There are some foods and activities that you should avoid if you have lupus. One in particular is ingesting garlic. Researchers believe that garlic contains three distinct substances (allicin, ajoene, and thiosulfinates) that greatly increase the efficiency of your immune system. This sounds like a good thing, however, this enhancement of the immune system can be counterproductive in those with autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The immune system of someone with lupus is already overactive, therefore eating something that causes your immune system to increase can exacerbate your lupus symptoms. The sleep aid, Melatonin, is also something an individual with lupus should avoid. Melatonin also makes an impact on your immune system which may cause certain lupus symptoms to be worse. Those with lupus are also more susceptible to infection, especially respiratory infections, which is why smoking cigarettes is highly discouraged because it can cause great damage to the respiratory system. It is believed that cigarette smoke can increase the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Researchers also report that passive smoking, or regular exposure to secondhand smoke, also increases these risks of contracting this type of pneumonia. Some research also suggests that alcoholic drinks should be avoided as much as possible since they also have an effect on our immune system.

References:

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