What is a good diet regimen for a lupus patient to follow?
I would like to know what foods to stay away from and what foods may help people diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. What is a good diet regimen for this diagnosis? Are there any foods that are harmful or that should be totally avoided by lupus patients?
Answer
Lupus patients should avoid alfalfa sprouts. They stimulate the immune system, just the opposite of what we need.
Outside of that, here are some basic guidelines that work for me.
1. Eat lots, and I mean lots, of fresh fruits and vegetables
2. Limit or eliminate animal fat. We have a high rate of premature atherosclerosis. A healthy heart diet is essential.
3. Limit processed foods
4. Eat plenty of fiber (#1 will accomplish that)
5. Get regular mild to moderat exercise-it improves immune function, lubricates joints and elevates mood. Ask your rheumy what would be good for you.
6. Do not take echinacea or goldenseal. They also stimulate immune system.
7. Some lupus patients find wheat gluten to be inflammatory, but many of us have no problem with it.
8. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t put it in your mouth.
9. Fish oil is anti-inflammatory. You can eat cold water fish like salmon to get that. A small amount of nuts is good, too.
10. Make sure you get plenty of calcium. Our meds make us prone to osteoporosis. Exercise helps with that, too.
Here is another link for Lupus Diet
May 30, 2010 No Comments
The Lupus Diet
The Lupus Diet: What You Eat Can Affect Your Symptoms
If you suffer from lupus, you might be interested in creating your own “lupus diet.” Why? Because there’s no denying that the foods we eat can affect our bodies in different ways. And the foods you eat can also have an effect on your lupus symptoms. Some foods can relieve your symptoms, while others will make them worse. And creating a “lupus diet” comes down to eating more of the former, and avoiding the latter.
Avoid Saturated Fats
Lupus can increase your chances of developing heart disease. And eating saturated fats makes you even more susceptible. Saturated fats can also cause inflammation, which is a major contributor to lupus pain. So those who are suffering from lupus should stick to foods that are low in fat.
Eat More Fish
Fish can be beneficial to people suffering from many different autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s disease, and lupus. The fish oil found in really fatty fish can help alleviate symptoms like pain and swelling of the joints, and inflammation around the heart and lungs. So try to work more mackerel, albacore tuna, anchovies, herring, and Pacific salmon into your diet.
Other Foods to Avoid
There are many other foods that can worsen lupus symptoms and cause lupus flares. Alfalfa can stimulate the immune system. While this is usually a good thing, it isn’t in those whose immune systems are attacking their own bodies. Eating eggs can cause your body to produce biochemicals that can potentially cause or worsen inflammation. And eating hot dogs, cured meats, beans and mushrooms can also aggravate lupus symptoms.
Keep a Food Diary
But not everyone with lupus is affected in the same ways by the same foods. So consider keeping a food diary. Write down any foods you eat, and also make a note any time your symptoms seem worse than usual. If you symptoms get worse every time you eat a certain food, this is probably a food you should avoid.
By learning how different foods can affect lupus, you can create a “lupus diet” that will help keep your symptoms under control.
December 11, 2009 1 Comment
