What Diet is Best for Lyme Disease?

January 14, 2026 •

4 min read

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of Lyme disease and a primary driver of its debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue and joint pain. Adopting a specific dietary approach, primarily one focused on reducing inflammation, is a key complementary strategy for those navigating a Lyme disease diagnosis. The best diet for Lyme disease is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a strategic, personalized plan to support the body's healing processes.

Quick Summary

An anti-inflammatory diet, rich in whole foods, antioxidants, and healthy fats, is widely recommended for managing Lyme disease symptoms. Limiting processed foods, sugar, gluten, and certain dairy products can help reduce inflammation and improve gut health. Individualized approaches are crucial, often involving food sensitivity testing and the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Key Points

Anti-Inflammatory Focus: The best dietary strategy for Lyme disease centers on reducing systemic inflammation, a core contributor to many Lyme symptoms.
Embrace Whole Foods: Prioritize a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats to provide the nutrients your body needs to heal.
Eliminate Inflammatory Triggers: Minimize or eliminate processed foods, refined sugars, and industrial seed oils, as these can worsen inflammation and hinder recovery.
Personalize Your Approach: Recognize that dietary needs differ for everyone. An elimination diet or food sensitivity testing can help identify your specific triggers, such as gluten or dairy.
Support Gut Health: Nurture your gut microbiome with probiotic-rich fermented foods and prebiotics to bolster immune function, as gut health is crucial for overall wellness.
Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration is essential for detoxification and overall body function, helping to flush toxins from your system.

The complex nature of Lyme disease means that the bacterial infection triggers a profound inflammatory response throughout the body. While antibiotic treatment is the standard approach, nutritional support plays a vital, complementary role by helping to manage symptoms, restore gut health, and bolster the immune system. The cornerstone of a supportive diet is reducing inflammation, which can be exacerbated by many common foods.

The Foundational Principles of a Lyme-Supportive Diet

The most recommended dietary approach for Lyme disease is an anti-inflammatory protocol, which emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods while eliminating inflammatory triggers. This eating style doesn't have to be expensive or overly complicated; the focus is on eating foods as close to their natural state as possible.

Prioritizing Anti-Inflammatory Foods

To help the body's healing processes, focus on filling your plate with foods known for their anti-inflammatory properties:

Colorful fruits and vegetables: Rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, these help combat oxidative stress. Berries, leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are especially beneficial.
Healthy fats: Omega-3 fatty acids are key to regulating inflammation. Incorporate fatty, cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel into your diet. Plant-based sources include walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseed. Use anti-inflammatory oils like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil for cooking.
Quality proteins: Opt for lean, organic, or grass-fed protein sources, such as chicken, turkey, fish, and grass-fed beef. Organ meats, like liver, are rich in vitamin A and zinc, which are crucial for immune function.
Gut-supportive foods: Since a significant portion of the immune system resides in the gut, improving gut health is critical. Include fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, as well as bone broth, which contains collagen and amino acids that help repair the intestinal lining.
Herbs and spices: Many common herbs and spices have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Add turmeric, ginger, garlic, and cinnamon to your meals for flavor and medicinal benefits.

Foods to Minimize or Avoid

Just as important as adding healing foods is removing or limiting those that can exacerbate inflammation and suppress immune function.

Processed foods and refined sugar: These are major drivers of inflammation and can contribute to Candida overgrowth, which is common in Lyme patients. Sugar can also feed the bacteria and suppress the immune system.
Gluten: While not universally required for all Lyme patients, many report sensitivity to gluten and experience a reduction in symptoms after eliminating it. Gluten can trigger a “leaky gut,” leading to further inflammation.
Dairy: Like gluten, dairy can be an inflammatory trigger for many. A trial elimination can help determine individual sensitivity.
Inflammatory fats: Avoid industrial seed oils such as canola, corn, and soybean oil, which are high in omega-6 fatty acids that promote inflammation. Opt for healthy fats instead.
Alcohol: Alcohol can worsen gut inflammation and place extra burden on the liver, which is already working hard to process toxins from the infection and treatment.

Comparison of Diets for Lyme Disease Support


Dietary Approach	Focus	Potential Benefits for Lyme	Key Considerations
Anti-Inflammatory Diet	Whole foods, lean protein, healthy fats, antioxidants.	Directly targets and reduces systemic inflammation; supports immune and gut health.	Requires conscious effort to eliminate processed foods and sugar.
Paleo Diet	Whole foods, meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds. Excludes grains, legumes, dairy.	Eliminates common inflammatory triggers like gluten, dairy, and processed foods.	Can be too restrictive for some; may not be necessary to eliminate all grains or legumes.
Mediterranean Diet	Fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil, nuts, moderate whole grains and dairy.	Closely aligned with anti-inflammatory principles; rich in omega-3s and antioxidants.	May need modifications for individual food sensitivities, particularly dairy and gluten.
Candida Diet	Low-sugar, anti-inflammatory; eliminates yeast-containing foods.	Addresses Candida overgrowth, which often occurs alongside Lyme treatment.	Can be very restrictive; best done under professional guidance to ensure nutritional completeness.

Customizing Your Nutritional Strategy

While an anti-inflammatory diet provides a solid starting point, customizing your approach is key to long-term success. A "Lyme-literate" doctor or a qualified nutritionist can help you navigate this process.

Perform an elimination diet: Temporarily remove common inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, sugar, and soy. Slowly reintroduce them to identify which, if any, trigger a reaction.
Test for food sensitivities: Working with a professional to conduct food sensitivity testing can provide more precise guidance.
Support detoxification pathways: The body's detoxification systems can be overburdened by the Lyme infection. Adequate hydration with filtered water and incorporating specific herbal teas (like green or dandelion) can help.
Consider supplements: Since inflammation can hinder nutrient absorption, supplementation may be necessary to correct deficiencies. Common recommendations include omega-3 fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin C, and specific B vitamins. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting new supplements.

Conclusion

There is no single "best" diet for Lyme disease that works for every person, but the overarching principle of reducing inflammation through diet is a powerful tool for symptom management and recovery. By focusing on a whole-foods, anti-inflammatory approach and personalizing it based on your body's unique needs, you can significantly improve your resilience and overall well-being alongside your medical treatment. For comprehensive and evidence-based information, visit authoritative resources such as the Global Lyme Alliance website.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should minimize or avoid processed foods, refined sugar, inflammatory seed oils (canola, corn, soy), and excessive alcohol. Many people also find it helpful to eliminate common inflammatory foods like gluten and conventional dairy, especially if they have sensitivities.

No, diet alone cannot cure Lyme disease, which requires proper medical treatment, typically with antibiotics. However, a supportive diet can significantly help manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and enhance the body's natural healing capabilities alongside medical protocols.

The Paleo diet, which eliminates grains, legumes, and dairy, can be a useful template for many Lyme patients as it removes common inflammatory triggers. However, its restrictive nature may not be suitable for everyone, and a personalized anti-inflammatory diet is often a more sustainable approach.

An optimized diet helps combat fatigue by providing the body with nutrient-dense, easily absorbed foods and reducing inflammatory stressors. Avoiding sugar and refined carbs helps regulate blood sugar, preventing energy crashes. Supporting gut health also improves nutrient absorption and overall vitality.

Yes, many individuals with Lyme benefit from specific supplements to correct deficiencies and support healing. Common recommendations include omega-3 fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin C, B vitamins, and probiotics. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement regimen.

Gut health is critically important, as 70-80% of the immune system is located in the gut. The inflammation caused by Lyme can damage the gut lining, a condition known as 'leaky gut'. A supportive diet rich in fiber and fermented foods helps restore a healthy microbiome, which is essential for proper immune function.

For many Lyme patients, cutting out gluten reduces inflammation and alleviates symptoms. It can be beneficial to perform a trial elimination to see if your symptoms improve, as individual reactions vary. For some, gluten sensitivity can exacerbate the immune response.