Change of diet to help inflammation

[Rika2020]

Hi everyone Ive recently seen an increase in specific diets helping inflammation better then meds has anyone had success on a a specific diet and where would you start?

[helixhelix]

This is what NRAS, who tend to give balanced views that are evidence based, has to say about diet:

nras.org.uk/diet-rheumatoid...

I think one of the confusions is between helping your overall general health, and helping control RA. I tried lots of things early on and nothing did anything for the RA symptoms directly, but did make me feel more generally healthy which of course indirectly made me better able to cope with my RA.

So I stick to eating well - no processed food, lots of fruit, veg and fish and very little meat, fatty or sugary foods. But I’m not obsessive about it, so if I want a doughnut, then I eat one! I spend money on nice food, not supplements.

The other thing is that making changes to your diet is just part of the picture. Sleep, exercise, and maintaining a normal body weight are equally important.

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

Good advice.... normal weight is a problem since starting DMRDs can’t maintain never mind loose.. I’ve tried fasting haven’t found what works yet🙄🙄 stabilise RD loose weight ...,goals for 2020

[Jesnaskah]

For me, cutting out dairy and meat, poultry, and pork had helped me tremendously.

I do eat seafood, though. Doesn't seem to affect me.

Non GMO wild Salmon is good for inflammation.

[achyknitter]

For me it is alcohol and sugar. I can get away with a glass of wine one day but my body complains loudly if I try three days in a row. I also know if I have eaten chocolates, nougat or anything with a lot of sugar. RA is very individual for each of us and we just have to learn through trial and error what adversely affects us.

[Kalimers65]

My CPR was 99 in August and so I decided to go mainly vegan and stop coffee and have almost no alcohol as they are acidic. I also had reflexology every 3 weeks. 2 weeks ago my CPR was 12. I feel so much better. I don’t enjoy my food as much as I’m still learning what to make but to have very little pain is wonderful. I’m on Sulphasalazine ( 5 tablets) and I’m seeing my consultant on jan 16th ) she supported my going vegan and said other patients had found it useful. I looked at the Paddison Programme too for help.

When pain dominates your life so much anything is worth a try.

I hope my health will stay improved . Fingers crossed.

[AgedCrone]

A good, healthy, balanced diet is sensible whether you have RA/RD or not.However experimenting with diets without taking your RA meds is probably not a good idea.

Remember Dmards are protecting your joints for life .....spinach probably isn’t!

Have a word with your rheumy nurse on the subject.....we each need a different approach to our diet .....your nurse may be able to give you some pointers that will be suitable for you.

[alexask]

I took a food reaction test (cerascreen about £100), which showed a reaction to wheat, oats and egg yolks. After cutting those out and especially oats symptoms abated. Caveat I was never diagnosed, but had one swollen finger and joint pain in ankles, knees , with stiff hands in the morning.

[GranAmie]

Bitter foods ... brussels sprouts, artichokes, dill pickles, mushrooms and broccolli all seem to help reduce inflammation, as do raspberries,ginger, apricots ; salivating as i type. There are more but forget :)... it's kinda ayurvedic. I take kefir for gut health, rarely eat meat or fowl, but do eat fresh fish. Freshfoods, nothing processed etc etc. Leftovers whizz into soup. Seem to do well on Truxima annual infusion, rarely a glass of red or rose wine. x

[CoastalLiving]

Hi Rika2020, I have also found sugar to be a significant contributor to my symptoms. I found it through doing an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) elimination diet. I eliminated 8 food groups for 8 weeks and then reintroduced one by one to work out what was good for me versus what increased symptoms. Any Functional Medicine Doctor or Nutritionist focused on autoimmune will say that is the gold standard in finding out the individual foods that you can't tolerate. I have really struggled with side effects from medications I have tried so far and whilst diet has not got it fully under control it has hugely helped me to manage pain and swelling whilst I am working out what meds will work.

I personally think it is pointless asking anyone in rheumatology about diet - they get no training on nutrition and I even had one who advised eating cake! I won't be the only one who can't handle sugar as it is very inflammatory. I recently attended a Scientific Meeting at the Norwich Epidemiology Centre and they are finally talking about diet and there is a big study called INFLAIM which is about food and inflammation. What they are saying ad testing is what functional medicine doctors in the US like Dr Will Cole, Dr Sarah Gottfried, Dr Mark Hyman have all been talking about for ages.