Lupus Food

Dear Farm,

I've been suffering from Lupus for a few years. During flareups, I take some heavy duty steriods. When not experiencing flareups, I struggle with extreme fatigue and am worn out very easily. For the most part, I work 2 or 3 days a week, and that wipes me out. I go jogging an hour each day, and that helps some. Cutting out sugars, sodas and such. Hoping that The Farm might have some recommendations for foods that are known to increase the body's energy levels?

Thank you!

A New Fan of The Farm

Dear Fan,

Great question! My first instinct was to suggest a well-balanced diet focusing on lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. For hunch verification, I went straight to my favorite hot-spot for all things nutrition- the World's Healthiest Foods website.*

Your reasons for fatigue are clearly related to your lupus, but eating habits can also contribute to that run-down feeling. Before we start with the energy foods, here are some energy zappers:

Caffeine and other quick-fix stimulants cause a rush of stimulation, but leave your body tapping into it's own stored energy reserves to make up for it later. Hence that early afternoon crash in those of us tapping the coffee pot all morning.

Alcohol is especially taxing on your liver, requiring lots of energy to process. It is also dehydrating, making it a double energy no-no. Brings new meaning to "think before you drink"

Food Sensitivities can aggravate inflammation and interfere with nutrient absorption. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist. They might be able to suggest an allergy avoidance diet to help root out problem foods.

Yucky Chemicals can come from all over. Pesticide residue can be found on food, lawns, and flowers. And who the heck knows what those preservatives, hydrogenated fats and colors are in prepackaged junk foods. All of these things trigger free radical production internally, which can break down your body's energy-making machinery.

So, now that the bad guys have been called out, let's bring in our heroes:

Slow Down and savor your food. This gives your body an easier time digesting food, which in-turn can help to free up some energy. Many spices can increase both flavor and digestibility, so season away!

Low-Glycemic Foods don't cause a spike (and later slump) in blood sugar. Good choices are root crops like sweet potatoes, turnips, celery and jerusalem artichokes. Whole-grain breads and bread products are also low glycemic. Coincidentally, all of the above will be available for purchase at our farm store over the course of the season-look for sweet potatoes and celery in late summer and the rest of the roots in the fall. Whole wheat and Multigrain breads are available all season.

Fats and Proteins in the Morning will provide your body with long-lasting energy. Eggs, nuts and seeds are all great choices.

Antioxidize! Food sources rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C are critical in the battle to rope in those free radicals doing damage. Broccoli, kale, red peppers, strawberries, kiwi and papaya fruits are all some excellent sources. Warning: Vitamin C content decreases rapidly once picked. Cooking also destroys it. Your best bet? Veggies straight from the farm!

All of these suggestions for increasing energy sound like sage advice for anyone looking to maximize their health. With a disease already comprimizing your body's functions, it seems especially pertinant that you eat as fresh and healthy as possible. Good Luck!

*You can read their in-depth article all about your body and energy here.