Lupus/SLE

It is unclear what the actual prevalence of lupus is, but it has been estimated that in the U.S. it is approximately 161,000 to 322,000, or 0.1% of the population.¹ Most of those diagnosed with lupus are young women.

Common symptoms of lupus may include:

• joint and muscle pain
• fatigue
• low-grade fever
• rashes
• chest pain
• hair loss
• anemia
• mouth sores
• swollen lymph nodes
• skin sensitivity to light

If lupus goes uncontrolled, severe consequences can occur including organ damage and death. Persons with lupus have a higher risk of blood clots, kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke.

Little is known about what exactly causes lupus in individuals, but investigators believe it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as diet, toxin exposures, and intestinal bacteria imbalance.

Diet

• Hundreds of my patients over the last 25 years, have made dramatic recoveries from autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, connective tissue disease and psoriasis via a Nutritarian diet. Many have achieved complete recoveries and no longer require any medications.  A vegan, gluten-free diet has shown to be quite helpful for many with autoimmune diseases.^1,2  
• Identify specific or general triggers to the disease to reduce or remove (which may be individual to each person). Many with lupus will find they are sensitive to gluten, processed foods such as added sugars, animal products, alfalfa, and figs. Other foods are less common triggers, such as certain nuts, soy, nightshades, or corn, for example.
• Vitamins, minerals carotenoids, flavonoids, fiber, and other phytochemicals have anti-inflammatory effects that could help to normalize the immune response and reduce symptoms.^3-5 Maximize the intake of immune-system-regulating, anti-inflammatory foods such as green vegetables, mushrooms, onions, squashes, parsnips, turnips and rutabaga, which have low allergic or reaction potential.  Eat both raw and cooked cruciferous vegetables every day. 
• Fruit intake may need to be reduced to low or moderate amounts.
• Anti-inflammatory spices such as turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves, garlic, and cinnamon should be used in seasoning dishes.^6-9  
• Talk to your doctor before and after making changes to your diet and supplement regimen if you have a chronic disease or if you are taking any medication, as medication and/or unique dietary modifications may be necessary.  Medication reduction should be monitored by a physician.
• Meal plan: Autoimmune Reversal

Supplements

• Dr. Fuhrman’s general supplement protocol for adults (see Vitamin Advisor for details) includes:

  • Multivitamin (without beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, copper), such as Women’s Daily Formula +D3, Men’s Daily Formula +D3, or Gentle Care Formula.

  • Omega-3 DHA and EPA, such as DHA+EPA Purity.

  • Optional: Consider adding a mixed mushroom immune supplement, such as Immune Biotect, because of the potential immune system benefits throughout life from assorted mushroom phytochemicals not normally consumed in the diet. Consult your physician if you are on medication. 

• Additional Supplements:
  • Probiotics: Research has suggested that healthy bacteria in our intestines may be protective and help to keep a normal functioning immune system. Lupus has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiome.¹⁰  Eating a fiber-rich diet helps to build up healthy gut bacteria over time, and supplemental probiotics may also be helpful.^11-14 Ask your doctor to discuss if taking probiotics is right for you.
  • Omega-3 DHA and EPA: Trials on omega-3 supplementation in patients with lupus have reported reduced disease activity.¹⁵ High doses may be necessary to experience a difference in symptoms.16 If considering higher doses of omega-3 supplementation, please discuss this with your doctor first as it is not appropriate for everyone
  • Immune Biotect provides assorted immune-supporting mushroom phytochemicals that are not normally consumed in the diet, plus astragalus, elderberry and other berry extracts. Consult your physician if you are on medication.
  • Anti-inflammatory botanicals: Turmeric, green tea, and grape seed. Curcumin (from turmeric) has potent anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies, and in human trials, curcumin supplementation decreased inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress.^17-21 In addition to curcumin, turmeric contains several other anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.⁹ Grape seed phytochemicals called proanthocyanidins also have anti-inflammatory effects. In human trials, grape seed extract has been reported to reduce inflammatory markers.^22-25 Green tea phytochemicals have inhibitory effects on the T cells that mediate some autoimmune diseases, which may help protect against autoimmunity.^{26, 27} In human supplementation studies, green tea extracts reduced the inflammatory marker TNF-alpha.²⁸ 
  • Ultra Cell Biotect provides absorption-enhanced curcumin and green tea extract plus turmeric, grape seed extract, and black turmeric extract to help neutralize free radicals and promote cellular health. Consult your physician if you are on medication. 

For supplement recommendations personalized to you, your health condition and goals, visit the Personalized Vitamin Advisor and answer a few questions. 

Read

• Eat For Life
• Super Immunity
• Fasting and Eating for Health
• Position Paper: Autoimmune Disease

Learn

Sign up for the online Combat Autoimmune Disease and Cancer Masterclass

Other Considerations

Supervised, periodic water fasting can be used as an adjunct treatment for autoimmune conditions. I have documented remission of autoimmune diseases following supervised fasting in a published series of case reports.²⁹ Additional studies have found that fasting (followed by a vegetarian diet) reduces pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients.^{30, 31} Continuing to follow a Nutritarian diet after completing the fast is essential for sustaining the benefits of the fast. Fasting puts the body into a repair mode, facilitating the elimination of damaged molecules, reducing inflammation, and resetting the immune system.^{32, 33}