Hi everyone
I have been reading alot the last few days about Dr McDougalls starch based diet. Very interesting reading indeed. It points out that rheumatiod arthritis and other dieseases can be triggered by what we eat like glutten, animal meats, dairy products and processed oils. I was wondering has any of you out there tried this style of diet which is based on starch like foods like brown rice, beans, sweet potatos etc and yellow and green veg whith some fruit.
Hi yes I tried this when diagnosed last year. I went vegan and did the Paddison diet through which I read Dr McDougalls ideas. Afraid none of it helped me but I know that everyone reacts differently and some people respond well to dietary changes. I now mainly eat a low starch diet with plenty of protein, fats veg and salad just because that suits my taste better. Good luck if you try starch based and hope it helps you.
Thank you
I was vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for over three decades, went vegan for six years, then returned to vegetarian four years ago, due to dietary needs.
Like you, I never noticed any change.
I honestly starting to find all the eat this and not that overwhelming. I cut out dairy, gluten, fats and unhealthy sugars. I now have to bring most of it back due to my weight loss. So back on cheese, yoghurt, peanut butter... Anything with fat 😌.
What I found frustrating was everyone was saying different things, such as eat sweet potatoes, then another expert would say don't eat them. Or no nuts, seeds, grains or oils! I decided to keep my own diary and track what works for me.
All the best, Hessie 😌
I reckon that’s the best way to do it! The only thing there seems to be pretty good agreement on is don’t eat highly processed food, and keep your weight in right place....after that it’s so varied.
I stick to the mantra “eat, not too much, and mainly plants”. Works for me.
Thank you
There is no clinically proven diet to help RA. I think if you eat foods you enjoy, keep your weight within reasonable limits & stop worrying about finding a diet with a name, you can relax & know you are doing everything you can to helping yourself.
Agree 100 percent. There is no one size fits all diet--it really is trial and error. For example, I can't eat corn yet a lot of diets toss that in there. Me I bloat up like a puffer on corn. Not good for me at all. Nor can I eat apples--allergic. But I can do berries, oranges, water melon...
I was recently told after I sneezed for ten minutes after eating an unpeeled Apple...that If I peeled it that wouldn’t happen..haven’t tried it Yet!
Let me know how it goes. I can only eat an apple if it is cooked, like in a pie. And no bits can be uncooked--fully mooshed...
Will do! I suppose it could be whatever they put on skinned fruit to preserve it? No matter how well you wash a supermarket apple..it always feels kind of greasy...not like a fruit picked straight from the tree.
Or it has this white residue, eck lol--could be--I don't have issues with fruit I can peel. I mean, I have the same deal with pears. Hubby bought some organic ones I loved -- I ate three and then puked them all right back up. I was beyond disappointed.
Pesticide residue trapped under the applied wax, because they aren't washed prior to the waxing.
Same with many fruits, particularly lemons.
Interesting phrases he uses. Either his vegan way, or ‘food poisoning’ 🙄🤪
He’s made a fortune out of selling courses, books etc....I won’t be adding to his pot.
This is my first post on this forum! Sometimes I don’t feel like eating much because of stomach problems - after a few days my pain seems a lot better. Does anyone find that fasting helps? I’m already slim so I’m reluctant to do this for too long - does this mean diet plays a part? Anyone read Margaret Hills book?
Yes I read Margaret Hills, did the treacle and apple cider vinegar for a few weeks. Didn't feel any better and that concoction just made me feel sick!! Its only recently after 6+ months of trying different so called diet cures that I embraced the advice such as that given above from people on here who been there done it and like me found it didn't work. Eating healthy seems to be the best advice all round but it took me a long time and a shed load of wasted money to see that!!
Fasting is not recommended when on RA drugs.
Have you tried meal supplement drinks when you don’t feel like eating?
Ask your rheumy nurse if any are recommended.
Thanks for your suggestion it’s worth a try, I usually have porridge (made with rice milk) & bananas.
Protein shakes 57gms per packet on the NHS.
Ask to speak to the practice dietician...mixed with full cream, semi or fully skimmed milk.
I used hemp milk, 'til Tesco stopped carrying it a few months back and now use oat or rice milk.
Four flavours and can be supplemented with sugar (I rarely do, but use molasses) fruits, superfoods, etc.
It worked for me. Paddison Program also. 100% drug free and pain free. Been on it 11 months.
Do you think it depends if you were diagnosed Sero positive ?- my RA is on the severe end. Also, I am thin so worry about Clints programme
Not sure to be honest. All I know is that to have a chance of results, you have to apply the rules 100% for months on end. My symptoms were always mild but there are other people on the PP who have had radical results in a short space of time. Everyone is different. Good luck with your healing!!
I'm glad it worked for you. It definitely does for some people and its horribly disappointing when it doesn't. I needed to try it (Dr McDougall and Dr O'Briens 'Autoimmune Fix'are very similar) along with Margaret Hills etc because I couldn't get my head around just letting the treatment work and needed to feel like I was doing something to help myself. In the end low carb feels best for me but we all have to find our own way. It is fantastic that Paddison got you to be drug and pain free. Best wishes.
My daughters arthritis is definitely worse with gluten and dairy but apart from the glutenous starches I agree with what he says. We eat more veg than he would like as we want to be balanced with plant based food. If your worried about weight loss its recommended to eat nut butters and seeds.
Yes, I've been following McDougall diet very strictly from May this year. I only started it on a "well it can't hurt" whim. But after the first week, I couldn't believe it. It was like a miracle. Swelling went away, could feel ankle and elbow bones again, which I hadn't felt in years. I had my first zero-pain day in 3 years. After that first week, things went a bit backwards and now I have some pain and swelling again. But still a huge improvement overall. I will definitely keep up with the diet.
Note: I was a vegan before, so it was a lot easier for me than most people. What made the difference was the zero fat guideline. I had a nut/seed bar one day while on the diet and had instant severe pain again. So now I have no nuts or seeds at all.
It's definitely worth a try. Hope it helps you
Thanks Seneca I just started reading his book The Starch Solution and Im going to give this a good read first and then decide what to do. I dont mind giving up meat as I have allready tried vegan food and loved it. Its the dairy thats going to be tough but after what I have been through pain wise I have no option to give it a go as Im that kind of person. I have been of carbs and using a blender for only one week and Im feeling better allready. I will keep you posted.
So happy that you are feeling a difference! If you're craving dairy, go for the soya yoghurts (We can't have the vegan "cheeses" as they're full of coconut oil). Could also try making a creamy mushroom sauce with soy milk for pasta, potatoes, etc. (lots of no-oil recipes on youtube) Yummy. All the best.
I followed McDougall for a few years, and had a lot of issues with limited fats, too much starch, etc. This was one of my vegan diets, but a lot of people do follow him, so I wish you the best whichever way you go with it.
Thanks Ragurl
I can tell you this much, I cut ALL process foods and havnt had a serious flare up in 3 years.
Co incidence?...Maybe but I'm not changing it back
Thank you
Let us know how your doing, you’ll soon learn which foods trigger you when you keep it simple for a while and sometimes it changes and you can eat things you could eat previously after your gut heals.
I recently heard that members of the belladona family; potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines, etc are being touted as possible, if not probable triggers, as well.
It's something I'm putting on the backburner for future study.
diet and symptom control
Diet?????
Diet and RA
Contribution based new style ESA vs Universal Credit. 
Diet
