What to eat to manage lipoedema

Lipoedema or Painful Fat Disease affects 1 in 10 woman.  Whilst water assisted liposuction is the recommended surgical treatment there are various conservative methods to assist in the management the progression of the disease.   

Dr Karen Herbst, an endocrinologist from the University of California, San Diego has developed the Rare Adipose Diet.    

Listed below are the principles of the RAD diet to help you get started.  

1.    Good To Eat

Fruits & Veggies - of course!    Keep an eye on the sugar content of fruits.

Chicken, fish, beans and eggs.

Almond, rice, coconut and hemp diary substitutes

Whole grains:  brown or wild rice, quinoa, oats, teff, millet, buckwheat etc.

Whey protein.

Nuts, avocado, olives

A small amount of dark 70% chocolate

Easily digested foods like soups and smoothies.

Sweet Potato

Natural sweeteners in moderation like honey

2.    Okay To Eat Occasionally

Turkey

Soy

Coconut-Based Yoghurt and Icecream

Olive oil based dressings and spreads

Salt

Caffeine

Alcohol

Cereal

3.  Not Recommended To Eat

Red meat

Processed foods

Lamb (no its not vegetarian)

Dairy (if you must go hard cheese)

Processed grains:   wheat, white

Fried foods

High Fat foods

Surgar

Artificial Sweeteners

Hydrogenated Fats

Potato

For full information on the RAD diet read "The Lymphedema & Lipedema Nutrition Guide" by Ehrlichk, Iker, Herbst, etc available from Amazon.com.

For more information on the diease itself,  see www.lipoedemaustralia.org.au or www.fatdisorders.org

Other conservative methods to manage lipoedema include low impact exercise, vibration plates,  MLD therapy, Endermologie, Compression garments, Sequential Intermittent Pneumatic Compression and Yoga.   

If you have any other questions or concerns about lipoedema or the procedures plastic surgeons perform, send an enquiry on our contact page and we will do our best to help.   

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