Autoimmune diseases and nutrition: Diet and Foods to Prevent Lupus Erythematosus Symptoms

The immune system can be strengthened or weakened through nutrition. Certain foods make you overwork, how do you avoid them to prevent symptoms?

Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that, among other symptoms, can cause joint pain. These, in turn, can make it difficult to rest or exercise that the person who suffers from it must be guaranteed to sustain their well-being.

People who suffer from lupus erythematosus and who have acute discomfort in their joints can try to reduce their symptoms through diet. By adapting their diet, people with this autoimmune disease can greatly improve their quality of life.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LUPUS AND DIET?

Although the causes of lupus are not clear, naturopathic medicine associates its appearance with the consequences of the Western diet, specifically with overfeeding protein and fat, rich in salt and refined products.

It seems that due to the alteration of the microbial flora and the content of metabolic residues of the current diet, there is a higher permeability in the digestive mucosa than the physiological one that allows the entry of small protein fractions (polypeptides) into the blood (residues food, virus or bacteria remains).

The immune system, through its defensive antibodies, attacks these small infiltrated polypeptides; but if its composition is very similar to some human proteins and its entry into the blood is prolonged, the antibodies that defend us can end up confusing the foreign polypeptides with their own, and thus produce an auto aggression or autoimmune attack.

For example, certain fractions of bovine albumin present in cow”s milk that enter the bloodstream differ slightly from fractions of human albumin, but are almost identical to collagen in joints.

This generates an immune attack on the tissues themselves, which is established as a hypothesis of one of the factors that produce joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus itself.

Therefore, the more the proteins we consume resemble human ones and the more frequently they are taken, the greater the risk of suffering from an autoimmune disease.

THE BEST DIET TO CONTROL LUPUS

Once the pathology is established, mammalian proteins (pork, veal, dairy), which are the most similar to human ones, should be suppressed for at least one year. Poultry proteins (egg, chicken, turkey, quail) and then fish proteins would come second at risk.

For this reason, experts advise a diet without animal products, rich in fruit, vegetables, cereals, nuts and legumes, for a long time, with a vitamin B12 supplement if the analytical indicates a deficiency of it.

If there is kidney involvement, salt should be completely suppressed and the supply of vegetable proteins (muesli, whole wheat bread) should be increased to recover those lost in the urine.

In addition to diet, anti-inflammatory supplements such as those rich in omega-3 (flax or walnut oil) and effective plants for pain such as devil”s claw or turmeric, can be useful.

VEGETABLE BROTH AGAINST JOINT PAIN

To reduce joint pain faster, you can take a glass of this vegetable broth twenty minutes before each meal.

It’s diuretic, purifying, anti-inflammatory effect and of contribution of minerals and trace elements, is of great help. This purifying reset makes it easier for the body to forget the autoimmune mechanism of self-harm and activates the internal mechanisms of self-regulation.

Ingredients:

• 6 medium onions
• 1 stick of celery
• 3 leeks
• 1 head of garlic
• 2 cabbage leaves
• 2 and a half liters of water

Preparation:

1. Wash the ingredients and cut them into pieces.
2. Bring them to a boil for an hour over low heat, without oil or salt.
3. Strain the broth and serve it accompanied by the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon.