Inflammation is a component of Sjgrens syndrome and essentially
all autoimmune disease. From a naturopathic perspective
of treating the cause of disease, one of the first ways to address
this is through an anti-inflammatory diet. This upstream approach
to treatment focuses on avoiding pro-inflammatory foods
and eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods. Additionally,
since medical research is converging on inflammation as the
common link in most diseases (i.e., heart disease, Alzheimers,
asthma, diabetes, cancer, etc.), eating an anti-inflammatory diet
is a great model of dietary health for everyone.
Avoid most packaged foods with a long list of ingredients.
When preparing foods, select raw, fresh, steamed, or broiled options
over fried, barbecued or highly-processed choices. Specific
recommendations are:

Eat More
Colorful Whole Fruits and Vegetables Eating foods with deep
red, yellow, orange and green colors provides vitamins and minerals,
phytonutrients, fiber and potent antioxidants that minimize inflammation.
Eating foods as close as possible to their unrefined state
preserves the content of these beneficial nutrients.
Healthy Fats This includes the omega-3 oils found in fatty fish
(salmon, mackerel, sardines) and foods such as avocados, extra-virgin
olive oil, raw nuts and seeds.
Fiber Fiber promotes adequate bowel movements, creates a favorable
environment for healthy bacteria in your gut, and supports the
bodys overall detoxification process. A few tablespoons of ground
flax seeds daily are a great way to add soluble and insoluble fiber.
Moderate Amounts of Organic Meat Grass-fed beef or bison is
higher in anti-inflammatory essential fats. Organic free-range chicken
tend to be lower in antibiotics and are fed a vegetable/grain-based
diet which tends to offer cleaner sources of protein.
Spices/Herbs Seasonings such as garlic, ginger and turmeric add
an anti-inflammatory component to the diet.
Eliminate / Eat Less
Trans or Hydrogenated Fats The body has no mechanism to use
these unnatural fats that ultimately cause inflammation. These
should be eliminated from your diet.
Refined Oils Commercial safflower, corn, and canola oils have had
much of their health-promoting content removed for shelf-storage
purposes and tend to be high in omega-6 fats that can be converted
to inflammatory arachadonic acid, a type of fat that stimulates inflammation
in the body.
High Glycemic or Processed Foods Highly processed carbohydrates
such as bread, pastas, cakes, candy, fruit juice and corn syrup
are quickly digested leading to a rapid rise in blood sugar and a subsequent
inflammatory cascade stimulated by insulin.
Red Meat Avoid these meats when possible or eat organic grassfed
meat to reduce ingesting high levels of pro-inflammatory arachadonic
acid.
Common Food Allergies Milk products, eggs, gluten from wheat
and peanuts can cause inflammatory reactions in many people and
are best avoided.
Artificial Sweeteners and Preservatives These additives have no
nutritional value and tend to promote inflammatory reactions. n