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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- National Women's Health Center: Autoimmune Diseases
- Cleveland Clinic: Diet, Exercise, Stress and the Immune System
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Foods to Avoid With Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system is overactive and responds harshly to tissues and substances in your body. The diseases affect over 23.5 million Americans, according to the National Women's Health Center 1. Common forms include thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and colitis, the skin condition psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to medical treatments, a healthy diet, limited in particular foods, may improve your symptoms.
Red Meat
Red meat, though rich in protein and nutrients such as iron, may pose problems if you have an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases can cause mild to severe complications in your immune system's capabilities and increase your risk for symptoms ranging from fever and joint pain to extreme fatigue and unintentional weight loss. Eliminating red meat from your diet may help minimize these effects, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Red meat is often high in saturated fat, which may increase inflammation in your body and dampen your heart-health. Red meats particularly rich in saturated fat include organ meats, lamb, spare ribs, porterhouse and sirloin steak and processed meats.
- Red meat, though rich in protein and nutrients such as iron, may pose problems if you have an autoimmune disease.
Butter and Margarine
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Butter and margarine are additional sources of saturated fat. Margarine also contains trans fats -- fats produced through a process in which hydrogen is added to vegetable oil. To protect your immune system the Cleveland Clinic recommends avoiding butter and margarine and opting instead for unsaturated fat forms, such as olive oil 2.
Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrate sources, such as enriched flour and sugar, add calories but few nutritional benefits to foods. Unlike whole grains and starchy vegetables, enriched breads, pasta, cereals and snack foods provide little fiber and may have a damaging impact on your blood sugar levels. If you're prone to constipation, due to hypothyroidism or Celiac disease, low-fiber foods may worsen your symptoms. Many refined carbohydrate sources contain gluten -- a storage protein that triggers symptoms of Celiac disease.
- Refined carbohydrate sources, such as enriched flour and sugar, add calories but few nutritional benefits to foods.
Suspected Allergens
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Food allergies may coexist with autoimmune diseases. For example, a significant link stands between autoimmune thyroid diseases and celiac disease 4. Since many potential food allergens are valuable sources of nutrients and fiber, seek guidance from your doctor or dietitian before eliminating them completely from your diet.
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References
- National Women's Health Center: Autoimmune Diseases
- Cleveland Clinic: Diet, Exercise, Stress and the Immune System
- American Diabetes Association: Glycemic Index and Diabetes
- National Foundation for Celiac Awareness: Thyroid Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hyperthyroidism
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Autoimmune diseases. Updated April 1, 2019.
- Autoimmune Disorders. Merck Manuals. Peter J. Delves, Ph.D.
- Autoimmune Diseases Fact Sheet. Womenshealth.gov. July 16, 2012.
Writer Bio
August McLaughlin is a certified nutritionist and health writer with more than nine years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in various magazines such as "Healthy Aging," "CitySmart," "IAmThatGirl" and "ULM." She holds specializations in eating disorders, healthy weight management and sports nutrition. She is currently completing her second cookbook and Weight Limit—a series of body image/nutrition-related PSAs.