I don't know what to write here
where can I find a list of "what not to eat if you ha... - NRAS
where can I find a list of "what not to eat if you have RA" and a list of "what to eat if you have RA". It will help me tremendously. .
46 Replies
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There isn’t one! Everyone is different and reacts differently.
The broad advice that is recommended by NRAS and the NHS is to favour a Mediterranean diet. Which is lots of fresh fruit and veg, lean protein like fish or chicken, and go easy on sugars and fats. And for fats try to stick to unsaturated ones like olive oil.
Personally I’ve found stopping eating all processed food has been a helpful way to achieve that as processed food contains huge amounts of hidden fats and sugars.
Beyond that some people say that things from solanum family (like tomatoes) make them flare, or cheese, or whatever. But yiu just have to work that out for yourself.
I agree! I kept a diary for a while of what I ate and how I felt so if I had a really bad day, I looked at what I had eaten the day before. I found that red meat, sugar and processed foods made me feel much worse. The 'cleaner' I ate - fruit, vegetables, fish, all home made - the better I felt. It really is trial and error. I eat LOADS of tomatoes and cheese has no effect on me. We are all different...
in reply to mhlmom
Loads of tomatoes and cheese ? I thought it was a definite "No", but apparently not for
everyone !! Thank you for sharing.
Fruitandnutcase in reply to
I too eat loads of tomatoes and cheese and I don’t think it makes any difference. I’d probably cut out sugar and processed foods if I were you, I know I always feel better if I lay off that sort of stuff.
I also went completely gluten free when I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis because I had already had Graves Disease and I’ve got a couple of other autoimmune conditions. I do take hydroxychloroquine- for the same reason as the others say.
When I was first diagnosed I said to my GP that my joints weren’t deformed and he said if you treat people early on then you need never see that - then he fast tracked me to a rheumatologist.
If you can’t take the meds then you can’t take the meds though.
oKerrio in reply to
Why would it be a definite no? This disease takes a lot away from us it isn’t having my bloody cheese as well!
Dairy and Sugar are my absolute no, no's. But I am also vegetarian, and was before I got RA.
Hi, I am also vegetarian, I have very low white cells and neutrophils. A couple of people suggested I take B12 supplements. Do you take any supplements?
Yes alternate days I take a Good quality multivitamin. I had anaemia on and off for years, a multivitamin seems to solve it.
in reply to helixhelix
Got it, thank you so much for taking the time to answer. I really appreciate.
Tbh if you just stick to what you enjoy & cut out as much processed food as you can......you will do fine. Stay hydrated, Stick with plenty of fruit/veg...but have the odd treat now & then. Obviously don’t eat something if you feel it doesn’t agree with you.
When I was first diagnosed 20 + years ago I asked my rheumatologist if I should avoid any particular foods, and he said there’s never been any clinical proof that depriving yourself of something you enjoy will help RA.
My present rheumatologist has the same opinion
Bon appétit!
in reply to AgedCrone
Thanks a lot for your answer. Your rheumatologist knows probably what he is saying but in my case, I am depriving myself of a lot of things I enjoy in exchange
for less pain and believe that what I eat is how I feel. Enjoy your day and thanks
again.
AgedCrone in reply to
If you are having to avoid so many foods..... have you actually spoken to your rheumatology nurse and asked if maybe your drugs need adjusting? People don’t normally complain food increases theIr pain ....it usually causes digestion problems....which is another sort of pain.......ask your nurse......she will know what might help.
in reply to AgedCrone
AgedCrone, now I realize why I cannot eat what you can : I omit to mention that I don't take any medicine. I follow only a diet and when
I don't eat the right thing (not knowing), I have pain, that's why I was asking for a list of "what to eat" and I understant that there is not such
list.
AgedCrone in reply to
Can I ask why don’t you take medicine?
Have you actually been diagnosed with R.A.?
If not .....do you know what is causing your pain?
If you have been diagnosed, I’m afraid you are on a hiding to nothing if you think rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled by diet.
If it could ....this site would be redundant.
Do look back over some of the posts on this site...... People have had multiple joint replacements ,organ involvement and altogether a very miserable life because they started off not being diagnosed in time......& not starting to take Dmards.....that is disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.
These drugs help to stop you getting joint damage, and at the same time you can take an analgesic to ease the pain.
Most of us who have been diagnosed for many years ....now live 90% pain-free lives because of them.
There is no other way to explain. RA is a serious debilitating Incurable disease & it requires dedicated rheumatologists & research to ensure that we here are prescribed the correct drugs to make our lives bearable.
Please - If you have not been diagnosed, do think about seeing a doctor to find out why you have pain.
If you are just anti medicine I can say no more.
in reply to AgedCrone
AgedCrone, I understant the "frustration" after reading what I wrote and
appreciate very much your caring by asking me, why I am doing that to
myself. If I may tell the whole story, it's this : about three years ago, I was
diagnosed by my rheumatologist with RA. I tried few medicines she
gave me and I had side effects with all of them. I tried the most expensive ones my insurance agreed to pay and none did work. I was always in pain,
waiting for the medicine to work. So I told my rheumy, I don't want to take any more medicine, I am going to follow a strict diet and intermittent fasting and she told me, do that and let me know what happened. So, I did
that and never went back to any rheumy because there was no need. I was functioning ok. Then, during the pandemic, I did not pay close attention to what I was eating or to the fasting and the pain is back everyday, so I needed to check a list of food I could eat and I posted my request and got few answers and I don't know what to tell you, it worked fine for me for
more than a year so far, I was functioning all right till I lost track of what I was eating and the pain that follows, so I still thing "you are what you eat"
and reading your answer I can understand you being concerned that some
people still don't get it. I do appreciate your concern shared by most on
this website and you are right, is there was such thing as diet to cure
RA, this website will be the first to know. I really don't know what to say,
the only thing I can tell you is my experience with how I try control this
disease.
AgedCrone in reply to
Well at least get some blood work done to keep an eye on things.
Sadly all the pain you are suffering is probably inflammation damaging your joints.
Believe me, it took me at least ten years to find “my “first Successful drug....& I am so glad I didn’t give up.....
Gilliancheche in reply to
I would be interested in diet tips. I gave up eating tomatoes for 10 months but no improvement. I limit alcohol to a little on special occasions as that seems to effectme. Other than that am struggling to find good diet.
Brushwork in reply to
I agree with you. Eating healthy, clean and non-processed foods works for me.
I have an ice-cream - I get mouth ulcers.
I eat white processed bread - I feel fatigued and bloated and then more stiff.
Fruit and veg never makes me feel ill.
I’m new to this diagnosis ... I eat everything except anything processed and that includes white bread. I don’t have any issue with tomatoes cheese and so on.
in reply to bubblyalex
Got it. thanks. Do you take medicine because I don't, I try only to eat what is allowed when you have RA. Thanks for writing.
bubblyalex in reply to
Golly... yes I take meds. You have to otherwise you might end up with damaged joints 😳 and if I don’t take meds I can’t move at all😥
in reply to bubblyalex
Yes you are sharing what most members are saying but please read my
answer to AgedCrone explaining why I don't take any medicine.
Thanks.
AgedCrone in reply to
I can’t put it more clearly Hannah.......if you don’t
see a rheumatologist & tough it out until the drugs kick in......every one here has had to do just that ......I fear you will never be pain free.
Looking back I see you said a rheumatologist let you go away to try a diet....she probably realised there was no point in trying to persuade you then , so she wasn’t going to waste her time trying.
We here will waste our time trying ....because we know what R.A. pain is like....& how fortunate we are not to have damaged joints because in 2020 we are lucky enough to have Dmards & other RA drugs.
You posted on this site two years ago...& here you are....still in pain.....is that really how you want to live your life?
Sadly diets will not control R.A.....so it’s up to you now.
Brushwork in reply to
The medication thing is interesting...
For years I fought against taking meds and followed healthy eating and lots of yoga and exercise. For years it worked, with occasional flares when I would go on Hydroxychloroquine for a few months, then back to my diet...
Five years ago, my disease progressed and I have to medicate. This despite the great clean diet, staying slim and active. Since then, finding a medication that works and doesn't make me more ill or against which I have an allergic reaction has been a battle.
Personally, I believe I did the right thing for me. I had 15 years of RA that was mild and just a bit of a nuisance. I still have very little joint damage and I will continue to eat a clean diet.
Can I ask which medicine has really worked for you? My journey has been similar to yours but at the moment I have a terrible flare and Sulphasalazine is doing kettle to help.
I had trouble with all the usual DMARDS , Hydroxychloroquine and Sulfasalazine, stopped working. Leflunomide caused mucosal lesions which were really bad, Mtx orally made me really ill. Biologics either had no effect or I had an allergic reaction to. Now trying Mtx by Metoject - fine so far, but 6 weeks in and my flaring left hand is still flaring.
There seems no easy answers. I have come to the conclusion that you have to put up with unpleasant side effects to get rid of flares. I’m really against steroids, but Kenolog jabs in my bottom, got me through last year, but even that became less effective. I’m now trying to avoid Prednisolone.
I don’t blindly follow any advice. I believe I’m intelligent enough to do research and figure what I’m willing to take and what I’d really rather not. My Rheumy is very patient 😂
I feel the same as you and I was doing really well on a plant based diet mainly and then I had a cancer scare which was prompted by my anaemia. That triggered a bad flare and then the dr said I had anaemia of chronic disease and there was 'nothing nasty' going on ( other than the big nasty that is RA of course!)
So are you enriching your diet with lots of the right vitamins.
Stay well
Yes I eat a good sized bowl of uncooked spinach and kale every day and usually raw broccoli which I’ve always liked and a variety of 3 to 4 portions of fruit every day as well. I’ve always been health conscious since my early twenties.
Shortly after I was diagnosed I cleaned up my life in the hope that that would be enough to control my RA. So not just diet, but exercise, sleep, stress, everything. I became healthier but it did nothing for my RA!
We each have to find our own path. But do be careful and get checked out regularly as RA can cause damage without you feeling it to start with.
in reply to helixhelix
Thanks for sharing helix. I am still, after all this time, trying to find what will
make me function everyday without harming my body if possible. Yes I do
have regular check up with my primary care to see if the inflamation in the body is in check.
Brushwork in reply to
I just know that my mega high Anti-CCP and RF - strongly suggests that my disease should be aggressive and very active, yet it isn’t. Then I ask why? My long term veggie diet, clean eating and exercise maybe?
Who knows - I’m sticking with what seems to be helping if not curing my RA
Except maybe you’d be much worse if you were not eating healthily?
I credit my healthy lifestyle with helping me respond well to the drugs (research shows that they don’t work as well with overweight people) and managing with no significant side effects (my liver and kidneys are pampered organs apart from drugs). But I know I can’t manage without the drugs - grated carrot while delicious just doesn’t do it for me!
Ha ha and I can’t either now, not so keen on grated carrot either 😂
I had some early symptoms of RA ( stiff hands in the morning, uncomfortable ankles, one swollen finger). I actually took a food reaction test from Cerascreen. This showed a reaction to wheat , oats and egg yolks. Cutting out wheat and oats especially seemed to help. In fact if I ever do eat significant amounts of those the symptoms recur. So what you eat definitely seems to affect me and I think would affect a significant minority of RA sufferers. Everyone's different though.
Further to this Michaela Peterson - Jordan Peterson's daughter who has had rheumatoid arthritis since about 4 found much improvement after eliminating everything but chicken and beef.
in reply to alexask
Thanks Alexask. Eliminating everything will be impossible for most of us I would say.
Hi Hannah,
As everyone is saying, there is no such thing as a "RA Diet" as such. Personally I found the US arthritis charity website very useful for info arthritis.org/health-wellne...
Generally anything that is widely recognised as a healthy mediterranean style diet is going to help with inflammation, with plenty of omega 3, fruit and veg, pulses, whole grains etc - boring but true 
If you are overweight that can contribute to inflammation, in which case losing weight is going to help too, obviously.
As far as fasting goes, there's actually a trial underway in Germany at the moment for modified fasting followed by a plant-based diet, but it doesn't finish until next year. As far as I am aware, fasting works to ease symptoms but then once you start eating normally again the benefits stop - I could be wrong on this, just what I've read.
I eat loads of salmon, I don't have anything fryed with oils or fats, I don't have much white potatoes , mainly sweet potatoes, I don't eat meats only chicken or turkey, I don't eat wheat
I eat lots of veg everyday, I have gluen free oat breakfast
I cut sugar out of my tea
but I have found I am okay in carburys choc so I enjoy that.
I eat cheese,
I have goats milk
I am on hydroxychloroquine
If you eat lots of salmon, please try to buy responsibly farmed ones one that don’t do so much damage.
There are so many, they will make your head spin.
The best advice is to eat a healthy Mediterranean diet, low on processed foods. From there it is a matter of experimenting and researching until you find what works for you. Then, what seems to work for you for months or years may change... It really is a minefield.
Maintaining a healthy weight and getting quality nutrition really is the best way for all of us. A good range of vitamins and minerals is important as our bodies, along with various medications affect our ability to make and or absorb nutrients efficiently.
Just do your best and make the most of life, any way you can.
Hi Hannah - as HelixHelix mentions make your own list. I do not eat anything processed and avoid sugar as much as possible - If I were to consume it would be in moderation raw honey, maple. I keep a health food diary and write down foods I eat in the day. I note every day any RA flares/pain. For example, for me, rice tends to cause me discomfort. Essentially consume daily healthy:
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water.
I also invest in good supplements but do check with your Rheumatologist first.
Take care, Hessie ☀️
I have RA and experiment eating different things. On the internet you can find suggestions of what to eat and what not but that’s debatable as I’ve read not to eat tomatoes but then I’ve read we should eat them so it’s trying to work out what is best for us as individuals there doesn’t seem to be a set of rules. Generally a Mediterranean diet is supposed to be best and I used to use the one cal spray but since learned oils are good but good ones eg olive oil, rape seed coconut and although avocado has a lot of fat it’s a good fat containing omega 3. The deadly nightshade family ie potatoes tomatoes aubergine and peppers are not supposed to be good for us but I love potatoes and tomatoes so don’t eat them as much I eat more sweet potatoes look for recipes and maybe cooked tomatoes are better and as we are advised Mediterranean diet this consists of virtually everything tomato based fresh fruit salad fish and meat but not too much meat, trouble is having a good diet isn’t cheap buy best quality meat you can afford as they are grass fed which contains omega 3 rather than man made food for them and I don’t agree with intensive farming methods. I’m waiting for knee replacement as the RA has caused osteoarthritis. Well hope this helps and you start feeling better it’s about trial and error with food take care 👋 from Anya x
I agree with what has been said. Well meaning people were telling me all kinds of food to avoid. When I asked my Rheumatolgist she said just eat what you like. If you find a particular food affects you cut it out of your diet. Everyone is different and one man's meat is another man's poison. On saying that I still don't what, if any, food affects me. RA has a mind of its own. x
surprisingly because I don't use fats , its shown me that you don't really need fats, my roast potatoes come out of the oven lovely and crispy without any fats to cook them in.
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