What Foods Are Good for Lyme Disease Recovery?

October 28, 2025 •

3 min read

Chronic inflammation is a core feature of persistent Lyme disease, impacting many bodily systems. Understanding what foods are good for Lyme disease is crucial for managing symptoms and supporting the body's healing processes, often centering on an anti-inflammatory diet that promotes gut health and provides essential nutrients.

Quick Summary

An anti-inflammatory diet focused on whole, nutrient-dense foods can help manage Lyme disease symptoms. Emphasize colorful fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, and probiotics to support gut health and reduce systemic inflammation. Limiting processed foods, sugar, and industrial oils is also key for recovery.

Key Points

Embrace an Anti-Inflammatory Diet: The cornerstone of dietary management for Lyme is reducing inflammation by focusing on whole, unprocessed foods like leafy greens, colorful vegetables, and berries.
Boost Omega-3 Intake: Prioritize fatty fish such as salmon and sardines, as well as nuts and seeds, to increase anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids that help with joint and brain health.
Support Gut Health: Use probiotics from foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, plus prebiotic fiber from sources like garlic and onions, to restore a healthy gut microbiome, which is crucial for immune function.
Avoid Inflammatory Triggers: Minimize or eliminate processed foods, refined sugar, industrial seed oils, and potentially gluten and dairy, which can worsen inflammation and compromise the immune system.
Stay Hydrated: Ensure adequate hydration with plenty of water and herbal teas to aid the body's natural detoxification processes.
Consider an Elimination Diet: Work with a healthcare provider to test for and identify specific food sensitivities that may be contributing to your unique symptom profile.

The Anti-Inflammatory Approach to Lyme Recovery

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, can trigger an inflammatory response that leads to chronic symptoms. While antibiotics are standard treatment, nutrition, particularly an anti-inflammatory diet, can complement recovery by managing symptoms and promoting healing. Focusing on supportive foods can help the immune system and potentially alleviate symptoms like joint pain and fatigue.

Nutrient-Dense, Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Emphasize

A diet centered on whole, natural foods is beneficial for Lyme disease. A Mediterranean-style pattern, with its emphasis on fresh produce and healthy fats, is a good example.

Fruits and Vegetables: Aim for a variety of colorful produce to get antioxidants and fiber. Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables are particularly good. Berries offer high levels of antioxidants. Spices like garlic and ginger provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Healthy Fats: These are important for brain health and reducing inflammation. Include fatty fish rich in omega-3s, as well as nuts, seeds, and healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil. Avocados are also a great source of fiber and monounsaturated fats.

Lean Protein and Fiber: These support energy, repair, and immune function. Choose organic poultry, wild-caught fish, legumes, and beans.

Fermented and Probiotic Foods: Gut health is often compromised in Lyme patients. Fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, along with prebiotic foods such as onions and garlic, can help restore beneficial gut bacteria and support immune response.

Inflammatory Foods to Limit or Avoid

Certain foods can worsen inflammation and symptoms. Minimizing or avoiding these can be helpful.

Refined Sugar and Processed Foods: These can increase inflammation and may negatively impact immune function.
Industrial Seed Oils: High in omega-6 fatty acids, these can be pro-inflammatory. Use extra virgin olive oil instead.
Gluten and Dairy: Many individuals with Lyme find relief by avoiding these, as they can sometimes trigger inflammation or digestive issues. An elimination trial can help identify sensitivities.
Alcohol and Caffeine: These can stress the liver, disrupt sleep, and potentially increase inflammation.

Comparison Table: Lyme-Friendly vs. Inflammatory Foods


Food Category	Lyme-Friendly Foods (Emphasize)	Inflammatory Foods (Limit/Avoid)
Carbohydrates	Quinoa, brown rice, starchy vegetables (sweet potatoes, root vegetables)	Refined grains (white bread, pasta), sugary cereals, pastries
Fats	Extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, nuts, seeds, wild-caught fatty fish	Industrial seed oils (soybean, canola), trans fats, margarine
Proteins	Wild-caught fish, organic poultry, grass-fed meats, legumes, beans	Processed meats (hot dogs, bacon), conventionally raised red meat
Fruits	Berries, apples, pears, peaches, grapefruit	Canned fruit in syrup, fruit juices with added sugar
Dairy	Unsweetened kefir or coconut yogurt (if tolerated)	Milk, aged cheese, high-fat dairy (consider elimination trial)
Beverages	Water, herbal tea, green tea, bone broth	Sugary drinks, soda, excessive caffeine, alcohol

The Role of Gut Health and Hydration

Gut health is essential for immune function, and many with Lyme experience digestive issues. Antibiotic treatments can disrupt the gut microbiome. Supporting gut bacteria with probiotics and prebiotics is important for modulating the immune response.

Hydration is also crucial for detoxification, helping the body process toxins. Drinking sufficient water can support this process.

Developing a Personalized Lyme Diet

Lyme disease affects individuals differently, so a personalized dietary approach is key. An elimination diet can help identify specific food triggers by systematically removing and reintroducing common inflammatory foods. Consulting with a nutritionist or Lyme-literate medical doctor can help create an effective plan tailored to your needs. The aim is to nourish the body without unnecessary restriction.

Conclusion

An anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense diet serves as a valuable supportive therapy for Lyme disease, not a cure. Focusing on whole foods like colorful fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, while limiting processed items, sugar, and potential triggers like gluten and dairy, can help manage symptoms. Prioritizing gut health with fermented foods and staying well-hydrated are also critical. A personalized diet can help reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and support the body's healing.

Elimination Dieting for Lyme Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

With Lyme disease, it is recommended to avoid foods that promote inflammation, including processed foods, refined sugar, industrial seed oils (like canola and corn oil), excessive alcohol, and caffeine. Many people also find relief from symptoms by temporarily eliminating gluten and dairy.

No, an anti-inflammatory diet is not a cure for Lyme disease. It is a complementary strategy used alongside medical treatment to help manage symptoms, reduce systemic inflammation, and support the body's immune system during recovery.

Gut health is vital because a significant portion of the immune system is located in the gut. Lyme disease and antibiotic treatments can disrupt gut bacteria, and restoring a balanced microbiome can help regulate inflammation and support the immune response.

Fatty, cold-water fish are best because they are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA). Examples include salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring.

While some non-gluten grains like brown rice and quinoa can be part of an anti-inflammatory diet, they are a 'gray area' for some. Certain grains can spike blood sugar, causing inflammation, so focusing on starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes may be more beneficial.

Cutting out gluten and dairy is a personalized decision, as many Lyme patients have sensitivities that exacerbate symptoms. An elimination diet is often recommended to see if these foods trigger inflammation in your body.

You can support your immune system by eating nutrient-dense, whole foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Key nutrients include omega-3s, vitamins C, D, and E, B vitamins, and zinc, found in foods like leafy greens, colorful fruits, and fatty fish.