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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the IF Rating System and The Inflammation Free Diet Plan. For more questions and answers, or to add your own questions or comments, join the discussion on the Author's Blog.

How do I know which foods are inflammatory?

It’s actually a fairly complicated problem--and maybe that’s why it’s never been adequately addressed. Foods affect inflammation in complicated and often surprising ways. Some foods have a combination of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Others have different effects depending on how they are prepared or what you are eating them with. There are at least two dozen different nutritional factors that affect how a food affects inflammation in the body--most of which aren’t even on the label. To make it easier for people to keep track, I developed the IF Rating system. The IF Rating looks at all the different factors and calculates their combined effects. Each food is assigned a number that tells you its net inflammatory or anti-inflammatory potential.

What does the IF Rating tell me about foods that I don’t already know?

The IF Rating system tends to favor foods that are low in sugar, rich in vitamins, lower in saturated fat and higher in healthy fats. Lean protein, fruits and vegetables, cold water fish, and whole grains are naturally emphasized, while highly-processed foods, trans fats, and empty calories are minimized. But the IF Ratings also reveal some surprising truths about foods that we typically think of as healthful. For example, you’ll see that almonds are a better choice than walnuts, strawberries may be better for you than apples, and tuna is sometimes preferable to salmon.

How does the IF Rating system compare to other nutrition counters?

When you use the IF Rating system, you don’t need to keep track of calories, sugar, carbs, fats, proteins, or vitamins. The IF Rating integrates all of these factors into one holistic system for healthy eating.

Are negative IF foods bad for me?

Negative IF Ratings do not necessarily mean that foods are unhealthy or need to be eliminated from the diet. A healthy, balanced diet will include some foods with negative IF Ratings. But these foods should be eaten in moderation, and balanced by positive IF foods. The IF Rating system makes it simple to keep track of and balance the cumulative effects of your dietary choices.

I've tried Atkins, the Zone, Sugar Busters, and South Beach. Is The Inflammation Free Diet Plan just the latest diet trend?

The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan is a new development but it’s not a trend--it’s based on decades of nutrition research. The other diets you mentioned have helped people understand some very important concepts, like the importance of reducing simple carbohydrates and choosing healthy sources of fat. But none addressed the issue of inflammation--which appears to be at the root of all of the most common health problems that we see today. The Inflammation-Free Diet integrates all of these important concepts--plus the inflammation aspect--into one holistic system for healthier eating.

Anti-inflammatory drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex have really come under fire for safety concerns. Is the Inflammation-Free Diet an alternative for people who have arthritis or other inflammation-related pain?

Absolutely! There are a lot of people living with joint pain and other symptoms caused by inflammation. The drugs that are prescribed can have serious health risks. The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan can reduce inflammation naturally by decreasing the amount of inflammatory chemicals that are produced in the body. You can also increase your intake of spices like turmeric and ginger. These are actually natural COX-2 inhibitors--natural and safer versions of the active ingredients in Vioxx and Celebrex. The Inflammation Free Diet Plan outlines three program options: a therapeutic plan for those with symptoms or elevated risk factors for inflammation-related disease, a prevention/maintenance plan for those who want to avoid inflammation-related disease, and an accelerated weight loss program for those who need to lose weight

Should I be worried about inflammation? I don’t have arthritis or allergies.

Everyone needs to be worried about inflammation because virtually everyone is affected by it to some degree. Sometimes, inflammation can cause obvious symptoms, like joint pain or asthma. But just as often, cellular inflammation can be completely symptom free. You might not realize that there is a problem until a serious disease is diagnosed. The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan is designed for everyone--children, teenagers, adults, seniors. It’s not just a diet that reduces inflammation--it is an ideal nutritional-balanced way of eating.

For more questions and answers, or to add your own questions or comments, come join the discussion on the Author's Blog.