Diet and Lupus – Is There a Relationship?
The Truth About Diet and Lupus
Is there a connection between diet and lupus? Lupus short for systemic Lupus erythematosus or SLE is a systematic autoimmune disease. It affects about 1.5 million Americans and 5 million more people worldwide. Like with other autoimmune disease, lupus causes the body’s immune system to attack its own organs, joints and tissues. Women are affected 9 times more then men. Also like with many autoimmune diseases there is a close relationship between diet and lupus.
Diet and Lupus in The Mainstream
Mainstream drug approaches to treating autoimmune diseases is sub par at best. The nature of autoimmune disease makes it a difficult entity to treat. Especially if you just treat the symptoms like drugs do. That is one thing people often forget. Medication is only aimed at treating the symptoms. Ontop of that for lupus a juggling act of suppressing the immune system enough to calm the progression of the disease, but not too much that the person becomes easily sick from infections that are normally prevented by a properly functioning immune system. This type of treatment approach may sound appealing to some, but to me it almost sounds like Russian roulette with your health. This article will talk more in detail about diet and lupus and conventional treatments.
A common feature of lupus is pain due to inflammation and swelling of the joints and muscles. The medical approach is in the form of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. But like with any drug, NSAIDS have unwanted side effects and long term usage can also result in problems. So it is like you are trading one set of symptoms for another. This is another good reason for seeking complimentary therapies. There are lots of good nutritional supplements now that provide inflammation relief. Fish oil has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Certain foods have been shown to be pro-inflammatory so removing them from your diet can have a beneficial effect.
Besides diet and lupus, some sufferers find massage to be beneficial especially those with chronic joint and muscle pain. It can help improve circulation and relieve stiffness. However, for those with lupus affecting the skin avoiding intense massage is recommended. Other potential treatment options can include acupuncture and chiropractic. Result are mixed as some patients report benefits and others do not. It is really an individual matter and you will have to try it out for yourself. What may work for one person may not work for another. Instead of being a critic on the sideline, give it a go before you write something off.
Diet and Lupus Conclusions
The relationship between diet and lupus does exist and many people who suffer from autoimmune disease have had great result implementing dietary changes. Also addressing stress and the emotional aspect of health is important. Will a natural approach to lupus may seem overwhelming to begin with, I suggest if you are interested reading up on the approach more. With some guidance on the diet and lupus recommendations, plus some other important factors you can be on your way to regaining your health.
