Morning All! Would really appreciate your opinions / experiences....
Not diagnosed yet with RA but 5/6 years ago (during what I now know could well have been the first, and quite major, flare-up that I experienced) I discovered that cutting out gluten massively helped with my symptoms - especially fatigue (which, tbh, was secondary at the time to the pain I was in)
Been reading up about the affect of Gluten ever since as well as inflammation and have read that avoiding alcohol can also be beneficial.
I do feel as though I’ve already had decent pizza and cake taken away from me and feel that before I cut out my friendly, much-loved wine-time, I’d like to know if it could be worth it!
Does anyone have any experience of cutting out alcohol and it’s usefulness in reducing symptoms....?
TIA x
Written by
Hibeach
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Always worth trying things to see if they make a difference. I did, and they didn't....But you could be different. I eat and drink carefully and well (eg no processed junk) but whatever I like.
My diet is healthier than most people’s.... loads of fresh veg, rice, and very little meat or dairy. And I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.... but I have a serious weakness for anything fried....
Alcohol is my one ‘treat’ at the end of the when the daughter is in bed and I’d be loathe to give it up willingly!
I have cut out gluten and alcohol since diagnosis. For me it has made a big difference. But I do miss my wine ( being surrounded by vineyards living in the South of France). I feel the benefit I have is worth the sacrifice. This goes for bread as well. The gluten free bread does not make up for the loss
I definitely notice a difference now. I used to eat maybe 2-3 portions of carbs (gluten based pasta or bread) a day. Now I make my own wholemeal rye sourdough and have one slice in the morning and no other bread or gluten the rest of the day. I massively cut down on alcohol, but that doesn't mean you cant have a small glass of wine every night... just don't binge! Moderation is the key. If you start cutting things out that you adore, you will only want them more, so allow yourself a treat now and again and it will be fine. x
I'd strongly urge you to get tested for Celioc if you think your gluten sensative and I've a diagnosis of Celioc and its made no difference to the RA. I don't know about wne but agree with Jules13 that moderatin is the key. If anyone suggested no more chocolate or fudge even if it was a 'cure'for RA I'd still eat it as life has to have some pleasures. I'd kill for a donut or a bagel so a bit of fudge does'nt seem so much as a sin as a reward for resisting real temptation. lol xx
Exactly. Stopping yourself from ever eating things you love is a life filled with misery. I’m a total foodie and totally give myself treats occasionally (god I sound like a pet dog) but I just don’t eat them everyday. I love steak and red wine but know i will feel a bit rubbish if I overindulge. So I only do it occasionally and fully knowing that I might be achy the next day.
My dad is infuriating. He knows he has food triggers (he gets gout) but never writes them down and is always so angry and incredulous when he gets awful pain for days.
A few months before RD raised its ugly head just over 2 years ago, I went off alcohol, just stopped wanting it and found the smell sickening. Yet, I loved wine previously and was a member of a wine tasting club for years, a wee but of a connoisseur, emphasis on wee !
Apart from a half glass of champagne at my birthday last week I haven't touched alcohol at all. I'm fatigued and exhausted most days the thought of alcohol adding to the mix is not for me !
I tried gf for 6 weeks and noticed no difference at all, so I now eat a diet with gluten in it although I take care with what I eat as I had gut problems with MTX. I only buy good quality artisan shop made bread that has been adequately proven, I've yet to find a supermarket bread that is well made. Most if not all gf bread/pancake type products are full of additives/oils/sugars that I do not want to eat. For me they are also unpalatable, and taste like cloth and are very expensive.
Sugar is a no, no , the odd bit cake with a coffee is okay, but chocolate flares my mouth no end.
It is worth experimenting a little to see what works, if anything, for you. But do read the labels on the 'free from' goods, they all contain many additives that are inflammatory in nature.
Have you tried making your own bread. If you message me privately I can give you a very easy no knead, no yeast bread recipe. Very healthy, low fat, no sugar and it’s so lovely to make.
“Free from” food is so full of sugar and salt and it’s much easier to make it so you know what’s in it.
I hardly drink alcohol anymore. Maybe a glass of red wine every few days.
I’m just trying to think what else is making you so tired.
Thanks jules, I did look at the recipe you put up a few weeks ago. It looked and sounded fab, I could almost smell it (!). But to be honest I'm just so fatigued at the moment, the effort is too much and my hands are in splints, to prevent my thumb dislocating, which it did regularly before MTX.
I have a bread maker which i used every week before be coming unwell, I love good bread.
My diet is largely good. I eat very simply , but freshly. Lots of veg soups in my soup maker, fish, chicken and the odd steak (every 6/8 weeks), minimal processed food, no added salt, no sugar in the house. No tea/coffee unless in a coffee shop, with a but of cake (!). I drink water and green tea at home, no alcohol.
I have extreme fatigue and brain fog, caused by the RD, largely controlled by MTX, but I've had to reduce due to side effects. Just about to start biologics.
My Rhumey said drinking 14 units of alcohol a week is fine. I avoid it however, the day before I take mtx and two days after. I've been on Mtx for 4 weeks so far and no side effects apart from a bit of nausea. I enjoy a glass of white wine and I'm in no hurry to give it up! RA is bad enough without restricting those things that are enjoyable and that goes for cake, bread or anythingvelse you enjoy, albeit in moderation. Initially i became worried about everything associated with RA the condition, drugs, side effects, life span, cardiovascular disease, organ failure! I only got diagnosed Jan 2nd this year so a newbie to all this malarkey, but now I couldn't be more chilled my RA is going no where but I'm dammed if I'm going to live my life worrying about the "what ifs) Na! Life s too short. I've now become more positive and no longer take my health or my life for granted. Some good can always come from something bad! Enjoy whatever tickles your fancy.
Psoriatic Arthritis - another AI disease. I have this but have never found alcohol to be a trigger (although I seldom drink anyway). I think it’s very much a case of trial and error - what works for some doesn’t work for others and sadly there’s no ‘one size fits all’. ☹️
I definitely have a problem with gluten - I accidentally ate some over the course a week last Xmas (who knew there’s wheat in English mustard??!!!) and felt like I’d gone right back to where I’d been pain and fatigue-wise 3 years previous. It takes about 36 hours for my symptoms to start after eating it and then it seems to build up, getting more severe each day and only getting better when I cut it out again.
The only problem with testing for coeliacs is that you actively have to be consuming it for a few weeks (possibly months?) beforehand. I REALLY can’t face doing that - it is honestly one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had.
I’m not a heavy or binge drinker and as yet, I’m not on any regular medication ....so I think I’ll just carry on for now until someone ‘official’ tells me otherwise!
Sugar makes a real difference to me too. A bit is ok but if I stuff myself with cake or dessert which I do sometimes on special occasions I have a lot pain the next day but it doesn’t last too long , maybe 6 or 7 hours,
I gave up alcohol when I was diagnose because I was prescribed mtx it has been 4 years now I doubt it has been good thing to do for RA because I still get flares but but liver must be ok, I could never go back to having a hangover X
Mocktails are nice I have them when on holiday but normally have Diet Coke sometimes in a large wine glass, I just like to watch now when everyone has a bit to much it can be funny X
Hi I gave up virtually everything when diagnosed last November! First I went vegan, then i had some tests which showed intolerance to potatoes and rice (among other things) so am trying Paleo now. I gave up gluten and alcohol right at the start but TBH I'm still having steroid injections till the MXT kicks in so can't say whether all this restricted eating/drinking has helped - maybe I'd have been worse if I'd carried on as normal - I'll never know. I LOVED Jaxine's reply - I really agree with her there has to be some enjoyment and quality of life - my restricted diet has caused so much friction at home and it's still difficult to eat out or when you go away. SO has giving up sugar, gluten and alcohol helped I don't know but would I do things differently if I could go back to November - yes!
I went gluten free for six weeks and it made no difference whatsoever. I have learnt to make delicious GF flatbreads though. So it's always worth making an effort and do something new. Try and see? You have nothing to lose.
Gluten free flour (Doves Farm), any spices you like, water, mixed into a stiff batter. That goes on to a round skillet pan. It takes a good 5 minutes on either side to crisp through. I even made them sweet rather than savoury. Hardly ever eat bread anymore, just because my own are so delicious and handy as a wrap.
Hi. Just to add my experience. When i was undiagnosed i was massively worse when eating gluten of any kind so, as you or someone noted, mustard can spark a flare. There is a huge amount of hidden gluten out there. I couldn't eat paprika or any other pre ground spice as they are mixed with flour to stop clumping where they are made at a ppm that is tiny and legally they don't have to declare it, but i could detect it. Now i am drug controlled i am still in pain and lot of other issues too but i find i can take a small amount occasionally without too much distress. I think its all to do with an inflamed and leaky gut which the drugs have dealt with so that inflammation doesn't enter the blood supply.
I am off to France Nice at easter just after brexit😀 and plan to have at least one indulgent croissant with my coffee.😊 Wine too, I was told 4 units a week and that is normally 4 gins spaced throughout the week!
I think what the replies show is that we are all different in what medication combinations we are on, sensitivity to different foods etc and also what can trigger a flare.
My rheumatologist told me it was ok to drink alcohol in small amounts ( I’m on sulphasalazine and methotrexate) but I find that if I drink anything alcoholic or eat rich food like cheese, sweets or chocolate in the evening then I can’t sleep.
This is very frustrating as most social events like meals/ drinks out are in the evening!
So I tend to stick to mineral water - not very exciting but,like all of us, my sleep is too important to me.
It’s so frustrating that this disease takes away some of the things that we enjoy and that help to normalise us!
Sugar is one of the least processed foods there is. And it is made from a plant. Well, sugar cane and sugar beets so that's two. Everything in moderation and you should be fine. Sugar is not evil, the devil is. Just sayin'...
I checked it out here in Canada regarding the factories where the cane and the beets are processed. The debris is taken out, the molasses - 3 strippings giving you fancy molasses, cooking molasses, and blackstrap molasses, and then they bag it and call it refined. Less goings on for the beets, which are grown in Alberta. Not very processed I think.
is what I say to giving up my 2 glasses of wine a night (have been known to finish a whole bottle of rose) 😬😊 but bet this is more common than people admit.
It’s my end of the day -kids in bed- treat.
I’m a vegetarian, I eat pretty well (although a lot of pizza is vegetarian 😂..) but seriously I do eat a fairly good diet...
However if I have things or cut out anything it doesn’t seem to relate to my pain or stiffness score... or my ibs... I’ve tried cutting out all sorts but just because it didn’t work for me does not mean it won’t for others, including you. Sounds like you’ve had some benefits already.
Still early days for me though, I’m just enjoying things while I can.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Alcohol
Methotrexate and alcohol
methotrexate and alcohol 
RA, Gluten and Leaky Gut
Dmards, alcohol and depression!
