Is it OK to eat pork? 4 Dietary Habits to Watch Out for When Taking Immunosuppressive Drugs

The number of patients coming to the hospital due to autoimmune diseases is definitely higher than in the past. The reason cannot be specified, but it is due to the exponential increase in pollutants and the increase in bacteria that did not exist in the past. There is also a reasonable suspicion that it is because of improved sanitary conditions and the fact that they have been raised too cleanly from an early age.

For example, pemphigus, a disease that causes blisters on the nose, is also an autoimmune disease. In the past, there were almost no patients visiting the hospital, but as of 2023, it has become a common disease that causes 3~4 patients to visit the hospital every day. This disease is caused by an inverted immune system in which autoantibodies that attack the skin attack proteins that connect keratinocytes to each other, causing blisters on the epidermis. Immunosuppressive drugs are the first choice in the treatment of these autoimmune diseases. Here are some dietary habits you should be aware of when using these immunosuppressants

Dietary habits to be aware of when taking immunosuppressive drugs

First, when taking immunosuppressive drugs, it is recommended to avoid foods that are known to activate the immune system, such as phoenix mushrooms, ginseng, deer antlers, and herbal medicines. This is because autoimmune diseases are not caused by a weak immune system, but by an abnormally strong immune system or an abnormality in the immune system.

Second, it's okay to eat pork, raw meat, chicken, fish, etc. It is commonly said that in the case of skin autoimmune diseases such as atopy, you should not consume proteins such as meat, but it is okay to consume them unless you are allergic to these foods.

Third, when taking immunosuppressants, you need to be careful of diabetes, so you should stay away from sugar. There are also concerns about hyperlipidemia and high blood pressure, so you should limit lean or salty foods.

Fourth, it is known that hyperlipidemia drugs should be limited when taking immunosuppressive drugs, but only cyclosporine, not all types of immunosuppressive drugs, has a risk of myopathy when administered in combination with hyperlipidemia drugs, so the amount of hyperlipidemia drugs should be adjusted in consultation with the attending physician when taking these drugs.