TOMATOES & LUPUS

ystemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, is an autoimmune disorder that can affect various parts of your body. Nearly all people with lupus experience some type of joint pain or swelling. Although some experts suggest that avoiding foods from the nightshade vegetable group, including tomatoes, can help reduce joint pain, there is no scientific evidence to support that claim.

Identification

Lupus is a chronic disease in which your autoimmune system begins to attack healthy tissue. Lupus can affect different organs, including the skin, kidneys, brain and lungs. Many people with lupus have joint pain, and some will develop arthritis. The most common joints affected are the fingers, hands, wrists and knees. Common symptoms include chest pain, general discomfort, fatigue, fever, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms can depend on the part of your body lupus is affecting.

Tomatoes and Inflammation

Nightshade vegetables include eggplants, white potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. Dr. Norman F. Childers, author of "Childers Diet That Stops Arthritis," founded the Arthritis Nightshades Research Foundation in 1980. He has suggested that these types of vegetables increase inflammation in the body, causing an increase in symptoms in people with lupus. Dr. Childers reported he would experience achy knees after eating nightshade vegetables. When he stopped eating these foods, his pain disappeared. However, no scientific research has backed up his claims.

Recommendations

The Lupus Foundation of America recommends keeping a journal to track food consumption and flare-ups of symptoms. If you notice a correlation between a certain food, such as tomatoes, and your lupus symptoms on multiple occasions, consider eliminating that food from your diet. Eating a healthy diet with grains, fish and vegetables can help reduce inflammation in your joints. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids can be especially important for people with lupus. Omega-3 fatty acids not only help to reduce inflammation but also to protect you from heart disease, which is more common in people in lupus.

Precautions

Talk to your physician if you are concerned about your diet with lupus. Although scientific evidence does not suggest diet affects lupus, some people are more sensitive to certain foods or may have food sensitivities. The only food that people with lupus should avoid is alfalfa. The amino acid L-canavanine, found in alfalfa, activates the immune system and cause lupus flare-ups. You might also want to reduce your sodium and fat intake to minimize fluid retention and high cholesterol, possible side effects of corticosteroids, which are often prescribed to treat lupus.