These foods are known to decrease inflammation as well as improve mood and cardiovascular health. Examples include: Fatty fish, such as mackerel, salmon, oysters, sardines, shrimp, and trout.
It is the Omega 3 fatty acids in the Salmon that makes it an excellent food choice for a healthy diet. Anti-inflammatory foods decrease inflammation and can have a beneficial impact on lupus patients. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends at least 2 to 3 Salmon dishes every week.
In general, people with lupus should aim for a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It should also include moderate amounts of meats, poultry, and oily fish. If you have lupus, following a varied, healthy diet may help: Reduce inflammation and other symptoms.
Foods to consider avoiding
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.
Multiple studies have shown that their anti-inflammatory properties are significantly beneficial in managing lupus. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and tuna are great sources of omega-3 fats-aim for at least two servings per week.
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, modulate immune activity and protect against several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis.
Choose whole grains — like whole-wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, and brown rice. Get a mix of healthy proteins — like lean meats, poultry, seafood, beans, nuts, and eggs. Go for foods with healthy fats — like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and fish.
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.
Summary. Eating cocoa-rich dark chocolate that contains flavanols may help reduce inflammation, which people with lupus experience. However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that eating chocolate benefits people with this condition. Instead, experts advise people with lupus to eat a balanced diet.
Foods to Avoid
and should be removed from your lupus diet. These foods include alfalfa sprouts, garlic, saturated and trans fats, nightshade veggies like potatoes and tomatoes, artificial sweeteners and large quantities of sugar and salt.
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.
The best sources of marine omega-3s are fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel. Eating a 3- to 6-ounce serving of these fish two to four times a week is recommended for lowering inflammation and protecting the heart.
Salmon is a great source of anti-inflammatory nutrients that our bodies need. There are tons of other sources of omega-3's, like plant-based omega-3. However fish-based omega-3s are much more coveted.
Fish: Fish, especially salmon, is a great source of omega-3s — it contains two different types, DHA and EPA. Omega-3s are nutrients that reduce inflammation and ease joint pain.
Ultraviolet, or UV, light from the sun damages your cells. That's why you get sunburn. But in some people, the immune system attacks the sunburned, or damaged, cells. And UV light not only seems to trigger lupus, it also appears to make symptoms worse.
In particular, an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains (such as wild rice, quinoa, or barley), beans, and nuts has been associated with better health (1, 2).
Prevention Tips
Exposure to UV rays from sunlight and other light sources can trigger flares in many people with lupus. Staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., applying sunscreen every day, and wearing sun-protective clothing can prevent UV rays from triggering a lupus flare.
While the environmental elements that can trigger lupus and cause flares aren't fully known, the most commonly cited are ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB); infections (including the effects of the Epstein-Barr virus), and exposure to silica dust in agricultural or industrial settings.
When choosing dairy products, remember to go either low-fat or fat-free. Some examples include 1% and skim milk, low fat and low sodium yogurt, and low fat cheese. Foods to avoid are 2% and whole milk, which contain a large amount of fat and cholesterol.
Fresh vegetables should be consumed daily, as well as at least one fruit per day. Fresh fish also play a beneficial role in SLE patient's diet and should be added to the personalized diet, as well as cold pressed oil. Patients can supplement the diet with flaxseeds, pumpkins, carrots, nuts, oranges or apples.
Well, it is possible to consume too much salmon. Salmon is a fatty fish, and just like any other food, consuming too much of it can lead to weight gain and other health problems. While comparatively lower than other types of seafood, salmon also contains mercury, which can be harmful in large amounts.
The Omega-3s EPA and DHA found in fatty fish found in cold water like wild salmon and sablefish help to maintain healthy blood vessels and may reduce chronic inflammation throughout the body.