In 1998 I was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
“a chronic skin condition of sores with inflammation and scarring favoring the face, ears, and scalp and at times on other body areas. These lesions develop as a red, inflamed patch with a scaling and crusty appearance. The center areas may appear lighter in color with a rim darker than the normal skin.”
I was 15 years old and I had come home from a summer trip with a friend. We had spent every day on the lake, swimming and riding her jetski. I thought I had a bad bug bite on my face but after numerous doctors and specialists I was finally diagnosed.
I thought my world was going to end, I was told I could not be out in the sun anymore! At that time, early days of the internet and not a lot of research out there on the disease, I ended up on medication and even tried the route of a chinese herbalist, which at that time was not as common.
I can’t even tell you what put me into remission, but something must have worked because when I was about 19 I was taken off the medication. I was left with scars on my face, and a large lesion on the back of my head resulting in a bald spot.
Where this whole story is going, is seeing all the updates on the gluten free diet, the paleo diet, and other auto-immune diets, I have been thinking about trying a 30 day elimination diet to see if it helps in the weight loss side. I guess because I have been in remission so long, I don’t think my disease plays a part in my health struggles, but maybe it does.
I came across a website http://paleozonenutrition.com/ that suggests;
What foods should you eliminate for the auto-immune version of the paleo diet?
- Gluten grains MUST be strictly avoided. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, triticale
- All other grains (rice etc) and pseudo- grains like buck-wheat
- All legumes; lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, peas, soy and soy products, peanuts …
- All dairy; cream, butter, ghee, milk, yoghurt, even raw.
- All alcohol, it is a gut irritant
- Eggs
- Nightshades; includes potatoes, eggplant, capsicum, all peppers and chilli, tomatoes
- Although Cordain does not include these – I’ve noticed many people with auto-immune disease do not tolerate any nuts or seeds, or need to limit them. For this reason I recommend a 30 day trial eliminating all nuts and seeds
- No sugar or sugar alternatives
- No chemical additives, preservatives, colours, flavours
- No vegetable oils
So what can I eat?
- All unprocessed meat and poultry; no additives, wild or free range, ideally organic.
- Seafood / fish high in omega 3 oil
- Include organ meats and bone broths
- All vegetables, including peeled root vegetables, organic if available (but not nightshades)
- Sea vegetables, seaweed
- Fruit in moderation, especially berries. Fruit is best eaten at the end of a meal so it doesn’t elevate blood sugar too much
- Include fermented foods, like sauerkraut to improve gut bacteria
- Healthy low omega 6 oils; cold pressed from olives, avocado, coconut and palm
- Meat fats; lard, tallow, duck fat
- Avocados and olives
- Coconut cream without guar gum or other additives (these are legume derivatives)
I think this is pretty extreme and for people that have active Auto-Immune disorders. So, for me I will try to stick close to this because you never know when the disease will rear it’s ugly head again.
Anyone have any experience with an Auto-Immune disease, feel free to share!
One foot in front of the other 