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Feeding in case of lupus is an important part of the treatment, as it helps to control the inflammation of the body, relieving common symptoms such as excessive tiredness, joint pain, hair loss, cardiovascular problems and skin blemishes. Therefore, the ideal is that those who suffer from lupus make an appointment with the nutritionist to adapt their diet.
In addition, having an adapted diet also helps to better control cholesterol levels, which is one of the biggest challenges for people with lupus. For this, it is important to eat a varied, colorful and rich in fiber of raw fruits and vegetables, as well as bet on probiotics, such as natural yogurts or kefir, as they help to keep the intestine healthy and reduce the absorption of cholesterol. Check out all the tips to control cholesterol through food.
Watch the video of our nutritionist with the main feeding tips for lupus:
Main functional ingredients for lupus
There are some ingredients and condiments that are considered functional in the case of lupus, that is, that have action on the body and that help to reduce inflammation and control the disease. These include:
Ingredient | What is it for | Active substance |
Turmeric | Protects skin from damage from sunlight. | Curcumin |
Red pepper | Improves circulation and relieves pain. | Capsaicin |
Ginger | It has anti-inflammatory action for joints. | Gingerol |
Cumin | Contributes to liver detoxification. | Anethole |
Basil | Reduces muscle pain. | Ursolic acid |
Garlic | Assists in reducing cholesterol and high blood pressure. | Alicina |
Pomegranate | Protection against atherosclerosis and heart disease. | Ellagic acid |
Other important foods to include in the diet in the case of lupus can be: oats, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, flaxseed beets, tomatoes, grapes, avocados, lemon, carrots, cucumbers, kale, lentils and the sprouted type alfalfa.
These ingredients should be added to the daily diet, ideally having at least one of these ingredients in each main meal.
See a more complete list of foods that help fight inflammation, and that can be used in the case of lupus.
What supplements to take for lupus
In addition to food, there are also some supplements that can be indicated by the nutritionist to control the disease, the most common of which include vitamin D and fish oil, which should be indicated by a professional capable of setting the dose according to the characteristics of each person and the symptoms presented.
Example of anti-inflammatory menu for lupus
The diet in the case of lupus must always be adapted to the individual needs of each person, however, for example a menu for one day can be:
- Breakfast: acerola juice with 1 cm of ginger and 1 cup of plain yogurt with oat bran.
- Mid-morning: 1 toast with 1 slice of white cheese and avocado, accompanied by a cup of green tea.
- Lunch: brown rice, beans, 1 grilled chicken breast steak, green leafy salad with tomato and, for dessert, 3 squares (30g) of dark chocolate.
- Afternoon snack: 30 g of cereal with almonds and cow's milk or rice or oat drink.
- Dinner: cream of pumpkin with garlic and 1 slice of wholemeal bread.
- Supper: 250g of oatmeal or 1 plain yogurt.
This suggestion is a functional antioxidant diet with anti-inflammatory properties and foods that protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, which help to minimize not only the side effects of the drugs used in the treatment, but also to maintain the constant weight that is another important factor to keep lupus under control.