“I suffer from Lupus and a friend of mine told me to avoid eating alfalfa sprouts. Is this good advice?”

Alfalfa sprouts contain an amino acid called L-canavanine, which has shown to activate the immune system in people with Lupus and cause inflammation. It is a good idea to avoid eating alfalfa sprouts as best you can. Having 2-3 fish meals per week may also help reduce inflammation, due to the presence of beneficial long-chain fatty acids in the fish. If you take corticosteroid medication, the recommendation is to reduce your intake of salt and sugar. Other than these specific strategies, try and follow a generally healthy diet.

If you have nutrition questions you’d like answered, please submit them using the form on our Contact page.