| Scleroderma and Alternative Therapies (MAIN MENU) |
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| Diet and Scleroderma |
| This page was written by Shelley Ensz, and has not yet been medically edited. See Disclaimer. |
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| Overview |
| Diet manipulation and prevention of aging, cancer and autoimmune disease. It is important to understand the entire dietary profile of an individual when making dietary recommendations because one nutrient, or dietary ingredient, may enhance or cancel out the beneficial effects of another dietary ingredient. PubMed. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2005 Jul;8(4):382-7. |
| WHO/FAO release independent Expert Report on diet and chronic disease. A diet low in energy-dense foods that are high in saturated fats and sugars, and abundant in fruit and vegetables, together with an active lifestyle are among the key measures to combat chronic disease. World Health Organization. 03/03/03. |
| Diet and Scleroderma |
| Systemic scleroderma patients should always consult their doctor(s), especially their rheumatologist, before using any vitamin or herbal remedies or making any significant changes in their diet. |
| In general, most doctors recommend that scleroderma patients follow a normal, well-balanced diet , without the addition of any herbs, vitamins, or minerals. Do not cut out any food groups from your diet, nor go on any "cleansing" diets, since this may accelerate the disease process. |
| Healthy Habits Can Mean 14 Extra Years. To get an extra 14 years of life, don't smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation. (Even though this article is not specific to scleroderma, it still offers good advice.) New Pittsburgh Courier. January, 2008. |
| Bad Diets for Scleroderma Symptoms |
| Don't go on any diets that eliminate food groups, and especially avoid high-protein diets because they are very hard on the kidneys. (Also see: Kidney Involvement ) |
| Bad Foods for Scleroderma Symptoms |
| For relief of systemic scleroderma symptoms such as Raynaud's and Heartburn, you may want to particularly avoid: |
• Caffeine (can trigger Raynaud's and Heartburn)
• Chocolate (can trigger Raynaud's and Heartburn)
• Peppermint (can trigger Heartburn)
• Ginger (can trigger Heartburn) |
| Chemical Culprit in Grapefruit–Drug Interactions Identified. Natural grapefruit contains a substance that affects the activity of an enzyme in the intestines and liver that processes these medications. This could result in a dangerous increase in the level of the drug in your blood. John Hopkins. 02/05/08. (Also see: Medications ) |
| Alcohol and your health: Weighing the pros and cons. Consider these points when weighing the risks and benefits of alcohol use. Mayo Clinic. |
| Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Excessive alcohol use can raise your blood pressure to an unhealthy level. Mayo Clinic |
| Grapefruit Juice and Medication Can Be a Deadly Mix. Amy Karch, R.N., M.S, an expert on drug interactions, explains that grapefruit juice is one of the foods most likely to cause problems with drugs, because it is metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver that breaks down many drugs. Doctor's Guide. 01/18/05. |
| Milk eliminates cardiovascular health benefits of tea. Tests on volunteers showed that black tea significantly improves the ability of the arteries to relax and expand, but adding milk completely blunts the effect. News-Medical.net. 01/09/07. |
| Good Diets for Scleroderma Symptoms |
Anti Inflammatory Diet books on Amazon.  |
| Ask Dr. Weil by Andrew Weil : Change in diet may grow hair. I recommend the following dietary changes for all types of autoimmune diseases. (Dr. Andrew Weil). AZStarNet.com. 10/02/07. (Also see: Alopecia ) |
| Anti-Inflammatory Diet - Foods and Inflammation. Can the Foods You Eat Make a Difference in Chronic Pain? The common western high fat, high red meat, high processed food diet is likely to increase inflammation while a healthy diet low made up of whole foods can actually help to decrease inflammation and pain. Start by avoiding sugars, processed foods, and junk food whenever possible. Choose fresh foods including anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables. Nutrition.About.com. |
Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss  by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. A guide to truly nutritious foods, including recommendation of a gluten-free and casein free diet for people with autoimmune diseases. Amazon. |
| Mediterranean Diet books on Amazon. |
| Mediterranean diet for heart health. The Mediterranean eating style significantly reduces the risk of further heart disease in individuals who had already had a heart attack. Mayo Clinic, 06-21-06. (Also see: Cardiac Involvement ) |
| Mediterranean diet intervention in rheumatoid arthritis. It seems that the traditional Cretan diet can suppress disease activity in patients who have stable and modestly active RA. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2003;62:193-195. |
| Mediterranean diet has anti-inflammatory effects. Sticking to a Mediterranean diet, high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats, lowers levels of inflammation in the elderly, as reflected by lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. |
| Good Foods for Scleroderma Symptoms |
| Strawberries May Help Reduce Risk Of Having Elevated Inflammation In Blood Vessels. Those who reported eating the most strawberries experienced lower blood levels of C-reactive protein, a biomarker for inflammation in the blood vessels. Medical News Today. 01/12/08. |
| Why Garlic Is Good for You. Garlic Relaxes Blood Vessels, Increases Blood Flow. WebMD. 10/31/07. (Also see: Raynaud's ) |
| New Way to Treat Allergic Disorders. The research shows Lactococcus lactis can be used to induce tolerance toward certain substances. Study authors report the strategy can now be further developed to treat allergic and autoimmune disorders. Invanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs. 08/01/07. (Also see: Autoimmnity ) |
| Acidophilus, Yogurt, and Other Probiotics. Eating 1 to 2 tablespoons a day of live culture acidophilus yogurt may be helpful for combatting bowel involvement with systemic scleroderma, especially small bowel bacterial overgrowth. It may also be particularly helpful when taking antibiotics. (Also see: Bowel Involvement and Probiotic Supplements on Amazon. ) |
| Arachidonic Acid. Red meat, eggs, and wheat products all contain something called arachidonic acid. While some arachidonic acid is essential for your health, too much arachidonic acid in the diet will make your inflammation worse . Nutrition.About.com. |
| Garlic Ingredient Hints it May Prevent Pulmonary Hypertension. The study not only pinpointed the effective ingredient in garlic, but also suggested that it achieves its protective effects by reducing tension in the arteries. PH Neighborhood 04/04/05. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension) |
| Green tea may help prevent autoimmune diseases. Green tea may help protect against autoimmune disease. Researchers studied an animal model for type I diabetes and primary Sjogren's Syndrome. Further study could help determine green tea's protective role in other autoimmune diseases, including lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. EurekAlert! 04/19/07. (Also see: Diabetes and Sjogren's ) |
| Olive oil 'acts like painkiller'. Good quality olive oil contains a natural chemical that acts in a similar way to a painkiller, a US study says. Researchers found 50g of extra-virgin olive oil was equivalent to about a tenth of a dose of ibuprofen. BBC News. 09/01/05. |
| Tea 'healthier' drink than water. Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers. They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack. BBC News. 08/24/06. |
