I have been a member of this group since 2013 when diagnosed with an agressive form of RA. I am on MTX, Hydroxy & Humira since 2014. My knee has been swollen w a torn meniscus since Nov 2016, until the last 2 weeks when I started the smoothie program below:
One of my medical practitioners recently referred me to try this diet change promoted by Dr Brooke Goldner from Texas. Because I don't eat fast foods, coffee, soft drinks or red meats and have always been physically active I thought I can do this. The diet doesn't require physical activity but my goal is to continue playing tennis. I will post links to all 3 of the free webinars. The key to getting the good out of the smoothies is the mega amounts of greens and the 1/2 cup or more of raw flax seeds a day and at least 1 gallon of water consumed throughout the day. The water is the hard part for me but I'm working on it.
Dr Goldner isn't selling anything. All the diet information is on her webpage. She does have a book "Goodbye Lupus", I bought it but its not essential. Search Smoothieshred on Facebook door recipes and how to make them and how much the drink a day. She said to consume the entire blender full of green smoothie a day. Not easy for some people but, I do it. I tell myself my life depends on it. Clint Paddison will soon feature her on one of his podcasts.
here's the link to the replay her free video: Title: Class 1 - The 3 Foods That are Making You Sick
Good luck...but don't get too despondent if it doesn't work.
Unfortunately the majority of dietary regimes seem to work because you believe they will, but as you are taking Dmards they are probably what is helping you.
Not to worry AgedCrone. I understand your skepticism. I just sent a request to my RA Dr to find out my SED and RA factor, They haven't run those markers since 2013. I have already noticed less inflammation in my knee with the torn meniscus, that has been inflamed since Nov 2016 when I injured it. And the meds haven't touched the pain in that knee at all, and Ive seen the RA Dr twice. She sent me to a knee specialist a month ago, it was so painful while he manipulated my knee. In the last 2 weeks, since on the diet, the swelling in my knee went down significantly and I don't take anti-inflammatory pills for pain.
Its not an easy diet for people to give up processed oils and foods they are used to eating. I was already halfway there so I'm not missing the foods most people are used to eating. I don't cook with oils nor eat fast foods
If you've got the time you could watch the videos. Its free, except to cost you your time, each video is an hour long. I will heal whatever problem that caused this illness in me. And if its all in my head and I don't have pain anymore, I can live with that. Good luck to you. M
I genuinely wish you all the best with your choice, but after 18 years of Dmards...I started on them at my first Rheumy consultation .....I still have all my joints in one piece. I had surgery for CT but friends who don't have RA have had that too .....it's been a rocky journey, but I'm not convinced I'd be any better off depriving my self if foods that I like.
I do eat sensibly, drink moderately, & don't smoke.
I honestly think if I gave up all the foods your diet demands, I'd be so bloomin' miserable I think RA would be the least of my problem!
We are free to make our choices. I didn't have problems until 2013 and only started meds in 2014. I still have all my joints and plan to keep them. I always figured I'd make a commitment to something if my life depended on it and this is one if those times. Good luck to you as well.
Doesn't Clint Paddison sell his programme? To me that makes this an advertisement. But what do I know.
I thoroughly agree that eating lots of greens is good. Almost anyone whose health is challenged would do well to eat their greens, of that I'm sure. Do they need to be prepared in a specific way? Not so sure about that. Drinking a lot of water is also good practice for any of us on Mtx. I despair, frankly.
Yes Clint does charge for his information. Dr Goldner does not. If someone wants to talk to her personally phone or skype, about their health problem it will cost, or if one wants to join a group of people who converse with her everyday for her to hold your hand, it will cost but she doesn't say anything diff to the private paying peeps than she says in the free videos I posted.
Yes the green smoothies are made a specific way. The recipes are on her FB Smoothieshred. Ill let you know when I'm off these meds. It could take a yr and that's ok. I'm working along w my RA Dr and won't quit any of my meds without her consent and to make sure my blood markers are all normal.
Thanks Marsha. I'm going to start a modified version of the Paddison Program in July (after 3 weekends of company). Giving up meats, oils (even coconut?) and Diet Coke is daunting to me... You're fortunate to have a healthier set-point.
I know juicing works, the difference I felt with so much natural energy and zero flares sold me. We have a local juice bar where I go through a growler of ginger green juice every 3 days. Also a beet smoothie + tumeric shots... all amazing to help keep the inflammation controlled. Best of luck to you.... you can do it!
What I don't get is why juicing/smoothies are supposed to be better? I eat a heavily plant based diet, but the idea of turning my nice tasty and attractive meals into a glass of green gloop rather horrifies me! Your digestive system reduces it all to gloop anyway, so why not enjoy it first?
Anyway my diet (and the drugs) means I have had normal inflammation markers for years now...but sadly hasn't stopped the disease being active despite apparently zero inflammation.
This is so strange. You get your inflammation markers down with meds. You are in clinical remission. Your disease is still progressing. How can you say the disease is in remission of any kind?
I would really wonder about the lack of inflammation and the cocurrent progression of the disease. If it is not inflammation that causes it what is it then?
Hi Simba--Helix is very up to date and one smart cookie and will be able to better explain your question so I beg your pardon for stepping in.
I just wanted to add that I never had raised inflammatory markers. My CRP was 0.01 and ESR was 2 at baseline while I couldn't make a fist, comb my hair or walk to the toilet in the morning and had bone erosions already present along with loads of synovitis.
Having normal inflammatory markers happens more often then you think it would in early RA. Apparently, those can change over the course of the disease.
My doctor said that a lot of his patients later reveal elevated markers and was a bit surprised to see that mine have not budged in 18 months but then again nothing surprises him with how this disease presents itself in correlation with labs. Still, it really is interesting to have obvious inflammation and erosions with normal inflammatory markers, isn't it?
There's a test in the US called the Vectra DA that picks up 12 inflammatory markers instead of 2 and is used by many Rheumatologist to help diagnose RA although they also admit that clinical observations as well as evidence of damage with imaging is far more important than labs.
Well neither my old, nor current, rheumy think it strange. They say they have other patients whose blood markers don't reflect the real state of play. Luckilythey check with ultrasound, which shows up the inflammation. But most of the time I am in remission, it just pops out every now and then.
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