From veganuary.com
Chronic inflammation plays a central role in some of the most serious diseases we face, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and Alzheimer’s.
But many people are finding that the solution to their inflammatory conditions can be found, not in pills and jabs, but in the fruits and veggies on the end of their forks.
Here, we meet some of the people who switched to a plant-based diet and find out how taking part in Veganuary eased their symptoms and changed their lives.
Plant-Based Diet and Eczema
Lucy Schofield, 31 from London used to call herself an “itchy girl”. She suffered with regular eczema flare-ups in her elbow creases and on the back of legs, and even around her eyes when she was under a lot of pressure.
“That was definitely the worst thing – so sore and difficult to hide.” Her sleep inevitably suffered as a result and it inevitably affected her wellbeing and mood. “When George and I first got together, “ she told us, “if we held hands, I’d be worried that he’d think my palms were like lizard skin!”
After staying with her mum who was vegan during a Covid lockdown and learning more about the issues in the dairy industry and how to cook tasty food, Lucy decided to give veganism a try for herself.
She took part in Veganuary 2021. And the unexpected happened… About three weeks into Veganuary, Lucy’s eczema cleared up entirely and she hasn’t suffered with it since.
Research conducted by California Northstate University on inflammatory skin diseases may provide some explanation as to how this occurred. It concluded: “Our findings demonstrate that plant-based foods may improve inflammatory skin diseases by supporting the gut microbiome, exerting anti-inflammatory effects, providing barrier support, and improving glycaemic control.”
And Lucy is not alone.
Plant-Based Diet and Joint Pain
Roz Cant, 44, from Newcastle Upon Tyne had been suffering from debilitating joint pain for a long time. “I was in pain down the right side of my body in my hip, back, knee, wrist and toe joints which got progressively worse over several years,” she told us.
“I had been to the doctors and physio on many occasions and they were not able to offer me any solutions other than exercise and taking painkillers which weren’t helping at that time. I was in pain all the time.”
Roz went online searching for answers and she found out that animal products can cause inflammation.
“I was already vegetarian and decided to cut dairy and eggs out of my diet and to take part in Veganuary.” That was in 2022 and it turned out to be a life-changing one.
“After a few months, I noticed my pain had begun to decrease,” says Roz. “After six months it was at a level where it no longer impacted my daily life and after a year my pain was gone. The terrible impact that dairy and eggs have on the lives of so many animals and the positive personal benefits I have seen mean I will be vegan for life.”
A Plant-Based Diet and Arthritis
Sue Makin, 73 from Chester had been suffering arthritis in her hands for some time. As a keen gardener and painter, this was particularly distressing.
“I had to accept that my hands would always be painful, stiff and swollen-jointed. That I’d have difficulty with my grip and keep dropping things. That holding an artist’s paintbrush or doing heavy gardening would be a much-loved thing of the past.”
That was back in 2017 but when her son went vegan and urged her to watch the same documentaries that had inspired him, she did. And she became vegan too.
“After about three weeks on a vegan diet something became very obvious. All of this was reversing rapidly. Pain had gone from my hands and their strength and flexibility were markedly improved. I’ve been able to return to long hours painting or gardening without pain. I am convinced this is due to the removal of the inflammation caused by dairy products.”
Once again, science backs Sue’s and Roz’s experiences.
A 2019 review of the existing studies concluded: “Several studies have shown that joint pain and other RA [rheumatoid arthritis] symptoms may be modified by dietary factors. Excessive body weight and diets that include animal products (e.g., dairy, red meat) exacerbate the RA symptoms likely due to their pro-inflammatory effects. In contrast, diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and fibre are associated with lower BMI, have anti-inflammatory properties and help reduce pain and inflammation in these patients. Studies have shown that dietary fiber found in these plant-based foods can improve the gut bacteria composition and increase the bacterial diversity in RA patients, potentially reducing inflammation and joint pain.”
Plant-Based Diet and Type 2 Diabetes
Research over the last decade or so is increasingly indicating that type 2 diabetes should be seen as an inflammatory condition. And we have long known that eating a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Thankfully, for Andrea Kennard, 62, from Kent, she found her way to Veganuary as a prediabetic and before the disease had done its worst. Andrea took part in Veganuary 2025 and has had an extraordinary experience.
“I’ve gone all whole food now and cook from scratch,” she tells us. “I’ve lost over 6 stone, going from a size 22 to a 10, I no longer have a nap during the day, my bloods are the best results they have ever been, I’ve so much more energy now and do not need all my medication.”
It’s a very happy outcome for Andrea but she found another benefit too. “To top it all, I’m not eating any beautiful animals,” she says. “I just wish I’d done it years ago and not waited.”
A Plant-Based Diet and Asthma
Michelle Mead, 55, Devon, developed asthma when she was just five years old and it has had a profound effect on her whole life.
“It impacts everything, from being able to walk to not even being able to talk in full sentences. It causes coughing and exhaustion although you aren’t able to sleep as you can’t breathe, and having an attack is very frightening.”
Like Roz, Michelle conducted her own research and found studies that indicated a plant-based diet can help with allergies.
“So when I saw Veganuary advertised on social media I decided to give it a try.” And that was the beginning of a very positive change. “Within a couple of weeks I noticed an improvement in my breathing,” Michelle told us. “Within a couple of months, I could reduce my asthma medication and the bruising it had been causing stopped completely. Since then, I have had no further asthma attacks.”
A Plant-Based Diet and Lupus
Kim Washam, 51, from New Jersey took part in Veganuary 2019 and has never looked back. She took part in the hope that a change in diet would provide some relief from the different autoimmune diseases she had developed, as well as the drugs she was given to combat them.
“I was taking medications to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis,” she told us, “but I wasn’t happy with the potential side effects of those medications. I didn’t want to be on these meds any longer, so I started my vegan journey and have been feeling great ever since! I am no longer on any medications! Veganuary was a huge influence on my decision to go vegan and I will be forever thankful!”
These powerful, life-changing stories are more than anecdotal. In recent years, study after study has demonstrated the healing power of a plant-based diet and provide insights into why eating whole foods like fruits, veg, grains, berries, nuts and seeds is the key to beating inflammatory conditions.
In 2019, a systematic review by the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences concluded: “there is an overall robust support for beneficial effects of a plant-based diet on metabolic measures in health and disease… The reason for lower systemic inflammation in plant-based dieters could be due to the abundance of anti-inflammatory molecule intake and/or avoidance of proinflammatory animal-derived molecules.”
A Doctor’s Advice
GP and nutritionist Dr Gemma Newman both eats and promotes a whole food plant-based diet and she explains why.
“A colourful, whole-food plant-based diet naturally helps calm inflammation — the root of many chronic pain conditions. Foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3s like berries, leafy greens, flaxseeds and walnuts, can support the body’s natural healing pathways. Try building meals around lentil stews, veggie curries, or grain bowls packed with vibrant veg and herbs. Eating this way nourishes you from the inside out — soothing inflammation while supporting energy and recovery.”
So, whether you are suffering from asthma or eczema, arthritis or endometriosis, you may see significant improvement by removing inflammatory animal-based foods from your diet and replacing them with plenty of anti-inflammatory plant-based foods.
But just something to note: it is a healthy plant-based diet that has all the magic. An unhealthy diet based around processed foods, and high-fat, sugar and salt, even if it is vegan, may actually make things worse.
https://veganuary.com/plant-based-diet-inflammatory-diseases/
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