Everything to Learn About a Food Regime with Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjogren’s syndrome is a long-lasting disorder triggered when the immune system mistakenly attacks the glands that produce moisture in the eyes, mouth, and other body parts. This condition often occurs with other disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The affected person will experience significant dryness in the eyes and mouth.
The symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome
This condition may have diverse effects on different parts of your body and can also vary from person to person. Usually, the symptoms of this disorder float between severe and mild. Given below are some of the vital symptoms of this condition.
Dryness in the eyes
The eyes get affected significantly due to such a condition. You might experience severe itchiness or a burning sensation in the eyes as if sand is in them. Sometimes, you become utterly sensitive to light and irritated because of inflammation of the eyelids. This dryness can even cause blurry vision from time to time.
Dryness in the mouth
Your mouth may feel rough inside since the saliva starts disappearing. You might experience difficulty while swallowing, speaking, and tasting. It is not unlikely that dental decay can happen due to this reason.
Apart from these two common symptoms, Sjogren’s syndrome produces other symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, dry skin, dry nasal passage, muscle ache, acid reflux, trouble sleeping, muscle weakness, deteriorating memory, shortness of breath, etc. The health professionals only suggest continuing the doctor-prescribed Sjogren syndrome meal plan to minimize these effects.
Learn about the Sjogren syndrome food regime
Since the disease has no cure, doctors often advise patients to follow an adequate Sjogren syndrome diet chart to treat themselves quickly. You can live a healthy life with this disorder by eating well-balanced meals that include vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins to avoid certain food.
Vegan meal plan
When it comes to the foods that a person with the condition must consume, they comprise different meal plan options. The top meal plan includes a Sjogren syndrome vegan diet. The vegan meal plan, known as plant-based foods, is replete with anti-inflammatory properties that can easily fight any form of auto-immune disease.
Leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and arugula contain essential vitamins and minerals to treat Sjogren syndrome.
Nuts, replete with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, are essential to provide sustenance to your body in this condition.
Olive and olive oil can provide anti-inflammatory ingredients to treat the Sjogren syndrome condition in your body.
Avocado is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. You must include this in your Sjogren’s syndrome gluten-free diet.
Garlic is a natural product to treat any inflammatory disease. You can use crushed or masticated garlic that releases anti-inflammatory ingredients to treat your syndrome better.
It is advisable to compile a list of recipes for a diet plan for Sjogren syndrome diet recipe and follow it to maintain a healthy life. Take the help of a nutritionist to ensure that any food item on the list will not affect your health adversely when consumed.
Liquid food items
The health professionals advise the patients to consume several liquid food items like juice, seltzer, herbal tea, etc. Coconut water can be a great drink because it is laden with high potassium.
Other food items
Omega-3 acid is known to lower Sjogren’s syndrome symptoms. You can find this nutrient in fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel. Vitamin E is also essential to treat this condition and can be found in sunflower seeds, flaxseed, almond, trout, shrimp, etc. Both these nutrients can essentially reduce the effect of this disorder on your health.
Food items that you must avoid
Let us first understand which food you must keep away from your Sjogren’s syndrome diet. These trigger foods and allergens are as follows:
Processed food, like packaged candy, syrup, bread, pasta, etc., must be avoided because these food items can increase blood sugar levels.
Since this condition worsens the mouth condition by making it dry, it would be better to avoid spicy and sweet foods.
Tasty foods like red meat must not be in the meal plan as they can cause inflammation. Regular consumption of it can lead to heart disease too.
Allergenic food items like dairy, eggs, and peanuts can worsen the condition of a person diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. Even if they don’t have an allergic reaction to such foods, you must keep them away.
You should also avoid food items like wheat products, hard and crisp food, popcorn, alcohol, soda, caffeine, and tough meats.
Tips you can follow to minimize Sjogren’s
Aside from following specific meal plans to minimize Sjogren’s syndrome, here are some additional tips to check out to make food intake easier.
You can include smoothies and soups to moisten your mouth.
You may try drinking water with your meals to ease the swallowing of food.
You can soften your food with healthy broth.
You must try tender-cooking meat so that your food doesn’t dry out.
Apart from all these, you must visit your doctor regularly to monitor your condition and determine if the specific meal plan has improved your overall health.
Conclusion
Since you know this condition doesn’t have any treatment, relying on a healthy diet for Sjogren’s syndrome would be wise. However, you must consult a specialist doctor to ensure you receive the best meal plan and treatment.