Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “What do you recommend for someone who was just diagnosed with lupus?” — Manuela S., Miami, FL

A. Dear Manuela, Autoimmune diseases like lupus can be quite tricky to manage, so first and foremost, I encourage you to work with your health care practitioner to decide which supplements are best in your unique situation. I can make some recommendations, but that never replaces your doctor’s care and oversight.

While I have never found a natural “cure” for autoimmune diseases like lupus, there are definitely nutritional factors I would suggest to improve overall health and balance immune system function.

You have an autoimmune disease in which the body has decided to erroneously attack parts of your body as if they were an invader. In any autoimmune condition, the three most important items to address are quieting down the overactive immune system, addressing inflammation, and reducing or eliminating whatever is irritating the immune system. The best thing I have seen for quieting down an overactive immune system is an herb called cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa). When choosing a cat’s claw product, look for one that is standardized to be free of a substance called TOA (tetracyclic oxindole alkaloid).

You would also benefit greatly by adding a strong, bioavailable curcumin to your daily regimen. Curcumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric, is a potent antioxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory that works via multiple pathways. I recommend taking 750 mg of bioavailable curcumin twice daily. Keep in mind that standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed, so make sure the product you choose features a curcumin with excellent absorption that has been proven in published human studies. The best form I have ever found uses micronized curcumin blended with turmeric essential oils in a patented process. This curcumin has been shown in published human studies to be up to 10 times better absorbed than standard curcumin.

Lastly, you would benefit from a combination of elderberry, along with vitamin (A, C, and D) and mineral (zinc, calcium, and magnesium) ingredients. All of these ingredients have antiviral, antibacterial, or immune-supportive properties that will help boost overall health and immune system function. I would recommend taking 1 tablet of this blend daily.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally