Hey everyone,
I’m willing to bet some of you can relate to friends and family suggesting that modifying diet can alleviate or cure lupus. Right after I was diagnosed last year I heard that so many times it made me want to scream. I felt like people were saying I caused my lupus by the way I eat. I know people genuinely want to help, but it is frustrating nonetheless. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, since I was 18. Some people have suggested being a vegetarian and eating too much soy is why I have lupus, others say I eat too much processed food, everyone has an opinion. I have been trying to listen with an open mind, although I will admit at times I feel my blood start to boil a bit. The other day my mom, who has been amazing on this journey of mine, cautiously handed me a book a well-intentioned family friend gave her to give to me, and jokingly stated that it was probably the last thing I wanted right now but she told this person she’d give it to me (I should note that about six weeks ago I had scary pleurisy for the first time which brought on another slew of opinions about my diet, hence why receiving a book about diet would be the last thing I’d want right now). The book was Goodbye Lupus by Brooke Goldberg, MD. I just finished reading it, and the main point is how this physician cured her lupus with a vegan diet free of unprocessed foods (along with a couple of other things like increased water, lots of raw fruits/veggies, etc. but I’m just going to focus on the vegan and unprocessed part). I find myself wondering, is there a diet to reduce inflammation and reduce symptoms, and if so, what is it? I’m not going to eat meat, so I told my family and friends, nicely, to give up trying to change that one, haha, but I DO see the value in eating a plant based diet free from processed foods. However, vegan diets often include nuts and I am anaphylactic to nuts, and I freaking LOVE cheese. I have always wanted to go vegan because of my love of animals but in truth I found it very difficult, especially due to the inability to eat nuts, which are used in many dairy and cheese substitutes. Anyway, sorry for the rant, I may have gone over board with the coffee this
morning (another no no according to the book?), but I have a couple questions for my friends here: 1. Has anyone had success with diet modification and symptom reduction? Was it a vegan, unprocessed diet or something else? 2. What are your thoughts about adopting such a diet (vegan, unprocessed, as recommended in the book)? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe I will be cured from such diet modifications or won’t need medications, I’m just wondering if it could help. I’d greatly appreciate your thoughts, as I feel like nobody understands better than others that are in a similar boat. Thank you in advance for reading this crazy post, and wishing you all the best this new year!
I’m willing to bet some of you can relate to friends and family suggesting that modifying diet can alleviate or cure lupus. Right after I was diagnosed last year I heard that so many times it made me want to scream. I felt like people were saying I caused my lupus by the way I eat. I know people genuinely want to help, but it is frustrating nonetheless. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, since I was 18. Some people have suggested being a vegetarian and eating too much soy is why I have lupus, others say I eat too much processed food, everyone has an opinion. I have been trying to listen with an open mind, although I will admit at times I feel my blood start to boil a bit. The other day my mom, who has been amazing on this journey of mine, cautiously handed me a book a well-intentioned family friend gave her to give to me, and jokingly stated that it was probably the last thing I wanted right now but she told this person she’d give it to me (I should note that about six weeks ago I had scary pleurisy for the first time which brought on another slew of opinions about my diet, hence why receiving a book about diet would be the last thing I’d want right now). The book was Goodbye Lupus by Brooke Goldberg, MD. I just finished reading it, and the main point is how this physician cured her lupus with a vegan diet free of unprocessed foods (along with a couple of other things like increased water, lots of raw fruits/veggies, etc. but I’m just going to focus on the vegan and unprocessed part). I find myself wondering, is there a diet to reduce inflammation and reduce symptoms, and if so, what is it? I’m not going to eat meat, so I told my family and friends, nicely, to give up trying to change that one, haha, but I DO see the value in eating a plant based diet free from processed foods. However, vegan diets often include nuts and I am anaphylactic to nuts, and I freaking LOVE cheese. I have always wanted to go vegan because of my love of animals but in truth I found it very difficult, especially due to the inability to eat nuts, which are used in many dairy and cheese substitutes. Anyway, sorry for the rant, I may have gone over board with the coffee this
morning (another no no according to the book?), but I have a couple questions for my friends here: 1. Has anyone had success with diet modification and symptom reduction? Was it a vegan, unprocessed diet or something else? 2. What are your thoughts about adopting such a diet (vegan, unprocessed, as recommended in the book)? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe I will be cured from such diet modifications or won’t need medications, I’m just wondering if it could help. I’d greatly appreciate your thoughts, as I feel like nobody understands better than others that are in a similar boat. Thank you in advance for reading this crazy post, and wishing you all the best this new year!
