Question:
I am a 62-year-old man; it's been a while since I had chronic pelvic pain irradiating into my back area. I have been diagnosed with chronic prostatitis and some degree of chronic osteoarthritis. I am wondering which diet I should consider more.
Answer:
No matter your specific diagnosis, it is essential to stick to anti-inflammatory diets and avoid pro-inflammatory ones.
Chronic inflammation is a state of persistent activation of the immune system, and diet is a significant contributor to inflammation. It would make sense, then, to an "anti-inflammation diet." One problem: "There isn't 'one' diet, although many people love throwing that term around. The diet, in general, is almost as much about what you don't eat as what you do eat.
So let's talk about some dos and don'ts.
Don't eat these
Avoid "ultra-processed" foods, which include just about anything that comes in a package — like microwaveable dinners, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, dehydrated soups, baked goods, sugary cereals, processed food meats, biscuits, and sauces.
These foods have little nutritional value. Worse, they're high in salt, added sugars (which can spike your blood sugar), and saturated fat (which can increase your "bad" LDL cholesterol). All of these ingredients are associated with promoting inflammation in the body.
Inflammation-promoting foods are also related to white flour, which leads directly to pro-inflammatory states, such as white bread, cereals, white pasta, and other products made with refined flour, as well as white rice. Other offenders include soda, juices, cookies and other baked goods, butter, cheese, ice cream, coconut products, candy, salad dressings, jarred tomato sauces, and processed and cured meats.
Do eat these
To fight inflammation, go for whole, unprocessed foods with no added sugar: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils), fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, a little low-fat dairy, and olive oil. You can add herbs and spices like cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric.
One problem: "There isn't 'one' diet, although many people love throwing that term around. The diet, in general, is almost as much about what you don't eat as what you do eat.
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