Omega-3 fatty acids: Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids are extremely effective in the treatment of lupus.
2021 research indicates that vitamin D supplements may improve fatigue and decrease symptoms in people with lupus. Learn about the best dietary sources of vitamin D here.
Supplementing your diet with a good vitamin B complex tablet – which includes vitamin B12 – may help counteract the fatigue that's often associated with both lupus and B12 deficiency.
Vitamin E, zinc, vitamin A, and the B vitamins are all beneficial in a lupus diet. Vitamin C can increase your ability to absorb iron and is a good source of antioxidants.
Its most useful role in lupus may be in the treatment of migraine headaches which affects many people with lupus. Patients with migraine often have lower magnesium levels.
Exercise is important.
It has been demonstrated that exercise reduces fatigue in lupus patients. Other features which contribute to fatigue such as deconditioning and quality of life are improved with exercise.
Factors that are related to lupus include anemia, fever, and lung and heart disease. Decreased exercise capacity from reduced blood flow or inflammation in the muscles can also cause fatigue. In some cases, iron deficiency anemia, low thyroid function, infection and certain medications are responsible.
Is vitamin B12 good for energy? Yep! Thanks to its role in energy metabolism, vitamin B12 might reduce your chance of fatigue. It helps your body metabolize carbs, proteins, and fats, which your body converts into energy.
Vitamin D deficiency is commonly reported in systemic lupus erythematosus [16].
Antioxidants — such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E — can help fight against inflammation and other types of cell damage. While the exact benefits for patients with lupus are unproven, some patients find that foods high in antioxidants can help prevent flare ups.
It is vital that people living with SLE practice these habits along with getting 7-9 hours of sleep (a little more for children) in order to prevent lupus flares, limit fatigue, and keep the body's mechanisms healthy, especially the immune system.
Reducing stress, taking naps, and getting enough sleep at night could help relieve lupus fog symptoms. "Regular exercise is important," says Fitzgerald. "It does seem to make the brain sharper."
The most common response given is that people feel fatigue as a heaviness. It feels like there is a weight constantly pushing down on part of them or on their entire body. With that degree of heaviness, it is much harder to find the energy to move and get things done.
Some people with lupus develop myositis, an inflammation of the skeletal muscles that causes weakness and loss of strength. Lupus myositis often affects the muscles of your neck, pelvis, thighs, shoulders and upper arms; difficulty in climbing stairs and getting up from a chair are early symptoms.
Hydroxychloroquine: an antimalarial drug that is effective for treating lupus-related arthritis and rashes. It reduces flares by 50 percent and may also help prevent blood clots.
Coffee and Lupus
Studies have found that caffeine can increase the release of anti-inflammatory proteins, down-regulate the inflammatory response, and suppress T-cell, B-cell, and antibody production.
Apple cider vinegar
It can potentially increase the production of hydrochloric acid in your body. It also helps in detoxification and improves absorption of nutrient in the body. To use apple cider vinegar for this purpose, you can add a teaspoon of this liquid to a glass of warm water.
Curcumin. Curcumin is a compound in turmeric. Research has shown that curcumin has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Curcumin may also have immunomodulatory effects, which means it may help reduce the immune response.
Avoid high doses of vitamin C, beta carotene, cat's claw, echinacea and ginseng, among others. Why add fuel to the fire? Doing so may cause you to slip out of remission and into more misery.