Information lost

[georgemichael-]

,I cannot find the information a patient gave about anti inflammatory food. I think it will kill two birds with one stone such as diabetes . I there any chance someone could find it for me again. Sorry to be a nuisance but my eyes are not too good start well. Are cataract surgery got take eye drops for 2 months and find them very sticky and hard to remove. Just another complaint lol thank you very much

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Can't help with the inflammatory food post I'm afraid, perhaps the person who posted it will see your post.

However, an anti-inflammatory diet in itself won't help prevent steroid-induced diabetes or any other sort of diabetes. The thing to avoid there is carbohydrates, especially processed foods where sugars are added unnecessarily.

[SnazzyD in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I should have said that. Looking at anti inflammatory diets online, it does rather portray them as a magic bullet. All the reasonable health diets have the same things in common: unrefined carbohydrates, high nutrient value every time you eat, moderation, variety. I have tended to steer clear of high doses of anything because we are so complex unless there is a clear deficiency, but that's just me. I say anything you can do to help your body heal and live is good but the trick is not getting obsessed and frightened.

[SnazzyD]

Hello

Until someone replies with more info, a book recommended is The Gut Makeover by Jeanette Hyde . It is very good in that it works in the 'real world' and you are not committed to life eating algae and plankton drinks. It certainly should stop swings in sugars and keep things under control because it is just a good balanced diet where every mouthful counts as a valuable input for your body. Nothing is empty calories. I would check with the specialist especially if you are not well controlled with hypos. I didn't do the full four week starter plan myself but went on to the normal maintenance as it fitted my situation better.

Don't know if it comes in large print. Do you use the Kindle reader? You can adjust the print size and it definitely comes in Kindle form.

[Hilaryjm]

@Georgemichael: Without wanting to be too technical, you need to focus on, as far as possible, eliminating refined sugar and processed foods, and also grains especially wheat. If you want to be a bit more technical, what you want to change is the balance between omega 3 and omega 6 fats, so that you aim at a ratio of around 1 to 3 or 4. It is said that the standard American (western) diet is more like 1 to 20. So you don't just avoid wheat, but also meat fed on grains. The book Wheat Belly by William Davis is helpful and easy to read, and is available on Kindle. The usual advice applies about lots of green and multicoloured vegetables, not too much fruit (except berries) because they are high in sugar, olive and rapeseed oil, and coconut oil, but not many others because they tend to be high in omega 6. Eggs are great, pasture or grass fed dairy, free range chicken, meats like venison or grass reared and fed lamb and beef (not too much), and lots of fish, especially oily like trout, salmon, mackerel, and herring, as fish oils are a good source of omega 3. Hope that helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hilaryjm]

Thanks for reminding me - too early in the morning here it seems! Of course - sugar is pro-inflammatory - DUH!!!!!

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

When eventually given a diagnosis of PMR/GCA and being advised that it was an inflammatory condition, I set-upon researching anti-inflammatory foods. I then stuck to an anti-inflammatory diet as far as possible throughout my PMR/GCA journey. Of course, it doesn't cure the condition - sadly nothing does at present - but I did find that if I veered off certain foods for any length of time the stiffness would worsen. This seemed to apply to oily fish in particular: sardines, mackerel, salmon and trout - well known for their healthy Omega 3 fats. Later, after setting up the Surrey Support Group, we were presented with a talk by a dietitian, and it might help if I give the following extract from the minutes of that meeting where she spoke about anti-inflammatory foods:

"Anti-inflammatory foods identified were oily fish (high in omega 3 fatty acids), healthy fats and oils, low GI foods and fruit and vegetables.

Fats include unsaturated fatty oils, particularly polyunsaturated oils, which have an ideal ratio of omega 6 to omega 3. These can be found in fish such as mackerel, sprats, tuna (not canned), kippers, pilchards, salmon, sardines and herrings. 2.7g/day of long chain Eicosapentaeoic (EPA) and Docoshexaenoic (DHA) acids 2-3 times per week is suggested. If fish is not tolerated then supplement oils are acceptable. Less healthy fats and oils can be found in butter, cheese, cream, pastries and cakes. It is better to use olive, canola, rapeseed and high oleic safflower oils for cooking, and to use less corn and sunflower oils, or margarine as they contain greater amounts of omega 6 fatty acids which tend to be linked to inflammation. It is also good to eat avocados, cashew nuts, almonds and walnuts, but remember that all oils and nuts are highly calorific.

A well balanced diet should contain about 30% bread, potatoes and cereals, 30%fruit and vegetables, 15% meat/fish, 15% milk or low fat dairy produce and 10% of foods comprising fats, sugars, sweets, chocolates and puddings.

Low GI foods are recommended since high blood sugars are pro-inflammatory. Sugar levels should be stabilised throughout the day, and low GI choices included oat based cereals, wholegrain/granary bread, noodles, pasta, basmati rice, pulses and legumes.

It was stated that vitamins and minerals were important for bodily function and good management of the diet. 1g/day of calcium was deemed to be good (from milk, cheese, sardines, bread, ready-brek), along with vitamin D to fix the calcium into bones and cells (from fish oil, eggs, meat, margarine and milk). Vitamin C is obtained from fruit and vegetables, Vitamin E from seeds, nuts, avocado and spinach. The antioxidant Selenium can be found in fish, meat and Brazil nuts.

Iron is very important to avoid anaemia and can be found in red meat, oily fish, pulses, lentils, haricot beans, fortified breakfast cereals and from green vegetables, eg spinach, kale and watercress.

The 5/day rules for fruit and vegetables should be taken as a handful equals one portion, eg one apple, banana or orange, 2 satsumas etc.

Phytonutrients in plants, predominantly flavonoids, are also anti-inflammatory substances. These are found in cruciferous vegetables, berries, soya, red peppers, tomatoes, beetroot, carrots, green and black tea and 70% dark chocolate."

Sorry it's a bit of a lengthy read but I thought it might help.

[georgemichael- in reply to Celtic]

Thankyou so much.cmuh appreciated everyone

[PMRPete]

Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid:-

drweil.com/diet-nutrition/a...

Quite useful.

[Zebedee44]

I have just bought a second hand copy of a book which is referred to in Kate Gilbert's excellent book "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis , a survival guide".

It is called "The Inflammation Syndrome" by Jack Challem, available in hard copy or on kindle. My partners has taken it to read first, as he is an enthusiastic cook and may come up with some good recipes. I have survived on a modest variation of my original diet so far ( since January this year) but need advice and ideas.

Personally I am finding the discipline of controlled eating more frustrating than the daily inconvenience of PMR, especially as food no longer seems to give me the energy boost I have become used to to keep active!

[Woodiesmum]

You need to be in low carb foods x my hubby hasn't had diabetes gor over four years x eat plenty of protein and fats xx

[georgemichael- in reply to Woodiesmum]

Thankyou very much