Gluten free diet

[Devoid]

Hi just wondering if anyone has tried a gluten free diet to reduce inflammation? I’m off steroids now so would like at least a change from low carbs . Just interested in other opinions

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think I would say it doesn't work! We have coeliacs on the forum who are definitely g/f and still struggle with PMR, I was gluten-free for a long time as I developed an allergy to wheat starch and the only way to avoid that in the UK is to be gluten-free - made no difference at all compared to now when I eat other gluten-containing grains with little problem.

Earing low carb is likely to be low in gluten since it avoids wheat and other grains in bread and baked goods. If you go fully g/f and use the g/f aisle you will eat a lot of VERY carb dense foods - the ultimate in processed foods because they add all sorts of things to make structure and flavour more like the "regular" foods they are replacing. And actually - lots of simple carbs and sugars which themselves are very pro=inflammatory.

[Devoid in reply to PMRpro]

My thought was to eat more fruit, veg , nuts and chicken and fish. I definitely feel that carbs increases inflammation in my system but for some reason I’m really struggling with low carb at the moment. Saw one of the golfers say they had improved inflammation levels with gluten free, just thought it might kick start my willpower.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Devoid]

It depends how you do it - but careful with fruit, lots of sugar and sugar is pro-inflammatory.

What do you mean you are struggling with low carb? You sound a bit confused - gluten-free means either a lot less carbs or a load of highly processed things. And believe me - away from home, gluten-free can be pretty hard going.

[Devoid in reply to PMRpro]

I definitely don’t need to add processed foods, but just feel I could do with a change to motivate myself. Have done this last week using intermittent fasting and think this might get me back on track and also the weather has improved greatly here in the UK and that always improves my diet

[Turtel in reply to PMRpro]

I’m gluten free and it doesn’t help, I agree with you.

[Rugger]

You say "...to reduce inflammation" but also that you are off steroids. Are you thinking you still have some inflammation that needs tackling? (If so, wouldn't you still need the steroids?)

Now that you're off steroids, there shouldn't be the same need to follow a 'low carb' regime, unless that is your personal choice, for such as weight control.

I agree with everything PMRpro says. Also, if you were to try a gluten-free diet, I'm not sure how you would measure it's effect, especially as you seem to imply that you are in remission.

[Devoid in reply to Rugger]

Hi I’ve got to zero steroids before and was okay just on Toc but once they stopped the Toc LVV started up again. I’m now back on Toc and off steroids since Easter, as they still haven’t confirmed that I will get Toc long term I wanted to try and keep inflammatory inducing foods to a minimum, but there are various lists that tend to contradict one another.

[Grammy80 in reply to Devoid]

I just wanted to say I hope you can get TCZ long term...I'm in the States and I know it is easier here. I have an 86 year old friend, GCA, who has been on just one injection per month and her GCA has stayed in remission for 4 years. I think she maintained on two per month for a while and is considering going back to that to help her PMR. Hopes!💞

[SnazzyD]

I’ve been gluten free for years and my immune system still served me GCA.

[Devoid in reply to SnazzyD]

thanks Snazzy . Really that’s my thought too , some of us will get these darned conditions whatever we do or eat

[Mistydawn]

hi, my reason for going gluten-free was to to repair a ‘leaky gut’ as studies have shown that RD/RA can be aggravated by bacteria from the gut which enter the blood stream from the ‘leaky gut. To reduce inflammation, as others have said, reduce refined sugars and dairy products especially dairy milk, cheese and yoghourt. Butter is okay to have. Good luck

[whitefishbay in reply to Mistydawn]

Oh no. I eat way too much yogurt.

[Devoid in reply to whitefishbay]

plain yogurt with added berries shouldn’t be a problem, enjoy 😊

[whitefishbay in reply to Devoid]

Haha. I have delicious Tim's Dairy vanilla yogurt with berries. Must cut down.

[Devoid in reply to Mistydawn]

dairy is not a cause of inflammation other than if you are lactose intolerant

[Mistydawn in reply to Devoid]

hmm, according to my BANT nutritional therapist who specialises in RA it is very inflammatory sadly

[Devoid in reply to Mistydawn]

I think it’s what is referred to as a grey area

[agingfeminist in reply to Devoid]

I guess grey area= no good clinical evidence

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to agingfeminist]

Not entirely

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/346...

says "This article, a review based on the topics discussed during that session, explores the links between diet and inflammation, focusing most closely on the relations between intake of dairy fat and dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt, and biomarkers of inflammation from clinical trials. While there is currently insufficient evidence to prove an "anti-inflammatory" effect of dairy foods, the substantial body of clinical research discussed in this review indicates that dairy foods do not increase concentrations of biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation."

It's possible that high fat dairy might be a bit different.

However, I suspect it is similar to Tim Spector's experience with specific foods and blood glucose responses - there is a considerable variation between subjects so it is something to work out for yourself.

Even dieticians stick to their long held beliefs - it's taken mainstream medicine quite a while to come to the logical conclusion that controlling carb intake must help manage diabetes.

[Mayadill in reply to Devoid]

PMRPro beat me to it - the fat content? There's a big difference between whole milk and skimmed - 2.3 g saturated fat/100 ml to be precise. I knock back about a litre of organic skimmed a day - and the thought of similarly guzzling rapeseed oil makes me squirm! (A particular much hyped brand of oat milk.)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mayadill]

But semi-skimmed is better for you in terms of calcium, you don't absorb the calcium well from skimmed. Semiskimmed is only 1,5% fat and by any standards that is low fat

[Mayadill in reply to PMRpro]

I do sometimes, it's not religious fat avoidance. Not least because in these strange times Sainsbury's regularly has no skimmed and delivers me semi! It's my baseline protein - I have expensive tastes in meat and fish! I'd rather have something super twice a week than something grunge daily. Rest is veggie protein and of course eggs..

Concerning inflammation i wonder also about the yuck in non-organic - antibiotics, pesticides on fodder.

[PMRCanada in reply to Mistydawn]

Shame because so many of us on pred are advised/need calcium to combat its loss taking this medication (and to aid on strong bones).

[Polygolfer]

hello! there are a few really good books out there about anti inflammatory diets. I have tried to follow along those lines, but both my rheumatologist and GP say it’s healthy, no downsides, but that there is no scientific evidence of a measurable benefit. Nevertheless I am persevering with avoidance of clearly inflammable foods such as white bread, red meat, pasta, rice, processed foods… it’s healthy and can be beneficial. Understanding the gut bacteria and the effect of super processed foods and processed foods on our health over time is a very un-researched subject. A good book to read is Tim Spector’s book ‘Spoon Fed’ and of course Kate Gilbert’s where she also explores the role the gut possibly plays in all this.

[diana1998]

I would say give it a go if you are in the mood, and definitely avoiding the Free From isle in supermarket. Low sugar can lower inflammation. It's recommended by the nutritionists for giving more energy, better skin etc. Google the benefits.

[Mayadill in reply to diana1998]

And read labels - if they're legible. The good thing about online groceries is every product page has nutritional information and ingredients clearly listed in normal-sized print in black and white. Unlike on the product where they're in 4 pt in pale grey on a lurid green or something. Seeing what's in it is a huge deterrent to buying something that looks as if it might be nice.

[Josie-Anne]

Hi Devoid,

Hope you’re doing ok, yes I have a gluten free diet most of the time as i was diagnosed with a wheat intolerance. If I have a craving for something that has wheat in it I suffer for it the following day as my stomach bloats and I get pains and feel sick. It is better for you as inflammation can cause pain.

[Holycow2]

I was diagnosed with coeliac disease years ago. I then developed PMR almost 2 years ago. I have not found gluten free diet makes any difference. What you do loose though is a lot of money as gluten free products are terribly expensive! That is unless you stick to meat/fish/veg potatoes ect. Coeliac disease, PMR and very bad arthritis 😭

[nuigini]

I was diagnosed celiac a few years into PMR and the change in diet had no impact on PMR.

[emmamom]

I am gluten and dairy free. I also cut way back on carbs and sugar. I try to avoid preservatives and eat whole foods as much as possible. So...I don't know if going GF helped, but the combination has definitely helped. Also, at least 40 minutes of brisk exercise a day definitely fights inflammation. Good luck!

[diana1998 in reply to emmamom]

And the diet you mention has helped me drop to 2mg without feeling ill (no pain) which I always used to when gently dropping. Like everything, diet helps some and not others. Trial and error. 👍

[Devoid]

I walk every day but brisk it isn’t! If I could walk briskly I would feel like I’d won the lottery 😊

[Zebracorn]

I have to avoid night shade plants which includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers. It is not easy. Not all people are sensitive to nightshades but I noticed long before I was diagnosed with PMR. Google it for details. Worth a try. As others have said, I also avoid processed foods, dairy, and sugar as much ch as I can discipline myself in doing so. My biggest slip up is usually ice cream haha!

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM]

I have been reading about something called the Auto Immune Protocol Diet (AIP diet) that the authors claim, as Mystydawn mentioned above, can resolve leaky gut, which is caused by inflammation that is mostly caused by the foods we choose to eat. I know that a lot of the foods that they say are bad that way have had a negative effect on my digestion for many years, but it took all these years to see the pattern. So I'm giving it a try.

Ps: The authors stress that the AIP Diet is not meant for weight loss.