We Are What We Eat – Can Diet Cure Lupus?
The old saying still applies to everyone. We are what we eat. Our diet choices have a direct effect on our body and the way we feel. Eating the right foods in the right amount is a prerequisite for optimal health. That’s a key consideration for everyone, but it’s particularly important for those with conditions like lupus. Diet can play an important role in the way lupus symptoms present, mainly because lupus is an autoimmune disease.
A lupus diet to reduce symptoms and flare-ups
Although a lupus diet is not a cure for lupus, choosing the right foods can be extremely helpful in reducing lupus symptoms. A lupus diet is known to have an impact on inflammation, pain, general mobility, and resistance levels. It is also believed that a correct diet or avoiding certain foods can also play an important factor in addressing the underlying cause of lupus, that is: autoimmune disease.
Here are ten lupus diet suggestions that are known to make a difference. Although this is just a small list, it will help alleviate the symptoms of lupus:
10 foods people with lupus should avoid
- Avoid processed foods and foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG).
- Don’t rely on red meat as a source of protein. Instead, eat fish or chicken.
- Eat a low-fat diet. You cannot completely cut out your fat intake, but you should strive to avoid excess fat.
- Minimize exposure to spicy foods, which can cause breakouts.
- Drink water instead of alcohol, soda, energy drinks, and other unhealthy drinks.
- Decrease your intake of sugar and salt.
- Reduce or eliminate the consumption of refined carbohydrates and starches. Instead, look for whole grains.
- Eat more fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.
- Focus on foods that your body can easily digest.
- Supplement your lupus diet with probiotics and other digestive aids.
Note: Before implementing any particular lupus diet, you should consider undergoing extensive testing for food allergies, whether known or not, food allergies can lead to lupus flare-ups.
This can help both SLE and DLE victims.
These ten lupus diet guidelines serve as the foundation for a smart eating plan for those with both SLE and DLE, as the underlying cause is often very similar or linked. Diet plans should always be consistent with these general principles, even if they are not a complete cure for lupus. Those who deviate from these recommendations may experience an escalation in the number or severity of many lupus symptoms.
Avoid lupus flare-ups when eating out
You’ll also notice that those recommendations are perfectly consistent with a variety of non-lupus eating strategies. Diet plans of this type can provide lupus sufferers with a variety of ready-made menu ideas and guidance. Also, knowing what foods can trigger lupus flare-ups can be very helpful when eating out.
Changing your diet can have a tremendous impact on how you experience lupus symptoms, but it would be unrealistic to believe that diet alone will provide a cure for lupus. A smart diet for lupus helps on many fronts, but it is not a panacea.
If you’ve been diagnosed with lupus, discuss developing an ideal lupus diet plan with your doctor or a nutritionist who knows lupus. You may find that some changes in the way you eat and prepare your meals can play a big role in the way you feel on a day-to-day basis.