The role of your immune system is to protect you from disease and infection. With autoimmune diseases such as Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system is confused and attacks healthy cells in your body. There are over 80 types of auto-immune diseases, but all involve inflammation, so foods and diets that lessen inflammation are helpful in controlling these disorders.
Significance
According to Donna Jackson Kazawa, author of "The Autoimmune Epidemic," when immigrants from South Asian countries move to Western countries and add processed food to their diets, they show an increase in auto-immune diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. According to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Eat to Live," dramatic dietary changes have the greatest positive effects when the illness is just beginning, rather than in later stages. He points out that most patients who make the changes do experience at least some level of benefit when taking the nutritional approach to control auto-immune illness and suppress inflammation. The pharmaceutical drugs normally used to control auto-immune illnesses list very serious side effects, so it makes sense to attempt to control your illness naturally first.
Features
According to Kazawa, research shows that anti-inflammatory diets reduce symptoms in auto-immune illnesses such as Crohn's and rheumatoid arthritis. She points to research showing that children eating a diet consisting of whole foods instead of processed foods have a reduced risk of Crohn's disease, while those on a highly processed diet have increased risk. Kazawa describes an anti-inflammatory diet as one rich in fruits and vegetables as well as grains that are gluten-free, as gluten can provoke inflammatory reactions. She also recommends avoiding red meat and fish with any mercury content. Jill Harrington, author of "The Lupus Recovery Diet," recommends a diet completely free of animal products. Harrington also recommends excluding sugars and hydrogenated oils as well as limiting salt intake. She acknowledges that gluten can be a negative factor in many people with autoimmune illness. The American Medical Student Association, or AMSA, recommends increasing omega-3 oils, found in cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring. They are also found in flax seeds or oil and walnuts.
Theories/Speculation
Harrington points to research showing that a vegan diet reduces inflammatory reactions. In her book, she discusses the concept of molecular mimicry and says that animal proteins are similar in some ways to human tissue, fooling a confused immune system into forming antibodies against both the animal antibodies as well as your own. According to the AMSA, the Western diet promotes inflammation partly because of the animal products consumed, pointing to the arachidonic acid present in meat and dairy products as contributing to inflammation. The AMSA recommends a shift away from omega-6 fatty acids, saying they promote inflammation, and instead encourages omega-3 oils.
Considerations
Several other factors can contribute to reducing symptoms of inflammatory diseases in addition to changing your diet. Reducing stress and getting adequate sleep are critical to keeping your body at its best. Lack of deep sleep and chronic stress can prevent the healing process from taking place. Movement and exercise are helpful for auto-immune patients. Harrington says that exercise helps the lymphatic system to more effectively flush toxins and waste, and helps the body better overcome stress.
Benefits
According to Harrington, even if you do not have a reduction in the symptoms of your auto-immune illness, there are additional health benefits to be reaped from eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet. This type of diet is recommended by the medical community to help prevent the high cholesterol, which is a factor in heart disease and strokes. It is a more nutrient-rich diet, and fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that have been shown to have a host of health benefits, including cancer prevention.
References
- Ray Sahelian: Autoimmune Disease Treatment
- Disease-Proof: Diet vs. Autoimmune Diseases
- "The Lupus Recovery Diet: A Natural Approach to Autoimmune Disease That Really Works"; Jill Harrington; 2007
- American Medical Student Association: Health Hint---The Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- Diet.com: Anti-inflammatory Diets
- MedlinePlus: Autoimmune Disease
