For Sjögren's, the worst foods often worsen dryness, inflammation, and dental issues, including alcohol, caffeine, spicy/acidic foods, sugary items, and salty/hard/dry foods, plus inflammatory culprits like red meat, processed foods, and unhealthy oils (corn, canola), with dairy, gluten, and artificial sweeteners also being common triggers to limit or avoid. Soft, moist, anti-inflammatory choices are generally better.
Many people with Sjogren's disease adopt an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while avoiding processed foods and common allergens. Some adopt a gluten-free diet even if testing does not show celiac disease.
Avoid foods that can trigger inflammation
refined oils rich in omega-6 oils. refined carbohydrates. red meat. foods that cause allergies such as milk, eggs, wheat gluten, and peanuts.
Fried foods, such as french fries and fried chicken, are high in fat and can be difficult to digest, making them problematic food for people with Sjogren's syndrome. Studies in animals showed that high-fat foods will cause worsening the symptoms like dry eyes and dry mouth by causing changes in the gut microbiota.
Foods to consider reducing or eliminating from your diet plan include aged cheese and meats, citrus, spinach, bananas, and fermented foods and many spices too!
Oranges: This citrus fruit is a great source of vitamin C, which strengthens your immune system. Oranges also contain fiber, folate and flavonoids, which help keep the heart healthy and decrease inflammation. Turmeric: When it comes to spices that fight inflammation, turmeric ranks at the top of the list.
While not scientifically proven for everyone, the main vegetables to consider limiting for arthritis are nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers) due to the alkaloid solanine, and potentially corn, due to high omega-6s, as these can trigger inflammation in some individuals, though an elimination trial is needed to see if they affect you.
Inflammatory Foods
Nipocalimab is the first and only investigational therapy granted U.S. FDA breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of adults living with moderate-to-severe Sjögren's disease [news release]. Johnson & Johnson. 2024 Nov 11. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act ().
Consider How You Feel With Spice & Acidity: It's those flavorful things like super-spicy dishes or tomato sauces that are common heartburn-inducing offenders for those with Sjogren's, as they tend to increase burning mouth symptoms and can worsen GI discomfort.
Combine chia seeds with almond milk and a touch of honey, and let it sit overnight in the fridge. In the morning, top it with fresh berries for a delicious and antioxidant-rich breakfast. Chia seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants, making them a perfect choice for reducing inflammation.
Ways diet can help improve your condition
Gluten and Casein. People who have joint pain and are sensitive to gluten, found in wheat, barley and rye, or casein, found in dairy products, may find relief by avoiding them.
Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E are some of the vitamins with promising results for Sjogren's Syndrome. They have the potential to improve the overall quality of life for individuals with this autoimmune disorder.
Sjögren's patients should avoid mouthwashes and rinses that contain alcohol or witch hazel. These ingredients can aggravate oral dryness and burning. Chew sugar-free gum or suck on hard diabetic or sugar-free candies to help increase saliva.
However, widely used herbs — including spirulina, elderberry, ashwagandha, chlorella, echinacea, and alfalfa — possess immunostimulatory properties that can worsen autoimmune symptoms, posing risks to patients with conditions like DM and CLE.
Start with five minutes of aerobic exercise daily (e.g. walking, biking, running, elliptical, treadmill) and increase the duration by an additional two-to-three minutes each month up to a maximum of 25 minutes daily. If you have a heart or lung condition, consult your doctor first.
It has been reported that more than 400 drugs can exacerbate the dryness symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome, including antihypertensives, diuretics, antidepressants, antiparkinson drugs, antipsychotics, antihistamines, centrally acting analgesics, and anticholinergics [6], [13], [14], [15].
If scaly, dry skin is present, utilizing moisturizers with lactic acid, urea, or salicylic acid can be used. Examples include: AmLactin®, CeraVe® SA, and Eucerin® Roughness Relief.
10 foods that fight inflammation
Orange, tomato, pineapple and carrot juices are all high in the antioxidant, vitamin C, which can neutralize free radicals that lead to inflammation.
Eggplants
Eggplant, or aubergine, is a nightshade vegetable known for its rich purple color. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, offering many potential health benefits. 2 However, eating eggplant may cause inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Based on new research from the CDC, the top five nutrient-dense vegetables are:
Applying heating pads, taking hot baths or showers, or using warm paraffin wax can temporarily relieve join pain. Be careful not to burn yourself. Limit heating pad use to 20 minutes at a time. Ice packs can help lessen pain and inflammation, especially after physical activity.
Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts contain high amounts of fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin E and Omega-3 fats, all of which have anti-inflammatory effects.