A chronic inflammatory disease that can affect almost all the organs of the body is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The immune system of the body actually turns against its own tissues and cells which can be very painful and in its most severe state even life threatening. The most commonly affected group of people is women between the ages of 15-45. Many people who suffer from this affliction have been successful with reducing and even eliminating their symptoms by exercising and adhering to a lupus diet. By avoiding specific foods that can contribute to flare-ups and adding those that are known to reduce inflammation, people can begin a program that will greatly reduce their pain.
Jemma Harrington Author Of Lupus Diet
A great place to begin with a lupus diet is to remove all the bad foods from your life. Uninformed doctors may tell you that what you eat doesn’t matter. But lupus suffers have an entirely different attitude. They know firsthand the difference food and nutrition can make. Alcohol, sodas, energy drinks and other drinks that are highly acidic are on the top of the list of things to avoid. Eliminate processed foods, red meats, fatty foods, salt, sugar, dairy, white flour, spicy foods and artificial sweeteners. Not only is this list detrimental to your health nutritionally, but for a lupus sufferer they can cause very painful flare-ups.
When people look at the list of all the things they can’t eat on a lupus diet the first thought is usually to wonder what is left. The great news is that foods that lessen the inflammation are delicious and very good for you. The basic foundation includes all the fruits and vegetables. They are best eaten in raw form when possible. Foods that are easy to digest such as almonds, soups, smoothies and salads are very calming to the body. Add digestive enzymes, probiotics and essential fatty acids. Omega-3 fish oil has been proven to reduce inflammation. Always remember to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water a day. The best recommendation of water is to drink half your weight in ounces of good water a day. For a one hundred and fifty pound individual that would be seventy five ounces of water a day.
By following a regime of recommended foods and supplements a lupus diet is a very good way to begin an actual healing process. It is a good idea to also include exercises in your daily life. Stretching helps to relieve stiffness and increases flexibility. Weight lifting and resistance exercises improve muscle strength and aerobic exercises like walking and swimming help you manage your weight, increase your cardio fitness and improves the entire body as a whole. See out articles for more information on what is lupus disease