July 21, 2026 —
How can diet and nutrition affect lupus? What foods could potentially be “good” for lupus? What is the gut microbiome – and how is lupus impacted by it?
Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance, dug into these questions and more by convening leading healthcare professionals and people living with lupus for the second in our webinar series, “Lupus & Life: Science, Support, and Self-Care.”
Moderated by Caroline Donovan, MPH, Senior Director, Patient Engagement & Education, the webinar explored the impact of diet and nutrition choices on lupus management with practical tips that could be helpful for many people with lupus. Information conveyed should not be interpreted as medical advice – consulting your own healthcare provider is key, particularly given how differently lupus affects each individual.
Hear from:
- Monica Guma, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, who shared the research looking closer at diet as a complementary approach to managing lupus. Dr. Guma is the recipient of a pioneering initiative from Lupus Therapeutics – Investigate Dietary Approaches for Lupus (IDEAL). She discussed the research her team of multidisciplinary experts is exploring, examining how a personalized Mediterranean-based diet (Med-Diet) could impact gut health, drug metabolism, and lupus symptoms.
- Shane Lerner, advocate and person living with lupus, who shared his success improving lupus symptoms with a holistic approach that included a plant-based diet with anti-inflammatory foods while cutting out seed oils and processed foods.
- Gregg Silverman, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who explained the role of the thousands of bacteria of the gut microbiome in shaping and regulating the immune system. Widely used food additives and “fast foods” are among the worst culprits, while fresh fruits and vegetables are recommended.
- Tanya Freirich, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, dietitian and lupus warrior, who shared her own experience with the disease, paired with her expertise as a registered dietitian. She provided practical tips on how and why to adopt a diet that nourishes your microbiome. Tips include focusing on unprocessed foods, lowering salt, drinking 8-10 glasses of water, and eating plant-heavy, gluten-free foods.
Watch the webinar to gain practical insight and a better understanding of how and why nutrition may influence symptom management, daily health, and long-term wellness.
