Which Type of Anti-Inflammatory Diet is Right for You?

Dr. Erin Attaway • January 8, 2024

Sometimes fertility clinics will recommend that you follow a diet that is intended to reduce inflammation in the body, but unless they give you specifics, you can go down a rabbit hole trying to decide which one will produce the desired result but also suit your needs. 

If your doctor recommends you try this approach, ask a few more questions to understand their wishes.  Be sure to understand the intended goals and desired effect, which leads to improved decision-making and an increased chance of sticking to the plan.  

You might only have 30 or so days to prepare for the next cycle or procedure, so rapid intervention might be the goal.  You might have three months and a doctor who wants you to focus on getting five to eight servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day.  To achieve the desired outcome you should aim to clarify as much detail as you can and make a master list of goals.  

If a certain amount of weight loss is desired, make a note of it. Find other ways to monitor a reduction of inflammatory symptoms such as changes in your physical body like joint pain, skin rash or headaches.  Fill out a toxicity or inflammation questionnaire before you begin and keep your store.  Take the test again after each month of dietary changes and track your progress. 

Here’s a quick exploration of the most common diets for reducing inflammation.  

Keto

Some fertility clinics recommend the keto diet because of the short yet intense time frame.  The restriction of the keto diet is intense but can yield rapid results that can be very beneficial to ART parameters. 

The basic keto principles are:

  • A drastic reduction in carbohydrate consumption, including fruits and vegetables

  • Immense increase in fat-based foods, both saturated and unsaturated 

  • Moderate amounts of protein 

Emphasis is placed on rapid weight loss and decreased inflammation as a result.  Complete elimination of carbohydrates like processed grains, whole grains, sugar, alcohol, fruit, etc. creates a strong and immediate physical reaction.  

If your concern is weight loss, Insulin Resistance, or PCOS then consider a keto diet before your next cycle.  CNY has a good amount of information on their websites regarding the keto diet for fertility and delivers some insight as to why they recommend it.  The website www.DietDoctor.com is also recommended and influenced by Reproductive Endocrinologists.  

The Whole 30  

This diet is focused on the elimination of processed foods, and common addictive foods like sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.  The removal of potential food sensitivities and common inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, legumes, and certain grains while Emphasizing nutrient-dense whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. The Whole 30 also promotes a balanced microbiome through nutritional and probiotic foods. 

The Whole 30 is designed to be strict for 30 days to cause a metabolic shift, at which time many people go back to their previous habits.  For fertility purposes, it’s best to maintain the Whole 30 routine for up to 90 days. 

This diet is a good choice for holistic-minded people, those who need to steer away from convenience and processed foods, and those who have more time for cooking. This diet emphasizes plant foods as well as lean proteins, it is good for those who want a balanced diet approach.

The Auto-Immune Protocol or AIP  

AIP diets are focused on immune system regulation and the inflammation related to it.  This is recommended for those with an AI diagnosis, family history, recurring implantation failure or recurrent pregnancy loss.  The diet is strict but has a big impact on improving immune function and overall health.  

The basic key principles are:  

  • Reduced inflammation by removing potential inflammatory foods, such as all grains, eggs, dairy, processed foods, and nightshade vegetables.  

  • Gut health improvement to reduce intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut syndrome contributes to more AI reactions and continuous inflammation. 

  • Identification of trigger foods allows individuals to better understand their unique dietary needs.

  • Emphasizes consuming nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, organ meats, and healthy fats.  

  • Symptom management for autoimmune conditions like joint pain, inflammation, gastrointestinal distress, skin issues, and other related symptoms.

The AIP diet can have a quick reduction in symptoms but immune system and gut healing takes a long time to achieve.   Profound and lasting results can take time and long-term restrictions can cause emotional distress.  This diet is very beneficial but be conscientious about prolonged restrictions and social engagements, etc.  Some people find their diet becomes more strict over time and food insecurity can cause feelings of isolation and anxiety.  

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is focused on traditional wisdom and cultural eating habits known to a region of the globe with long life and good health. The key principles include eating lean proteins with an emphasis on fish and shellfish, consuming a majority of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, regularly eating beans and legumes, the inclusion of healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and seeds, and limited amounts of dairy and grain products.  

TMD is the least restrictive of any of these and is a well-balanced and long-term approach to eating.  It does not focus on a particular goal rather it’s a philosophy of seasonal balanced eating.  It is simple to implement in a home with multiple people, generations, or food preferences. 

The benefits of TMD take longer and don’t necessarily produce rapid weight loss or immediate changes.  Since the restrictions are less the results are slower and more moderate. 

Finally, no matter which option you choose, consider this as part of a Holistic approach to wellness, not only the specific foods being consumed but also lifestyle factors such as stress management, sleep, and physical activity.  Other than keto, all the other diets mentioned emphasize traditional eating values and experiences such as seasonal eating, cooking methods, and taking time to eat whole foods.  Keto has one main focus, strict reduction of carbohydrates for rapid weight loss and changes. 

Even if you choose the keto route, pay attention to eating the vegetables you are allowed to have.  

It is important to note that individual experiences may vary, and consulting with a healthcare professional or nutritionist can be beneficial to getting off to a good start.  Keeping a dietary journal might help you track your progress or stay on track, and remind you to make the best choice you can each day and forgive yourself when things go awry.  

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

By Website Editor • October 3, 2024
The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Endometriosis and IVF: Everything You Need to Know

By Dr. Erin Attaway • March 18, 2024
It’s National Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Awareness Month, so we should take a moment to consider these conditions and how they are often overlooked. The common presentation for either condition usually includes very painful menstrual cycles, but you can still have this condition without those indicators. Many women are never diagnosed until they have difficulty conceiving. “Silent” endometriosis, or a mild form, is usually just accepted as normal menstrual pain and medicated or tolerated. What then, is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it. It can be found on other pelvic organs, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the outer surface of the uterus, and other parts of the pelvis. This condition can cause pain, heavy periods, and fertility issues.

Notes on Vitamins

By Dr. Erin Attaway • March 11, 2024
Most people are simply unaware of what a vitamin is and its physiological importance. A vitamin is the short form of the term “Vital Amine” which was coined about the discoveries of organic compounds and proteins that contained amine groups, which were deemed VITAL for metabolism and health. What we think of today as vitamins are only a fraction of what was discovered and what is intended by the term. The term "vital amine" refers to a type of organic compound known as a vitamin. Vitamins are essential nutrients that are required for the proper functioning of our bodies. "Vital amine" described the earliest discovered vitamins which were organic compounds containing an amine group.

5 Coffee Habit Stacks to Improve Your Health

By Dr. Erin Attaway • March 4, 2024
Each year around this time people create unrealistic expectations for themselves and then suffer from low self-esteem when they don’t pull it off. It’s a negative reinforcement loop: creating unattainable goals and then confirming your low self-worth when you fail. Let’s just stop doing it, okay? Learn to set a few reasonable expectations, and work on them every day. Like, two or three things. Then, in a month or so, when you’re feeling good about having made this small progress, add one more thing to your list and build that new habit. Small, simple steps over time lead to great success.

Why the Alabama Supreme Court Embryo Ruling Affects Us All

By Dr. Erin Attaway • February 26, 2024
For those who aren’t keeping up, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled on a case regarding the accidental destruction of embryos. Despite previous courts dismissing the suit, the ASC ruled that cryopreserved embryos, (frozen embryos that may never even receive a transfer into a gestational carrier), are essentially children with the full rights of children who are walking the earth. Although many people jump to agree with this, a drastic fight for logical reasoning is playing out now, in the courts and in the media. And the risk is potentially the failure of IVF treatments as we know it.

Introducing a High-Fat, Low-Carb Diet

By Dr. Erin Attaway • February 4, 2024
In 1978 the US government issued a new visual image of how Americans should eat, The Food Pyramid. A challenge to how most Americans were currently eating, the new food pyramid emphasized eating 6-10 servings of grain-based carbohydrate foods daily. The new pyramid reduced salt and dietary fats to minimal levels and put them at the very top. Americans were told to stop consuming fat and instead fill their day with bread, cereals, popcorn, pasta, and all kinds of highly refined carbohydrate products. This is the beginning of the obesity epidemic we see today. Not only that, but neurological disorders, brain diseases, hypertension, autoimmune illness, hormonal imbalance, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and most other epidemics we see today have skyrocketed since this incident.

10 Questions to Ask During Your First Fertility Appointment

By Dr. Erin Attaway • January 22, 2024
When going to sit down with a fertility specialist for the first time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget to ask the questions you’ve been wanting to. Here’s a quick list to help you prepare. Make notes that apply to you and your partner and take it with you to help guide the discussion. Feeling heard and understood from the origin of the relationship helps build trust and respect, which prove to be vital to also feeling cared for by your physician and clinic. Informed patients are good at self-advocating, so plan to speak up when you have the opportunity.

5 Sentences You Need Hear in 2024

By Dr. Erin Attaway • January 13, 2024
Time is your most precious asset. Spend it wisely. If your biggest complaint is not enough time, then you probably need to recalibrate your time management. Not to fit more in and master multi-tasking, but rather to eliminate the time-wasting elements. Scroll less. Watch less television. Declutter your house to eliminate time spent on organization and storage. Stop shopping for items you don’t need anyway. Stop researching. Go make a snowman instead. Your mind is your strongest muscle, train it well….

Which Type of Anti-Inflammatory Diet is Right for You?

By Dr. Erin Attaway • January 8, 2024
Sometimes fertility clinics will recommend that you follow a diet that is intended to reduce inflammation in the body, but unless they give you specifics you can go down a rabbit hole trying to decide which one will produce the desired result but also suit your needs.  If your doctor recommends you try this approach, ask a few more questions to understand their wishes.  Be sure to understand the intended goals and desired effect, which leads to improved decision-making and an increased chance of sticking to the plan.   You might only have 30 or so days to prepare for the next cycle or procedure, so rapid intervention might be the goal.  You might have three months and a doctor who wants you to focus on getting five to eight servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day.  To achieve the desired outcome you should aim to clarify as much detail as you can and make a master list of goals.   If a certain amount of weight loss is desired, make a note of it. Find other ways to monitor a reduction of inflammatory symptoms such as changes in your physical body like joint pain, skin rash or headaches.  Fill out a toxicity or inflammation questionnaire before you begin and keep your store.  Take the test again after each month of dietary changes and track your progress.  Here’s a quick exploration of the most common diets for reducing inflammation.  

New Year, Same Me, New Habits 

By Dr. Erin Attaway • January 1, 2024
Am I the only person who love-hates the “New year, new you” schtick? I love the promise of it, the romance of summing up where I am in life and then creating a new landing page for the next year. I love taking time to reflect on where I’ve come from and be proud of what I’ve accomplished. I love creating new goals. But I hate the fact that it creates a false narrative that it all must begin RIGHT NOW. The suggestion that our timeline is arbitrary to the calendar year. And I hate that most endeavors take longer than the time we ourselves to achieve them and we quit before ever really getting anywhere. I don’t like thinking of myself as the new me, like a pair of new shoes and we just toss the old ones. Starting over with a clean slate feels good but our old self informs our new self, so shouldn’t we carry it along? Instead of new you, maybe focus on same you with new habits. Habits are what we are all trying to change, really. We want to eat healthier, be kinder, read more books or take over the internet. Whatever it is you want to change it requires shifting your habits to get there.
More Posts
Share by: