Hidradenitis is an extremely personal disease. Each person has to find out what their triggers are and find out what works for them individually.
When it comes to food and diet many of you have heard this over and over...
"I have been on AIP, Atkins, or Keto and it has worked for me" or "I have been on every diet under the sun and they didn’t work for me". Unfortunately, diets and food triggers are not that cut and dry; what works for one may not work for another.
If you feel food is a trigger for you then it becomes about finding which particular food(s) are the trigger. Below are some tips and ideas to help determine if food is a trigger, or help manage hidradenitis with diet long-term.
Food Triggers: If you haven’t already, start a daily journal and log what you eat throughout the day. If you are able to identify a food that results in a new flare, this will help to identify and eliminate the trigger. This takes time and patience and you must be diligent.
Sugar: With HS, it is beneficial to keep inflammation down. In order to do this you can reduce the amount and types of sugar that you consume.
Anti inflammatory Meals: If possible, replace a few meals with anti-inflammatory meals. Find some recipes HERE.
Processed Foods: Avoid processed foods and try to eat as organic as possible. If you can, eat clean.
H2O: Stay hydrated!!
Many people have had great success following the simple tips above, whether food is a trigger for them or not. These are meant to be considered a lifestyle change to help manage your illness.
For those wondering about AIP and/or Keto, we’ve found that these can be more difficult to stick to for some based on the strict nature of the diets. As an aside, unless you’re single it can financially put a strain on some families as the food is more expensive and because not everybody in your family may not be willing to make the changes you are.
Read more about The Best & Worst Fad Diets for HS here.
Read more about Nightshades and whether they should be eliminated for HS here.
Read more about Nutrition, Elimination Diets and HS here.
Intermittent Fasting for HS article can be found here.
Some specific diets are not safe for everyone due to other medical issues or they can trigger other symptoms due to other illnesses. Before starting any diet always check with your physician.
Content in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have read on this website.
Written by Denise Panter-Fixsen
Edited by Brindley Kons