Foods to limit and why

I focus on limiting foods that promote inflammation, cause blood sugar fluctuations, encourage fluid retention or make it harder to maintain a healthy metabolic balance. Nutrition is particularly important because, although food cannot cure lipoedema or remove the abnormal fat tissue, it can play a valuable role in managing symptoms, supporting overall health and potentially reducing some of the factors that make the condition more difficult to manage.

The aim isn't to follow a restrictive diet or deprive yourself of foods you enjoy. It's about making choices that help your body function at its best.

I avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates because they can cause rapid rises in blood glucose and insulin. Higher insulin levels may encourage fat storage and influence inflammatory processes. Keeping blood sugar more stable is one of the dietary principles explored in lipoedema management. e.g. Cakes, biscuits and pastries. Sweets and chocolate. Sugary drinks and fruit juices. White bread, white pasta and refined cereals.

I avoid processed meats and excessive red meat because they are often high in salt and saturated fat. Processed meat is meat that has been preserved by curing, salting, smoking, drying or canning. During the processing, a variety of chemical compounds are used to preserve and colour the food. These compounds enter your system if you eat foods like bacon and sausages, ham and salami and processed burgers.

I avoid ultra-processed and fried foods because they often contain high amounts of salt, unhealthy fats, lots of additives and refined carbohydrates. If you fill up on these foods it can make it harder to maintain a nutrient-rich, balanced diet and healthy weight. Foods like crisps and packaged snacks, fast food and takeaway meals, deep-fried foods and packaged ready meals should be avoided as much as possible.
Too much sodium encourages the body to retain water. This can contribute to fluid retention and may make feelings of swelling and heaviness more uncomfortable.

I limit Alcohol and just keep it for an occasional treat. Alcohol can disrupt sleep, affect blood sugar regulation and contribute to dehydration. When I’ve had a drink, my body feels terrible for days, my thighs hurt and my joints ache… It can also add calories without providing much nutritional value. This includes wine and prosecco, beer and cider, spirits and cocktails (particularly cocktails that have all kinds of added sugars and colours and are blended to be fruity, so feel good to drink).