diet and symptom control

[fizzy]

hi, My husband bought me a book about diet and arthritis. I really am not keen to restrict my foods and work out which foods are "good" and "bad"...I love my food,a nd would like to continue eating what I like!! However, my husband keeps suggesting i try altering my diet and doing what the book suggests. (i haven't read the book by the way as am not really interested).....I kust wondered if anyone has done any kind of diet and what the resulkts have been, good and bad!! cheers x

[Hidden]

I went to a talk given by an Consultant Rheumatologist - when asked about Diet he said that no research has shown any benefits from special or exclusion diets. I know that people with Osteo Arthritis get some benefits from fish oils and in terms of heart health that can't do any of us any harm.

Once again people confuse RA (an autoimmune disease} with OA {wear and tear} - there are books aimed at people with OA ie 'Eat to Beat Arthritis' - perhaps your husband is confusing the type of arthritis you have?

Given the increased rate of cardio-vascular disease in people with RA a good balanced diet and awareness of your cholesterol levels is important and the joints definitely don't like excess weight, but with all the steroids and other meds that can be difficult.

I know that some people on here follow an alkalising or anti-inflammatory diet so perhaps they can tell you about how that works for them.

Cece x

[Hidden]

I went to the NRAS lunch and the consultant rheumatologist there did a little presentation he advocated the mediterranean diet.

[Hidden]

Fizzy, i personally think that there could be some sort of link between diet and ra, indeed i feel that a few auto immune diseases are partly caused by food - celiac; diabetes 2 etc. but like Cece says conventional research has not led to a link between food and ra.

From my reading though, the alternative world of medicine definetly see a link, though its more about how the body has digested food in the past and the impact that has had on the digestive system. However despite what i think, i am finding it completely impossible to modify my diet, if anything it is getting so much worse. i feel as though i need a good detox.

[LavendarLady]

Hi Fizzy, I did read somewhere that a high protein, low carb diet was better and it is consuming too many carbs that can cause problems as it creates excess sugar. Fruit in moderation, again because of the sugars, and plenty of veggies but not cooked or coated with butter. Don't know if this works or not. Sometimes it is trial and error to find what suits you. So long as you get a balanced diet, you can't go far wrong. LavendarLady x

[Beth58]

Hi Fizzy, there's loads of diets and people who say some work/some don't, personally I believe we all have trigger foods which our body reacts to. It's a case maintaining a diary of foods eaten and record how your body is and what seems to aggravate the RA. It can be a long process of elimination.

My advice would be to stick to a healthy balanced diet, with plenty of oily fish, which is good for any arthritic condition and brain food! xx

[Hidden]

Hi Fizzy,

I too went to a RA group a few weeks ago and my consultant said that there is no proff that diet helps except if you carry less weight its less weight bearing for your joints, he told us that there wasnt any foods to aviod and he basically fobbed it all off as codswallop! However some people find it helps them so Im not calling it, when questioned about the mediterranean diet like Alison mentioned he said it wouldnt help the RA, but would help if you needed to lose a few pounds or stone in my case lol.

Take care and dont let anyone push you into there quick fix snake oil remidies no matter how much they genuinly care.

Julie x

[fizzy]

i have looked at the book, and it is for general srthritis, but it has specific sections for specific types of arthritis....my thoughts were that if there was some evidence in it the specialist health care professionals would tell you to try it (if they were up to date with things)! I'm not in the frame of mind to try eliminating foods, I kind of think why should I !! I know I should eat more fish, but apart from that I eat a good diet....perhaps could do with losing a few pounds as my BMI is 26, but I'm pretty happy as I am, its the exercise thing that is restricting, if I could do some aerobic exercise it would help, but with my joints as they are I can't....I walk alot and that is painful....I tried swimming and I just can't swim at the speed I used to so I don't see any point in going to just swim leisurely.....its a lot of faff when theres little benefit!! arghh!

[Hidden]

I am HORRIFIED by the answers you have received. Yes, the RA establishment does not recognize the role that elimination diets or any diets have in RA treatment, but the fact is that thousands of people experience great relief, and many even cure from RA, by following strict, low-fat vegan diets, often gluten free as well.

Please read about Dr. McDougall in the USa, and Clint's Cure in Australia, Claudette Duchesne in Chile and any naturopath would probably back this up with plenty of evidence. I am not saying it works for everyone, but I was diagnosed 2 years ago, and have not taken any meds for 1 month and I am OK. I started a vegan diet 4 months ago and I have experienced HUGE relief. I was on Prednisone for 1,5 years, and tried EVERY med out there.

Aside from diet changes, you must makes some deep psychological and physical changes: maybe therapy, yoga, biking, and definitely SAUNA daily, or sun baths, cold water showers to alternate with heat. This has been the single greatest help for me.

There isn't one-cure fits all, but there is a way not to live in RA hell, and it does begin with dietary and life habit changes. It is a profound disease of the body and the mind. Never underestimate the power of both to bring you back to health!!!

YOU CAN DO IT!!! If I can.

Some valuable links:

drmcdougall.com/index.html

clintscure.com

claudetteduchesne.cl/

[daisychains58 in reply to Hidden]

I agree with all you have said. I would say I have inflammatory arthritis caused by aggressive hep C anti virals in an otherwise healthy individual, smashed my immune system terribly, then a PRP injection in my ankle brought on a major inflammatory reaction. Anyway, all evidence points to diet, even an immunologist here is Oz at a major Sydney hospital agrees with diet and cannibis oil as treatments however it is not available readily here. I do not trust the pharmaceutical industry one bit sadly and whilst an acute illness requires medical intervention I’m praying I can get this under control and eliminate stemit altogether with diet and lifestyle ... I’ll keep you posted, I need to give it 3 months.

A side benefit is weight loss, I need to lose about 10 kg to get back to my ideal weight, 4 actually 5 kg have gone without effort in a month.

[daisychains58]

Check out this link. Now streaming 8 episodes on auto immune disease...it’s incredibly informative and I highly recommend watching. It’s free.

autoimmunesecrets.com/episo...

I have been diagnosed 2 months ago with inflammation, was RA. Negative but am being treated as if I have it. Blood markers were 150 normal is less than 5. Ipi was in hospital for 3 weeks, so sick for months not knowing what was wrong. 10mg prednisone for 10 days plus 15 methotrexate The swelling did not respond..markers came down. Upped to 50mg prednisone and 20 methotrexate and knee swelling slowly came down. Been home 2 weeks and reducing prednisone slowly. Down to 20.

I definitely believe an anti inflammatory diet can help so I’ve cut out ALL processed food, bread, grains, pasta, rice. I’m eating a plant based diet, select dairy, little grass fed meat, lots of fish, veges, fruit, juices plus some supplements. See how it goes, it’s early days all round for me. I don’t find the diet restrictive, love eating well so this has spurred me on. I’m 60.

See my Rheumatoligist at the end of the month.

I would agree absolutely re stress being a big contributor to auto immune diseases, I’ve had years and years of lots of stress, hard things that I had to deal with, it’s finally caught up with me so NO MORE STRESS in my life from now on. I’m a changed person after the last 4 months of hell.

Blessings to all, this is a fab site.

[daisychains58]

Hi again all

Does anyone use CBD oil or medical marijuana? .can’t legally get it Australia but lots of really positive results replacing medication for some lucky folk and a great pain reliever. Love to hear others opinions

[Hidden in reply to daisychains58]

Have been offered cbd oil four times already but not sure, if it works and I can drive again in a few weeks on this oil then great. Will it work on my neighbours yapping 🐕

[daisychains58]

Gosh fizzy try it. Nothing to lose. CBD has no high just beneficial cannibinoids... THC is useful too but where it I should illegal to have this in Your system whilst driving it’s a worry. Way too many laws and rules for my liking, being back the 70s. Doggy would probably be healthy and happy.