Diet and RA

[Castroll]

Hi all

Can any one please give advise, experience on what type of diet I should try to help with RA , what foods to avoid, try, eat etc

Any links, advise welcome

All your comments are so helpful

[Lolabridge]

Hello Castroll

I think the Mediterranean diet is recommended. You can find out more about it on the NRAS website.

You may also need to consider what medication you are taking for your RA and adjust your diet accordingly.

If you search existing posts on this site I think you will find posts with helpful suggestions.

Hope you find something that works for you.

[Castroll in reply to Lolabridge]

Hi Lolabridge

Thank you that's most helpful

[helixhelix]

Diet is a hugely hot topic on here....use the search button and you’ll have hours of reading!

As lolabridge says the NRAS info is useful, here’s the link

nras.org.uk/what-diet-to-re...

Apart from that it is such an individual thing that it’s impossible to say what would make a difference to you. For me it was basically cutting out processed food that helped me.

[Castroll in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you

[AgedCrone]

Eat what you enjoy in moderation.... there is no one diet fits all with this disease unfortunately . If you find a particular food upset you ....& causes a flare, obviously avoid it.

But on the whole a good healthy diet without too much of anything Is perfectly acceptable .

[Castroll in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you

[Castroll]

Hi

Thank you for your comments

[Mmrr]

I find since taking methotrexate sugar or sugary products...chocolate, cake etc upsets my gut.

Otherwise I try to eat health healthy, little or no processed food, plenty fruit and veg.

[Castroll in reply to Mmrr]

Thank you

[Kerensa21 in reply to Mmrr]

I find I love them all still & hence have gained 10 kg since diagnosis 🤣 but seriously do try & eat healthily, v little meat & alcohol, well apart from tonight but it was a glorious day down south & couldn’t be the only bore at the bbq x

[Rheumagal]

I personally don’t know if there’s any one particular diet for Ra. Many of us have other issues going on. I personally tried an elimination diet, removing common problem foods as well as anything that contained preservatives and additives. I then reintroduced foods to see how I responded. If I felt good I kept it, if I felt bad I removed it. I personally stick to real foods and shop the outside of the market.

Known culprits are usually gluten, sugar, inflammatory foods such as rice and foods containing preservatives, processed foods and food dyes etc.

Find what works for you and stick to that. It takes the frustration out of eating since we are all so different. What works for me might not work for you.

☺️ hope you find a happy healthy way for you!

[Castroll in reply to Rheumagal]

Thank you

[Jesnaskah]

Hi Castroll,

It's hard to say bc we are all so individual.

But I can say for me personally, I am managing my RA through my diet.

I had to cut out ALL dairy, chicken, and meat. I do eat seafood. That has helped me tremendously. The only drug I'm on is LDN, and I take CBD oil sublingually. I also take turmeric supplements as well as other supplements like fish oil, magnesium, etc.

Dairy seems to be highly inflammatory for many. I'd cut it all out for a short period of time and see how you feel, and if you notice a difference.

Good luck.

[Castroll in reply to Jesnaskah]

Thank you

[bpeal1]

This is a useful website versusarthritis.org/about-a...

[Castroll in reply to bpeal1]

Thank you must helpful

[Fruitandnutcase]

I eat (or try to) a healthy Mediterranean diet, that, combined with going totally gluten free about five years ago and cutting out sugar has helped for me.

I don’t avoid dairy but I have never eaten a lot of dairy products anyway.

What has made a huge difference for me is that I went GF to try and reduce my thyroid antibodies and I do blood tests regularly to see what is happening. I know it has massively reduced my thyroid antibodies, my IBD has improved too but I also notice my CRP has come down too.

I suppose that’s good but I worry that my consultant will say I’ve not got inflammatory arthritis because my CRP is low.

[Troygirl]

I tried so many fads saying they would take away all the pain from RA! They never touched one ounce of the pain.

I finally realized I have an Auto immune disease and no fad will ever work.

I eat healthy and that's about it. Compare it to the Mediterranean Diet. No particular diet ever stopped the pain, however in general, when you eat healthy foods your whole body works & feels better. But no diet, per se, will cure RA!

They always mention some diet where a guy named Cliff supposedly "cured" himself" of RA. Did he have severe RA like most of us that are on this board looking for relief from pain? How do nuts & lettuce STOP the joint damage & crippling deformities?

Also However, He said it took him 2 years of eating basically just nuts & lettuce!

Sorry, my body needs more than just lettuce & nuts for any sustenance. I would be so weak! Tired enough already!

[Nanna71 in reply to Troygirl]

My thoughts pretty much the same. For a chuckle, let me tell you about a person who said they cured their cancer by eating 3 cloves of garlic. If that was the case, everyone in Italy would be cancer free!😃😊

[Castroll in reply to Troygirl]

I like your jovial reply, brought a smile to my face , thank you

[Castroll in reply to Troygirl]

Funny reply I like it, we all have to keep a sense of humour thank you

[NanaFifi]

Hi Castroll, I’ve suffered from R A for 40 years and believe me when I say I’ve tried umpteen diets to try to help my symptoms! In all honesty I would say a varied healthy diet with a little bit of everything is best. All things in moderation. I also try to keep a healthy weight so that I’m not putting extra pressure on my joints. I’m not saying not to have treats because they’re important, life’s too short to deny yourself something you enjoy - ice cream is my guilty pleasure! Good luck in finding what works for you.

[Castroll in reply to NanaFifi]

Hi

I think your comments are the consenses of what all have said on this forum. I just need to lose about 2 stone then I will be ideal weight, but don't feel like doing any excerise at the moment, I can only manage swimming once a week, till I feel better, if that ever happens, but keeping positive 😀

Thanks for the reply

[Nocciola]

I was diagnosed with RA in February 2019. I personally find that I feel better when I eat certain foods, like: fish (salmon, sardines); dark leafy green and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, arugula); mushrooms (oyster, shiitake); purple Japanese yams, sweet potatoes; fruit (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, bananas, avocados); nuts (pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts); quinoa; and seeds (chia, flax, hemp, sesame seeds, buckwheat grommet).

This website reports that “individual diet is also gaining attention as a possible trigger and/or suppressant” for arthritis symptoms, therefore they recommend eating food that decreases inflammation and avoiding food that increases inflammation:

rheumatoidarthritis.org/pso...

For me, I have found that eating cake, candy, pizza, chips, etc. correlates with worsening symptoms. The challenge I have is avoiding these inflammatory foods when they look, taste and smell so inviting, and everyone around me is eating them! But I am getting much better at it.

[Castroll in reply to Nocciola]

Hi

Your post is very helpful

Thank you

[embroy]

I have everything, but in moderation, the only thing I have stopped in my diet are sour things like tamarind, and orange juice and oranges as well. Less of tomatoes as well. Do not stop everything, as when you have to start it is with difficulty. I also have home made yogurt.

[Castroll in reply to embroy]

Hi

Thank you

[embroy in reply to Castroll]

You are welcome