How to Eat, Drink and Live For Optimum Health

At a sarcoidosis support group meeting, I was able to obtain a wealth of  information on how to manage the disease. I was also given a website by one of the members called Team Aspire, where people with autoimmune diseases share information. On the website is where I found the recommended supplements, herbs, diets a person with sarcoidosis should adhere to. As I said in my bio, I did become extremely symptomatic immediately after my diagnoses. The supplements I took daily were:


· Fish Oil
.Turmeric and Bromelain
· Folic Acid
. CQ-10
· B-12


I believe taking these supplements, and the fact that I was extremely healthy and active before being diagnosed with Sarcoidosis helped me to heal. Below is a recommended diet taking from a University of Maryland Medical Center Website.

 

 Nutrition and Dietary Supplements

Although there is no evidence that any particular herb or supplement helps treat sarcoidosis, a comprehensive treatment plan may include complementary and alternative therapies. Ask your team of doctors about the best ways to bring these therapies into your overall treatment plan. Always tell your doctor about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using, as some supplements may interfere with conventional treatments.

 These nutritional tips will help your overall health:

·    Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).

·    Include foods rich in magnesium and low in calcium, such as barley, bran, corn, rye, oats, soy, brown, rice, avocado, banana, and potato

·    Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.

·    Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.

·   Use healthy oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.

·    Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.

·    Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.

·    Drink 6 – 8 glasses of filtered water daily.

·    Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week. Ask your doctor before starting a new  exercise routine.

The following supplements may also help overall health:

·    A daily multivitamin, containing the antioxidant vitamins A,C,E, the B-complex vitamins,  and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.

·    Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 – 2 capsules or 1- 3 tablespoonful’s, one to three times daily. Fish oil seems to help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources to add to your diet.  If you take supplements, check with your doctor because they may increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin. Eating fish does not cause the same risk.

·    Bromelain, a mixture of enzymes derived from pineapple, 500 mg per day. Bromelain may also help reduce inflammation in the body. Ask your doctor before taking it, because it can increase the risk of bleeding and may interact with other medications.

·    Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 -10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day. These “friendly” bacteria help maintain gastrointestinal health. You should refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results.

  Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body’s systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting and treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5-10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10-20 minutes for roots. Drink 2-4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

Studies have not found any herbs that specifically treat sarcoidosis. However, the following herbs may help overall health. Talk to your doctor before taking any herb or supplement if you have sarcoidosis.

·   Turmeric (Curcuma longa) standardized extract, 300 mg three times a day, may help reduce inflammation. Turmeric may increase the risk of bleeding and interact with other medications, so ask your doctor before taking it.

·    Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa)standardized extract, 20 mg three times a day, may help reduce inflammation.

 Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/sarcoidosis-000146.htm#ixzzlvdX2Zwlj