Healthy Diet Changes/Supplements

This is a good topic and one that a lot of us seem to be thinking about lately. I have found a few things that have negatively affected my symptoms, but everyone is different in how their bodies react to things. I have read that nightshade plants can cause problems for lupus - things like cauliflower, etc and also sprouts can cause problems and some people can't tollerate things in the bean family either. One thing I found that made me feel really sick is artificial sweetners and there is more and more out there about how these sweetners are like poison to a lot of people with chronic illnesses. There are people that seem to tollerate it okay though. I did some reading about this subject yesterday and I looked at several different "lupus diets" that weren't gimmicks and seemed to be based in sound nutrition. I did like Dr. Weil's anti inflammatory diet and the nice thing about it is that you can read everything you need to know about it online, so you don't have to shell out money for a book to find out about it. Everything he says makes sense and there is info about foods that feed inflammation and foods that help reduce inflammation. It's based on eating whole natural foods and making sure you get healthy oils, while avoiding processed foods and sugary foods.  It's a pretty basic approach to a good healthy lifestyle.  Overall, I think its's just important to have a healthy, well balanced diet, which is sometimes easier said than done when dealing with a chrnic illness.

I agree, hence why I said "IT worked for me"
Everyone is different and like with meds, it's all trial and error.

Turmeric has never given me any stomach upset and I had IBS and mucus colitis for 20 years.

I also need to add here, that turmeric is touted as a remedy for stomach issues.

Dairy is only one of the few foods to give calcium. If that is your only source of calcium and you omit it, then it's imperative to replace it with another source of calcium.

Why didn't your sister give you other calcium options?

Hi All,

I hope we can all find a diet and supplement program that works.I think a diet and supplement program that focuses on decreasing inflammation and supports your immune system would be the way to go.I believe most of us with Lupus would benefit from taking Turmeric,Ginger and Omega 3 capsules and also B-complex(100's) EVERYDAY.The diet is something that each individual will have to see what they can or cant tolerate.Some cant tolerate veggies in the cruciferous family(broccoli,cauliflower,brussel sprouts).Turmeric NEVER upset my stomach and i do have a sensitive one.Omitting dairy from my diet helped me TREMENDOUSLY.Not just my Lupus symptoms but with my asthma and allergies.I dont use my rescue inhaler as much as i did when i was eating dairy.I'm NOT calcium deficiant at all because i'm taking calcium supplementation everyday.So for those who do plan on omitting dairy you must find another source of calcium.

Fran

It's my sister in law and her and my brother are divorced and she is remarried also a Dr in Bejing and I live in Canada so it took me exhausting every naturopath here for free before I shelled out the money to fly there. I couldn't take tumeric it made me very ill likely for the same reason I can't eat foods made with tumeric. I like to most foods have an allergy to it as well as almonds and most nuts but didn't know until after I had taken it for a month what was doing it. So I took other supplements and things to eliminate my inflammation. I went from being bed ridden on long term disability not being able to push the buttons on the remote with such awful blood work to normal blood work, working full time 40 plus hours and losing 77 lbs through working out 4 days a week with a trainer. I don't have lupus but MCTD with an AnA of 1:2560 for over a year. So I am the last person who will tell you alternative ideas don't work. I don't really get on these boards anymore but wanted to check in to see how Hippi is doing so likely won't respond if you asked me anything further.

Goodness!

Almonds can be part of the daily intake for calcium. Foods are a MUCH better way to get calcium, since it's better absorbed through food than a suppliment. Suppliments should be a last resort if foods are an issue.


And I'm not really sure where I said someone should only get their calcium from almonds alone!

Hi Peacesoul

i understood what you meant about the almonds.It is one of the many sources of calcium found in food and if people eat several different sources of calcium in a day ;you can meet your daily requirement.I agree with you,it's best to get it from your diet than supplementation.

Fran

Peacesoul, I see you are in Montreal I am in Saskatchewan but am in Montreal monthly for work. I am curious about your professional knowlege of nautropath teachings I would be interested in taking a class like you had mentioned in a previous post, the ones I have found online you actually have to be registered in the medical field and had a previous designation or classes? Would you be able to email me where you are getting your formal education in naturopath I would be curious to take the course if I can work my travel for work around it. I do have a relative who is a physician and nauturopath but she is in Bejing so with the time change and both our busy working schedules I hate to keep trying to track her down via email when she can't actually see me or run tests.

Thanks

Good grief, lighten up! Just 'cause I was eating almonds and happened to notice how many it would take for min daily req doesn't mean I was advocating everyone eat almonds or that anyone said that's all we should eat. I could have just as easily said it takes x ounces of cheese to fill the req, but didn't happen to have a cheese label at the computer with me that moment. Everyone please note that when you adjust your diets to contain more (or less) immune supportive foods (and or supplements) it is important to let your doctors know what you are doing. We've had discussions on nutrition etc previously and several of us have found that since these kinds of changes in intake do affect our AI disorders, it is important that our doctors are able to verify any meds we are taking that are also affecting the AI system. IE, if we suddenly eat lots of something that turns us red, the dr would need to know as s/he might want to cut back on meds that are doing the same thing. Also keep in mind that no one, regardless of experiance or real-world qualification, is dispensing actual medical advice on HealingWell forums. HW always recommends that you check with your health care professionals that know ALL about your situation before taking action. And no, I'm not saying anyone said or implied anything different, this is not an attack or a judgment, just a reminder.

Everyone please note. I was not advising anyone to change their diet nor was I dispensing medical advice, I was just simply saying how/where I get my calcium from.

It's also important to adivse your dr if you are going to add calcium suppliments