Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Diet MattersMCTD Diet BasicsWhat to EatWhat to AvoidWhat Works for YouCooking Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why Diet Matters
MCTD Diet Basics
What to Eat
What to Avoid
What Works for You
Cooking Tips
Anti-inflammatory medications are a cornerstone of treatment formixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). But dietary choices are also important. Eating foods that suppress inflammation may help prevent MCTD flare-ups.
This article looks at why diet is important to those with mixed connective tissue disease, the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet, how the diet works, possible risks, what to eat, and what to avoid.
Betsie Van der Meer / Getty Images
MCTD is anautoimmune disorder, a disease in which your immune system attacks healthy cells. While it is its own diagnosis, MCTD is actually a combination of at least two connective tissue disorders. These can includesystemic lupus erythematosus,scleroderma,polymyositis, and less often,rheumatoid arthritis.
It can be hard to predict what will trigger a flare-up of any autoimmune condition. Day-to-day stressors or catching a cold can be enough to shift your immune system into overdrive.
For about half of people with MCTD, that means digestive issues.That’s because the condition targets the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
Digestivesymptoms and concerns can include:
Diet is important for those with MCTD because choosing certain foods over others may help promotehealthy gut bacteria, which reducesinflammationand related digestive issues.
In addition, it can help prevent other chronic diseases. In particular, those with MCTD have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer, depression, osteoporosis, heart disease, and high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).The basics of an MCTD diet are considered heart-health strategies too.
Many people with an autoimmune disease will eventually go on to develop another,so keeping the immune systemcalm—through diet and other means—can also have benefits in this regard.
RecapMCTD affects the gastrointestinal tract. Diet choices that promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce inflammation can help manage symptoms and your risk of some commonly co-occurring conditions.
Recap
MCTD affects the gastrointestinal tract. Diet choices that promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce inflammation can help manage symptoms and your risk of some commonly co-occurring conditions.
Most healthcare providers advise that people with autoimmune disorders follow a balanced meal plan composed of:
There’s no official consensus on the best way to eat for MCTD specifically. However, emerging science on diet and autoimmunity suggests ananti-inflammatorydiet focusing on:
And avoiding:
Foods to EatFresh fruit, especially berries, citrus, cherries, grapes, and bananasFlaxseed and chia seedsOatsDark green and purple vegetablesFatty fishFoods to AvoidAlfalfa sproutsGarlicEchinacea teas/supplementsFoods high in salt or sugarProcessed meats (bacon, jerky, salami, cold cuts)
Foods to EatFresh fruit, especially berries, citrus, cherries, grapes, and bananasFlaxseed and chia seedsOatsDark green and purple vegetablesFatty fish
Fresh fruit, especially berries, citrus, cherries, grapes, and bananas
Flaxseed and chia seeds
Oats
Dark green and purple vegetables
Fatty fish
Foods to AvoidAlfalfa sproutsGarlicEchinacea teas/supplementsFoods high in salt or sugarProcessed meats (bacon, jerky, salami, cold cuts)
Alfalfa sprouts
Garlic
Echinacea teas/supplements
Foods high in salt or sugar
Processed meats (bacon, jerky, salami, cold cuts)
Focusing on simple, whole foods can help you with an anti-inflammatory diet. Many of those foods containantioxidants. Those are vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and other substances that fight inflammation and cellular damage.
Some people may also be advised to also use supplements in order to avoid muscle loss from complications such as unintentional weight loss or absorption issues.
Fruit
Fresh fruits that are red, purple, or bluish contain high amounts of antioxidants calledanthocyanins. They areantioxidantsand alsoantimicrobial, meaning they help kill bacteria and viruses.
Studies suggest anthocyanins reduce inflammation, improve eye and brain health, and protect against disease.They’re also good for your heart.
Citrus fruits are known for their vitamin C, which is also an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory.
Fruits to focus on include:
Fruit is also a good source of fiber.
Do Anthocyanins Benefit Your Health?
Vegetables
Fresh vegetables also contain fiber and antioxidants like vitamin K. Research suggests vitamin K can significantly reduce inflammatory markers in the blood. Good sources include:
Choose vegetables that are dark or vividly colored. They have the highest amounts of antioxidants.
A Note About NightshadesSome people claim nightshade vegetables—like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, and red bell peppers—can trigger flares of arthritis. That may make some people with other autoimmune diseases leary of them.However, there’s no scientific evidence that they exacerbate pain or inflammation. Meanwhile, research shows they have disease-fighting properties along with high nutritional value and few calories.
A Note About Nightshades
Some people claim nightshade vegetables—like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, and red bell peppers—can trigger flares of arthritis. That may make some people with other autoimmune diseases leary of them.However, there’s no scientific evidence that they exacerbate pain or inflammation. Meanwhile, research shows they have disease-fighting properties along with high nutritional value and few calories.
Some people claim nightshade vegetables—like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, and red bell peppers—can trigger flares of arthritis. That may make some people with other autoimmune diseases leary of them.
However, there’s no scientific evidence that they exacerbate pain or inflammation. Meanwhile, research shows they have disease-fighting properties along with high nutritional value and few calories.
Whole Grains
Whole grains are packed with fiber. Studies have shown that fiber can lower levels of inflammatory markers in your blood.Because it’s filling, fiber can also help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Good choices include:
Be sure the products you buy are using the entire grain.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to be good for your brain, heart, lungs, and cellular health.They are also anti-inflammatory.
Foods rich in omega-3s include:
You can also get omega-3s through supplements as well.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics can help your probiotics flourish and keep your digestive system functioning well. They also helpcalm the immune system.
Foods with high prebiotic levels include:
In a study on type 1 diabetes, researchers found that a healthy gut microbiome limited the number of autoimmune cells coming from the immune system and offered protection against the disease.
Probiotics have long been known to impact the immune system. More recently, they’ve been linked to improving digestive symptoms and lowering inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and ulcerative colitis.
RecapIncorporate foods that deliver antioxidants, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotics.
Incorporate foods that deliver antioxidants, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotics.
What Is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet, and What Foods Should You Eat?
Autoimmune disease puts your immune system into overdrive. So avoiding certain “immune-boosting” foods can helps support a calm and effective immune system.
Research suggests you may want to avoid:
Some other foods are believed to exacerbate autoimmune conditions as well, such as:
Check labels for problem ingredients. Garlic is in a lot of packaged foods and echinacea is in herbal teas and supplement blends. Many packaged foods have high levels of sodium and sugar.
Always involve your healthcare provider(s) in choices about diet and supplements. They can steer you away from selections that may affect your disease. You may also benefit from seeking advice from a dietitian.
RecapAvoid processed foods and others that are high in sodium or sugar, such as cold cuts and canned soup. In addition, work to calm the immune system rather than eating foods known to boost it, such as garlic.
Avoid processed foods and others that are high in sodium or sugar, such as cold cuts and canned soup. In addition, work to calm the immune system rather than eating foods known to boost it, such as garlic.
What About Fasting?
Some studies suggest dietary restriction, calorie restriction, and fasting help prevent and treat autoimmune disorders.
Meal timingappears to impact gut bacteria, inflammation, circadian rhythm, and longevity.The research is promising, yet still too young to apply specific recommendations to MCTD management.
Finding What Works for You
Everyone’s body is different, especially when it comes to digestion and metabolism. What helps one person may not help you.
For instance, gluten may trigger inflammation in those with gluten sensitivity but not in others.
General recommendations about diet are a good place to start. But it will take time and experimentation to see what helps you the most.
To figure that out, it may help to:
Cooking at home is essential with MCTD because it gives you a wider range of unprocessed options. Look for simple recipes for things like:
Preparing these items at home lets you cut back on sodium and other preservatives, and helps you consume more prebiotic fiber.
You can make home-cooked meals especially healthy in many ways:
Summary
Your diet can help lower inflammation and balance gut bacteria, which can help reduce your MCTD symptoms. Fresh food is generally better than pre-packaged. Fruits, vegetables, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotics may be the most helpful.
Avoid immune-boosting foods and supplements, highly processed foods, and high sodium and sugar levels. A food diary and elimination diet can help you figure out what works for you.
Learning to make simple, fresh meals at home makes it easier to avoid processed foods.
Healthy eating isone piece of the puzzlewhen it comes to MCTD. Regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep can help your body weather the ups and downs of autoimmunity.
Sometimes even when you do everything right, flare-ups strike. Work closely with your healthcare provider to manage your symptoms using lifestyle changes and medication.
27 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).
Luquez-Mindiola A, Atuesta AJ, Gómez-Aldana AJ.Gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic sclerosis: An updated review.WJCC. 2021;9(22):6201-6217. doi:10.12998%2Fwjcc.v9.i22.6201
Bortz CM, Yu A, Ozeri DJ.Volvulus and under appreciated complication of mixed connective tissue disease: A case report.J Med Cases. 2018;9(4):125-126. doi:10.1007/s12016-015-8509-4
Furman D, Campisi J, Verdin E, et al.Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span.Nat Med. 2019;25(12):1822-1832. doi:10.1038/s41591-019-0675-0
Li J, Lee DH, Hu J, et al.Dietary inflammatory potential and risk of cardiovascular disease among men and women in the U.S.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020;76(19):2181-2193. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.09.535
Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I.Multiple autoimmune syndrome.Maedica (Bucur). 2010;5(2):132-134.
Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.Diet.
Cleveland Clinic.Why and how to start an anti-inflammatory diet.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Antioxidants: In depth.
Khoo HE, Azlan A, Tang ST, Lim SM.Anthocyanidins and anthocyanins: Colored pigments as food, pharmaceutical ingredients, and the potential health benefits.Food Nutr Res. 2017;61(1). doi:10.1080/16546628.2017.1361779
Kimble R, Keane KM, Lodge JK, Howatson G.Dietary intake of anthocyanins and risk of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(18):3032-3043. doi:10.1080/10408398.2018.1509835
Arthritis Foundation.The ultimate arthritis diet.
Harvard Health Publishing.Making one change — getting more fiber — can help with weight loss.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.Grains.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids.
Harvard Health Publishing.Do fish oil supplements reduce inflammation?
Liu Y, Alookaran JJ, Rhoads JM.Probiotics in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1537. doi:10.3390/nu10101537
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Center for Applied Nutrition.Prebiotics: What, where, and how to get them.
Mariño E, Richards JL, McLeod KH, et al.Gut microbial metabolites limit the frequency of autoimmune T cells and protect against type 1 diabetes.Nat Immunol. 2017;18(8):951. doi:10.1038/ni0817-951c
Xu H, Liu M, Cao J, et al.The dynamic interplay between the gut microbiota and autoimmune diseases.J Immunol Res. 2019;2019:1-14. doi:10.1155/2019/7546047
Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.5 things to avoid if you have lupus.
Hochrein SM, Wu H, Eckstein M, et al.The glucose transporter GLUT3 controls T helper 17 cell responses through glycolytic-epigenetic reprogramming.Cell Metabolism. 2022;34(4):516-532.e11. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2022.02.015
Zhang D, Jin W, Wu R, et al.High glucose intake exacerbates autoimmunity through reactive-oxygen-species-mediated tgf-β cytokine activation.Immunity. 2019;51(4):671-681.e5. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.08.001
Choi IY, Lee C, Longo VD.Nutrition and fasting mimicking diets in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases and immunosenescence.Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2017;455:4-12. doi:10.1016%2Fj.mce.2017.01.042
Paoli A, Tinsley G, Bianco A, Moro T.The influence of meal frequency and timing on health in humans: The role of fasting.Nutrients. 2019;11(4):719. doi:10.3390/nu11040719
University of Massachusettes Medical School, Center for Applied Nutrition.The 10 best prebiotic foods for IBD.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
