Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the production of saliva and tears. It makes the eyes and mouth dry. It also affects considerably the lungs bowel, skin, and other organs. In this blog, we will focus on sjögren’s syndrome its types and causes, sjögren’s syndrome diet, and foods to eat.
What Is Sjogren’s Syndrome?
Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the own body immune system attacks your body parts. This disorder causes your immune system to attack the tears and saliva-producing glands. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the common symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome. In addition to that, the other symptoms can also experienced includes joint pain, swelling, dry skin, swollen glands, fatigue, skin rashes, peeled lips, headaches, dry throat, difficulty swallowing, blurry vision, and more.
Types Of Sjogren’s Syndrome
Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome: No other health conditions are the reason for this, it occurs on its own.
Secondary Sjogren’s Syndrome: This condition develops in accompany by other autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis.
What Causes Sjogren’s Syndrome?
This condition occurs when your immune system attacks healthy cells and as a result, this attacks damages the glands producing tears and saliva. But there is no clear study or evidence about what causes the immune system to behave abnormally. The other factors that may contribute to this condition are;
- Genetics
- Environmental factors
- Sex hormones
- Viral infections
Sjogren’s Syndrome Diet
Still, there is no defined cure for this autoimmune condition, you can change or adapt to diet along with medical treatment to reduce the symptoms like dryness and inflammation. Let us see what Sjogren’s syndrome diet is and what are foods can add and remove to your Sjogren’s syndrome diet.
Sjogren’s syndrome diet contains well-balanced meals with vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. It not only adds proteins and nutrients to your diet, but it also eliminates dryness and inflammation-causing foods.
Top 7 Foods To Eat As Sjogren’s Syndrome Diet
Since dryness is the common factor associated with all the symptoms, adding foods with rich anti-inflammatory properties to your diet can reduce the symptoms. A list of given foods has high anti-inflammatory benefits which can give relief from uncomfortable symptoms.
1. Leafy Green Vegetables
Vitamin E in green leafy vegetables is a good antioxidant that helps in reducing inflammation in the body. Broccoli, spinach, kale, Swiss card, cauliflower, cabbage, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts are examples of green leafy vegetables. Among which kale is the king packed with dense nutrients and rich in antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol. It has high anti-inflammatory properties and nutrients to protect your eyes.
2. Nuts
Nuts are packed with high nutritious content. They are the powerhouses of antioxidants polyphenols and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Common nuts you can find near groceries are almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios.
3. Whole Grains – Sjogren’s Syndrome Diet
Whole grains without a mix of refined grains have more health benefits. They are rich in many nutrients and fiber. The compounds like phytic acid, lignans, sulfur, ferulic acid act as antioxidants. Whole grains also help in reducing inflammation. Some of the whole grains that can add to your Sjogren’s syndrome diet are oatmeal, millet, popcorn, quinoa, brown rice, barley, sorghum, wheat berry, and wild rice.
4. Avocado
Avocado is a multi-nutrient fruit rich in healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is a good source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoid lutein. Adding this nutritious fruit to Sjogren’s syndrome diet helps in reducing the Sjogren’s syndrome symptoms.
5. Olives and Olive Oil
This stone fruit is rich in vitamin E and other antioxidants such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleanolic acid, and quercetin. The antioxidants in olives help in fighting against inflammation and reduce microorganism growth.
6. Fruits and Vegetables – Sjogren’s Syndrome Diet
Add fruits and vegetables to the Sjogren’s syndrome diet to reduce the symptoms of inflammations. In addition to inflammation properties, fruits and vegetables are loaded with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.
7. Spices and Herbs
Garlic and turmeric have high anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce Sjogren’s syndrome symptoms.
Top 5 Foods To Avoid In Sjogren’s Syndrome
To make the Sjogren’s diet complete adding anti-inflammation-rich foods to the diet, eliminating foods that cause inflammation and allergies are essential. What are foods can avoid while on Sjogren’s syndrome diet? Why not cut down the below-given foods?
1. Processed Foods
The ingredients used in processed foods are not good for health and they can cause food allergies and increase body inflammation. The processed foods that can eliminate from your Sjogren’s syndrome diet are sugary beverages, energy drinks, chips, cookies, ice cream, packaged bread and buns, and more.
2. Sugar and Sweets
Sugar and sweets not only cause obesity, increase blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels, it also causes inflammation. By cutting down on sugar and sweets you can improve the overall health conditions of the body. Examples of sugar and sweets are energy drinks, juices, sugared candies, sweetened yogurt, and any sugar-added foods.
3. Alcohol
In general, consuming a large quantity of alcohol can cause various adverse effects on the body and its parts. Alcohol can reduce the flow rate of saliva by increasing bad bacteria in our mouths. Avoid alcohol to reduce the symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome symptoms.
4. Gluten-rich Foods
Gluten-rich foods can cause food allergies in some people. It is good to avoid gluten-rich foods to reduce the symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome. Wheat, barley, triticale, farina, spelt, Kamut, and farro are examples of gluten-rich foods.
5. Dairy
Common allergen lactose in dairy release histamines into the body and can cause inflammation in people with Sjogren’s syndrome. The saturated fats in dairy can also fuel inflammation.
Since we don’t know the real cause of Sjogren’s syndrome and have not found any curing treatment, we can avoid its adverse symptoms and discomfort by following a proper diet. Talk to your medical practitioner before switching to a diet and get proper treatment to support reducing symptoms.
Also Read: Pityriasis Rosea Foods To Avoid? Its Symptoms And Causes
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The article written by me is for information purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice. The reader should always consult a Medical practitioner concerning any medical condition.