Foods to avoid with Lupus (SLE)

With lupus, some foods and supplements can nudge immune activity or interact with medication, so caution is spread across processed additives, high-sodium products and inflammatory fats. Sun-sensitive and kidney-involved patients may have extra limits worth discussing with their care team.

Commonly asked about

All Lupus ingredients (22)

How diet fits with lupus

There is no lupus diet

The Lupus Foundation of America says there is no lupus diet in the way there is a diet for high blood pressure or diabetes. Its general advice is a varied, balanced diet with plenty of produce, whole grains and moderate lean protein. A Mediterranean-style pattern might help conditions related to inflammation, although human studies of diet and lupus are limited and the results are mixed.

Specific cautions

The clearest caution is alfalfa. Alfalfa tablets have been linked to reports of a lupus-like syndrome and flares, which is believed to be caused by the amino acid L-canavanine in alfalfa seeds and sprouts, and the Foundation advises people with lupus to avoid alfalfa supplements. Sodium is the nutrient that applies broadly: most people should cut down, and it matters more when the kidneys are involved, so a dietitian can help set a target.

Kidney involvement and medication

When lupus affects the kidneys, protein, potassium and phosphorus needs become individual, and the Foundation advises asking your doctor whether you need to limit them. Medicines such as steroids can also affect weight and blood sugar, and vegetarian and vegan diets are acceptable with lupus, provided that people who eat no animal foods take a vitamin B12 supplement.

How to use this guide

The ratings here separate periods of active disease from quiet periods and spread caution across additives, high-sodium products and fats. They are general information, so check them against your own treatment plan.

Questions to ask your care team

Useful questions include whether your kidneys are involved and what that means for sodium, protein, potassium and phosphorus, whether any herbal supplement or tonic is safe with your medicines, and how to manage weight and blood sugar if you take steroids. Bring a list of every supplement and herbal product you use, because alfalfa and similar products are easy to overlook.

Reading sodium on labels

Because sodium matters broadly in lupus, the Nutrition Facts label is a practical tool. The FDA treats 5 percent of the Daily Value or less per serving as low and 20 percent or more as high, and a low sodium claim means 140 milligrams or less per serving. Soups, deli meats, sauces and snack foods are common places for sodium to add up, so compare brands and check the serving size.

General guidance, not medical advice. Individual tolerance varies — talk to your clinician before changing your diet.

Check whole products for Lupus

Scan a barcode with FoodSage and every ingredient on the label is checked against Lupus (SLE) — flare or remission. Learn about FoodSage.

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