Vegetarian Diet And Lupus

Hi,

i was diagnosed with lupus (sle) in 1994 after 3 years of increasing symptoms of joint and muscle pain, fatigue, multiple allergies and hives, cognitive dysfunction (memory problems), headaches and abnormal sle blood levels (ana 1:1280, high sed rate, low wbc & low platelets etc.). I also experienced symptoms of asthma and a bout of myocarditis both of which were related to my lupus condition. The allergies and hives were a lot like others have recently posted about and involved increasing allergic reactions to multiple drugs (penicillen, codeine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, aspirin etc.) and foods (peanuts, almonds, avocados & watermelon etc.) that didn't respond to the usual allergy meds such as benadryl.

In 2002 after reading an article (in a medical magazine) regarding a link between animal products and chronic inflammation I decided to try eating a vegetarian diet to see whether it would improve my condition. I cut out all meat (beef, pork, turkey & chicken etc.) products from my diet and found that my lupus symptoms almost completely alleviated. Months later my symptoms were still gone and my labs were normal with a normal ana, sed rate, wbc & platelet level. My lupus condition has continued to be non-active for the past 4 years as I continue to eat a vegetarian diet.

From my own experience and what i've read and researched, the consumption of animal products is associated with increased levels of inflammation and estrogen in your body. Both inflammation and estrogen can and usually do worsen autoimmune diseases (such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis & multiple sclerosis) in most people.

I would recommend trying a vegetarian diet to others with autoimmune disease to see if it helps or not. If your lupus condition is particularly bad I would even recommend trying a vegan diet (which would mean no animal products at all which includes meat and dairy products). I live in the u.S. And have found that all my local supermarkets have meat substitutes such as garden burgers (or boca burgers) & soy hot dogs etc. You can also get your necessary protein from beans (black & pinto etc.) which are in foods like burritos and from cheese also.

You don't have to take my advice of course. I just wish that I had been given this advice when my lupus first started. It would have given me an estra 11 years of good health.

Scout