Nutrition Diet: What Not to Eat with Myositis?

October 7, 2025 •

4 min read

According to The Myositis Association, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats can help reduce chronic inflammation, a key driver of autoimmune diseases like myositis. Understanding what not to eat with myositis? is a crucial step toward creating an anti-inflammatory nutrition plan to better manage symptoms.

Quick Summary

An anti-inflammatory diet is key for managing myositis, focusing on whole foods while restricting those that trigger inflammation. Limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats can help reduce symptoms like muscle pain and weakness, while certain food textures may be necessary for those with swallowing difficulties.

Key Points

Avoid pro-inflammatory foods: Minimize intake of processed foods, refined sugars, saturated fats, and high-sodium items to help reduce inflammation.
Manage swallowing difficulties: For those with dysphagia, prioritize soft, moist, and blended foods while avoiding dry, crumbly textures.
Limit refined carbohydrates: Reduce foods like white bread and sugary beverages, as they can cause blood sugar spikes and increase inflammation.
Choose healthy fats: Opt for anti-inflammatory fats from sources like olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish over unhealthy saturated and trans fats.
Consider gluten sensitivity: While not for everyone, anecdotal evidence suggests that some myositis patients with concurrent celiac disease may benefit from a gluten-free diet.
Limit sodium intake: Patients taking corticosteroids should be particularly mindful of their salt intake to help manage blood pressure and fluid retention.
Focus on whole foods: Build meals around fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to support overall health and muscle repair.

Understanding the Role of Diet in Myositis

Myositis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic muscle inflammation, which leads to muscle weakness and pain. While there is no cure, adopting an anti-inflammatory diet is a complementary strategy that may help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups. The foods we consume can either fuel or combat inflammation, directly impacting the body's immune response. By restricting pro-inflammatory foods and embracing nutrient-dense, whole foods, individuals can support their overall health and potentially alleviate some myositis-related discomfort.

Pro-Inflammatory Foods to Avoid

To effectively manage myositis symptoms, it is important to identify and eliminate foods that are known to trigger or worsen inflammation. The following food categories should be limited or avoided entirely.

Processed and Fast Foods

Processed and fast foods are often packed with artificial ingredients, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, and unhealthy fats, all of which can provoke an inflammatory response in the body. These foods provide minimal nutritional value and can contribute to overall poor health. Examples include packaged snacks, frozen meals, and most deep-fried fast-food items.

Refined Sugars and Carbohydrates

Excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, which triggers the release of inflammatory messengers called cytokines. This applies to both sugary desserts and drinks as well as refined grain products like white bread and pasta. Limiting concentrated sweets (e.g., cookies, pastries) and swapping refined grains for whole-grain alternatives is recommended.

Unhealthy Fats

Two types of fats are particularly problematic for inflammatory conditions: saturated and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in high-fat cuts of red and processed meats, while trans fats are often present in baked goods and margarine. These fats are pro-inflammatory and can contribute to a wide range of health issues. It is best to stick to healthy, anti-inflammatory fats, such as those found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.

Excessive Sodium

High sodium intake can contribute to fluid retention and elevated blood pressure, especially for individuals taking corticosteroids for myositis. Since many packaged and canned foods are loaded with sodium, choosing fresh, whole foods is the best way to limit intake. When buying canned goods, opt for low-sodium versions and rinse them before use.

Potential Inflammatory Triggers

In addition to the common culprits, some individuals may have specific food sensitivities that exacerbate their myositis. While not universal, a small number of patients with myositis also have celiac disease, and a gluten-free diet has been shown to reduce symptoms in these specific cases. Full-fat dairy products may also promote inflammation due to their high saturated fat content, though low-fat and plant-based alternatives are often recommended for their calcium and protein.

Special Dietary Considerations for Myositis

Beyond avoiding specific ingredients, people with myositis may need to adapt to certain food textures to manage symptoms like dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. Approximately one-third of myositis patients experience this issue, which can lead to complications such as inadequate nutrition.

Tips for managing swallowing difficulties:

Avoid dry, crumbly foods that are difficult to manage in the mouth, such as crackers, dry cereals, and chips.
Choose soft and moist foods, like well-cooked vegetables, stews, and pureed dishes.
Increase liquid intake during meals by drinking fluids between bites.
Incorporate blended options, such as nutrient-rich smoothies and blended soups, to ensure adequate calorie and protein intake.
Cook vegetables until very soft and mashable with a fork.

Foods to Avoid vs. Healthier Choices for Myositis


Food Type	To Avoid	Healthier Choices
Processed Meats	Bacon, sausage, hot dogs, cold cuts	Lean poultry (skinless), fish (salmon, sardines), beans, lentils
Refined Grains	White bread, white pasta, pastries, most packaged cereals	Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread), oats
Unhealthy Fats	Fried foods, margarine, fatty meats, lard	Olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, fatty fish
Sugary Foods/Drinks	Sodas, candy, cookies, cakes, fruit juices	Whole fruits, water, herbal tea
High-Sodium Foods	Canned soups, packaged snacks, deli meats	Fresh produce, home-cooked meals with controlled salt
Alcohol	Excessive amounts of alcohol	Water, green tea

Conclusion

While a specific diet cannot cure myositis, focusing on anti-inflammatory nutrition and avoiding pro-inflammatory foods can be a powerful tool for managing the condition and improving quality of life. The dietary choices should be tailored to individual needs and potential medication side effects, particularly for those on corticosteroids. Because swallowing difficulties can be a concern for some, modifying food textures is also an important aspect of nutritional management. Always consult with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes to ensure your approach is safe and effective for your specific myositis subtype.

For more detailed information on diet and myositis, visit The Myositis Association website. The Myositis Association

Frequently Asked Questions

The Mediterranean diet is often recommended for myositis because it emphasizes anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats while minimizing red meat and processed items.

For most people with myositis, gluten is not a known trigger. However, in some individuals with a genetic predisposition and celiac disease, gluten has been shown to potentially drive myositis activity. A healthcare provider can determine if a gluten-free diet is appropriate for you.

Full-fat dairy contains saturated fats, which are pro-inflammatory and should be limited. However, low-fat or plant-based dairy alternatives are often recommended as good sources of protein and calcium, especially for those on corticosteroids.

Processed and fast foods are typically high in pro-inflammatory ingredients such as saturated fats, sugars, and sodium, which can contribute to and worsen the inflammation associated with myositis.

A balanced diet rich in lean proteins, such as skinless poultry, fish, beans, and lentils, is essential for muscle repair and combating the loss of muscle mass that can occur with myositis.

Yes. Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, sardines, walnuts, and flaxseeds, can help combat inflammation. Fruits, vegetables, and spices like turmeric also offer significant anti-inflammatory benefits.

For swallowing difficulties, focus on soft, moist foods like blended soups, smoothies, and purees. Adding healthy fats and proteins, such as nut butters or avocado, to soft dishes can also boost nutrition.