I've been on it a week and just wondered how long it takes to get results. My Dr put me on it. Sure hope it helps. I have undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Lupus, sjogren's and scleroderma. I have a lot of joint pain.
Has anyone tried the anti-inflammatory diet? - LUPUS UK
Has anyone tried the anti-inflammatory diet?
Written by
Ckohl
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
65 Replies
•
Hi ckohl....funny, I just started an anit inflammatory diet last week. Its not easy. I am feeling a little better. Sleeping good, Skin is staying on my finger. My scalp is a little itchy, not bad. My shoulder and joint pain is better too. But, i went walking in the evening on the beach, sun was high still...and i was a mess the next day. Tension headache, shoulders. Could be that i was suppose to be eating chicken sausage, not pork. No pork.
I miss my chocolate. And very had to cut up tons of veggies. I am tired still, and my eyes are burning from dryness. My scarred kidneys were acting up too. Not sure if there is too much potassium in some of the foods. Lot of work. I am hoping it will get easier as i go. I am told 3 weeks in the beginning the hardest, and i can slowly introduce more veggies. No night shade plants ever again.
Also, supplements are involved. Cant afford them all. But feeling my gut is healing is awesome. Inflammation is going down. Suppose to be on this for 90 days.
Connective tissue in my back is a lot better
Thanks I'm glad to know someone else is trying this diet. I agree it's hard but I'm hoping it will be worth it if I start feeling better. I have a hard time eating fish not a fish lover and I do miss the chocolate too. I do like all the fresh fruit but I'm not sure what I will do in the winter when fresh fruit is out of season. The pita chips and hummus are great. I found some good recipes online that help in to make the food taste better. Sure is expensive to eat this diet. Let's keep in touch on our progress. Would love to hear how you are doing.
Yes. Defintely. You are eating more than me. Gosh! I can't eat pita chips. No bread, no gluten, no grains, no pasta...ugh!
I am trying to keep up with the veggies I get to eat. A lot of cutting. Just pulled my cuisinart out yesterday and chopped a bunch of stuff up. I am also fermenting. And making bone broth once a week to drink every day.
My husband noticed the pain in his knees has gotten a little better with the collagen protein.
Smoothies in the winter. Frozen fruit. I have at least one a day.
Hardest is not eating something sweet after dinner right?
We are on the same diet, but you are being way better than i. I love sweets. Sigh* gluten free cupcakes, but the icing is sugar and butter, so two inflammatory agents there... Ok. I can do this, if you can.
Thanks Natura! I am proud of you.
Natura, where did you get your diet? My Dr just told me to go online and find one and eat those foods. I have no idea what I'm doing. The first time I went to the store to buy food it took me two hours just looking at labels. It can be pretty overwhelming.
Is your doctor able to refer you to a nutritionist so that you can have expert advice on this diet to ensure that you continue to get all the nutrients you need?
Interesting no pork as I went for a meal with my daughter and family on Father's Day and had pork - I came out in a rash up my legs for the next week or so. What is it about pork? I have a couple of tomatoes and slices of potato now and again, now after being off nightshades for many years. I can't take supplements. I am very sensitive and I muscle tested many yesterday in the health shop and this morning had a good clear out - just laying them on my navel to test seems to be enough!
Hi Cann....even my chiropractor said no pork. It irritates nerve endings. Not sure why either though. Interesting.
Yeah!!!
♡♡♡
OK. I am recommitted to NO nightshades!
Cheering you on!
You can do it Casimir. No nightshades. No mushrooms (fungis). Sweet potato, yes! I am sick of sweet potato though. There is a japanese sweet potato that is white on the inside. I like those better.
I drink meaty bone broth (chicken and beef) with the jelly (yechhhh) but have got used to it now to help connective tissue. Oily fish is very good, I eat chicken and red meat (usually stew with bones to again raise the jelly content in the gravy. Cool and scrape off the fat, reheat and eat. Slow cooking makes meat broken down enough to easily digest. Dont eat many vitamins but try getting nutrients from whole food. Eat lots of vegies and fruit (have cut sugar and gluton out (major contribution to inflammation)...well apart for occasional choc but it upsets me so slowly curing my addiction! I also eat two eggs every day to keep protien levels high, lots of nuts (variety) and seeds.
I've eliminated all chemicals in soaps, face creams etc. My hair was falling out and the diet and washing my hair and skin in Aqueous cream has slowed this down. Hair no longer dry and brittle....
Exercise is critical factor - sounds weird with your body sore and damaged ...but latest research shows exercise has lots of benefits.Swimming is best (weightless for joints to freely move) start SLOW and gradually build to a level you feel happy about. Apart from improved mobility and less joint pain, the added benefit of uplifting your thinking, improving positive brain chemicals through exercise is a huge plus.
All the best and sending good healing forces from NZ!!
Nixa, My hair has been getting thin also.....my Dr acted like it had nothing to do with my disease,but I've always had thick hair. It's only thinning on top. My Dr told me to take Biotene. Very upsetting. I broke out with a red rash today only on my right side a small part on my nose across my cheek bone down under my chin. My chin itches by not the rest but it does burn. Has anyone else had this or is it something different? The only thing I had today was Kashi go lean crunch with small amount of milk which I have eaten the last 3 days. Thanks for all the food info. It really helps to know what I should eat. For now I eat salads, veggies and fruit.
It could be the Biotene - I only know it as a mouth wash?? this has lots of chemicals in it: biotene.com/dry-mouth-produ.... Avoid parabens at the very least. It maybe an allergic reaction. Try a histamine pill and see if that calms it down. Try the Aqueous cream (soap free) - a large jar is only $5 (so half that in euro's) with no harsh chemicals. You wash in a handful of this cream and rinse it off. Keeps your skin subtle and prevents drying, calms rashes. Your rash maybe from the sun too...especially as it's on the right side - maybe when out driving?
You need to up your fats (good oils - olive, nuts and seeds, coconut oil to cook in) that will help your skin and joints too. Protien is missing in action too...do you not eat eggs, bone broth (helps the joints etc alot)
Weird your doc advised Biotene for your hair......
All the best!!
I thought so too. I haven't gone and got any of it yet. I'm taking Benadryl so hope by morning it will be better. I do eat eggs but the diet my Dr put me on says only 1 egg a week. I'll try eating more. Thanks for your help
It pays to ask your Dr "WHY?" when he suggests things you are uncertain about. New info says eat eggs as much as you like/need. the old fashioned idea was to limit to three a week. So am wondering why he says only one a week when protien is a key building block for muscles, joints and connective tissue.
Sending you good forces - its about trying things and seeing if you notice an improvement. Everyone responds differently to a different range of symptoms. But taking some control over your health also helps.
all the best
Hi ckohl...my hair has thinned too. I am starting to be convinved that these issues are thyroid related. The diet I am is to restore my thyroid to normal function. I actually just found out the food I am on is considered a cleanse. I would watch dairy. I stopped dairy awhile ago. Try low fat coconut milk instead. I cant have the regular coconut milk. My body just flipped out from the fat part. Cant digest. Kashi isnt the best thing to be eating either. Believe me, I was eating that way years ago. It wasnt helping me. I wasnt getting better.
People dont understand what the problem is. I am now convinced its inflammation of the body down to the celllular level. My hairdresser recommended biotin. Which i take so that my hair will grow. But, i had scabs on my head, itchiness and losing hair.
Nixta is right. Add coconut oil to your cooking. Good fat. Avocadoes, yes.
I am going to ask my GP about this next week. I had gone gluten free and didn't think it was doing much for me, even though when I was I had told the doc I felt better. However, living in England, I gave up gluten free.... not feeling so good... but there has been major stress.
Then last week I realised my knees weren't hurting so badly... just figured the flare was finally gone. Then one day, my knees were really hurting and I realised I had had a lot of bread for dinner the night before... I had not been deliberatly avoiding gluten, but realised I had not had much....
So... I'm seriously considering going back to no gluten to see if swelling in knees etc helps. I need to look up the anti-inflamatory diet... I'm afraid it will say no coffee.
Cann• in reply to
Coffee and tea are stimulants and for auto immune not good. Decaffeinated is no better I've read.
Casimir• in reply to
I am on it. I Keep the coffee in the am, but cut it out throughout the day. We need to live during our healing.
I will give up sex, before coffee!
Lol!
♡
Natura• in reply to
Mezzo....sorry, I think coffee is a no no. But, you can drink herbal teas and white tea. No black.
Nixta• in reply to
Coffee is ok..one a day 
And real ground coffee of course.
See if you can read the book Grain Brain - written by a Neuroscientist. You will never touch Gluton (and probably sugar) again!!!
Nixta• in reply to
Doctors tend to treat everyone in a generic one size fits all approach. Everyone is different and responds differently. So it's up to you to try different approaches and research on line and see what works. Reading Grain Brain by Neuroscientist (New York Times Best Seller) - cant recall name now and given the book back to my friend, really woke me up. Looking at Paeleo diet too. Raising protien and vegies. Medical profession poo-poo dietary impacts but there are some interesting cases where people have noticed a marked improvement. So worth checking it out - Interesting that you clearly had an improvement.
All the best
I virtually stay on the diet and have been for 16 years, but occasionally come off for meals out or family meals. I have to go back though or I suffer!
Cann...interesting. I know some food is going to be reintroduced in this program. I hope. And, like Casimir, I cant give up everything. I have to have a bite of dark chocolate. (Notcoffee ).
This is a life change. A diet, I believe , we need to remain on for life.
I agree with you. Good to indulge occasionally, but every time I do, I suffer, so I do my best to stay on the diet. Interestingly, the diet is different for all of us, but dairy, gluten/grains, processed food with additives and preservatives do seem to be the main ones for me and some fruit and veg.
Not an easy life and I would like to know why this is although I think all my systems have all been over compromised during my life and being a very sensitive being are the main reasons.
We are whole people not clinical beings and we have to understand all the levels of potential initiation of trouble for us.
Emotions are certainly involved, so are thoughts/mental stimulation; spiritual too, and then the physical which is subjected to so much stress these days not least climate and weather changes.
It's a complex issue that we can only do our best to work out for ourselves. What is interesting, when I was seriously ill, I discovered my body had stored somewhere all the negative issues and experiences of my life even back to pre-birth and they were all coming out - to haunt me if you like.
Issues and experiences my brain couldn't possibly remember and some of them I had to ask my parents about and they wondered how I knew about them thinking someone else had told me. It has certainly been a learning journey or a journey of the soul if you like and I believe that we are all at different levels of our soul journey and that is why we are all different.
Cann...very well said. I am actually considered HSP (highly sensitive person) and found my journey here has been very hard. I am starting to run out of steam, and my sense of humor is faling me. This diet is pissing me off today. I am having some withdrawals i guess. I had some chocolate, amd feeling bad about it.
I dont know if i can keep it up.
I know I have to in order to live with less pain and stress on my body. We have been pounded with a summer running from air conditioner to air conditioner. I am in my house or work, and its pissing me off too! Its ridiculously hot and humid today. And it is upsetting. I want to move further north because i cant stand the heat, but then the winters will be brutal. I cant find peace for my body or my mind. Meditation, yoga, deep breathing. Tried them all. Doesnt help. i am too much a realist, and always end back in my painful world.
Ugh! Just having a bad day. Sorry.
Yes, I know what you mean. We are having a hot spell at the moment and beautiful weather, but probably not as hot as yours; can get very heavy and humid, though especially difficult indoors. The winters are long cold and damp, but probably not as cold as yours.
I cannot eat chocolate even drink pure cocoa. I found it hard at first, but am used to it now and switch off when others are having it or I have a sniff of theirs; my husband's coffee, too, but I hate the smell of tea (not herbal ones).
Hope your day is better tomorrow!
What does the diet consists of
Hi Gina...you can find some information online. Sort of like paleo. Diet. No night shades, no dairy, no grains, no nuts and seeds, no soy. Allowed stevia as a sweetener surprisingly. Avocado everyday. I heard this more than once for health (a man in a health food store said he saved his fathers life from cancer by studying with a scientist in california. Said an avocado a day would keep you healthy. Doctors gave him 6 months to live). Juicing, berries, peaches ok.
If you are very serious , i can message you link. Cost $140 US , for the program. I have not had to take my supplememts for connective tissue pain. I do take a collagen protein powder in my smoothie daily. I have a little still, but only on diet for 2 weeks. Suppose to be on for 90 days.
What does the diet consist of what foods shoul be avoided
Yes! You have a great doctor! I have had to cut out gluten-(wheat), and casien-(dairy from cows, but also put in some soy cheeses!). Sugars, nightshades-ie:potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, are also warned off of... i do cheat. I have seen improvement especially cutting out wheat, and cow's dairy regarding my lungs.
Casimir...i would recommend getting off the soy. Not good for anyone. It is an estrogen mimic. Be careful. I heard someone at the farmers market say soy is bad for men. Coconut milk! Best stuff. It is entirely in my diet everyday! Love it. Good fat
Coconut milk can be very good, but it is recommended to been consumed in moderation because it contains high levels of saturated fatty acids. In addition, unless it is fortified with calcium it is not a suitable replacement for ordinary milk or soy milk in your diet unless you also increase your intake of calcium from another source.
I agree Paul. I have trouble digesting the high fat content. That is why I buy the lowfat coconut milk. Maybe I am not doing it right, but it works for me. Each persons body is different.
Me too! It attacked my lungs about 8 yrs ago, now on oxygen. Interstitial lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis). I am now on Mycophenolate ( CellCept) to slow it down. I'm almost 79 and was diagnosed with the connective tissue disease.
Oh, my lungs are a lot better. My breathing is less laborious. Phlegm coming up too. Still tough to breathe in high humidity, heat
Hi there. Yes I've been on an anti-inflammatory (almost the Paleo diet - look that up too to see what ideas they have with food and pick and choose what fits) for about a month now. After eliminating everything eating vegies and fruit I have gradually introduced meat - especially meaty bone broth (jelly type) which is really helping. Mainlining on nuts, seeds and vegies. I eat two eggs in the morning with colslaw, and nut bread. all gluten free. I have better energy levels and can make it through the day without the afternoon sleep! Stomach issues have disappeared. Google the diets and pick the easiest things. I make a frypan full of ambrio (rissoto) rice (only half a cup fried with onions, add stock (your jelly chicken one!) and pile in all kinds of vegies (avoid deadly nightshade ones, egg plant, tomatoes, potatoes etc) and you can have a stirfry veg rissotto on call for a couple of days. Add fresh herbs, or other tasty flavours to change it. But feel I am finally noticing an improvement.
I even used powdered geletin and fresh fruit to make a jelly for desert - helps with connective tissue rebuild. Protien and vegies are the go!! I love choc and once a week have one square - part of my weening off process..... sigh.
Good luck!
Well done!! It's taken me weeks to resist chocolate! I am an addict. If I open a chocolate I need to eat the whole slab. If I have sweets or choc in the house I can hear them calling "eat me" - it is super hard to break the habbit. But why should you? Dark chocolate is very good for you and am sure one a day is doing your more good than harm. So keep a balance - life would really be miserable without it all together!!!!
What meats do you guys eat? The diet I'm using shows mostly fish. Chicken and red meat just once a week. I really haven't been eating much meat just fruit, veggies and yogurt in the morning with fresh fruit.
I dont eat yogurt. Dairy based. no dairy. I can eat chicken sausage with veggies for breakfast. Berry smoothie with coconut milk.
Thanks Natura, why no dairy? Just curious. Do you make your berry smoothie with fresh berries and coconut milk and do you use stevia to sweeten it?
Milk seems to have trouble breaking down because some of us are lacking the digest enzyme lactase. So, I was substituiting with a digest enzyme that had lacatase to help break down dairy. It wasnt enough. I still had pain that seemed to be worsening into rheuamatoid arthritis.
I use frozen berries, low fat coconut milk (i have trouble digesting the heavy fat), stevia to sweeten, lemon and cinnamon. I am sort of getting sick of it. I have it nearly everyday. I think the program I am on is going to start reintroducing more food. I hope so.
Natura, thanks that sounds good but I'm sure having everyday would get old. I got me some almond/coconut milk today. I'm going to try and make the smoothie. It's so hard to know what to eat. I'm trying so hard to eat the right stuff. Have you lost a lot of weight on the plan you are on? Thanks for the support.
Ckohl...my pants are loose on me that were getting tight. I lost at least 5 or more lbs.
I noticed today for the first time i could find and feel an itch on my head and relieve it by scratching in the right place. Lol. I know that sounds weird, but before i would itch it and i couldnt find it, or feel the scratch. I think my nerve endings were that bad.
Feeling pretty good with some connective tissue pain. Found out from program dr. That this is like a cleanse. Basically a lot of garlic, onions, pepper, salt...kills bacteria. Starting to wonder if all our problems are related to bacterium and viral. Why do so many people have problems?
You have to wonder. I spray my veggies with a vegetable wash too. I had a farmer tell me you have to. I imagine there is a lot of bacteria and stuff in our soil. Something to consider.
Keep reading, and finding anit inflammatory ideas!
Natura, That is so great you are feeling better and have lost weight. I have days I feel better but I'm really disappointed I haven't lost more weight. I have given up everything but veggies, fruit, chicken and some fish. Giving up chocolate and ice cream is a huge deal for me. I'm sure in time I will see the weight come off. Thanks for all your encouraging words and support. Cindy
Cindy...i stabalized in ghe 2nd week. Weight is coming off slower. Its ok cause i feel better. I still have dry eye problems, but more energy. Dont forget to include good fats, acocadoes, coconut milk. The weight dropped right off.
Natura, Yes after you told me about the coconut milk I went and got some, really good. I was surprised. I have made guacamole using lime, garlic, cilantro and sea salt. I have put it on grilled chicken. I'm going to go get some chicken sausage so I have it for something different. How much fruit do you eat a day? Maybe I'm getting to much fruit. Cindy
I just keep attract of foods that don't agree with my body and avoid those foods.
Thank you Kai, yes please do join us on the RA-ILD page. all of what I post relates to CTD-ILD and we have several lupus patients on board I've not long been diagnosed but am finding it helpful to discuss with others with similar issues. Best wishes and breathe easy xx
Wearing me down this diet. Putting my body through the ringer. Not sure i can keep it up. Week 3. The program said the first 3 weeks were hard. I was always sort of hypogylcemic, which can then turn into insulin resistance. Which is where I am now. So, I am getting the shakes and detoxing. Ugh! Cranky, irritable...Program said to put lemon in water with stevia (natural sugar) to help. Did that...still difficult. How is everyone else doing?
Natura, I can only imagine how hard that would be. I haven't had any sugar but I'm eating more food than you. I put a small amount of dried craisins in tuna or a salad and that seems to help. I get discouraged too but try and tell myself in the long run I'm going to feel so much better. Sorry I'm not much help but I'm hear to listen and I hope soon you get to add more to your diet. Hang in there. You can do it! Just one more week and hopefully things will get better. Cindy
Thanks Cindy. Your words have encouraged me. I cant eat dried fruits either. I think this diet is too restrictive. I kept away from chocolate today, but had some pretzels. I can't eat only whats on the list. I am reducing inflammation in my body though. My feet, fingers..my breathing is so much better. I am doing the best I can, and forgiving myself if I cheat a little. I am going camping with my family in another week. Its going to be hard tp prepare food there. I may break down and buy bone broth, or make some meals and freeze them. I am just so uniterested in making food anymore. I dont know whats wrong with me. I guess I am depressed. Thank you again for your support.
Natura, I'm so glad I found this site. It's so nice that we have someone to talk to that can relate. My taste buds have changed in these last 2 weeks. With not having sugar things that use to not taste good or weren't sweet now are sweet and taste good....strange. I made your smoothie today with frozen strawberries and bananas, coconut milk and stevia and it was really good! Let me know when you can have guacamole I have a easy recipe and it's really good. I'm so glad you're feeling better. All you can do is your best. Enjoy your camping trip with your family and try not to stress about the food. I leave to see my son and his family (my only grandchildren) in Hawaii September 1st until the 18th. I'm going to have the same problem but I'm just going to do the best I can and not sweat the small stuff and enjoy my kids. Hang in there you are doing so much better then I would. Glad we can help eachother out. Cindy
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Anti inflammatory diet for lupus?
Has anyone ever tried this? I really want to know about your experience. I just bought a book about...
Anti-inflammatory book
I know each of us uses their own common sense when it comes to anti-inflammatory diet, some often...
Anti inflammatory medication? ?
Hi, I would be really grateful for some advice about anti inflamatory I've been taking naproxen for...
Gluten free diet. Has anyone tried it?
Hello! I want to know if anyone has tried this and how is the result? Even though you have or don't...
Anti inflammatory diets
Hi everyone, hope you’re all doing ok, been a while since I’ve been on here, feel like I’ve been...
Has anyone found an alternative to NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
GAPS. Anyone tried this?
Has anyone tried a powerplate machine?
Has anyone tried Hyperbaric oxygen therapy? 
