Dr. Ian Seels, a seasoned musculoskeletal physiotherapist, shares invaluable insights on how diet influences pain and recovery, particularly for runners. He discusses the significance of inflammation over weight, advocating for anti-inflammatory diets rich in healthy fats and low in carbs. The conversation reveals how chronic inflammation can hinder recovery and highlights the benefits of nutritional ketosis. Seels also delves into the importance of omega-3 to omega-6 balance and offers tips for readers to make informed dietary choices for better overall health.
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insights INSIGHT
Active Management Pillars
Active management for musculoskeletal health includes mechanical, mental, and metabolic factors.
Diet influences inflammation, which affects pain and recovery beyond weight control.
insights INSIGHT
Carbs Promote Inflammation
Carbohydrate is the only non-essential macronutrient and is pro-inflammatory.
Western diets are high in carbs, promoting inflammation regardless of weight concerns.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Six-Week Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Avoid bread, pasta, rice, potato, fruit, sugar, and processed carbs for six weeks.
Guest: Dr. Ian Seels | Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
🧠 Episode Summary
In this thought-provoking episode, Brodie chats with Dr. Ian Seels, a private musculoskeletal physiotherapist with over 35 years of experience and a co-author of the paper The Relevance of Diet in Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice – A Narrative Review. Together, they explore the emerging science behind how diet influences inflammation, pain, and injury recovery—with a particular focus on what this means for recreational runners.
If you're battling persistent niggles, chronic tendon pain, or just want to run pain-free into your later years, this episode offers a fresh perspective you might not have considered: what you eat could be the missing link in your recovery journey.
🔍 What You’ll Learn
Why inflammation matters more than weight when it comes to injury and pain
How a high-carb Western diet may be quietly sabotaging your recovery
The 3 pillars of "active management" for injury: mechanical, mental, and metabolic
The basics of an anti-inflammatory diet (very low carb, high fat, moderate protein)
The difference between nutritional ketosis vs. metabolic acidosis
How to train your body to burn fat instead of carbs for endurance
Simple ways to reduce oxidative stress and support your gut health
Why omega-3 to omega-6 balance is critical for joint and tendon health
Label-reading tips that might surprise even the most health-conscious runners
Whether CRP and ketone testing is worth doing to track inflammation
🧪 Practical Takeaways for Runners
A 4–6 week anti-inflammatory diet “trial” could help reduce pain and improve energy
Reducing processed foods and increasing healthy fats can shift you into a less inflamed state
Berries, leafy greens, herbs, and spices are powerful sources of antioxidants
Ketone testing can “gamify” your dietary changes and provide real-time feedback
Omega-3s from oily fish, grass-fed meats, and free-range eggs support healing
🛠️ Resources Mentioned
📄 Paper: The Relevance of Diet in Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice – A Narrative Review
For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃♂️📚 - Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓 - The Run Smarter Book 📖 - Access to Research Papers 📄🔍 - & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟 👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨
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