Food to Eat With Sarcoidosis

Food to Eat With Sarcoidosis
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Sarcoidosis is characterized by cell inflammation in the lungs, liver, eyes or skin. Some of the external signs indicating you have sarcoidosis are weight loss, fevers, fatigue and chest pain. Since these are symptoms that may accompany other health problems, do not change your habits and diet based on a self-diagnosis. Consult a doctor. If it turns out you have sarcoidosis, she can help you to identify the best foods for you to eat.

Antioxidant Sources

Antioxidants rid your body of free radicals, molecules that form as a byproduct of digestion or exposure to toxins. They can damage cells and cause disease. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, eating antioxidant-rich foods such as tomatoes, sweet peppers and berries may help to protect healthy cells from the inflammation that sarcoidosis induces.

Fatty Acids

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. Some scientists claim that the disease is the result of a dysfunctional immune system, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Eating foods that keep you healthy may be one way of strengthening your immunity. To that end, the medical center recommends that you cook with olive oil, a substance rich in healthful monounsaturated fatty acids.

Magnesium-rich Foods

Magnesium is essential for cell function, powering the enzymes that permit them to transfer information to different parts of your body. Magnesium-rich foods, as the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends, may counteract the inflammation sarcoidosis causes, allowing cells to continue to perform their roles. Sources of the mineral include soybeans, sweet corn, oats and avocados.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an orange root available commercially as a dried and ground spice, as well as a dietary supplement. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, turmeric is an anti-inflammatory that can help reduce the cell inflammation that results from sarcoidosis. Take turmeric under your doctor's supervision, as the substance is associated with increased bleeding risk.

Fluids

One theory of the cause of sarcoidosis is that exposure to toxins causes the disease. If that is true, it may be a good idea to drink six to eight glasses of water every day. Water flushes your body, helping to push the toxins out. Fluids also transport food to the cells. Because water removes toxic waste and helps to nourish the cells, it may relieve some of the inflammation that sarcoidosis causes, especially if the condition is related to toxin buildup.

References

Article reviewed by S.C. Ville Last updated on: Aug 9, 2011

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