I have had some positive replies from my previous post thank you all , as it’s all kind of new to me I read something about diet I don’t smoke and stopped having alcohol now because of my meds but I’m sticking to that now as I don’t miss it , so does diet make a diff to RA and is so why and what foods should I avoid .
Many thanks
it’s trial & error I’m afraid...personally I eat what like, others eliminate selected foods, and some go on “x” free diets.
If I found I felt ill or I had a flare after I ate a certain food I would obviously avoid it ...but so far in20 years I haven't had to avoid much ...except foods I have never liked.
So just eat “sensibly” whatever that is .....& hopefully you will not need to eliminate anything you enjoy.
That’s what I hoped lol .
I’m sure you know I don’t mean munch away on fish & chips & burgers every day.....I expect like most of us you eat up your veggies!
When first diagnosed there is no benefit changing a diet you enjoy......unless medically advised......there is enough to deal with taking your meds & coping with aches & pains.
Good Luck...hope you don’t need to change anything.
I try to be healthy but during a bad flare I just eat what’s easy and at hand ......... chocolate biscuits crisps ( if I’m able to open the packet) 🤣😂🤣
Can I ask why you went for the mtx injection
Originally I was supposed to go on a biological but there is some ? That I may have sjorgrens syndrome so can’t start until I’ve had tests. I’ve been told injections are absorbed better usually at lower doses less side effects. Oral methotrexate you loose some of the benefits when digesting along side nausea upset stomach etc If it’s better then we should be all on injections...... but it costs more. I keep people posted wether I feel any better on them.
I was on oral methotrexate for 3 years no problems a bit of fatigue now and then.
I’m struggling the day after and it’s getting worse not better . On the injection so u do it yrself and did the pain go away or did u still have a bit of pain . I’m worried that I will never get better and I have a 7 yr old girl and have to work to support my family . And if it continues like this I will have to give up work for I have been there 18 yrs . I’m just worried .
I was relatively stable on the oral until this year . Things have spiralled out of control and continues to. I’ve reduced my working hours but it looks like I may need to give up. I’ve not been on the injections long . Administration is easy and pain free but I’m wiped out the next day the only side effect so far.
Do I think it will work? I have my doubts I think I need to be on something else as well possibly a biological but I’m in limbo until I have these tests. Today’s a bad day no work hands like puffball mushrooms and have had 3 allergic reactions to day ( a new symptom this year it’s my body under stress due to a flare and I now have to carry an epi pen) I wish I could have a break from all of this but it’s a waiting game. It’s also difficult for my family. My husband works hard and long hours but he needs to do more at home as I’m unable and I hate that I have to ask my 15yearold to do things for me or cook his dinner . This disease is a 🤬🤬🤬. This forum is a god send people listen and help where they can and just get it. As much as my husband is brilliant, unless you experience this disease you don’t understand it fully . Misery loves company 😉. Most day I can laugh at myself and am optimistic but sometimes I just need to miserable. financially I’m struggling I’m trying to get PIP maybe you should look into this as well .
The biggest thing for me was cutting out processed foods. They are usually too salty, sugary and fatty and have loads of additives in them. Apart from that I basically eat what I want, when I want. I try to eat lots of fruit, veg and fish and limit things that are fatty or have refined sugars. But if I want a pizza, then I’ll eat one - but make it myself so doesn’t contain crap.
It made me feel healthier overall and I personally feel it has made a big difference in my ability to tolerate the drugs without side effects. I was on methotrexate, sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine for years with no problems at all.
Oh, and it did take quite a while for things to stabilise for me. But they did eventually so don’t give up hope. Looking back I can hardly believe that I’ve progressed so well as during the first year I really though my normal life was over as I was just one big mass of pain and swollen joints that I couldn’t do anything.
A healthy diet, Mediterranean style is thought to be best. As said by others if anything upsets you then just avoid it. Sugar causes me problems with my mouth (gives me ulcers), otherwise I eat healthy, but what I like. I have good old fish and chips once a month or so. Yummy.
Hi, when first diagnosed I gave up everything overnight🤣🤦♀️. Went vegan, gave up gluten, sugar you name it. It did not make one bit of difference to my RA, it just made me more weak as I lost a stone I really couldn't afford to lose. I was determined to get myself better bu the food route but it wasn't to be. That said, some people seem to respond well to dietary changes so it's a very individual thing.
I was diagnosed 19 years ago now and at the time I was told to avoid citrus fruits, so that included oranges, tomatoes and strawberry's. I believe that is still advised now to new patients.
Over the years I started to ignore the advice and I eat what I wanted.
I do notice when I have something fatty. So things like Chinese and Fried English Breakfasts I try to keep to a minimum (have them as a treat), but other than that I don't make any special changes. You will start to notice what affects you and you can then choose whether the effect it has outweighs the enjoyment of eating it.
I've had this disease a long time - long before biologics and effective treatment.
When I started I went down the route of examining my diet in detail, going on an exclusion diet and then adding things back in every four weeks. I did lose weight, but didn't find anything except meat that upset my joints on reliable repeat testing. I don't know if it was the meat itself, or the growth hormones, antibiotics or what in the meat, but as I don't like the taste anyway, I was happy just to avoid it.
I do think that you need to be very careful not to put the blame for the latest flare on what you ate last - that way lies excluding all sorts of things that you should be eating for a healthy diet. There are likely to be so many other triggers.
As others have said, a 'Mediterranean diet' with lots of fruit and vegetables, all in moderation seems to be the heathiest recommendation.
Hey Buckybri
I’m doing an elimination diet to work out what foods react with me. So far everything I like does react slightly and boiled potatoes bought up a flare in my knee and boiling/freezing temperature.
The diet takes some commitment but it will be really helpful in the long run. I can still eat the foods I like but not too often and I’m going to avoid potatoes from now on!
I hope this helps x
I did an elimination diet for 2 months then gradually added food back in. Dairy and red meat seem to be a trigger for me - they make my hands/wrists swell so I avoid them mostly. I use soya milk for tea but if I want to eat a cream cake for a treat on occasion I do! I guess life is too hard with RA to totally deprive yourself all the time. M x
I think we are all different. I believe that inflammation feeds on fat and sugar, so I eat a relatively low fat and no sugar diet. Dairy affects my Sjogrens, so I don't eat much of that. I have been vegetarian for most of my life... I do wonder if that has saved me from damaged joints thus far and has meant that although my RF and anti-CCP are both sky high, my disease activity is not too bad. I am about to go onto a Biologic because of the high markers and a long period of relatively mild flare, (not to mention the intolerance or failure of all DMARDS) the risk of serious damage is apparently high.
Or maybe I am lucky - who knows! I have had RA for 20 years and although I chose to retire from teaching early, when the Sjogrens kicked in actually, I have remained relatively (relative to others who suffer so much pain and stiffness) active and well.
Avoiding Methotrexate 
Channel 4 The Food Hospital - RA and diet
Moaning post. Avoid lol !
How to avoid reinfection
Flares caused by food
