Stay Hydrated
Keep hydrated with plenty of water. I take water with me wherever I go and try to keep it handy even when I am at home. I find that if it is handy, I am more likely to drink more of it.
Add lemon slices for a natural way to help reduce swelling and cleanse the body out too. I even drink a cleansing concoction I found on a natural food and health website, and it seems to help if I have overdone on outdoor activity.
In includes a cup of hot water, lemon juice (1 tbsp.), organic apple cider vinegar (2 tbsp.), and raw organic honey (2 tsp) and a sprinkle of turmeric, a spice that naturally helps inflammation. The taste is not great, but I feel it helps me feel better and experience less of the sun-exposure-sickness I tend to feel after a day outdoors.
Consider These Tips for Managing Lupus in Spring
Plan Ahead
Plan ahead for being outside. Have extra sunglasses and a long sleeve shirt in your car along with some extra sunscreen. Occasionally, a quick outing turns into a long one and I have learned the hard way that being prepared is priceless to your health.
Set Yourself Limits
Like I said before, spring may make you feel so excited you are tempted to throw caution to the wind. Don’t. Decide what you most want to do (or need to do) and tackle it in reasonable intervals.
If you have a ball game to attend for your child, don’t attempt yard work that same day. Keep track of the amount of time you are in the sun too. That UV reaction can sneak up on you.
Eat Smart
Warmer weather means the start of grilling season and backyard barbeques. Resist the temptation to eat a lot of processed meats, and especially avoid nitrates that are in your typical hot dogs and sausages.
Seek organic nitrate-free versions when you shop. I love the Al Fresco brand hotdogs and chicken sausage and Applegate Farms brand makes really good natural alternative to avoid those unhealthy additives.
Avoid Soda
It used to be automatic: get a burger in one hand and a soda in the other. They just went together so well. But I discovered that even if I wasn’t drinking diet soda, regular soda still had an adverse effect on how I felt and could even trigger a flare.
I now choose water for the most part or sometimes iced tea to go with my meal.
Though spring is often a chance for people to feel full of energy and an overall “rebirth” that gets us back outdoors after a long, cold winter, it can pose some challenges to those with lupus. Always remember to think through your schedule of activities and to choose the ones that mean the most, and take the necessary precautions to keep you feeling your best.
