Around one and a half million people suffer from the autoimmune disease lupus. Women are more prone to this disorder in comparison to men. One of the best ways to combat and keep your lupus in check is by maintaining a healthy diet. You can also adjust your diet and incorporate foods that can help your condition improve. As lupus is an autoimmune disease, your diet should try and include foods that repair the immune system.
Like all disorders, there are some foods that help lupus and will alleviate your symptoms. Certain foods that help lupus include calcium-rich foods, dairy products, foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, food that contain high levels of iron, fruits and vegetables, legumes, foods with less carbs, proteins, vitamins, whole grains, and foods that contain zinc. Diet for lupus sufferers should include 75% of alkalizing foods such as cinnamon, cottage cheese, free range eggs, garlic, ginger, green tea, herbal tea, lean chicken breast, fruits and vegetables, nuts, organic yogurt, sea salt, and seeds. The remaining 25% diet for lupus patients should include acidifying foods like dairy produce, duck, foods that contain some fat, lamb, legumes, pasta, oils, turkey, and seafood such as tuna, lobster, and shrimp.
While the below mentioned foods can help with lupus, it is important to remember to have a balanced menu that includes cereals, fish, low-calorie milk, yogurt, and unprocessed grains. Calcium-rich foods will help strengthen your bones, while foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids like chicken, nuts and seafood are very good for the heart and help lower high blood pressure; they also help relieve inflammation symptoms in lupus patients. Include vitamins B6, vitamin C and vitamin D in your lupus diet plan. Foods that are low in carbohydrate content will help regulate your weight and also get rid of excess fluid in your body. Adding raw foods such as fruits and vegetables to your diet is of utmost importance as they contain antioxidants and vitamins, which are needed to strengthen the immune system. Eating fruits like apples, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, and strawberries and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, eggplant, kale, mustard greens, and romaine lettuce is helpful.
When you are suffering from lupus, make sure that you eliminate the following foods from your diet. Avoid foods with cholesterol, high-fat dairy products, hydrogenated oils, animal fats, fatty meats like pork and beef, high-fat foods, and foods with low-saturated fats. Lupus foods to avoid include alfalfa sprouts and seeds; animal meats; beans; corn oil; cured meat; high-fat dairy products; dietary iron supplements; eggs; eggplant; fats; herbs that include panax, eleutherococcus, andrographis, ginseng, and Echinacea; mushrooms; nightshade vegetables or white potatoes; nori seaweed; peanuts; peppers; poppy seed oil; safflower oil; sunflower oil; and tomatoes.
Lupus nutrition can make a huge difference, and eating foods that strengthen your immune system could help you immensely. Consult a nutritionist or dietician to prepare a meal plan suited for you.
A lupus recovery diet will depend on various factors, and you may need to get a detailed diet plan depending on your symptoms. Your lupus treatment diet will be planned for you by your dietician according to your needs. Following a diverse, healthy diet could help reduce swelling and other symptoms, strengthen your muscles and bones, help combat any side effects of medications, help you maintain an optimum weight, and decrease the chance of you suffering from a cardiovascular disease. Stay away from anything that contains caffeine, fat foods, alcohol and salt at all costs.
Keep in mind that while eating these foods will not cure you from lupus, following a healthy diet plan will still help relieve some of the lupus symptoms.
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