Chocolate and cocoa products may help reduce inflammation, which may benefit people with autoimmune conditions such as lupus.
Saturated Fat and Trans Fat
Foods that contain saturated fat or trans fat also contain steroids that can contribute to weight gain because they increase your appetite. It is best to limit both as much as possible since being overweight or obese could worsen your lupus symptoms.
If you have lupus, here are some things to keep in mind: First, it is a good idea to reduce your consumption of refined sugars as much as possible. Sugar is inflammatory and contributes to a number of health problems that can add to your lupus symptoms.
Are there any specific foods I need to avoid? According to Johns Hopkins Lupus Center experts, they believe that a chemical found in alfalfa may trigger lupus symptoms. So you may want to avoid eating alfalfa sprouts or taking supplements with alfalfa.
Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) Test. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are autoantibodies to the nuclei of your cells. 98% of all people with systemic lupus have a positive ANA test, making it the most sensitive diagnostic test for confirming diagnosis of the disease.
Evidence suggests that eating a whole foods diet that limits added sugar and saturated fat can reduce inflammation. A 2020 review also indicates that consuming sugar may negatively affect SLE. Therefore, limiting high fat and high sugar foods may be beneficial for lupus symptoms.
Foods High in Cholesterol and Saturated Fats
Heart attack risk is 50 times higher in people with lupus, so patients with lupus should be extra vigilant against foods with known links to heart disease, such as red meat, fried foods, and dairy.
Protein should be reduced to just 6 to 8 oz/day, sodium should be limited to 2-3 g/day, and potassium should be reduced to 2000mg/day. Foods that are high in potassium include bananas, oranges, dairy, cheese, legumes, and chocolate. Additionally, phosphorus in the diet should also be reduced.
Nightshade vegetables include potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. As for whether or not these foods can worsen lupus, there is no scientific evidence to suggest people should avoid eating them. It is very much an individual decision as to whether you want to avoid consuming these vegetables.
Hydroxychloroquine: an antimalarial drug that is effective for treating lupus-related arthritis and rashes. It reduces flares by 50 percent and may also help prevent blood clots.
To this end, these studies have found that coffee intake can reduce the risk of Rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, autoimmune liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Steroids and Vitamin D
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatories often used to treat lupus. They can thin your bones and raise your osteoporosis risk. Daily vitamin D and calcium supplements may help prevent this.
Foods to avoid are 2% and whole milk, which contain a large amount of fat and cholesterol. If you do not or cannot consume milk, choose lactose-free milk, soy milk, and almond milk that are fortified with calcium and Vitamin D. Aim for three or more servings a day.
People with lupus tend to suffer from recurring infections, so it's important to add lots of fresh fruits like blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, oranges and pineapples into your lupus diet. Fruits that are rich in antioxidants can strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off the harmful ...
Yogurt and dairy: Research shows a type of healthy bacteria found in yogurt and other dairy products might reduce disease symptoms in some people with lupus. 8 In addition, eating foods high in calcium and vitamin D is important for people with lupus because they have an increased risk for osteoporosis.
Medications used to treat lupus can cause low vitamin D and bone problems, so this is another reason to focus on eating high vitamin D foods or taking a supplement if recommended by your doctor. Foods that are naturally rich in vitamin D include salmon (and many other fish), eggs, and mushrooms.
Can any foods make lupus worse? You may have heard to avoid “nightshade vegetables,” which include white potatoes, tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), and eggplant. While there isn't any scientific evidence that directly links them to inflammation, you may find they trigger symptoms for you.
Ideas for your snack pack include granola, nuts, pretzels, dried fruit, crackers with cheese or peanut butter, or home-made trail mix. Eat a snack before going to bed, in addition to your other meals.
Foods like onions, asparagus, seeds, lentils, and apples help maintain adequate fiber in your diet. However, in lupus patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), these foods containing high FODMAPs may cause digestive discomfort.
Sjogren's syndrome is a relatively common disease, although often under-diagnosed. Sjogren's syndrome can occur alone or in association with other autoimmune diseases, most commonly lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Not to mention, fatigue is one of the most troublesome symptoms of lupus. Make sure you're getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night to keep your energy up. Build a support network. Build a support system of people you trust to help you cope with lupus symptoms and flares.
Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because it has many symptoms that come and go and can mimic symptoms of other disorders or diseases. When speaking to your doctor about your symptoms, be sure to include symptoms that may no longer be present.
Remember that rest is also needed to restore energy. Lupus patients will want to work towards a healthy tiredness where subsequent rest or sleep recharges the batteries, and more recovery obtained in this way should help to minimise lupus tiredness.