Did you know there are foods to avoid with lymphedema? If you have lymphedema and are trying to navigate life with the condition, you need to know about these foods to avoid. Why? Because you want to feel comfortable in your skin and avoid your lymphedema to flare up. These six foods can exacerbate your symptoms due to the way they are processed or what they contain. — The additives or the salt and sugar concentration.
Lymphedema is one of the diseases that affects your lymphatic system. In a few words, lymphedema is a chronic condition caused by the build-up of lymph fluid in your body’s soft tissues, causing swelling in your legs and arms. It can also affect your genitals. The condition is uncomfortable, disfiguring and might cause lots of pain, with symptoms such as;
- Hardening and thickening of your skin
- Swelling of your arm or leg.
- Heaviness or tightness in the affected area.
- Recurring infections such as cellulitis.
Lymphedema is not curable, but at least, there are ways to manage your condition daily and avoid flares up. — Either by improving your lymphatic drainage or reducing the pressure on your lymphatic system. This article is about one simple way to manage your lymphedema; reducing the consumption of these foods that will exacerbate your symptoms.
So what are the foods to avoid with lymphedema?
Food to avoid with lymphedema #1: Coffee/Caffeinated beverages
Okay, don’t get mad at me for this one. I am just a messenger, but if you are living with lymphedema, you should avoid beverages containing caffeine because caffeine causes dehydration. As much as you want the swelling to go down, to get rid of fluids in your body, caffeine causes your blood vessels to dilate causing more swelling and worsening your lymphedema condition.
If you cannot quit caffeine, do not exceed 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. (Approximately 4 cups of coffee).
Food to avoid with lymphedema #2: Alcoholic beverages
Here is another sensitive one; alcohol. Just like caffeine, alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing the fluid in your body’s tissues. Alcohol will then worsen your lymphedema symptoms, and put more pressure on your lymphatic system.
The key here is to drink in moderation, but that can be subjective, right? You need to monitor your alcohol intake and see what amount affects your lymphedema symptoms.
Food to avoid with lymphedema #3: Fatty Food
Particularly food containing artificial trans fats. They are synthetic fats that remain solid at room temperature. Trans fats can lead to weight gain and obesity, but they are also known to cause inflammation in your body’s tissues, causing more pressure on the lymphatic system and more swelling.
Examples of foods containing trans fats to avoid are fried food, cakes, cookies…
Food to avoid with lymphedema #4: Salty (too salty) foods
Salt is fine, but too much salt is the problem. Salt is necessary to keep you healthy; your body uses sodium (salt) to carry nutrients and regulate blood pressure and fluid volume. Too much salt causes fluid retention in your body’s tissue and worsens your lymphedema symptoms.
Examples of salty foods to avoid are pizza, canned foods, and pickled food.
Food to avoid with lymphedema #5: Processed food
Some processed foods are high in fat, salt, and sugar, which will cause fluid retention in your body’s tissues. That puts more pressure on your lymphatic system.
Moreover, consuming highly and heavily processed foods can lead to weight gain, which also puts pressure on your lymphatic system.
PS: Not all processed foods are bad for you — some foods need to be processed before human consumption (Milk needs to be pasteurised).
Examples of processed foods to avoid are cookies, chips, hotdogs, bacon, and sugary drinks.
Food to avoid with lymphedema #6: Dairy products
Most dairy products contain trans fat and as mentioned before, trans fat may lead to weight gain and obesity, putting more pressure on your lymphatic system. It is then recommended to consume lower-fat-content dairy products and include more cultured dairy such as yoghurt.
Examples of dairy products to avoid are butter, custard, and cheese.
Besides food, other factors can cause your lymphedema to flare up. I have a mini e-book where I share five common factors that trigger lymphedema flares up and tips to manage them. Click here to access the mini e-book.