Lupus is a chronic inflammatory
disease that affects many organs in the body. 90% of the
Lupus cases are women and Asian women have increased
risk. Lupus usually starts in ages 15-35 but can occur
at other ages. The following symptoms may occur with
lupus: abnormal urine, arthritis, rash on cheeks, sun
sensitivity, mouth sores, seizures or psychosis, low
white blood cell count, specific antibody in blood that
can be tested for which occurs in 50% of people with
lupus. Many people with lupus also have Raynaud's
syndrome.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Methionine |
10 |
aids in cell
protection and preservation, important in skin
formation and in low white blood cell count both of
which can be problems for people with lupus.
Methionine works very well in supplements
that also include omega fatty acids in their formula like
Advanced Omega. |
Calcium |
10 |
mineral that work with
magnesium and helps prevent bone loss possibly caused by
arthritis. |
Magnesium |
10 |
low intake of magnesium has been linked to
Lupus and a good source of magnesium is a quality multi-vitamin &
mineral supplement especially one that includes calcium,
zinc, and garlic. Magnesium also helps with PH balance in the
body
and for protection against bone loss. |
Essential
fatty acids |
9 |
important for people
with lupus, aiding with arthritis prevention, protection
of skin cells, and is required for production of
all body cells. Fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish
and flax seed and borage
seed oils from plants. |
vitamin C |
8 |
vitamin C helps Lupus patients by normalizing
immune system function. Usually can be taken in
a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Be sure that
it is not synthetic vitamin C. |
Bioflavonoids |
8 |
work with vitamin C |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
9 |
vitamin B complex, inositol, zinc, vitamin
A, vitamin E, and others all serve to help the
body recover from lupus. A daily supplement provides nutrients
that promotes general good health and well being. |
Pomegranate
seed extract |
9 |
strong anti-oxidant |
Red
Clover |
9 |
herb helpful in
treating lupus |
Licorice |
8 |
helps with the
symptoms of lupus |
Grape
seed |
8 |
powerful antioxidant
that is good for healing |
vitamin
E |
8 |
aids body's oxygen use
and promotes healing |
Garlic |
7 |
garlic has been
shown to help strengthen the body's immune system
which can be weakened by lupus. |
Zinc |
7 |
mineral that helps the
immune system, protects the skin, and helps with healing
process |
Glucosamine |
7 |
helpful for connective
tissue, bones, and skin |
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease which means
that it happens when the immune mechanism forms antibodies
which attack
the body's own tissues. Many experts believe that it is due to
an unidentified virus. By this theory, the
immune system develops antibodies in response to the virus
that then turn on the body's own organs and tissues. This
produces inflammation of the skin, blood vessels, joints, and
other tissues. Heredity and sex hormones are other
possible factors involved. This disease was named lupus, which means
"wolf," because many people who have the
disease develop a butterfly shaped rash over the cheeks and nose
and they have a wolf like appearance. Over 90%
of people who get lupus are women, and women of Asian
background appear to be at much greater risk of developing lupus
than other women. It normally develops between 15
and 35 years of age, but it may happen at any age There are two
forms of lupus - SLE "systemic lupus erythematosus" and
DLE "discoid lupus eryfhmatosus". As the name
indicates, SLE is a systemic disease that affects many different
areas of the human body. The severity can range from mild to life
threatening. The first symptoms of many cases of SLE resemble
those of arthritis, with swelling and pain in the fingers and
other joints. The disease may also appear suddenly with acute
fever The characteristic red rash may appear across the
cheeks; there may also be red, scaling lesions anywhere on
the body. Sores may form in the mouth. The lungs and kidneys
are often involved. Approximately 50% of those with SLE
develop nephritis or inflammation of the kidneys. In very serious
cases, the brain, lungs, spleen, and/or heart may also be affected.
SLE can cause anemia and inflammation of the surface membranes
of the heart and lungs. It can also cause excessive bleeding
and increased risk of infections. If the person's central
nervous system is involved, seizures, amnesia, psychosis, and
deep depression may occur. The discoid type of lupus is a less serious disease that
primarily affects the skin. The characteristic butterfly rash
forms over the nose and cheeks. There may also be lesions
elsewhere, normally on the ears and scalp, and these lesions
may occur over and over again sometimes for years. The lesions are small, soft
yellowish lumps. When they disappear, they will often leave scars.
If these scars form on the scalp, permanent bald patches may
result. While DLE is not necessarily dangerous to overall
health, it is a chronic and disfiguring skin disease. Some
experts have related it to a reaction to infection with the
tubercle bacillus. Both types of lupus follow a pattern of
periodic flare ups alternating with periods of remission.
Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can result in a flare
up of DLE and may even trigger the first attack.
Fatigue,
pregnancy, childbirth, infection, some drugs,
stress,
unidentified viral infections, and chemicals may also cause a
flare up. Drug induced cases usually clear up when the drug
is discontinued. According to the ARA "American
Rheumatism Association", 4 of the following 8 symptoms
must occur, either serially or at the same time, before a
diagnosis can be made:
1. Arthritis 2. Mouth sores 3. Butterfly type rash on the cheeks 4. Sun sensitivity 5. Seizures or psychosis 6. Abnormal cells in the urine 7. Low white blood cell count, low platelet count, or
hemolytic anemia 8. The presence in the blood of a specific antibody that is
found in 50% of people with lupus
A kidney biopsy may be needed to diagnose lupus related
nephritis.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
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