Treatment for lupus can vary among individuals, depending on your symptoms, but a healthy diet is something all individuals with the condition can follow. Diet alone is not a cure or treatment for lupus, but can promote overall health and well-being and may reduce some lupus symptoms. Before changing your diet, talk with your health care provider about what kinds of foods you should add to your diet and what things you should avoid.
What is Lupus?
The Lupus Foundation of America explains that lupus is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints or organs, and affects 1.5 million Americans as of 2011. The immune system does not differentiate between foreign bacteria or germs and the body's tissues, so it starts attacking the body. Individuals with lupus experience flares, which are periods of time when symptoms worsen, and then remissions. The disease can be mild or very serious, and individuals with the condition should be under the care of a medical provider. Symptoms can include fatigue, fever, joint pain, weight fluctuation, a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, easy bruising, anxiety and depression.
Nutrition
Lupus cannot be treated by a special diet, but good nutrition helps build a healthy body, with or without lupus. Omega-3 fatty acids, or fish oil, is said to be beneficial for reducing inflammation, a common symptom in lupus. These oils also help promote heart health; this is important for lupus sufferers, as women with lupus are at increased risk for developing heart disease when compared to the general population. Treatment for lupus may include corticosteroids, which can increase blood pressure and cholesterol, increasing your risk of heart disease. These medications may also decrease bone mass, so foods rich in calcium and vitamin D like milk and dark green leafy vegetables are good additions to the diet.
Vitamins
Part of a healthy diet includes getting enough vitamins, or taking supplements if your diet is lacking. According to a literature review by A. C. Brown published in 2000 in the "Journal of Renal Nutrition," possible beneficial vitamins for lupus include vitamins A and E, selenium, and calcium and vitamin D. Before supplementing your diet with vitamins, talk with your doctor about appropriate dosages for your situation and whether supplementation is safe for you.
Things to Avoid
Lupus may cause fluid retention in some individuals, so you may want to avoid high-sodium foods. Processed foods tend to be high in salt, and limiting these foods can reduce symptoms. Alfalfa and alfalfa tablets have been known to cause flares in individuals with lupus, says the Lupus Foundation of America. Some herbs and dietary supplements have been touted to be beneficial for lupus, but these should not be consumed without first talking with your health care provider. Even natural dietary supplements can interact with medications you may be taking and cause adverse effects. Talk with your doctor about your diet and whether modifications to your existing diet can help alleviate your lupus symptoms or flares.
