Pmr question about diet?

[Sparky98]

Curious what results pmr sufferers have had with trying gluten free diets? Or any other specific diet modifications.

[fmkkm]

Hi Sparky,I noticed in the beginning that after I ate a certain way I felt bad the next day. I do avoid gluten because it’s usually combined with other things I don’t need like sugar, oil, salt etc. I will eat plain whole grain bread.

I avoid excess salt, sugar, processed food, refined grains, fried food, red meat. I eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit.

If you feel better without food containing gluten then definitely stop eating it.

Best-fm

[SnazzyD]

I stopped eating gluten containing foods some years ago and felt hugely better but I still ended up getting GCA. Whilst on Pred I ate a very low carb diet (even no wholemeal) with plenty of veg, some fruit, lots of protein and oils. Fats are important for absorption of fat based vitamins, for example, D and A. I tried being vegetarian once for two years but never felt well on it, even with trying to make sure I was getting all the nutrients. Whilst on Pred I was very low salt diet until I was under 7mg to counter the effects of low adrenal function. Even off Pred I still have to watch carbs like a hawk but am not as abstemious as when on Pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The only real advantage of gluten-free is that it automatically removes carbs - providing you don't patronise the free-from aisle at the supermarket. If you do that you are likely to be worse off as g/f baked goods are very calorie and carb dense with a lot of other additives to make it taste better. And carbs and pred tend to result in weight gain and developing steroid-induced diabetes.

There are a few on the forum who were gluten-free when PMR appeared - I was, as I had a wheat allergy but that improved with higher doses of pred. I suspect it is part of the a/i side of PMR. I think many of us have tried omitting various foods but it is a very personal thing and there is no general rule, you have to find which things don't suit you. Often cutting carbs helps because sugar and simple carbs in general are pro-inflammatory and many find a splurge on carbs as a "treat" makes them feel worse afterwards.

[Sparky98 in reply to PMRpro]

agree...for sure..seems it is a "very personal" thing with varied results...thx!

[Mazxstitch]

I was diagnosed April 2019 with PMR. I was advised in November that year to go Gluten and Lactose free because it would reduce inflammation. There was a big difference within a week.Looking back my diet was full of gluten and lactose. I occasionally eat bread or a bit of cheese but wouldn't go back to my old diet.

[Sparky98 in reply to Mazxstitch]

thanks...very helpful to hear.

[sennetta]

Great success with largely carbohydrate free ( zero sugar, no grains, no roots etc), less dairy, selected processed fats and no processed foods). Plus intermittent fasting. It's not an easy path but it works. I'm fitter and slimmer than I've ever been, don't have pmr and don't have to take any drugs. I'm female and 67. It's why I'm not on here so much these days - I saw off the pmr/pred in 2019 after 2.5 years and have largely moved on.

What am I doing now? Loads of entertaining, which I have always loved - when our family come to stay, there are 18 of us in the house- and we host foreign national students on a regular basis. I sing, I teach music part time, accompany students: I have taken up playing the cello, and took up another new hobby- church bell ringing: something I've wanted to do since I saw the badge requirements in the Girl Guide handbook! Then there's our large garden to keep tidy; and sewing- I'm indulging in some upholstery the moment. Is the difficult, restrictive diet worth it? Absolutely! On the odd occasion when I go off piste, I really pay for it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sennetta]

Thanks for coming back and telling your story - that there is life after PMR! But that we also have to do our bit.

[Sparky98 in reply to sennetta]

fantastic to hear this....very inspiring...and agree some of these life changes are challenging...but again...inspiring to hear your path! thanks!!!

[sennetta in reply to Sparky98]

A good starting point for you could be Sarah Myhill's recently published book :- "Ecological Medicine" She has an easy to read chatty style and makes sense out of the science for us mere mortals.

[spacevoyager]

Hi Sparky, I think of it as avoiding foods that cause inflammation. Gluten, dairy, sugar being primary for me. On top of the inflammation concern there is the weight gain and diabetes concern...so a healthy diet without lots of carbs.

[Sparky98 in reply to spacevoyager]

got it! thanks v much

[nuigini]

Hi Sparky. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 4 years after PMR diagnosis. Still have both and removing gluten (wheat, rye, barley) has had no effect on PMR.

[Sparky98 in reply to nuigini]

thanks...uggh...bummer...trying everything i can

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sparky98]

Lots of people have - no-one finds much ...

[Seekingasolution]

I’m going to try cutting gluten and dairy - if I can from today. I wondered if you’d noticed any difference in the last month ? I have cut out red meat , increased my plant based food but found a hm berry smoothie and hm gazpacho left me hungry .. so was adding a boiled egg or poached salmon for protein. Just had a cholesterol check and CRP - worse than ever !! Just found this article which suggests that poached salmon is the worst thing you can eat for oxidised cholesterol. I feel I can’t do right for doing wrong !!

nutritionfacts.org/2022/04/...

[Seekingasolution]

Last post intended for Sparky98

[Miserere]

I am adding this link regarding salt and sugar - which is really the culprit? A lecture by Dr David Urwin: youtube.com/watch?v=z9fBu-L...(Not working as expected?)