Food to Avoid During Autoimmune Diseases

Dietary Restrictions for Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune Disease

The immune system consists of organs and cells that resist bacteria, parasites, viruses, and cancer cells. Autoimmune diseases result from an attack by the immune system on the body, instead of its protective functions. It is yet not discovered why such behavior arises in the immune system.

There are over a hundred known autoimmune diseases. Among the more common ones are lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's, and ulcerative colitis. They can affect any tissue and almost any organ of the body. Thus, they can produce high diversity of symptoms, which often include pain, fatigue, skin rashes, nausea, headaches, dizziness, and others. Specific symptoms are characteristic of specific autoimmune diseases.

Foods to Avoid during Autoimmune Disease

Dairy Products
Dairy products, like milk, cheese, and yoghurt, can be pro-inflammatory and aggravate conditions like joint pains and digestive disorders in many individuals.
Alcohol
One should avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is said to weaken and make the gut lining permeable, hence giving undesired particles, such as pathogens, easy passage. Again, drinking alcohol is correlated with populations of undesirable bacteria in the gut that may trigger inflammation.
Coffee
Although coffee embeds dietary polyphenols that may possess anti-inflammatory actions, best avoid it. The reason for denying you your habitual morning cup of coffee for this time is to reduce as much as possible any inflammation and probable symptoms of food intolerance.
Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
Refined sugar is processed in a way that keeps them bereft of their fibre and other vital nutrients, making them substantially low in nutritional value. A lack of fibre then means these refined sugars are going to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in sudden increases in levels of blood glucose. Over time, such frequent spiking in blood sugar has direct links with increased levels of inflammation. In fact, it is this lost fibre that would otherwise slow the absorption of food into the bloodstream, hence reducing blood sugar spikes. This will help one feel full for a longer period and, at the same time, help in reducing inflammation. Therefore, it is best to avoid refined sugar that comes in the form of white as well as brown sugar.
Salt
Foods that are high in sodium—processed meats, canned soups, salty snacks—can lead to water retention, high blood pressure, and inflammation. Eating whole foods and seasoning your food with herbs and spices instead of salt can keep your body in balance and reduce the risk of triggering autoimmune symptoms.
Processed Food
Processed foods and fast foods are very dangerous to your health because they contain a lot of artificial ingredients and unhealthy fats, not forgetting excessive sodium. These ingredients in these junks result in inflammation, which in turn worsens the symptoms in most people with autoimmune diseases. However, when one consumes whole, unprocessed foods and prepares his or her meal at home, the body gets the necessary building blocks that will help minimize the chances of inflammation.
Nightshade Vegetables
People with autoimmune diseases are advised to avoid night-shade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. Vegetables in this group contain compounds like the toxic glycoalkaloids that can stimulate an over-response by the immune system and lead to inflammation. This type of inflammation may exacerbate conditions like leaky gut, hence the need to completely avoid such vegetables in the diet of people suffering from autoimmunity.
Gluten-containing Grains
Again, gluten is another substance spoken of in relation to the disease of Celiac or other food intolerances. Gluten is one of the proteins found mostly in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. It has currently been established that a gluten-free diet reduces the symptoms in autoimmune digestive diseases such as Celiac disease and Crohn's disease.
The main problem is that regular consumption of Gluten damages the lining of the small intestine. This could further hamper the absorption of the nutrients also.
Red Meat
Some types of red meats, mainly those highly saturated with fat, can increase the levels of inflammation more than others. Higher intake of saturated fat has been noted to increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since cytokines are small proteins that control immune cell activity, saturated fat will naturally increase elevated levels of inflammation. Moreover, a higher intake of meat, in general, has been linked to higher levels of inflammation.

Conclusion

One of the challenges of living with an autoimmune disorder is that most people with such conditions have flares of symptoms related to inflammation. At the same time, many with autoimmune diseases have found that their symptoms are affected by what they eat and sometimes avoid.

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FAQ

Can an autoimmune disease be cured?

<p>Generally, autoimmune disorders are considered incurable. Yet, medication and other treatments may keep them under very good control.</p>