Proved to myself that eating rubbish increases my disease activity.

[Brushwork]

After months of eating a very clean diet (it mostly is anyway, just have occasional treats), I have been consuming ice-cream and chocolate. Very stupid of me. I woke this morning with stiff and aching joints for the first time in ages.

Back to the clean, vegetarian and borderline vegan diet for me.

I completely understand that this is different for everyone, we are individuals after all. But, there is no doubt in my mind that my diet = my disease activity. It doesn't cure it, but my clean diet doesn't feed the inflammation either.

[Shalf]

Hi, I am same. Certain foods trigger inflammation. Sugar, tomatos, bread is a definite no no.

Currently on CBD, high strength turmeric and when I eat sensibly I'm doing well.

[Brushwork in reply to Shalf]

I haven’t found turmeric or CBD to be that useful, maybe I haven’t persevered long enough.

For me it’s sugar and dairy that are significant triggers, wholemeal homemade bread is ok, but any other causes problems.

[Mmrr in reply to Brushwork]

Sugar is a problem for me, didn't used to be.

But now within a minute or two of consuming it my mouth becomes very sore and inflamed and I have a hot gut within a few hours. The hot gut seems to aggravate my joints and I'm a bit unwell.

Otherwise I eat well, all freshly prepared food and seem fine on it.

[Brushwork in reply to Mmrr]

Interesting to hear about your sore mouth, it’s exactly the same for me. My gut feels uncomfortable too.

Seems I can’t tolerate the things I love. Once more to the clean eating diet for me.

[Mmrr in reply to Brushwork]

Fortunately I don't have a sweet tooth, so not eating sugary foods is not a big problem.

I do miss the odd piece of cake or apple pie with a coffee, but it is not worth eating.

The sore mouth and sugar started when I was on MTX and had mucositis and despite not having taken MTX for 2 years now it still persists. Most strange.

[medway-lady in reply to Shalf]

Any medications to add to that ? and how is your mum ?

[Shalf in reply to medway-lady]

Hiya, no meds at the moment as I'm trying the medicinal CBD. I'm stable definitely no worse and much less fatigue now.

Mum is doing ok thanks, hope you are too

[Stowe]

Yes for me diet plays a big role, i can havre pains in my feet and hands within an hour when i've had more sugar than normal. Hope your joints are starting to feel better. X

[Wobbies]

Agree with you totally. If I eat sugary things or white bread, it really affects me. So, try to stick to a well balanced diet with lots of veg and fruit. Definitely feel better on that all round. Only taken me 69 years to work that out!

[Brushwork in reply to Wobbies]

Ha ha... I know it, yet still yearn for the things that make me ill! Worse still, I succumb to those yearnings

[Neonkittie17]

I had a total detox from after Christmas to mid March .. when my hubby started bringing home cakes and biscuits and all manner of delights which don’t work well for me, but I ate some and felt ouch so know what you mean. Bless him, it was his way of coping with work to give him extra energy, but he still brought all the good foods and our usual veggies and fruit and we are growing our own now too. It does make a huge difference when your body hasn’t had all that sugar and then you give it some! 😱

[Soundofmusic52]

It s interesting I eat loads of rubbish and still have pains it’s me I haven’t got the willpower especially with this lockdown but I am really going to try and eat good food fruit vegetables mainly so I will let you no how I get on hopefully it’s the answer for me fingers crossed 🤞 stay safe

[Caza]

I’ve never found anything that I eat or drink makes a scrap of difference to me & I have tried. I think I have a pretty good diet my choice is a Mediterranean So I eat lots of fish salads veg fruit etc....I don’t like sugar which is fortunate. But I know for many tomatoes peppers etc.. are triggers but not for me.

[Brushwork in reply to Caza]

I’m not claiming to be cured by any means. I have RA, I have flares. I’ve had it for 23 years - but it’s not as bad as many with similar levels of RF and anti-CCP ( off the scale and these indicate severe disease). I have been vegetarian for 33 years. My ESR and CRP are never high, even when I have swelling and pain, ie a flare.

I draw my own conclusions, following much research and my own personal experience. I know, for absolute certainty, that if I eat sugar and dairy, or processed foods, my RA becomes much worse. So for me a very clean diet is the only way I can assist my body to be as well as it can, I do take meds now too, but I can’t rely on them alone. My clean diet is long standing, when I waver and eat my favourite foods, within a week, or sometimes a day, my pain begins again.

I believe a holistic approach, for me at least, is the only way to live well and live full, despite RA.

I’m sad that you haven’t found any benefit from changing your diet. I wish you well and hope you find something that does work for you

[Caza]

For me it’s the right amount of exercise, not too much not too little rest sleep & keep stress at bay. I’m still working on the last one!! I don’t like diary foods, so maybe I’m on the right diet for me.

Oh & of course the meds

Pleased your clean diet is working for you.