The dry mouth that comes with Sjögren’s disease can make it difficult to chew, swallow, or even taste certain foods. But choosing foods that soothe a sore mouth is just one consideration when it comes to eating a Sjögren’s-friendly diet. A plate full of anti-inflammatory and fatigue-fighting foods can help you feel good. It may even stave off complications or other health conditions.

However, food can’t cure Sjögren’s disease. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about other treatment options and actionable steps. You may also want to consult a dietitian to develop an eating plan that meets your nutritional needs while avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms.

1. Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Sjögren’s disease is an autoimmune condition that causes your body to attack its own cells, specifically the cells responsible for producing natural lubricants. The immune system responds to this false threat by generating inflammation throughout the body. This can lead to complications over time. Eating foods that naturally lower inflammation may help ease symptoms of Sjögren’s disease.

An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on the following:

• Whole foods — Eating whole or minimally processed foods ensures all of their anti-inflammatory nutrients are intact.
• Colorful fruits and vegetables — Each color is produced by different anti-inflammatory compounds called phytochemicals. Eating a variety of colors ensures you eat a variety of phytochemicals.
• Vitamin C — Citrus fruits and bell peppers are loaded with this powerful antioxidant, which is also known as ascorbic acid.
• Healthy fats — Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e., fish, nuts, seeds) and monounsaturated fats (i.e., olive oil, canola oil, avocados) help reduce inflammation.
• Dietary fiber — Foods high in fiber help keep the bacteria in your gut in a healthy state of balance, helping to prevent an inflammatory immune response. Eat a variety of whole, plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, etc.) for fiber.
• Probiotics — Probiotic foods include live “good” bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. Look for kefir, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, miso, and other fermented foods with “live cultures” on the label.
• Certain spices and herbs — Meals prepared with turmeric, ginger, garlic, paprika, rosemary, sage, cumin, cinnamon, marjoram, tarragon, or cloves contain an extra anti-inflammatory boost.
• Organic meat — Grass-fed beef, organic free-range chicken, and wild-caught fish may be less inflammatory than grain-fed or farm-raised options.

2. Hydrating, Easy-To-Chew Foods

Sjögren’s disease causes dry mouth and difficulty swallowing. You may feel most comfortable eating moist, hydrating foods that don’t require much chewing.

Try homemade ice pops, smoothies, soups, yogurt, applesauce, bananas, watermelon, tuna, cottage cheese, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and whole-grain pasta. If it makes sense to do so, consider pureeing food in a blender or food processor to make it easier to swallow. Other tips:

• Make sure hot foods and drinks cool to at least room temperature.
• Moisten dry foods with sauce, broth, or yogurt.
• Thin foods like mashed potatoes with plenty of milk.
• Take small bites, and thoroughly chew your food before swallowing.
• Sip on water or 100 percent pure papaya juice between meals or bites. It contains an enzyme called papain that helps stimulate and thin saliva.
• Tuck an ice cube or a frozen slice of cucumber or melon in your cheek during the day. It hydrates your mouth as it slowly melts.

3. Fatigue-Fighting Foods

Fatigue is another common symptom of Sjögren’s disease. It may occur due to low iron, low protein, or too many simple carbs.

Iron-Rich Food

Although iron deficiency is not common with Sjögren’s disease, being deficient in iron can lead to fatigue. Iron deficiency may occur with chronic inflammation, menstruation, or bleeding in the stomach. Iron is essential for the production of new red blood cells and the protein hemoglobin. Hemoglobin helps transport oxygen throughout the body. When the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells (anemia), low oxygen levels (hypoxemia) and extreme fatigue may occur.

To combat this fatigue, it’s important to eat a diet rich in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. These are essential nutrients for producing healthy red blood cells. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, so combining foods with vitamin C and those with iron can be a great foundation for fighting fatigue. If you’re considering a supplement, make sure to check in with your healthcare provider first.

• Iron — Found in poultry, red meat, fish and seafood, eggs, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, potatoes, cabbage, peas, beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, figs, dates, raisins, prunes, blackstrap molasses, various nuts and seeds, and iron-fortified breads and cereals
• Vitamin C — Found in red and green bell peppers, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, kiwis, strawberries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, potatoes, peas, and fortified products
• Folic acid — Found in beef liver, spinach, black-eyed peas, rice, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, avocado, broccoli, kidney beans, oranges, papayas, bananas, cantaloupe, eggs, fish, milk, and a variety of fortified grains and cereals
• B12 — Found in beef liver, ground beef, fish and seafood, milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, and fortified products like cereal or nutritional yeast

Proteins and Complex Carbohydrates

One issue could be that you’re eating too many foods that quickly raise and lower your blood sugar. This can cause short bursts of energy followed by fatigue. Rather, focus on foods that are in their natural state, which have more nutrients and take a longer time to digest. When the body slowly breaks down food into fuel, blood sugar levels stay consistent and you’re less likely to have an energy crash.

The best foods for long-term energy include complex carbohydrates and lean proteins. Complex carbs take a longer time to break down into their simplest form for digestion.

Proteins take even more time to digest. It’s best to stick with lean or low-fat options so that your body doesn’t have to work too hard to metabolize the extra fat.

• Complex carbohydrates — Whole-grain bread or pasta, oatmeal, brown rice, whole fruits, leafy greens and other vegetables, beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils
• Lean proteins — Skinless chicken, fish, lean beef, nuts, seeds, plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt, eggs, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas

Eat healthy meals throughout the day to make sure your body gets enough fuel.

Watch for Food Sensitivities and Comorbid Conditions

There’s no one-size-fits-all Sjögren’s disease diet. You may need to follow different or additional dietary guidelines. This is especially true if you have food allergies, food sensitivities that seem to worsen your Sjögren’s disease symptoms, or any overlapping (comorbid) conditions.

For example, people with Sjögren’s disease are at a higher risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD causes stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus or mouth. If you have GERD, you may need to stay away from acidic foods, like citrus fruits and tomato sauces.

Talk to a dietitian to develop a diet that promotes your whole-body health and well-being. Managing Sjögren’s disease symptoms may be just one piece of the puzzle.

Join the Conversation

On MySjögrensTeam, people share their experiences with Sjögren’s disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What’s your go-to snack or meal when you’re experiencing dry mouth? Let others know in the comments below.