Mixed

Adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet (low Dietary Inflammatory Index) does not improve perceived stress or general health outcomes during caloric restriction in healthy, non-obese adults.

If you are restricting calories to lose weight, do not expect that focusing specifically on 'anti-inflammatory' foods will automatically lower your stress levels or improve your general health perception. The CALERIE trial shows that while CR itself may improve general health, the specific inflammatory potential of the diet (DII) does not drive these psychological benefits. Focus on sustainable caloric deficit rather than obsessing over anti-inflammatory metrics for mental health gains.