{"id":18516,"date":"2021-01-29T10:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T15:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18516"},"modified":"2024-09-27T10:29:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T14:29:50","slug":"best-diets-by-health-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-diets-by-health-condition\/","title":{"rendered":"The best diets for 15 common health conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know that what you eat\u2014and more often, what you <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span><\/i>\u2014has a direct impact on your overall health and well-being. If you\u2019re asking \u201cWhat kind of diet should I be on?\u201d, the answer may be based on a health condition you have. There are special diets for medical conditions that can help you manage symptoms, prevent flare-ups, and support treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many chronic health conditions can be vastly improved through diet, with the right combination of foods minimizing symptoms caused by problems with the reproductive, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, among others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finding the best diet. There are specific diets for different diseases. If you have one of the following conditions, it might be worth adopting a different approach to food and nutrition to maximize your health. Here\u2019s our best diet list for 15 common health conditions affecting Americans in 2022<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. IBS<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Fatty liver<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. High blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. PCOS<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Heart health<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Hypothyroidism<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Overweight\/obesity<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. High cholesterol<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Hashimoto\u2019s<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Menopause<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Diverticulitis<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. Inflammation<\/span><\/li>\n
  14. Arthritis<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. GERD<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1. Best diet for IBS<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Inflammatory bowel syndrome (<\/span>IBS<\/span><\/a>) affects about<\/span> 25 to 45 million people in the U.S.<\/span><\/a> and can present as everything from diarrhea and cramping to constipation and nausea.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A low FODMAP<\/b> diet<\/b> is often recommended for people with IBS, according to <\/span>Ashkan Farhadi<\/span><\/a>, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols; they are short-chain carbs (sugars) that the small intestine absorbs poorly. Some people experience digestive distress after eating them, so eating a low FODMAP diet can help\u2014but it\u2019s not without its own problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cIt helps a good group of patients, but it\u2019s extremely restrictive and almost everything under the sun is included [as foods to be avoided], which makes it really difficult to apply,\u201d Dr. Farhadi explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Instead of trying to follow a low-FODMAP diet to a T long-term, Dr. Farhadi suggests using the list of foods to identify your personal triggers\u2014far and away the most useful thing someone living with IBS can do, since some foods are triggers for some patients but not others (and even \u201ctrigger\u201d foods may not be off-limits all the time).<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s important to understand your routine and how your body works, and choose the right food for the right times,\u201d Dr. Farhadi says. \u201cSoda may be the strongest trigger for one person, but for some individuals it can help with digestion\u2014so the advice that soda is bad [for people with IBS] isn\u2019t good advice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    RELATED:<\/b> The 3 best diets for IBS<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    2. Best diet for fatty liver<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Fatty liver disease is a leading cause of liver failure and, though it\u2019s often caused by alcohol consumption, that\u2019s not always the case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    A<\/b> low-calorie, low-fat diet, <\/b>can help you eliminate some of the fat deposits in your liver by losing weight\u2014regardless of the cause. Try to focus on eating lots of leafy greens, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats\u2014these foods can cut down on fat deposits. Consume lean cuts of meat and fish, not fatty ones. Lastly, avoid alcohol, but not necessarily caffeine; some studies suggest that<\/span> drinking caffeine can reduce the risks of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    RELATED:<\/b> 8 foods to eat for fatty liver disease<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    3. Best diet for high blood pressure<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The DASH diet <\/b>is recommended if you\u2019re one of the <\/span>30% of adult Americans<\/span><\/a> with high blood pressure (<\/span>hypertension<\/span><\/a>), says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, a plant-based<\/span> registered dietitian<\/span><\/a> and owner of Plant-Based Eats in Connecticut. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Developed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the 1990s, Gorin says the plan focuses on reducing sodium content in the diet as well as eating whole foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy, lean meat, nuts and seeds, legumes, healthy fats, and oils. \u201cThe eating plan is based on research that shows that the diet can help lower high blood pressure levels, help improve cholesterol levels, and decrease your risk of heart disease,\u201d she explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

    RELATED:<\/b> The best diet for high blood pressure<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    4. Best diet for PCOS<\/span><\/h2>\n

    There\u2019s no one diet that improves symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome<\/b>, or PCOS, but it\u2019s smart to monitor the amount and quality of your carbs, according to Danielle McAvoy, MSPH, RD, the senior manager of nutrition & culinary product for<\/span> Territory Foods<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe primary dietary goal for PCOS is to manage insulin levels, so meals should be moderate in [complex carbs like brown rice, quinoa, and oats],\u201d she explains. \u201cSimple carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, potatoes, and juice should be avoided, as they quickly spike blood sugar and trigger the release of insulin.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Sherry Ross<\/span><\/a>, MD, an OB-GYN and Women\u2019s Health Expert at Providence Santa Monica Women\u2019s Health, agrees while recommending that women with PCOS limit carbs and sugars, as well as processed foods, alcohol, and fatty foods to avoid inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

    RELATED:<\/b> The best diet for PCOS<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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