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Que: Can a vegan diet cause lupus patient to go into remission?

Ans: The scientific evidence on the role of diet in autoimmune diseases such as lupus is just becoming available. I am a believer that a plant-based diet is helpful in promoting overall health and decreasing the chemicals that cause inflammation. I advocate a plant-based diet along with a very low-fat diet. You have to recall that French fries are vegan but they are not exactly healthy. I think that exercise and healthy diet are extremely important for everyone, but more so for those with autoimmune diseases.

Answered by Howard_Smith,_MD: Dr. Smith is a rheumatologist in the Department of Rheumatic and Immunological Diseases specializing in lupus, arthritis and general rheumatology.

Que: Do calories from hard liquor add just as much caloric energy/fat as calories from other sources? What are "empty calories" so many people refer to?

Ans: Excellent question. To make a long story short: A serving of alcohol is typically not very high in calories, BUT it is metabolized very differently than our food (90 percent in the liver), which can make weight loss tricky. For example, a light beer is roughly 100 calories and so is a handful of nuts. In terms of calories, this is not much at all, but in terms of metabolism, they vary significantly, partly because you have fiber, protein, and fat in the nut and virtually none of these in beer.

This is why we can't say a calorie equals a calorie. Think of it this way, an empty calorie food or drink is something you can remove from the diet but still maintain optimal physiological function. Do our bodies need alcohol to survive? No. Candy? No. Soda? No. These are empty calories because they don't have a purpose. Do we need lean protein to survive? Yes. Fresh produce? Yes. You get the idea...

Kylene Bogden, MS, RD, CSSD, LD: Ms. Bogden is a registered clinical dietitian who works in the Department of Nutrition Therapy at Cleveland Clinic.

Que: Can you recommend any tools that will help me stay motivated to stay on my eating plan?

Ans: These are a few that I have found quite helpful for my patients:

Continue to remind yourself of the benefits of reaching your goal. It may be looking good in those summer shorts or having more energy to keep up with your kids. Put up notes to remind yourself if necessary.

Weigh yourself weekly and give yourself a NON-FOOD reward. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It could be giving yourself a candle-lit bubble bath or a back-rub from your spouse. Get creative.

Continue to focus on health and wellness. Read books and articles that are motivating. Also, avoid environmental triggers that stir up your cravings such as watching food-related TV shows, meeting your friends at your favorite pastry shop, etc.

Keep graphic records of your accomplishments. Watching that line on your weight graph go down or the line on your exercise graph go up can be quite motivating!

Answered by Maxine Smith, RD, LD. Ms. Smith has more than 20 years of experience as a registered, clinical dietitian and currently works in the department of Nutrition Therapy.

Que: I am postmenopausal. Can I still get pregnant?

Ans: You know, that's honestly a tricky question. At just over a year since your last period, I wouldn't bet the farm that you couldn't get pregnant.

Your best bet is to consult your gynecologist for an opinion. He or she can tell you if you still need to use birth control or if you're probably not ovulating anymore. I would say until you get that expert opinion, if you don't want to get pregnant you should use a condom or some other form of birth control.

Hope this helps!