Table of contents:
- What diet should be applied by people with lupus?
- What foods should people with lupus eat?
- 1. Foods with high antioxidants
- 2. Foods that contain omega-3
- 3. Foods with high calcium and vitamin D content
- What foods should people with lupus avoid?
- 1. Foods that contain saturated fat
- 2. Foods that contain too much sodium
- 3. Food with onion mixture
Lupus sufferers will often experience inflammation and infection due to their immune system disorders. Although there is no cure, eating the right foods will make it easier for lupus sufferers to undergo treatment. Then, is there a special diet that people with lupus should do? What foods should be consumed and avoided?
What diet should be applied by people with lupus?
So far, there is no specific type of diet recommended for people with lupus. Lupus sufferers should eat a balanced diet. Food cannot cure lupus, but by eating foods that contain balanced nutrition, lupus sufferers can:
- Have strong bones and muscles
- Experiencing inflammation that is not too severe
- Do not experience many side effects due to drugs consumed
- Have an ideal body weight so as to prevent other diseases
In general, the distribution of nutritional needs is almost the same as for most healthy people, namely 50% carbohydrates, 15% protein, and 30% fat from total calories per day. Of course, this depends on the conditions of each individual. If you want to know more details, you can consult a nutritionist.
What foods should people with lupus eat?
To reduce the symptoms that arise, there are various foods that you can consume, the following are these foods:
1. Foods with high antioxidants
People with lupus will often experience inflammation, therefore food is needed to reduce this impact. In this case, you can count on foods that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
2. Foods that contain omega-3
Not only are antioxidants good for reducing inflammation, but omega-3s can also help you prevent these symptoms. In fact, omega-3s can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, which lupus sufferers are prone to experience. Foods that contain omega-3, namely:
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Mackarel
If you prefer to take omega-3 supplements, you should first discuss it with the medical team who treats you.
3. Foods with high calcium and vitamin D content
People who have lupus also tend to have brittle bones. In addition, the drugs that are consumed, have side effects on the bones, thus making the risk of brittle bones even greater. This risk can be reduced by eating foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D - which can make bones stronger. You can find lots of calcium and vitamin D in foods:
- Milk and processed products, choose low fat products
- Dark green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli
- Nuts, such as kidney beans, soybeans, and almonds
What foods should people with lupus avoid?
There are several types of foods that actually make your lupus symptoms worse, here are foods that you should limit or avoid:
1. Foods that contain saturated fat
Saturated and trans fats can put you at risk for heart disease and other chronic diseases. Of course, foods that contain both fats should be removed from your diet. foods high in saturated fat and trans fat, namely, junk food as well as various types of packaged food or beverage.
2. Foods that contain too much sodium
Not only people with high blood pressure should avoid consuming large amounts of sodium, so do people with lupus. Sodium, which is found in many packaged foods, makes lupus sufferers prone to heart disease. Therefore, avoid packaged foods and foods that are high in salt.
3. Food with onion mixture
For some people, onions are a constituent that makes food tastier. But unfortunately, lupus sufferers cannot experience this, because onions are a mandatory food that must be avoided. According to research, onions function to increase white blood cells, which are the main forces of immunity. Of course, this food is bad for people with lupus because the more white blood cells are, the more organs are attacked and eventually the more severe the symptoms appear.