Unlock the Ultimate Diet to Beat Lymphedema: Reduce Swelling and Inflammation Fast!

Lymphedema is a chronic inflammatory disorder resulting from ineffective fluid uptake by the lymphatic system, principally felt in the lower limbs, but potentially affecting the upper limbs, genitalia, and face. Affecting millions worldwide, current treatments only ameliorate symptoms, highlighting the need for comprehensive management strategies including nutrition. While no specific diet has been definitively proven effective, targeted dietary adjustments can alleviate the edematous state associated with lymphedema.

Understanding Lymphedema

The lymphatic system, crucial for immunity, circulation, and metabolism, comprises lymph, lymphatic vessels, and lymphocytes. Lymphatic vessels transport lymph from the periphery to the venous circulation. Lymphedema arises when this system is compromised, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues. Primary lymphedema results from genetic mutations affecting lymphatic development, while secondary lymphedema develops after surgery, infections, or injuries. Inflammation is a key component, leading to lymphatic damage, pain, fibrosis, and adipose tissue deposition.

The Role of Nutrition in Lymphedema Management

Nutrition and nutritional status are extremely important in lymphedema physiopathology. Diet plays an essential role in lymphedema progression. The classical Western eating habits, based on carbohydrates and refined foods, favor systemic low-grade chronic cellular inflammation, which in turn stimulates edema. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory foods are now being actively investigated for their possible roles in lymphedema. Nutrition significantly impacts lymphedema, influencing inflammation, fluid balance, and overall well-being. While diet does not cause lymphedema, it certainly can affect the condition. A healthy, nutritious diet will assist in weight loss, thereby releasing pressure off the lymphatic system and helping to reduce the swelling in the tissues.

Dietary Recommendations for Lymphedema

The primary goal is to manage inflammation and support lymphatic function through informed food choices.

Foods to Emphasize

Whole Foods: Primarily whole foods, mostly consisting of a wide variety of rainbow colored fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and Vegetables: A wide variety of rainbow-colored fruits and vegetables. Fibers present in fruits and vegetables lead to the formation of short-chain fatty acids in the bowel, which exhibit an anti-inflammatory activity.
Lean Proteins: Lean proteins are the building blocks our bodies need to function and become stronger. Consuming lean proteins may help you reduce and maintain a healthy weight.
Healthy Fats: Monosaturated and polysaturated fats are known as “healthy fats.” These types of foods can help with weight loss, reduction of inflammation, and help the body function normally. You can find these fats in foods such as olive oil, nuts, avocado, and fatty fish like salmon.
Anti-inflammatory foods: Other anti-inflammatory dietary molecules, such as omega-3, and several spices (turmeric, garlic, and curry leaves) may reduce inflammation and edema
Gluten-free grains: Gluten free grains such as brown rice, oats, quinoa, and wild rice are among the foods one should consume primarily.
Unsweetened non-dairy milk: Almond, coconut, and hemp milk are included in the primary list while sweetened dairy milk should be avoided.

Foods to Limit or Avoid

Refined Sugars and Grains: Refined sugars, refined grains, and excess salt changes the way our body regulates fluids. Sugar has no nutritional value, can cause weight gain, and increase your risk of developing diabetes. Refined grains have had the fiber and nutrition stripped from them, so they too are of no nutritional value. They can increase your risk of obesity, cause spikes in your blood sugar leading to diabetes, and cause inflammation in your body that may lead to further swelling.
Excess Salt: The consumption of excess salt though can have negative effects.
Trans and Saturated Fats: Trans-fats and saturated fats can lead to weight gain, obesity, and even an inflammatory response in the body that may cause more swelling. These fats are found in foods such as dairy products, cakes, cookies, microwave popcorn, fast food items, fatty cuts of meat, and poultry skin.
Alcohol: Alcohol can be a problem because it is a diuretic which means it will cause you to urinate more frequently. This can then lead to dehydration, which causes your body to hold onto extra fluid causing swelling. Alcohol may also lead to weight gain and obesity.
Pro-inflammatory foods: On the contrary, foods such as salt, caffeine, omega 6 or 9, alcohol, and sweets exert the opposite effect. Thus, they should be avoided by patients with lymphedema.
Grains with gluten: These are in most breads, cakes, cookies, breakfast cereals, crackers, pasta, pies, etc. Gluten free food substitutes should also be avoided and they can be included in those same foods as previously mentioned through the use of cornstarch, rice starch, potato starch, etc.
Processed meat: Processed meat, meats preserved with salt, nitrates, or nitrites or meat substitutes with gluten or highly processed soy are also to be avoided or rarely eaten.
Sweet drinks: Drinks to avoid include the following: sweet drinks (sugar and artificially sweetened), soft drinks, teas, coffee based beverages, fruit drinks, soy milk, beer, liquor, mixed drinks, and wine coolers.

Additional Considerations

Hydration: Hydration is also very important when you have lymphedema. It is best to avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks because they cause dehydration, blood sugar changes, and weight gain. Alcohol is not a great option because it has the opposite affect and causes dehydration. Even diet drinks are not good because of dehydration. Water is the best source of hydration. And drinking plenty of it is important to help your lymphatic system function better. Green tea is also a great option due to the antioxidants. The liquid you may get from different foods will also help with hydration. Proper hydration helps keep lymph fluid moving.
Weight Management: A healthy weight is also a must for those with lymphedema. The risk for lymphedema actually increases with a high body mass index (BMI). Obesity causes increased pressure on the lymphatic system and lymph nodes. This, in turn, causes a back up of fluid in the system and increased swelling in the tissues.
Low Glycemic Index: It is important to choose foods with a low glycemic index to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Stable blood sugar levels are important for the integrity of our lymphatic vessels. When our vessels are weak, they leak more fluid into the tissues. This not only causes more swelling, but also increases the chances of developing infections and wounds. People with diabetes are at greater risk of developing wounds.
Diuretics: You should avoid diuretics unless directed by your physician. These cause the body to get rid of extra fluid, which seems like what you would want with lymphedema, but this can actually be harmful and worsen lymphedema. Diuretics remove the water from the swollen areas but leave behind the protein molecules in the tissues. This high concentration of protein in the tissue can actually cause the tissue to harden or become fibrotic. It can also draw more water to the area, increasing the swelling. The International Society of Lymphology does state that “diuretic agents are occasionally useful during the initial treatment of complete decongestive therapy (CDT). Long-term administration, however, is discouraged for its marginal benefits in treatment of peripheral lymphedema and potentially may induce fluid and electrolyte imbalance.”

The Mediterranean Diet Approach

The best model for an inflammation-fighting meal plan is the Mediterranean diet.

Key Components

Abundant Vegetables: Emphasize a variety of colorful vegetables rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Include dark green leafy vegetables, beets, peppers, onions, garlic, and mushrooms.
Legumes: Incorporate beans, lentils, and other legumes as excellent sources of protein and fiber.
Fruits: Enjoy a variety of fruits, especially berries and citrus fruits, known for their antioxidant properties.
Whole Grains: Opt for gluten-free whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and oats.
Healthy Fats: Use extra-virgin olive oil as your primary source of fat. Include avocados, nuts, and seeds in moderation.
Fatty Fish: Consume fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have potent anti-inflammatory effects.
Herbs and Spices: Use herbs and spices generously to add flavor and boost the anti-inflammatory properties of your meals. Turmeric, garlic, and ginger are particularly beneficial.
Fermented Foods: Incorporate fermented foods like kefir, yogurt (with active cultures), sauerkraut, and kimchi to support gut health and reduce inflammation.
Limit Processed Foods: Avoid highly processed foods, sugary snacks, and refined grains, which can worsen inflammation.

Supplements for Lymphedema

Apart from pharmacological therapies, a few studies have proposed the use of dietary supplements for the treatment of lymphedema. A combination of caloric restriction and synbiotic supplementation reduced the edema in survivors of breast cancer-related lymphedema, mainly via the antioxidant properties. Moreover, selenium supplementation proved to be effective in the treatment of secondary lymphedema and reduced the production of reactive oxygen species. Finally, a new promising molecule has been recently proposed for the treatment of lymphedema in the form of supplements, namely hydroxytyrosol (HT). HT is a biophenol extracted from olive oil and leaves, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. HT has no side effects at any concentration; thus, it was proposed for prolonged consumption in the form of a nutraceutical. HT has been established to be an efficient inhibitor of LTB4 synthesis. A dietary supplement containing HT, GARLIVE®, was tested in a mouse tail model of lymphedema. Other than HT, GARLIVE® contains the anti-inflammatory molecules spermidine, hesperidin, and vitamin A. Spermidine is derived from rice seeds, and it inhibits the production of proinflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, NO, and PGE2. Hesperidin is extracted from citrus fruits and has been tested for lymphedema treatment, with promising results. Vitamin A is usually correlated with low levels of inflammation. Moreover, retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A, can interact with the receptor encoded by the RORC gene. Deleterious mutations in this gene have recently been reported in patients with lymphedema. GARLIVE® supplementation resulted in reduced tail swelling after surgical intervention. The treated group presented a decreased tail volume, the peak of the swelling was reached faster, and the swelling remained for less time.

Other Considerations

Apart from nutrition, specific physical exercises have been shown to be extremely important for improving the quality of life and ameliorating the symptoms of patients with lymphedema.

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