Paleo and RA

[Gitaga]

Hi

I have been reaearching the Paleo diet. I would really like to start it with the hope of getting off these horrendous meds. Anyone tried this diet? I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks

[helixhelix]

Eating a healthy diet can only be good for you, and can help your body process the drug as best possible so you get the maximum benefits from them and minimal side effects. So I would never want to dissuade anyone from paying attention to what they eat.

I now eat a diet that is full of fruit and veg, fish and small amounts of meat (only organic and free range). However, I also eat dairy products as I need calcium, and legumes for the vitamins, and potatoes because I like them! So not paleo at all.

Remember that the lifespan of a paeolithic person was about 20-25 years. So there is absolutely nothing that shows that this diet is healthy for an older person.

If it appeals, and you can afford it, then give it a try. However, watch your calcium levels! Osteoporosis is no fun.

But don't set your expectations too high. Of the hundreds of thousands of people with RA, only a very few have reported success. And the effect of this diet has never been proved in scientific studies.

[Gitaga in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for that very insightful and informative response. Much appreciated

[Hidden]

These 'horrendous drugs'are life savers for some of us who have tried diets.

[AgedCrone]

By all means try the diet...but with your RA drugs not instead of.

If diets could alleviate all RA symptoms for everybody, Rheumatologists would promote them...sadly they don’t......following a healthy diet avoiding processed foods & not smoking seems to be the way to proceed to help ourselves to cope.

[Gitaga in reply to AgedCrone]

Thanl you for your response

[Sparrowtracks]

I want to get off pred for RA so started the AIP recently. Autoimmune protocol. It’s a diet that eliminates all foods that cause inflammation I’ve been able to reduce my dose with no increase in pain and am feeling hopeful!

[Gitaga in reply to Sparrowtracks]

I also stopped prednisone for 3 months, but sadly I had to start again yesterday.. I did hear about the AIP diet as well.

Thanks for your response

[CarolineGN]

I've not tried a paleo diet but did become vegetarian 2 years ago (one year after my diagnosis). It's difficult to say if my diet has had any effect as I also started biologics at that time which of course made a huge difference. I don't know if the RA would be worse if I wasn't a vegetarian. However, I have 'tested' various things since and I have an immediate inflammatory response (within 24 hours) if I eat red meat. I'd like to get to a stable point with my meds and then try excluding/including different foods. There are so many variables though that it's hard to measure any success. Please let us know how you get on.

PS I watched a film called, 'What the Health' which prompted me to to try a vegetarian diet.