Hi everyone can anyone tell me if they have successfully used diet and nutrition to help with their RA ?.

[dannyt]

[Hidden]

I can't say whether it's specifically helped my RA but when my GP first told me my tests were positive I immediately cut out wheat and later cut out refined sugar, caffeine and most dairy produce and now alcohol. What I have found is that IBS type of problems disappeared and I have lost 4 stone in 15 months. Indirectly I know this has helped my RA symptoms by taking pressure off the load bearing joints and counter balancing out the effects from taking powerful drugs. I am pretty healthy and look and feel much better than I did a year ago despite having some DMARD related side effects and fatigue and I'm pretty fit too. I can't see how eating very healthily could fail to help us really but I haven't tried eating or drinking things that specifically meant to be anti-inflammatory although I think I do actually eat quite a lot of these kind of foods anyway. Tilda

[dannyt in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that Tilda . Like you I eat as well as I can and was always very fit , what I am looking for is specific foods , or diets that I can try and then eliminate.

[bpeal1]

You might find this booklet interesting.

arthritisresearchuk.org/~/m...

Becky

[dannyt in reply to bpeal1]

Thank you Becky

[oldtimer]

I think I have tried everything now. For me, I do find that eating meat causes a flare up (even gelatin) and I'm cautious about milk based products - I can eat a moderate amount, but am suspicious too much affects me. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, wheat, etc. - tried exclusion for six week periods then re-introducing - no difference for me. Tedious to do exclusions, but the only way to find out. (reduction of gluten helps with bloating though!).

Reading the published literature, it seems to me that different things affects different people.

Exclusion of single foods, or groups of foods of the same type for six weeks then cautiously re-introducing them, on an individual basis seems to me the way to find out for yourself what helps.

But beware of excluding too many things -you may be excluding something you really need. If there are lots of things that seem to upset your health, it's worth talking to a dietician for a balanced diet approach.

[dannyt in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks for your input, that approach is where i am just now and I will wait and see how it goes so once again a big thankyou.

[Ailsa-NRAS Partner NRAS]

Hello DannyT

I can tell you, having been part of the Guideline Development Group which produced the NICE Clinical Guideline on RA published in 2009 that there is no evidence that special diets have any impact on the progression of RA, although there is a small amount of evidence that a mediterranean diet high in fruits and vegetables may be beneficial. You will find some information about this on the NRAS website. However, some people do react to certain foods which may affect their RA, but this is an individual reaction and cannot be generalised to the rest of the RA or general population.

A balanced healthy diet is important for your general health as well as incorporating exercise into your normal routine.

I hope this is helpful!

Best wishes

Ailsa Bosworth

NRAS CEO

[dannyt in reply to Ailsa-NRAS]

Ailsa that is sound advice. I think I have read every published article on this subject and I plan on keeping an open mind whilst attempting to whittle them down.Thanks for the pointers

[essexgirl]

Hi Danny

I dont eat wheat or tomatoes or citrus fruits ... But eat a lot of veg and berry fruits ... no alcohol and i dont smoke ...

i feel so much better for it

debs x

[dannyt in reply to essexgirl]

Hi Essex

Thanks honey good advice