Dietary Tips For Those With An Autoimmune Disease - Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, with symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening, but it can also go into remission for weeks, months, and even years. More serious forms are difficult to manage medically – immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisone can control severe symptoms, but should be used with caution, as they can reduce the chance that the disease will go into remission naturally and weaken the immune system in a way that increases cancer and illness risk.
If you have lupus, taking a daily multivitamin/multimineral supplement and modifying your diet are important. These changes may also be effective for all autoimmune and inflammatory conditions and symptoms:
- Increase your intake of fish oils - omega-3 fatty acids. The best food source is wild salmon or other cold-water, oily fish eaten at least three times a week, and also look into starting a potent omega-3 supplement for added benefit.
- Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils (soybean, safflower, sunflower, corn, etc.), margarine, vegetable shortening, and all products made with partially hydrogenated oils.
- Eat a low-protein, plant-based diet that excludes products made from cows’ milk. Many integrative medicine practitioners have also seen many autoimmune conditions improve or even reverse by eliminating gluten-containing foods whether you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This makes an elimination diet challenge definitely worth a two- to three-month trial.
- Include plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.
- A couple of foods to avoid however are Garlic and Alfalfa sprouts.
Three substances in garlic—allicin, ajoene, and thiosulfinates—rev-up your immune system by enhancing the activity of white blood cells. The sulfur components of garlic help to prevent and suppress cancer in the body. For this reason, garlic is often used as a supplement to combat colds and infections. Unfortunately, the enhancement of immune response is counterproductive in people with autoimmune disease such as lupus, because their immune system is already overactive. As a result, people with lupus and lupus-like signs should avoid cooking with garlic and adding it to food. Of course, a tiny amount of the herb will not harm you, but try to consciously avoid purchasing and preparing foods with garlic.
Alfalfa sprouts contain an amino acid called L-canavanine that can increase inflammation in people with lupus by stimulating the immune system. As a result, people with lupus and similar autoimmune conditions should avoid alfalfa sprouts completely.
These recommendations follow those in our Anti-Inflammatory Diet.