Dr Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet plan aims to provide you with the optimum mental and physical wellness, as well as guarding your wellbeing against dangerous diseases. According to Dr Weil, chronic disease is caused by chronic inflammation, but reducing this inflammation prevents age-related disease and promotes overall health. That’s the theory, but is it a viable diet for you?
Andrew Weil is a Harvard-educated doctor and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, who believes that certain foods can either be the cause or solution to systemic inflammation. It’s well-established that inflammation can lead you to develop serious conditions like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, and this can be brought on by your diet, physical activity, stress levels and environment. Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet therefore aims to combat this with a selection of healthy fats, fibre-rich fruits and veggies, lots of water, and limited amounts of animal protein, albeit with an exception to oily fish.
Depending on your gender, size and level of physical activity, you can expect to consume 2,000 to 3,000 calories on this diet. About 45% of this will come from carbs, 30% from fat and the rest from protein, preferably with you getting a bit of each nutrient in every meal. Even though 2,000 calories and a good chunk of carbs don’t seem like the recipe for efficient weight loss, the chances are that you will indeed shed those pounds.
Weil has based his approach on the Mediterranean diet, which has been linked to weight loss and a low obesity risk time and time again. Studies have proven that obesity causes inflammation and related diseases, so it stands to reason that the reverse is possible; that reducing inflammation leads to weight loss. However, this is less well-documented. Still, the diet can help you to reduce your unhealthy snacking, as the foods involved are packed with fibre, which help you to feel full. Any dietician will tell you that satiety is an important factor in losing weight, and you also get this from the diet’s plentiful calorie count.
Aside from weight loss, a Mediterranean-style diet has been associated with a decreased risk for heart disease, as well as reducing your blood pressure and “bad” LDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association is quick to explain that inflammation is not a proven cause of cardiovascular disease, but they do note that it is common among heart-disease patients. According to research, heart disease is related to higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which a protein in your blood that indicates inflammation. As Dr Weil’s diet is high in fibre, it can also lower your CRP levels. Plus, the diet appears to be a viable option for both preventing and controlling diabetes.
If you’re concerned about health risks or side effects, the good news is that they are yet to surface with this diet. That being said, you should always consult your doctor before making major dietary changes, especially if you have an existing health condition or food intolerance. Still, this isn’t a strict meal plan, which means you have more flexibility around the key principles of the diet; plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lots of fish or fish-oil supplements. There’s a whole host of information, tips and recipes on Weil’s website, which makes things very easy and convenient, but preparing these meals may sometimes take a little bit of time and effort. However, you can still eat out while following Dr Weil’s diet, and you’re even allowed alcohol! Finally, the diet is very cost-effective, as all you need is fresh ingredients.
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