Food as Medicine: Why a Low-Inflammatory Diet Matters for Autoimmunity and Lyme
I remember sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at my exercise shoes. Just weeks earlier, I was coaching CrossFit classes and pushing through workouts most people would call insane. But that morning, I could barely muster the strength to walk across the room. My joints ached, my head was foggy, and the fatigue felt like a heavy blanket I couldn’t peel off.
At that moment, I was scared. Scared I’d never feel strong again. Scared this was just my “new normal.”
What I didn’t know then but have learned through years of living with Lyme, lupus, and other autoimmune struggles, is that food was playing a bigger role than I realized. What I put on my plate was either fueling the fire of inflammation or helping to calm it. And for me, calming it became non-negotiable.
Why Inflammation Feels Like the Enemy
Inflammation itself isn’t bad, it’s your body’s way of fighting back when you’re injured or sick. But when inflammation doesn’t turn off, when it becomes chronic, it shifts from protective to destructive.
For someone like me, with an immune system already on overdrive, every bite of inflammatory food was like pouring gasoline on an already raging fire. That fire showed up as joint pain, brain fog, fatigue, GI issues and unpredictable flare-ups that made even basic daily life feel impossible.
How Food Became My Turning Point
The first time I committed to eating low-inflammatory, I didn’t expect much. Honestly, I thought it was just another “clean eating” approach I’d try and then move on from. But within weeks, something shifted.
My energy wasn’t perfect, but it stopped crashing midday.
The constant joint stiffness began to loosen.
My brain fog lifted enough for me to feel sharp again.
The chronic bloat subsided and my GI symptoms began to diminish.
And maybe most importantly, I felt like I had some control over my health.
It wasn’t a magic fix. Healing never is. But it was the first time I felt my body working with me instead of against me.
What a Low-Inflammatory Diet Actually Looks Like
Here’s what I discovered: a low-inflammatory diet isn’t about deprivation. It’s about abundance - nourishing your body with foods that restore rather than deplete. That means:
Proteins that strengthen muscle, bones, and immunity.
Colorful vegetables and fruits that fight oxidative stress.
Healthy fats that repair cells, support hormones, and fuel your brain.
And yes, it also means letting go, or at least reducing, foods like gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and heavily processed products. For me, those were the triggers that kept me in a cycle of pain and flare-ups.
Why This Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that there’s no single “perfect” diet. Every body is different. A low-inflammatory framework gives you a foundation, but the real magic happens when you tune into your body - what helps, what hurts, and what balance feels like healing.
Taking Back Control Through Food
If you’re standing where I once stood - tired, scared, and unsure where to start, know this: you’re not powerless. Food is one of the most tangible, immediate tools you have for reducing inflammation and supporting your body’s healing.
To make it simple, I’ve created a resource called Metabolic Rebalance: Transforming Health Through Food. It walks you step-by-step through how to start eating in a low-inflammatory way, so you can calm the chaos inside your body and start feeling more like you again.
Healing from chronic illness isn’t easy. But when you begin fueling your body with the right foods, you give it the chance to do what it was designed to do: heal.
I know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate chronic illness and food changes on your own. But you don’t have to do this alone. If you’re ready for personalized support and a plan that works for your body, let’s talk.