Autoimmune diseases are a group of conditions in which the immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. While not known to be the cause of autoimmune disease, diet and nutrition can play an important role in your overall health and symptom management if you have such a disease. Learning about the nature of autoimmune disease allows you and your doctor to construct an anti-autoimmune diet to meet your needs.
Features
In general, the goal of an anti-autoimmune diet is to reduce inflammation and prevent immune reactions like allergies. These diets usually focus on eliminating allergenic and inflammation-causing foods and increasing intake of nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods.
According to Arthritis Today, patients with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis exhibited higher levels of intestinal antibodies in response to cereal, cow's milk, pork, codfish and eggs than did people without the disease. While more research is needed, it is believed that consumption of allergy-causing foods causes an increase in immune complexes that circulate throughout the body, aggravating inflammation in some autoimmune diseases.
Benefits
A healthy diet is vital to the overall health of all body systems, including the immune system. While the cause of autoimmune disease hasn't been discovered, food can play an important role in the course of many autoimmune disorders. Examples of autoimmune diseases that can be partially or completely controlled with diet include celiac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Challenges
Even with the popularization of health foods in recent years, maintaining a strict anti-autoimmune diet can be difficult. The temptation of convenient meals like processed and fast foods can make adhering to a diet of healthy foods somewhat challenging.
Making a shopping list before going to the grocery store can reduce the temptation to buy unhealthy foods. Avoiding shopping when hungry may also be helpful in this regard. Cutting up fruits and vegetables and putting together meals at the beginning of the week reduces the time needed to do so during the week, adding to overall convenience.
Food Options
While each person's anti-autoimmune diet will vary depending on personal needs, most diets focus on incorporating nutrient-rich natural foods like fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
Foods with anti-inflammatory properties are often the focus of anti-autoimmune diets. According to Fitness magazine, foods that may help fight inflammation include canola oil, walnuts, olive oil, whole grains and fruits and vegetables. These items are high in antioxidants and healthy monounsaturated fats, which are associated with reduced inflammation, better cholesterol levels and a healthy weight.
Considerations
While a special diet and other healthy lifestyle choices can help maintain overall health, they are not considered a cure for autoimmune disease. To prevent complications, talk to your doctor before starting an anti-autoimmune diet.
