Diet For Discoid Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system of the body becomes hyper and attacks healthy and normal tissues. This causes swelling, irritation and harm to the kidneys, blood, joints, skin, lungs and the heart. The immune system is incapable of distinguishing between healthy tissues and antigens like virus and bacteria. Hence, it guides the antibodies against the healthy tissue instead of the antigens which in turn causes pain, inflammation and even damage to the tissue. One type of lupus is the discoid lupus which is a condition that involves only the skin. The skin develops sores with inflammation especially in areas like the ears, scalp and the face. Flaky and red rashes are produced where the centre area is lighter in color and the rim is darker than the normal skin color. Though there is no exact cause for lupus some causes could be hereditary, ultraviolet light, certain prescription drugs and viruses.
There are a few ways to treat discoid lupus. If the skin is sensitive to sunlight, a UVA/UVB sunscreen needs to be used daily along with wearing a hat when going out. Cortisone ointment can be also be applied to reduce the rashes and their progression. A more effective alternative are cortisone injections instead of the ointment. Anti malarial and immune suppression medications can also be used to treat discoid lupus. Treatment with a diet for discoid lupus may help, but it would certainly not suffice as an alternative treatment. It can simply help facilitate healing and minimize or control symptoms to some extent.
A diet for lupus discoid helps while treating discoid lupus as it helps ease the symptoms.
• You need to make sure that you include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. If you are a non vegetarian, the best food to include in your diet is fish especially sardines, salmon, and mackerel. Avoid red meat and dairy rich foods as these could aggravate the condition.
• If you are a vegetarian you have a lot of options like walnuts, Soy nuts, Brazil nuts, flaxseed and soybeans.
• Use soybean, flaxseed and olive oil while cooking food. Include fruits and vegetables like kidney beans tofu, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, raspberries, strawberries, summer and winter squash in your diet as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Sprouts especially alfalfa sprouts may increase inflammation and hence should be avoided. Certain herbs such as cat’s claw have proved to reduce inflammation as well. Some people have found Echinacea, garlic and bee propolis helpful in improving their immune system. However, use Echinacea with caution. Be sure to consult your nutritionist to know the right amounts to be consumed.
• Make sure that sugar and salt are used to the minimum.
• You need to reduce or stop the consumption of alcoholic beverages as it triggers off an attack of discoid lupus when consumed in excess. You should also try and quit smoking. Avoid caffeinated drinks as they accelerate the heart and lead to stress which is one of the causes of discoid lupus.
• In addition to maintaining a healthy diet it is also recommended that you regularly exercise and practice yoga and meditation as it helps you reduce and manage stress.
Info on discoid lupus erythematosus and lupus diet
Let us understand what Discoid lupus Erythematosus is all about.
Discoid lupus Erythematosus is a chronic condition that can affect people of all age groups. It is a skin problem that is characterized by skin lesions and inflammation that can happen on the ears, face, scalp and sometimes on other parts of the body.
Symptoms: The symptoms include joint pain, muscle pain, diarrhea, nausea, fever, weakness and fatigue. Other symptoms include butter-fly shaped rashes across the face, weight loss, loss of appetite, bruises, chest pain, mouth sores, loss of hair and joint swelling. Some people experience coin-shaped red rashes, seizures, and changes in personality.
The lesions are inflammations that can become scaly with wart-like appearance. When these lesions appear in hairy areas, the patient can suffer from hair loss and permanent scarring. Some of the patients can develop a disease of the internal organs, and then the disease is called Systemic Lupus.
Causes: Discoid lupus Erythematosus is said to be an autoimmune disorder that happens when the immune cells get misdirected and cause harm to the body.
Treatment: If you suffer from these symptoms, we advise you to visit a doctor. The physician will be able to diagnose the disease properly and can prescribe the right medication. Generally, doctors can also prescribe cortisone ointments and other medications.
Diet for Discoid lupus Erythematosus: Correct nutrition and diet patterns can help to cure Discoid lupus Erythematosus.
A healthy diet that includes plenty of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and low in dairy products and red meat, is believed to be good for treating this health problem. So be sure to include salmon, sardines and mackerel in your food.
Even a healthy vegetarian diet is believed to decrease the inflammation, while a diet high in non-vegetarian food can increase the inflammation. It is said that eating less fat, fewer calories and food products that are low in phenylalanine and tyrosine can be helpful.
Sprouts and seeds are sometimes not good for lupus patients. Some studies have shown that consumption of seeds and sprouts have caused Lupus in monkeys, and it can do the same to human beings.
Lifestyle changes: If you drink alcohol, then we suggest that you reduce or stop consuming the same. Research has shown that alcohol can trigger off attacks of the disease and can be linked to excessive intake of alcohol.
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