Learn how an elimination diet can help treat Lyme disease symptoms by identifying and avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, allowing you to heal with a personalised, anti-inflammatory treatment plan.
“When people ask me what helped me achieve remission from Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, one of the many treatments, therapies, and lifestyle changes I talk about is the ‘Lyme diet’. This is an anti-inflammatory diet that avoids foods that cause inflammation (Lyme disease is a multi-organ inflammatory disease), weaken the immune system or cause yeast overgrowth (candida can be a problem if you are taking oral antibiotics). For me, this meant avoiding gluten and sugar, and I also avoid caffeine and alcohol; for many Lyme disease patients, it also means avoiding dairy products. For some, it means avoiding potatoes.
There is no set protocol for treating Lyme disease because no two cases are alike. And since no two bodies are alike, the diet must also be personalised. How can you know which foods trigger your symptoms? Which ones can you continue to eat, or which ones might even be beneficial? An elimination diet can also help you determine the most appropriate diet.
What is an elimination diet?
An elimination diet does not mean that you have to eliminate all potentially problematic foods forever. It means that you eliminate common allergens such as gluten, sugar, dairy products, corn, soy, eggs, nuts, caffeine and alcohol for 3-6 weeks. Then, once your body has completely detoxified from these potential allergens, you reintroduce them one at a time to identify any sensitivities. Reintroducing cheese may have no effect, while reintroducing gluten may cause joint pain. Others may have the opposite reaction. If you reintroduce several foods at once, it is difficult to tell what is affecting you, so it is best to reintroduce them one at a time and see what works and what doesn’t.
The elimination diet is a simple, inexpensive way to identify trigger foods without invasive testing. In addition to Lyme disease, an elimination diet can be useful for other conditions, such as complex chronic illnesses, gastrointestinal problems and migraines. Numerous randomised controlled clinical trials and observational studies demonstrate the effectiveness of elimination diets, especially when diagnostic tests fail to identify the cause of a patient’s symptoms.
Even if you know that a tick-borne disease is the cause of your symptoms, an elimination diet can help you identify which foods trigger these symptoms so that you can avoid them as part of your treatment protocol.
Elimination diets
You can start by eliminating all potential allergens from your diet, or you can try one of the following special elimination diets. (For more information, consult your Lyme disease doctor or specialist):
Autoimmune and anti-inflammatory
Low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols): Often used for gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, SIBO or digestive problems associated with Lyme disease. This diet eliminates fermentable carbohydrates that feed gut bacteria and cause bloating or discomfort. Examples of such foods include honey, certain fruits or vegetables such as apples and onions, dairy products and wheat.
Gluten-free: Excludes all gluten (not just wheat, but also barley and rye). Gluten can be found in unexpected places, such as soy sauce and salad dressings, so be sure to check labels and ask waiters when eating out. Fortunately, many restaurants now offer gluten-free menus or gluten-free dishes.
Dairy-free: Sometimes combined with a gluten-free diet, this diet excludes all milk proteins (casein). In addition to inflammatory conditions, a gluten-free/dairy-free diet is sometimes used for autism spectrum disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Food sensitivity/intolerance focus
Histamine elimination: Histamines include aged, fermented, smoked and leftover foods. This diet may be beneficial for those with MCAS or histamine intolerance.
If you want to know exactly which nutrients to avoid, rather than making guesses, read about elimination diets based on food intolerance testing.
Oxalate elimination: Used for chronic pain, kidney disease, autism and vulvodynia, this diet excludes foods rich in oxalates, such as spinach, almonds and beetroot.
Simplified or restrictive diets
Paleo: This diet favours whole, nutrient-rich foods such as fish, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats, while excluding grains, legumes, dairy products and processed foods.
Whole 30: While most elimination diets last 3-6 weeks, this is a 30-day exclusion of sugar, grains, dairy, legumes, alcohol, and processed foods, followed by their structured reintroduction.
GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome): This diet begins with a strict gut-healing phase consisting of soups and cooked vegetables, then gradually reintroduces other foods. The GAPS diet is designed to heal the nervous and digestive systems.
Choosing the best diet is just one piece of the Lyme disease treatment puzzle. Talk to your Lyme-informed physician (LLMD) to determine which elimination diet is best for you. Once you have reintroduced foods, remember that healing Lyme disease is about balance. In general, think about which foods to avoid, making sure you don’t eat foods that trigger your symptoms most of the time, but don’t beat yourself up if you slip up occasionally (your body will let you know!). Think about the healthy foods you can put into your body and the ways you can nourish yourself and aid your recovery.
Source: https://www.globallymealliance.org/blog/elimination-dieting-for-lyme-disease
(C) Lyme Borreliosis Foundation
