Contents:
- Medical Video: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- What diet should be used by people with lupus?
- What foods should be consumed by people with lupus?
- 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 fats
- 2. Foods that contain too much sodium
- 3. Food with onion mixture
Medical Video: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
People with lupus will often experience inflammation and infection due to disorders of their immune system. Although there is no cure yet, eating the right foods will make people with lupus undergo treatment more easily. Then, is there a special diet that lupus sufferers must do? What foods should be consumed and avoided?
What diet should be used by people with lupus?
So far, there is no specific type of diet recommended for people with lupus. Lupus sufferers should consume foods with balanced nutrition. Food can not cure lupus, but by eating foods that contain balanced nutrition, people with lupus can:
- Having strong bones and muscles
- Experiencing inflammation that is not too heavy
- Not experiencing many side effects due to drugs consumed
- Has an ideal body weight so as to prevent the onset of other diseases
In general, the distribution of nutritional needs is almost the same as most healthy people, namely carbohydrates by 50%, protein 15%, and fat as much as 30% of total calories per day. Of course, this depends on the conditions of each individual. If you want to know in more detail, you can consult a nutritionist.
What foods should be consumed by people with lupus?
To reduce the symptoms that arise, there are various foods that you can consume, here are these foods:
1. Foods with high antioxidants
People with lupus will often experience inflammation, so food is needed to reduce the impact. In this case, you can rely on foods that contain high antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in many kinds of fruits and vegetables.
2. Foods that contain omega-3
Not only are antioxidants good for relieving inflammation, but omega-3 can also help you prevent these symptoms. In fact, omega-3 can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke that are vulnerable to sufferers of lupus. Foods that contain omega-3 are:
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Sardines
- Mackarel
If you prefer to take omega-3 supplements, you should first discuss with the medical team that handles you.
3. Foods with high calcium and vitamin D content
People who suffer from lupus also tend to have brittle bones. In addition, the drugs consumed, have side effects on the bones, thus making the risk of brittle bones getting bigger. This risk can be reduced by eating foods that contain high calcium and vitamin D - which can make bones stronger. You can find plenty of calcium and vitamin D in food:
- Milk and processed products, choose products that are low in fat
- Dark green vegetables, like 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 symptoms of lupus worse, here are foods that you must limit or avoid:
1. Foods that contain saturated fats
Saturated fat and trans fat can put you at risk for heart disease and other chronic diseases. Of course, foods containing both fats should be removed from your diet. foods with saturated fats and high trans fats namely, junk food and various types of food or beverage packaging.
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 people with lupus susceptible to heart disease. Therefore, avoid packaged foods and foods that contain high salt.
3. Food with onion mixture
For some people, onions are a flavorful ingredient that makes food more delicious. But unfortunately, this can not be felt by people with lupus, because onion is a mandatory food that must be avoided. According to research, onion serves to increase white blood cells which are the main forces of the immune system. of course, this food is bad for people with lupus because the more white blood cells, the more organs are attacked and finally the symptoms that arise are more severe.
