha (to taste) 

1. Cut tofu so that the cubes are roughly the same size as mushroom slices. Finely chop onion.
2. Pre-heat oil in large frying pan (or wok) over medium heat and divide twelve crisp lettuce leaves across four plates.
3. Add tofu to hot oil and sauté. Add the onion when the tofu begins to get crispy at edges. Add the mushrooms when the onion begins to turn clear.
4. Cook mushrooms for about three minutes, then add two tablespoons of soy sauce. Cook for 3-5 more minutes.
5. Pour remaining soy sauce into a medium bowl. Add vinegar and Sriracha to bowl and mix to make dipping sauce.
6. Spoon tofu mushroom mixture into lettuce leaves and serve!

Everything, but the soy sauce, is included on the anti-inflammatory diet. Luckily, Wellness Mama has a simple recipe for a soy sauce alternative. This meal is vegetarian, unless you use Wellness Mama's soy sauce alternative, but then it won't work with the anti-inflammatory diet. I've been cheating and using regular soy sauce, but will try Wellness Mama's and report back to you soon!

To find out more about my journey in exploring food as medicine, like my Facebook page.

Diet & Privilege

One in nine people on this planet don't have enough food to eat to lead an active lifestyle. People all around me don't know if they have enough food to get through the week. Here I am, like a spoiled little princess, saying I don't want any ice cream.

As a volunteer at the food bank, many years ago, I asked one of our patrons whether he was vegetarian. "Only when I can afford to be," he answered, opting for the omnivore's kit. That didn't make any sense to me at the time; this food bank catered to vegetarian and vegan diets. I understand now that special diets are a form of privilege.

Privilege is a special right or advantage available only to a particular person or group of people. The term is commonly used in the context of social inequality, particularly in regard to age, disability, ethnic or racial category, gender, sexual orientation, religion and/or social class. Two common examples would be having access to a higher education and housing. Privilege can also be emotional or psychological, regarding comfort and personal self-confidence, or having a sense of belonging or worth in society. It began as an academic concept, but has since become popular outside of academia. Source.

Even special diets for health are a form of privilege in a world where you are lucky to have something to eat.  Special diets are a form of privilege even when access barriers to special diets is imagined, like the man who couldn't afford to be a vegetarian at the food bank.

A community food bank in NJ

Now that I know I am exercising a form of privilege by eating and sharing a special diet to benefit my health, how do I address this social inequality?

One way might be by sharing inexpensive recipes that are consistent with the anti-inflammatory diet, like my turmeric tofu scramble, which uses left-over vegetables. I should be looking for lots of those in the future because I'm not rich, just self-entitled: privileged. There have been many times in my life that I had no reservations about buying the organic macaroni  and cheese with my last five dollars, instead of saving $4.50 with the non-organic generic brand.

To find out more about my journey in exploring food as medicine, like my Facebook page.

Chronic Inflammation Quiz

Answer eleven questions to find out if you should be worried about chronic inflammation.

To find out more about my journey in exploring food as medicine, like my Facebook page.

Arthritis Food Myths

Yesterday, a friend asked me about what foods I missed, since I started the anti-inflammatory diet. Thankfully, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I do love pasta. I love Italian food in general. I've had a mad craving for pizza ever since I started this crazy diet! “That must suck,” said my friend, because a lot of what is good about Italian food is tomatoes and those are an anti-inflammatory no-no. Or are they?

The common belief is that tomatoes and other nightshades are bad for people suffering from arthritis. According to this belief, I should also be avoiding green and red peppers. Or should I?

People believe nightshades are bad for arthritis because they contain solanine. No research has ever confirmed solanine’s dangerous role in arthritis and inflammation. Although a 2011 study suggested the opposite was true in men. Moreover, many nightshades contain essential nutrients. A single tomato contains 20% of your recommend daily dosage of vitamin A and 28% of your daily dosage of vitamin C. Unless you have some other problem with tomatoes, eat them up!

While I found a lot of supportive information for the anti-inflammatory diet through the Arthritis Foundation (AF), the AF also provides a warning against certain myths about using food as medicine. They debunked the tomato myth for me and warned me about other myths.

I didn’t even know that a dozen gin-soaked raisins per day is supposed to provide pain relief, and a moment after I read that, I didn’t care. According to the AF, no scientific study has ever supported that claim.

People may have been doing this for centuries,
but it still doesn't work.

People are even drinking apple cider vinegar to ease pain because it contains beta-carotene, but the amount of beta-carotene in apple cider vinegar is nothing compared to the amount of beta-carotene in a carrot. Eat a carrot!

We’ve known since the 1980s that dairy can slow the progression of osteoarthritis, but people suffering from arthritis pain are still warned away from it. If you don’t have a problem with the dairy industry (blood and puss), choose lower-fat dairy products. I haven’t been avoiding dairy all together, but I have been replacing some of it with almond milk and soy cream (for my coffee).

The raw food diet, famously touted by Woody Harrelson (I love him), might make digestion more difficult and has been found to cause nausea and diarrhea, while offering little more than a placebo to those suffering from chronic-inflammation related problems. The AF recommends switching to a raw food diet slowly, if you are determined to make the change.

Some people think that coffee causes gout. This is silliness. Research has shown it actually lowers the risk and has many other health benefits. Drink up!

Also, people with chronic inflammation are often encouraged to avoid citrus fruits for no good reason. Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, which can reduce arthritis pain.

To find out more about my journey in exploring food as medicine, like my Facebook page.

Turmeric for breakfast

This turmeric tofu scramble recipe is one of my kid’s favourites and fits perfectly into the anti-inflammatory diet. I could eat this with a piece of whole grain toast every day and be happy.

With all of my health problems, my mom has been trying to get more turmeric in me for ages. Turmeric belongs in the ginger family and originated in southwest India, where farmers harvest the roots annually. The roots are processed and ground into the deep-orange-yellow powder we are all familiar with. “One active ingredient is curcumin, which has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, slightly hot peppery flavor and a mustardy smell.”  Along with supporters of the anti-inflammatory diet, my mom will be happy to know that science is starting to take turmeric seriously too.

Scientists are especially interested in curcumin’s affect on the body. Basic research is still underway to study its potential to heal kidneys, arthritis, cancer, irritable bowls, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, as well as its basic anti fungal and antibacterial properties. Last year, Scientific American’s Everyday Einstein even talked about turmeric, if only to point out how much we still need to know about curcumin. How much turmeric is needed to have a medicinal impact on the body? How much is bad for you?

Really the only warning I’ve found on turmeric for your health is about its vulnerability to adulteration in the marketplace, which consumers have been aware of and have developed tests for. 

I know what I want for breakfast.

Why I hate supplements

“Very expensive urine” is the Sheldon Cooper quote I use to describe vitamins and supplements. Every time I think of taking a supplement I am reminded what a terrible idea it is.

Part of me wants to take supplements, that part of me that remembers the love in my grandma’s eyes as she gave me my Flintstone’s chewable. She did what she did out of love and I did the same with my kid. People take vitamins; it is what one does. But are we really risking our health and the health of our children?

The law defines dietary supplements in part as products taken by mouth that contain a "dietary ingredient." Dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs or botanicals, as well as other substances that can be used to supplement the diet.

As an adult, I haven’t regularly taken any dietary supplements. I used to eat some of my kid’s Flintstone chewables and I bought a supplement recently that was recommended by doctors for reducing the symptoms of arthritis, but I hated the idea and my memory problems made it difficult for me to keep up the habit.

People take supplements for all kinds of reasons according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

People use dietary supplements for a wide assortment of reasons. Some seek to compensate for diets, medical conditions, or eating habits that limit the intake of essential vitamins and nutrients. Other people look to them to boost energy or to get a good night's sleep. Postmenopausal women consider using them to counter a sudden drop in estrogen levels.

I wouldn't be trying the anti-inflammatory diet, if I didn't hope that I would get some benefit from the right kinds of vitamins etc. However, study after study is finding that we can't be sure over-the-counter supplements contain the ingredients listed on the bottle. The University of Guelph found that one in three supplements on the market are fake. The FDA has had similar findings, but there’s still little consumers can do about it.

 

The FDA even says on their website that the law doesn't require supplements to be proven safe before they are marketed, which means that what these little capsules contain could be seriously harmful to you.

The researchers from the CDC and the FDA analyzed representative surveillance data from 63 hospital Emergency Rooms over a 10-year period (2004-2013), and their statistical analysis projected about 23,000 ER visits annually resulting from ingestion of supplements, about one-tenth of which led to hospitalization. 

According to the authors, “Such visits commonly involve cardiovascular manifestations from weight-loss or energy products among young adults and swallowing problems, often associated with micronutrients, among older adults.” But because of irresponsible, two-decade-old legislation, the answer to the critical question, “How many Americans are killed each year due to ingestion of so-called dietary-nutritional supplements?” cannot be answered. 

The culprit is the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Congress virtually exempted supplements from oversight under DSHEA, which bars federal authorities from requiring evidence that herbal remedies are safe or effective, or even that the dosage information on the label is correct. Since 1994, these products have not been subject to the same regulatory requirements as prescription drugs—or in fact to any meaningful regulation at all. Source.

You can read the details of the DSHEA here.

Imagine you get one of the two in the three bottle of vitamin C that actually contain the 500 mg of vitamin C promised on the bottle. Some vitamin C supplements on the market contain 1,000 mg. An adult only needs 65-90 mg of vitamin C per day. Taking that much extra vitamin C rarely causes adverse reactions, like diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, rarely. Luckily, vitamin C is water soluble, which means that the excess 910 mg of vitamin C become expensive urine.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case with some other vitamins, like vitamin A, which can build up toxic levels in the body. A 2001 study by the National Cancer Institute found that men who took vitamin E supplements were 17% more likely to develop prostate cancer. Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study found that vitamin A increases a smoker’s chance of developing lung cancer by 18%.

The third most popular supplement in the US is fish oil. Fish and fish oil are recommended by Dr Weil as part of the anti-inflammatory diet. Manufacturers of fish oil supplements even put a nice lady in the grocery store near my house, who gave me free samples. As I’ve told you before, I'm sick and I want to feel better. It is so tempting to believe in the magic pill, especially if that pill seems natural and inexpensive, but I’m glad I didn’t take those fish oil supplements.

As long as it’s not rancid, fish oil isn’t bad for you. Norway is one of the world's largest producers of fish oil. However, one study in Norway found that 95% of non-prescription fish oil on the market is rancid. When fish oil goes rancid, the omega-3 oxidizes creating free radicals. Free radicals actually encourage inflammation and cancer.

A study different than the Norwegian one found between 11%-62% of over-the-counter fish oil pills showed oxidation. Source.

I don’t want to take supplements that cause inflammation, especially not when I’m on an anti-inflammatory diet. I’d rather have a burger and fries, but I won’t.

Fish are a reliable source of fish oil, just like carrots are a reliable source of vitamin A, and oranges provide plenty of vitamin C.

I’m not saying that you should never ever take a supplement. In certain circumstances, you may benefit from taking a supplement. In those circumstances, your doctor will prescribe one to you and you should buy it from a pharmacist from a supplier that has been regulated. Otherwise, who knows what you’ll be ingesting?

Omega-please

In preparing to make this change in my life, I’ve been experimenting with a lot of seafood. I never used to be a fan of it, but am having fun trying new recipes. Last night, I made tilapia with chermoula sauce and cucumber blood orange couscous.

Tilapia with chermoula sauce and cucumber blood orange couscous.

Chermoula, or charmoula, is popular in Algerian, Libyan, Moroccan and Tunisian cooking, as a marinade, and to flavour seafood. It was really simple to make by mixing cumin, coriander, sweet paprika, cilantro, olive oil, and lemon juice together.

Eating seafood seems like an important part of the anti-inflammatory diet because essential fatty acids play such an important role in the body. Fatty fish are high in fatty acids, especially omega-3s, which help form the classic eicsanoids that affect inflammation; the endocannabinoids that affect mood, behaviour, and inflammation; the lipoxins that also affect inflammation; and others — even acting on DNA.

However, when my kid was 3 years-old, they once famously said: “Fish are for swimming; not for eating!” And poof! We had a new vegetarian in the family. Eventually, they even became vegan and I cooked nothing, but vegan food, for ten years. They grew taller and more talented than me without eating any fish for a large portion of their life. So, is eating fish really that important?

It turns out my kid probably benefited from not eating certain kinds of fatty fish because they are also high in mercury, PCBs, and other toxins that can be especially harmful to children and pregnant women. Walnuts, flaxseed, canola, and soybean oils are all much safer sources of essential fatty acids.

Because I just started experimenting with these great fish recipes, I am not going to give them up just yet. In the meantime, I suppose I could give walnuts a chance.

What is the anti-inflammatory diet?

Shrimp bur blanc on linguini with a side salad.

Dr Andrew Weil says:

It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses — including heart disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer's disease. […] Learning how specific foods influence the inflammatory process is the best strategy for containing it and reducing long-term disease risks.

The anti-inflammatory diet is not intended to cause weight loss, which is fine. Other than the constant pain, I am pretty comfortable in my body (I think I look hot). The anti-inflammatory diet isn’t so much a diet as it is a lifestyle change, in which you eat foods that reduce chronic inflammation in your body. Dr Weil calls understanding which foods to eat ‘scientific,’ though I still think parts of his approach are hookum, for example vitamins are a racket (Sheldon Cooper once referred to supplements as “very expensive urine”). If this means that the placebo aspect of this diet doesn’t work as well on me, so be it. I’m really sick and I want to feel better, but I prefer evidence-based medicine.

Supplements appear third from the top of Dr Weil's anti-inflammatory diet food pyramid, which illustrates the recommendations of the anti-inflammatory diet in a visually pleasing way -- not according to recommended quantities. Red wine and dark chocolate are the two recommendations that top supplements in the pyramid. Supplements were the first thing that made me skeptical of Dr Weil's approach, but he is not the only advocate of the health benefits of anti-inflammatory foods.

The Arthritis Foundation promotes the idea that certain foods help combat inflammation, implying that a diet of these foods may benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis (that's me). The Arthritis foundation recommends eating 3-4 ounces of omega-3 rich fish twice a week; "at least 1½ to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of veggies per meal"; a handful of nuts every day; lots of beans; 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil every day; onions (I'm not a big fan of those); lots of fibre; less processed food and salt; and moderate alcohol (they have a picture of red wine and that is good enough for me). The Arthritis Foundation encouraged me to calculate a diet plan that is right for me through the USDA.

The USDA recommended I eat 2600 calories a day to maintain my current weight, or 2400 calories a day to lose weight. I chose the 2400 calories a day option, because I can't imagine I ate more than that before I started really thinking about food, and this is what was recommended:

For breakfast I had enough fruit and grains for the day with a glass of pro-biotic blueberry pomegranate juice, half a cup of 7-grain oatmeal, topped with blueberries and strawberries. I put almond milk on my oatmeal and soy milk in my coffee, so (according to this) I can have two more cups of dairy, three cups of vegetables, and 6.5 ounces of protein before the day is over.

This is similar to, but not the same as Dr Weil's food pyramid. His food pyramid would have me eating more (I like him for that). Dr Weil says I can have all the mushrooms, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon I can eat. After the wonderful breakfast I had, he would also let me have 2-4 more servings of whole grains; two more servings of protein than the USDA recommends (if one is beans and the other is tofu); another serving of fruit; and one more helping of vegetables than the USDA recommends. According to Dr Weil's food pyramid, I can also have 2-4 cups of tea and a couple glasses of red wine before bed. Either way, I am not going to starve.

Greetings from a sick skeptical place...

Thank you for joining me in the first post of this blog. My name is Tine Hreno and I already blog about the research for my novel. When I decided to try the anti-inflammatory diet, blogging about it seemed like the obvious next step.

I’m basically a young old lady; my memory doesn’t work well and I have terrible arthritis. Also, I’m stuck in my ways, but I’m tired of getting sick so easily.

My memory problems were brought on by chronic silent migraines. According to WebMD: 

Silent migraines are a medical oddity. How can you have a migraine "headache" without headache pain? 

These so-called migraines have lessened with the use of anti-inflammatory medication.

Upon hearing the good news, my friend exclaimed: “It’s amazing how many problems can be caused by inflammation!” Which is interesting because, as already mentioned, I’ve got lots of problems!

Did you know that inflammation is the common link between such debilitating conditions as Alzheimers, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis?

Did you know inflammation is thought to be the culprit behind the visible signs of aging?

Inflammation is a wellness buzz-word these days, and for good reason. If you reduce inflammation in your body, you'll not only look and feel younger, but you'll significantly lower your risk for chronic disease! Source.

The very notion of a “wellness buzz-word” irks me. When everyone started going gluten-free, I headed straight to Chinatown, got some gluten in a can, and started eating it.

When I started taking anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce the symptoms of silent migraines, I started to feel better. This sense of relief was mixed with amazement at how terrible I was feeling before. My body has grown used to living with a certain amount of pain.

Inspired by my story, another friend suggested I try out an anti-inflammatory diet to see how that changes things. The anti-inflammatory food pyramid lists red wine, so it can’t be that bad… Can it?

I like food and drink. I tested out a few anti-inflammatory foods and am willing to give it a try. If some foods can make you sick, it’s not too much of a stretch to think that others might cure you. However, part of me is still very reluctant and skeptical. I would like this to change my life, but the whole concept of food as medicine makes me think of the backward-gazing anti-vaxxers, who are making us sick in the first place.

In addition to giving the anti-inflammatory diet a serious test drive, I intend to use this blog to investigate claims made about the ability of foods to cure disease (eyes free samples of fish oil suspiciously). I expect to uncover a bunch of hoaxes, while learning some interesting things and getting a little healthier. As a young old lady, I’m definitely going to have some fun along the way!

Thank you for joining me!