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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: RA and Food Allergies

A new study suggests that food allergies may be linked to RA, after all

By Denise Lynn Mann

If you’ve thought your joints felt achy after a meal, only to doubt yourself after hearing that no evidence links food allergies to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you are not alone. Until now there has been little evidence of foods that cause inflammation. Evidence suggests it may be time to consider a rheumatoid arthritis diet.

Most studies have focused on antibodies (proteins that attack and destroy foreign substances) in the blood, but that focus may have been wrong. Food-related antibodies may show up in the gut – rather than the blood – of people with RA, and that’s just where researchers at the University of Oslo, Norway, looked.

They found that, in test tubes at least, the intestinal fluid of people with RA had higher levels of antibodies to proteins from cow’s milk, cereal, hen’s eggs, codfish and pork than that of people without RA.

“The gut is the first site of exposure to food, and the immune system in the gut is the first to recognize potential allergens,” says Jonathan Brostoff, DM, professor of allergy and environmental health at Kings College London.

Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly believes that something you ate is harmful. To protect you, the immune system produces immunoglobulin E – also called IgE antibodies – against that food. The antibodies set off a chain reaction that causes symptoms.

In some people, the antibodies and proteins bind together and form immune complexes in the intestine. These immune complexes then circulate and get into every nook and cranny of the body, including the joints, where they may contribute to inflammation, says Dr. Brostoff. Once antibodies are made against a particular food, the body instantly recognizes that food the next time it is consumed, and the cycle begins again.

So what should you do if you think certain foods make your RA worse? Keep in mind that this study is preliminary, and it looked at results only in test tubes. The researchers withdrew intestinal fluid from the participants and then added the proteins to the fluid in the lab; participants didn’t actually eat the suspect foods. So unknowns remain.

But if you think there are foods that cause inflammation for you, Dr. Brostoff suggests trying an elimination diet. “Try eating the standard Stone Age diet, which includes only fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, for one month,” he says. Studies have shown that if a person is food-sensitive, this type of diet can help reduce morning stiffness and pain, improve range of motion and lower inflammatory mediators in the blood.

In fact, Dr. Brostoff did an experiment and found that more than one-third of people with RA felt better and had less morning stiffness on this diet. “We had one or two patients who, after one or two months, were so much better they could go walking and do all the things they could do before,” he says.

The next step is to reintroduce foods, one at a time. “The only way of knowing if you are sensitive to a food is to eliminate it and then add it back,” Dr. Brostoff says.

Back to Focus on RA (http://www.arthritis.org/rheumatoid-arthritis-disease-focus.php)

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: RA and Food Allergies

A new study suggests that food allergies may be linked to RA, after all

By Denise Lynn Mann

Page 1 | 2

Sarah Rappe

01 Sep 2010, 05:22

Hi
I"m 50yrs.old and have had RA in the last 5 years. I wondered if I diet this kind of diet which I have already been doing and have done before. Lost 6lbs. Will my own doctor test my blood later and honestly tell me that the arithiritis cells have decreased or could she lie to me to keep me coming to her? She an excellent doctor and no names. She doesn't seem to care for my weight and I've lost 6 pounds finally in the last 2 weeks. I"m happy but how do I find an honest physician will work with me here in Houston or Katy Texas?

Kim

31 Aug 2010, 16:56

I have recently been diagnosed with RA. I am scared that this will limit what I can do. I am 43 years old and have a 13 year old son. I am not ready to give up my time with him.

I have had some success by eliminating a lot of foods. No beef, pork, or cod fish. No dairy, citrus, eggs, or nightshades. It s a very limiting experience, but I am happy to say the dietary changes have made a difference. Not enough to consider going without medication, but at least enough where I don't cry every morning while I try to get out of bed.

I take fish oil supplement, and like others, I am curious to know if there are other supplements that will help as well. Any thoughts or suggestions that have worked for others are certainly welcome.

Thank you, and keep fighting the good fight!

Valerie

26 Aug 2010, 15:49

I am leaving a comment about my personal experience and success with RA in the hopes that it may help others in their quest for conquering RA and returning to a normal life. I realize that what has worked for me will not work for everyone, but it will work for some and is definitely worth trying as this disease can be brutal. I was diagnosed with RA at age 28 (with 3 small children, including twins, to care for), I have lived with RA for 14 years and have never taken a prescription RA med for it. Ever.

What has helped me tremendously (i.e. reduced all RA symptoms by over 80%) is long term antibiotics and a careful diet. Several years ago I had debilitating fatigue, great pain, difficulty walking, swollen joints, and often walked around in a mental fog from exhaustion and worry. The disease really limited my life. However, despite numerous doctors suggestions/insistance, I refused ALL prescription meds and chose to try to manage the RA with a more natural approach of diet, accupuncture,and occasional fasting with fruit, fruit smoothies and raw veggies when symptoms worsened or flared up, and regular dietary suppplements (fish oil, vitamin C, Gluosamine and Chondroitin, MSM, Turmeric, etc). I learned I am one of those people who absolutely must avoid all nightshades, peanuts and stay away from too much coffee. I was already mostly vegetarian (eat only chicken and shrimp once in awhile, never any other meats), did/do not drink milk or use butter, do not ingest soda or fast food and severely limit all sugars. This definitely helped me, but not enough (other than those I just listed, I hadn't learned yet which other foods caused problems for me, and am still working on figuring it out). But the biggest change occurred when I heard about Dr. Mirkin, a doctor up near Washington, DC (US)who treats RA patients with long term antibiotics and has great success. I flew up and met with him, started my antibiotics...have been taking them regulary for nearly 2 years and 80% of my RA has disappeared. I am back to being the mom I was, am no longer confined to the house because I'm having a bad day or need to sleep during the daytime, and I can hold a full time job, I actually work 60 hours a week during summer! Swelling has disappeared, knees and feet never hurt anymore, I can walk again without pain, and I don't have to go to sleep each night wondering if I will wake up in the middle of a flare-up, or wondering which new joint will hurt me tomorrow. I do have permanant finger joint damage which occurred before I started antibiotics, still have very minor pain issues in neck and shoulders, and I still need to wear somewhat comfy shoes (i.e. I'll probably never be able to wear 4 inch spiked heels~ but that's ok, I'm 5'9" lol) but I cannot even begin to describe what a tremendous difference this has made in my life :) The antibiotic (minocycline)treatment will not work for everyone, but I highly recommend going to drmirkin.com and clicking on 'bones and joints' and reading. If you are under 50 and within a year or 2 of first being diagnosed, and fit a couple other criteria, apparently you stand the best chance for antibiotic treatment being successful. It's all listed on his site. I didn't start antibiotic treatment until approx 10 years after diagnosis so that's why I've been on them so long...it may take a little longer for me. Dr. Mirkin cured his own wife in 6 months, many years ago, after she had a sudden onset of RA and a rheumatoid factor of around 1500. Her illness is what got him started in all this (he was already a doctor). My own blood work reflects what I feel, my rheumatoid factor has been cut to 1/3 of what it was, my iron levels hover up around low normal or mildly anemic instead of moderately to severely anemic, and my sedimentaion rate was normal last 2 checks. I expect it to continue to improve.

You do not need to fly to see Dr. Mirkin, your own local doctor should be able to prescribe the antibiotics and follow up with you if s/he is cooperative (and if s/he is not, I'd look for a different doctor), but I suggest printing out the info from the site and bringing it in if your doctor isn't familiar with exactly how it's done or has never heard of it (my former local doctor had, my new local doctor had not, but he is very cooperative) As with any long term prescription med, you will need routine blood work to be certain the antibiotics arent affecting your liver. I've been taking them every day for 2 years and my liver tests are fine. In the beginning I had the typical antibiotic side effects, upset stomach, occasional diarrhea, but I will take that over the RA meds side effects any day! Also, you must take pro-biotics and/or pre-biotics as the antibiotics will kill off all the 'good' bacteria in your digestive system.

Also, thank you to everyone for your very helpful posts! All I need to do now is transition to a more raw foods diet, research "Leaky Gut Syndrome" and save up for the blood allergy test ($500). Yes, I see antibiotics are apparently a 'no-no' according to Leaky Gut Syndrome, but all I can say is they have worked wonders for me and given me my life back, so I will research, research, research. After I'm thru with the antibiotics, I will most likely follow the steps to heal 'Leaky Gut' in case that is my problem as well. I will probably stop my minocylcine in about 4-6 months, I beleive my body will maintain on its own by then. I wish all of you luck in eliminating this awful disease form your lives.

Shannon

24 Aug 2010, 11:16

My 14yr old son is in the process of probably being diagnosed with RA. Waiting for referals for Children's Hospital to go through. He has always been very active...football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. He just called his football coach and quit out of fear. This upsets me because I know how much he loves it but I understand it's not a good idea anymore. What do you folks think? Basketball and baseball still safe? I know swimming is great but we are about half an hour from the closest public pool. I feel this strong need to keep him active while he is not consumed by pain...yet.
Also, I need info on diet. Remember, 14...not quite into vegetarian or major health food diets. A list of trigger foods would be nice. Looks like fish oil is good. Any other vitamins, minerals? Can any of you recommend some reading material for him that won't scare the heck out of him?

Emma

16 Aug 2010, 08:44

I'm 22 years old and have been diagnosed with RA for about 4 months

I do not eat any sort of vegatables, could someone please let me know some food I could eat?
I'm taking so much medication and in the morning I can't even move sometimes.

Please help? Thanks

Emma O

16 Aug 2010, 08:41

Helen

16 Aug 2010, 08:37

i am a 31 year old and i was diagnosed for RA three months ago. it started with a persistence neck pain nine months earlier, then my right knee, then most of my joints got engulfed in pain. it was a terrible two months 4 me. i was given so many pain killers which proved ineffective.i was placed on prednisole 2wks ago and my life suddenly retuned to normal. i am currently seeing a neurologist who has decided to place me on special diet( fruits, vegetables, water).low salt in-take,keeping a journal to record everything about YOU. Avoiding stress,exercise. don't make a big deal out of it, see it as a temporary issue. with God's grace i believe RA is a non-issue.

Sweetie

14 Aug 2010, 20:46

I've had a love-hate relationship with RA for 3 & 1/2 years,now (I had my first symptoms as I was turning 40). I say love-hate, because I love it when I use my brains and am able to help my body go into remission for awhile. We all know why we hate it. I'm just now starting to accept it. I started using organic products/food and doing yoga ~2 years before my first symptoms in my right foot. I believe it's an accumulation of many years of a lot of things (which some of you have said). I think childhood trauma has a lot to do with it (ptsd), amalgam fillings, Hep B vaccine I got while working in the healthcare field, stress, garbage food, dehydration, pesticides and GH in the animal products, fast food, again animal products (which are highly acidic, clogging, and prohibiting of circulation), etc.

I've been there, where at least one of you said, "afraid to go to take a nap or go to sleep." In the beginning I got one infection after another. It literally was paralyzing pain to the point where my husband had to lift me out of bed, sometimes (exacerbated by fever). It's nice to have a place like this to find some support from all of you. I'm a fighter and I can tell all of you are, too. This is definitely not a disease for sissies (I heard a Dr. on youtube say that once).

What I like about it is this disease forced me to become aware of everything I put in my mouth, on my skin, the way I clean my home, clothes (baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice). I eat more foods than I've ever eaten in my life. I love food now, because most of it doesn't hurt. Since I went to nursing school and became a nurse recently, I'm very aware of Ph levels (they don't touch on the subject of most people with chronic diseases and cancer have more acidic blood - in nursing school - I had to do the research as food related on my own, they just teach about Ph), water input throughout the day has to be increased, because of the high increase in fiber. Coconut (unrefined, organic raw) oil, sesame seed oil (unrefined organic), I grind my flaxseed, take B12, nutritional yeast, quinoa, brown organic rice, chick peas, dark red kidney beans, kale, cabbage, spinach, greens, cilantro, sweet potatoes, etc., etc. Even organic white potatoes have become my new comfort food. If I eat potatoes I top it with a little flaxseed, nutritional yeast, coconut oil, cumin, cayenne pepper, curry powder (cut up the potato and mix kale in there - or spinach- and raw organic ACV: Apple Cider Vinegar, or squeeze organic lemon juice on top). I eat only organic. I eat a raw garlic clove at bedtime each night and in the a.m. I Oil Pull. There is no smell of garlic after oil pulling in the am, being vegan, and taking a little on an everyday basis. One thing about oil pulling (type it in) it will give you some of the most tremendous pain week one through three, take garlic and glass of water to bring fever down (each 1/2 hour-hour until sympt - if you're allergic to garlic, find out what other natural methods to take to bring fever down - cayenne pepper). Break the cycle of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aleve, aspirin, all meds/NSAIDs, NyQuil. if you must, take it, but very gradually wean off when you do feel better. IMO, I don't think these meds were ever meant to be taken long-term. Do deep breathing exercises everyday, as somone mentioned (helps alkalize the blood), yoga, weights, swimming, bike riding. Do anything you enjoy, exercise 30 min. everyday to get your RBCs up, as RA/anemia go hand-in-hand. Black strap mollasses is also one of my new staples. I eat mostly raw vegan. If I do cook I'll steam it. I stay away from gluten (wheat, oats, barley), dairy, refined sugar, refined salt, refined anything.

I don't watch tv, except for good movies (TCM - no commercials), or documentaries on youtube. My relationship has flourished with my husband, as we talk about being healthy, bike ride together, and other things. . . . as well as doing this together (as he saw my results and does it a lot as well - for it's helped his sinusitis almost completely). I forgot to mention prebiotics and probiotics (learn and research them on the internet), as so many others have said, as well as pay attention to YOUR body. My stuff may not work for you. Learn your body, anatomy, and physiology, and learn to take care of it. Most importantly be nice to yourself! Keep a journal. If you must drink have one Stoly's or Absolute (glass), gradually get it out of your life -- drink extra water it's very dehydrating -- best is to go without, you won't miss it when you're pain free. Talk to real friends - stay away from toxic people, use your sense of humor if you must deal with them- go ahead, make a caricature of them that they won't see. Pamper yourself. Not many of us learn how to take care of ourselves and pamper ourselves. Now's the time! Don't beat yourself up. Learn how to give yourself or get Reiki Txs, acupuncture Tx, Tai Chi, learn something you've always wanted to do (when you start to feel better - just for yourself). Learn forgiveness. Allow yourself to cry (it actually gets rid of toxins- there have been studies to prove that).

In the beginning I got a Dr. who told me to pop aleve, ibuprofen, aspirin, corticosteroids, told me burn my uterus out. . . that was the end of her -- and when I started researching and my "rebirth." Yeah I still have my bad days as I continue to work at it (none as bad as before). Sometimes, I have to take one moment at a time, when I haven't been as vigilant or slacked-off on my exercise. Sometimes, I think it's MORE important to be vigilant when I'm feeling well. No pills. They are just a band-aid, and only intended for short-term use. We have beautiful bodies, we need to learn all tools we can to give them, to let our bodies heal ourselves.

I gotta go now, today is a good day and my husband and I are having a "date" tonight. Thanks for reading/listening/helping me, and I hope the best for all of you!

R Wearne

12 Aug 2010, 14:59

To Kim S - I am really convinced that your problem comes solely from the milk you are using. Milk has the ability to activate the inflammatory response both in the gut and in th e blood. It can also generate antibodies called IgG which can not always be as easily identified as IgE. when milk is used regularly (every second day)there is not enough time for the response to clear before the next ingestion and antibodies circulate constantly i the body. therefore no immediate response is felt after using it. If removed from the diet altogether though (including cheese, yogurt etc)and reintroduced it will trigger a specific reaction.A good indication for you to know if milk is really the problem is to ask yourself how difficult it will be to give it up. People with intolerance to milk frequently become addicted to it because of the addictive neurotransmitter substances formed out of the partly digested proteins. These are also directly responsible for the inflammatory response and equal morphine in chemical structure. This will also cause you to feel sleepy after using milk and unlike the myth we were thought that milk calms and relaxes you to help you to sleep it is actually the morphine that makes you sleep. Hidden sources of dairy like lactates in medication and milk solids in processed products like margarine must be carefully observed and be 100% eliminated.

Angie

12 Aug 2010, 11:06

This is to Kay.

Yes! There is plenty you can eat! Unfortunately... most are not fun/processed foods! You will have to try and get over what you are missing (which are probably unhealthy) and make new favourites.

I have to eat a lot of fish and chicken, and found coconut milk is great to cook with. We LOVE chicken with coconut milk, curry, spinich, rice (and other stuff). Look up recipes. We used to eat a bland, processed diet but now experiment with spice. I keep leftovers on hand for lunches the next day.

Try adding nuts and sliced up fruit to salad with chicken or fish. Make your own salad dressings. Try agave instead of honey for sweetener. Eat lots of fruits and veggies (I hate veggies but have to learn to make them palatable). Eat fish. And rice. Try rice chips (pretty good!) and rice crackers. Find rice tortillas and make your own version of quesadillas with leftovers (fried in coconut oil, YUM). Thicken coconut milk with ground flax seed and agave and add to strawberries for the worlds lamest version of fruit and yogurt. It's better than nothing!

OMG, with the right attitude there are so many things. And I can guarantee that after you do this for a while, when you try reverting back to your old habits you'll be right back with your new healthy ones!

Best of luck. It sucks you have to do it, but you'll love the results!

kay

09 Aug 2010, 23:41

I am 19. I was diagnosed with RA 4-5 years ago. I am just wondering if this actually works. My fingers are so swollen and inflamed and one of them I can't even open. Are you all telling me that if I change my diet, this will likely go away? Also, it seems like there is NOTHING to eat but raw vegetables...rather than list foods I can't eat, are there any that I can?

Kim S.

06 Aug 2010, 11:39

Ok, so mostly it's about the diet to prevent the inflammatory response. To be absolutely honest, I do not notice any kind of inflammatory response to foods that I eat. I have coffee mostly everyday, I eat a well balanced diet, steak, hamburger, chicken, all kinds of fish, take vitamins, salads, veggies, fruit, and hardly EVER any fast food, oh and milk about every other day. I am 31 with 4 kids-9,3,2,1 yrs old, and found out about a year ago that I had RA. Hmmmm????? Well, I'm still trying to figure out why this is all happening, although I am adopted and it would help to know ANY family history but can't. I do know that I have Italian, Polish, Czech, and Spanish... if that makes any difference. It seemed that the little signs started early in high school with fatigue, but didn't think much of it. So yeah, I hurt like heck, but seriously try to notice what I eat everyday and notice if I hurt more after eating certain foods. I just don't seem to notice anything at ALL. I don't know what else to do...trying my best. Of course I don't need this like anyone else trying to live their life. I am waiting for my Sulfasalazine to kick in and taking coQ10 along with it. Just got off of prednisone because didn't want to take it too long. So, I feel it eating my wrists and in my fingers, all my joints and I can't find any other way to stop it. It's really depressing sometimes, when you feel it destroying you, and you can't find anything to help it. So I understand your pain out there. I will keep watching my diet.

NAREEN CHETTY

06 Aug 2010, 08:05

I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR 2 YEARS NOW
AND FOUND OUT THAT PREDNISONE IS THE BEST CURE FOR AN ACUTE ATTACK. I ALSO USE METHOREXATE
AND WITH DIET ONLY VEGETARIAN I FEEL VERY LIGHT
ON THE HIPS MY HIPS ARE THE PROBLEM AS ON SOME DAYS I AM UNABLE TO WALK.KEEP THE FAITH ONLY YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE PAIN IS ALL ABOUT.

NAREEN

rajesh

02 Aug 2010, 09:06

Hi,

I totally agree with this article. I have had RA for 12 months and found out by myself, when i was walking early morning and i found i can’t walk as i walk daily. Its happen regularly and increasing my pain. Then i was found RA + in blood test. My Wife told me avoid some food which is cause RA. I stop eat at all because it triggers the symptoms: red meat, chocolate, milk, wheat, peanuts and coffee. Since I started a special diet, I have had very little pain in the joints. I really believe RA is connected to food allergy. I always was a strict vegetarian but i cut out all wheat, gluten, night shade vegs and limited alcohol. My arthritis got worse and the fasts no longer worked after 2 years so i tried everything that did not involve drugs eventually.
Even if i am following the diet plan. I want to understand the better diet plan as per Indian food and weather. What can i eat and what to avoid. Suggest me.

Gwen

29 Jul 2010, 16:33

I was reading other peoples articles and realized one other thing. I do not take any medications. I have never been big on the medication and only take something if I have no option. I felt as if I did. The only thing that I take in when I feel a flair up coming on is tart cherry juice which has been used for years for gout and lemon juice which is great to cleanse your body including your liver. As a nurse I have to say do whatever you feel is right even if that is taking the medication. I just always felt like we get what we need from the earth and so I just dont take the medications. They always seem to make things worse. FYI if you are told to stay away from the gluten remember all of these medications have gluten bases so sometimes the medications can be what is causing the pain to linger even when you are eating healthy. Check your pharmacies for a printed list of what is gluten free. When you eat out, call ahead and make sure that they can cater to your health needs. Oh exercise...even through the pain.

Gwen

29 Jul 2010, 16:24

R.A. Suffers---I found my place. I am 37 and was in constant pain. I had a tripple wammie. I have R.A., Celiac Disease and am allergic to M.S.G.

I was so sick of hurting and sick of making excuses. I dont have any tricks but I do have some suggestions. Eating a raw food diet has completely changed my life, weight, health and I am virtually pain free. I have my days but not are not even close to the worst. I dont eat cooked foods. I eat things that can be taken from the earth rather easy without having to use tools. I do eat meat but I stick to raw fish. This may not be the thing for you and you may want to stick with some meats. Eat lots of cooked fish high in Omega 3 low in Omega 6 (Salmon, Makeral, Sardines), eat chicken. I suggest staying clear of a lot of shell fish but whatever you do stay away from the cow. I dont worship it but it doesnt seem to be the friend of a person who suffers R.A. I eat fruits, veggies but do stay away from tubular verggies such as potatoes basically things that I would have to use a tool to dig out of the earth. Nuts are a great way to get your proteins and you can have the nut butter as well. The top foods to eat are Omega 3 fatty fish, asparagus, lemon, artichoke, blueberries, melons. The foods to keep away from Processed anything, meat, mushrooms, shell fish, heavy creams and eggs. Like I said eating cooked foods is a preference however the raw food diet does not only knock away the excruciating pain but it takes weight off and I have to say years. I actually feel better than I did when I was atheletic and in my teens. One last thing, I stay completely clear of MSG and anything with gluten. I am celiac however I have done this diet with my children as well who are not and their ADHD has completely resolved and they are no longer on medication.

Good luck everyone. I hope you all find your place with this horrible dibilitating illness.

Gwen

debbie wright

29 Jul 2010, 16:06

thanks for all the informative suggestions on ra- i was just diagnosed monday am a 48 year old female-my ra factor is 1647 where the normal range is under 20-agree with other posts long waits to see a rheumatologist-i also am going to try to eliminate coffee, certain foods from diet
my primary doctor suggested fish oil , to keep moving, to excercise, and i have had several injections of cortisone helps for a few weeks with symptoms returning, find the mornings the worst-no genetic link in my family-wonder if this is caused my stress, diet, and possibly the environment i also have a bakers cyst on my knee-i have had ra and this cyst for 6 months and agree that quality of life has gone done hill-somedays it is impossible to do normal activities- was told ra can cause deformities, tiredness, depression etc- told it is important to stop the joint damage before it worsens- found swimming and hot showers have provided some relief-also told ra can affect longevity-if so i am ok with a shorter life because ra is extremely painful,i am often embarrassed if i am limping-if a have to use an electric basket rider at the store-people even friends wonder what is wrong as i look fine-i recently lost my mom and have had a bad few years so who knows how sadness, and stress can decline a person's physical health
anyway, wishing for everyone relief from the suffering of ra-wonder if climate can be a major factor with ra too? take care

Paula

28 Jul 2010, 11:39

I was not diagnosed with RA, but from what I've researched, I had all of the symptoms.

Last year, I went for a couple of weeks hardly eating (nerves before my wedding) and by my wedding day, I had no joint pain whatsoever, and this after at least eighteen months of constant pain. A few days after the wedding, I had eggs for breakfast, and a few hours later, the pain returned. It seemed bizarre to me, but I started researching this apparent connection online and many sites suggested delayed food sensitivities (IgG antibodies) as the culprit. IgG reactions don't occur as swiftly as IgE reactions, sometimes manifesting up to three days after ingesting an offending food, and can affect any body system.

I sought out a homeopathic practitioner for advice, and he had me tested for food allergies, IgG antibodies versus IgE antibodies (I had been IgE tested in recent years with no reactions indicated). It was confirmed I was highly reactive to eggs. I have completely eliminated eggs from my diet since last December and have had zero joint and muscle pain since.

achymom

25 Jul 2010, 20:45

I was diagnosed with RA last week (I'm 37), after a few months of random achy joints and then a high anti-cpp and RF blood test. While getting that figured out I'd visited a naturopath who put me on a no-gluten/dairy/sugar/alcohol/processed food diet, plus 3 tbsp flax oil/day, probiotics and some other supplement (Infla-heal) to work on repairing my leaky gut. Had food sensitivity testing (not blood, but an "out there" test that measures sensitivity based on your body's energy level.) 2 weeks ago I would have laughed at anyone who believed in any of that, but since getting the RA diagnosis from my rheumatologist last week, I'll try anything! So, tons of stuff came back as sensitivities: all gluten / sugar/ corn / nightshade veggies / tomatoes...the list goes on. But, with a bit of planning it's not too hard to eat - still allowed chicken and fish, rice, almost all seasonings with exception of black pepper. So, I'm giving it a shot. When faced with this, it was NOT a problem to give up coffee / wine / bread.

To date, my naturopath and my doc are tolerating each other (naturopath would prefer I not take drugs, rhemy says she can't tell me the supplements are safe as she doesn't know what's in them). So -- fingers and toes crossed that some combination of the diet and the drugs kicks this thing into remission asap. Too much living to get back to!!

Thrilled to find this article / thread. Good luck to all.
Achymom.

Marcia

17 Jul 2010, 23:49

The first time I had severe pain in my right wrist I was pregnant, at age 27. Next morning I woke up with a marble size shape on my wrist. Since then, pain kind of travels in my body. It comes and goes, severe at times, and mild at others...periods of flare and remission. At times it feels like needles throught the body, other times chills like fever, leg cramps at night, intestinal problems, and for some reason, my saliva and tears get very thick and sticky at other times. The pain travels on my body but it affects some joints more than others, and my right side is frequently more affected. I often get eye infection and urine infection. I also have hypothyroid disease, so I never know if symptoms are overlapping. I know some foods make my problems worse. I have cut down on grains and soy beans. However, pork is bad for me. I find difficult though to determine excactly what makes me feel bad. I was only diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis one year ago. Nevertheless I knew I had it for a long time. I had two specific tests that confirmed it.

Jodi

15 Jul 2010, 07:22

Reply to Tim - your career is most certainly not over nor is your running. First book I read or ever knew about Leaky Gut, was a 10 minute book - really quick reading from Dr Colbert called "The Bible's Cure for Autoimmune Disease" - as for your prednisone, those make your stomach worse (LGS)- I found these have helped me with pain - and I have moved much from them - Slippery Elm (empty stomach with warm water)- Marshmallow Root - & some Nettle - the Elimination Diet - when you have LGS, your body attacks it all but you can be safe with brown rice, lots of plant foods, etc - Dr Colbert's book was helpful except the supplements he recommended were way too weak - Pearls was not so helpful but Dr Ohrrira's is probably the best (?), Carlson Fish Oil, - just don't take cheap supplements - if you can perhaps live on green smoothies & take some good supplements (for a while not forever), you will be right back where you were! Good luck! Your Rheum will be quick to write out methextrate, some prednisone, and say things like "well we don't know what causes AI disease" - oh and don't forget the glutamine - or maybe Seacure - something to help build the lining - feel free to email any ?s to jodilovesparker@yahoo.com - I got LGS after my ENT prescribed me Amoxclav - I took it for months, instead I should have just eliminated dairy

Jodi Mayo

15 Jul 2010, 06:17

I was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago - I have significantly improved since cutting out dairy, wheat, refined sugars - there are very helpful articles from Dr Biamonte in New York regarding Leaky gut. I go to a Medical Doctor that specializes in nutrition - he told me take fish oil, lots of probitiotcs and to take a prebiotic too - I know the prebiotic really helps because it multiplies the probiotic - I also take Vit D - Slippery Elm really helps too - I still struggle - the key is to kill the candida/fungus and heal the lining which takes time - feel free to email me with any questions

A Girl

14 Jul 2010, 11:20

I think food allergy is a starting place, in April I had a bad reaction to milk or any milk product, I am 53 year old female, and never been able to tolerate too much milk, but could eat cheese, yogurt and butter with out any difficulty in the past. I went to Primary Care Physician for testing and my IgE-antibodies were 21, no food or environmental allergies were discovered, but something has to be causing the high Ige and have other blood levels that turned up pointing toward anemia, borderline low RBV and Low platelets, hemoglobin, but my Primary Care Physician said I don’t have clinical anemia. Last year I had found out that I have Hashimoto's thyroid, was full of aches and pains, stiffness, but went away after started thyroid meds and soon developed trigger thumb. Those were treated with cortisone, one year ago but came back in April and was so severe I could not bend my thumbs so I opted to get surgery, they work fine after surgery but now after two months after surgery I have acute pain in both CMC joints of thumb and can’t hold or grip anything without being in major pain. Was in Therapy after surgery and OT won’t see me anymore says go back to surgeon you have rheumatoid arthritis.

Well I have limited milk since April, my PCP told me not to rid my diet entirely of it, so have been keeping 4 ounces of it a day, I ate one 4 ounces serving of Activia after a lunch of peppers, onions and chicken yesterday and bam the worst stomach ache I had ever had, my lips turned white and I thought for about a half an hour I was not going to be able to get through it, went home and slept about an hour and feel better today, except thumb joints hurt as usual. So what the heck I am re-visiting the PCP and surgeon next week. And will be eliminating milk and wheat entirely from diet. I so don’t want have more surgery, and want pain to go away, (hoping that no pain and surgery are not in the same sentence) and will do what ever it takes with food to make it work.

Anyone have any issues like this?

Jennifer

13 Jul 2010, 14:39

Thanks for writing this article. I have RA and started an elimination diet a month ago. I went grain free and dairy free and I can say that I feel sooo much better. I think that everyone needs to figure out their allergies. What is an allergy for one, not be for another! mayhttp://www.glutenfreesociety.org/video-tutorial/gluten-sensitivity-what- is-it/

Tim

13 Jul 2010, 12:10

Oh man, I think I have RA. I'm only 38 and thought I was healthy...run 2-3x a week.

Two weeks ago I woke up and my left ankle was hurt so bad I couldn't walk on it. Went to Dr. that day and said it might be gout. Uric acid was normal and 3 days later it was gone.
Well, about 3 days later, both of my knees swelled up and I could barely walk for 3-4 days. It went away and made appt with a RA Dr.
Just yesterday, my right wrist was extremely painful and could move it. Dr. did more blood work and I am currently awaiting results. He did put me on cortisone (methyiprednisolone) and my symptoms are almost gone only a day later.
My question is, now that I've had this flair up in 3 major joints, how often could it come back if I don't alter my diet?
Also, after reading alot about this, the abnormal bowel permeability (leaky gut syndrome) makes perfect sense to me. I was taking tons of Advil for my sore foot (plantar) and later had terrible abdominal pain for 10 days prior to my first attack on my ankle.
Anyone else know more about this leaky gut thing?

Thx, Tim

ps...is my job as an airline pilot over?

Ang

12 Jul 2010, 10:22

Here is my quasi-successfull story.

I am 44 and was diagnosed with RA in 2001 and put on hydrochloraquine. Hating the drugs, in 2005 we purchased an infrared sauna which I still use 40 minutes daily at 122F (50C). I walk/yoga/lift weights *just* 30 minutes daily or wake with severe pains.

I came off the meds in 2006.

In 2008 I cut wheat, sugar, dairy and soy from my diet and have been pain free (and lost 50lbs) under the direction of a naturopath. I have been in remission up until recently when I started reintroducing foods.

The RA is flaring up so it is up to me to determine which foods/bad habits are (hopefully) causing the problem before my rheumatologist appointment comes up. (I'm avoiding the naturopath now as she keeps insisting its my thyroid despite test results coming back negative.)

In short... we have to do research and experiment to find what works best to deal with this incurable disease. It takes time, yes. It sucks, yes. Unfortunately there is no magic pill to do the work for us. We have to take charge of our own health! This forum has great advise! Thank you everyone for kick-starting me back on track!

Puneet Kanwar Singh

12 Jul 2010, 01:17

I have HLA-B27 positive in my blood whch has caused me a lot of problems like body stiffness in the morning, buttock pain. This RA was diagnosed after 6 years of occurrence and now i am 23yrs old. From past 2 months i have been searching extensively for cure and to go back to normal life. Regarding diet that you all people have already mention does reduce the symptoms of pains and lowers the severity of pain. But After doing Yoga specially pranayams(Breathing Exercise) if feel alot better. Specially Kapalbharti and Alom-Vilom (Check on Youtube) when done properly and adopted as a part of daily routine for atleast 15mins each can totally cure this RA. I have been practicing this from past two months and and with this regular usage pain has come down from Chronic level to very light and is reducing day by day. I would really suggest you all who are suffering from this painfull disease and as i am a victim of this disease can understand how much difficult it is to live with it. But there is a cure for every thing. Since i am from India i believe in yoga and practise it and can really see the change. I would recommend to see Youtube videos of How to cure arthritis pain of Swami Ramdev ji (great Yogic guru) and specially do emphasis on pranayams. One can buy CD's of him in your own language as on youtube u can find in hindi only.
I am thankful to yoga which has improved my condition and now i am living a much better life than i was living since past 6 years.

Lindsey Munroe

11 Jul 2010, 08:53

I have RA and vascular disease. My body produces plack. We have been trying several medications that have not given me any relief. I am investigating AP medications also. I have tremendous pain also numbness and burning in my feet and legs. I am sure that my diet contribultes. I am looking for a diet with specific DO EAT /DO NOT EAT ......to begin this process. I have been on the internet all morning. This forum has been the best source thus far.

I ran across this list below. Does anyone have a quick reference of foods to eat ... not eat to initially get started to try to relieve the pain and symptoms with RA? If anyone can give suggestions to a link or "beginners guide of foods to eat for RA relief" I would greatly appreciate it. I am overwhelmed.

Thank you.

Fruits (Those that are high in Vitamin C)
Strawberries
Kiwi Fruit
Peaches
Mango
Cantaloupe
Papaya
Apples

Vegetables (High in Vitamin A (beta-carotene) and Vitamin C)
Collards
Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
Spinach
Brussels Sprouts
Bell Pepper

Fish (Rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids & high in Vitamin E)
Salmon
Mackerel
Sardines
Herring
Tuna
Trout

Unsalted Nuts and Seeds (Also high in Omega-3 essential fatty acids & high in Vitamin E)
Walnuts
Brazil nuts
Almonds
Sunflower seeds
Linseeds
Pumpkin seeds
Pulses and Grains
All lentils
Chick Peas
Brown rice
Whole wheat bread

Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Turmeric
Ginger
Garlic
Apples

Libby

08 Jul 2010, 02:21

To Amy re : fertility -as strange as this sounds getting pregnant and breasfeeding will be one of the best natural pain relievers! My arthritis flared in my early 30s and I then had 3 children - symptoms eased/disappeared during pregnancy and breasfeeding only to return upon weaning each child(obstet. confirmed this) - husband joked that perhaps he needed to keep me pregnant to be pain free....hmmm...decided that no the children are actually tiring!

MarJean

08 Jul 2010, 02:09

I was diagnosed with RA when I was 25. I'm now 59 years old. Somehow, thank God, I've managed pretty good with a minimum of doctors care. I can't eat anything that everybody else eats everyday. I end up sick in about 3 to 8 days, depending on what I've eaten. The top offenders are all sugars, all grains, GF or not(wheat & quinoa, esp.),breads, pasta, dairy, beef, beer, nightshades (esp. bell peppers),beans. I've tried eating vegetarian, the Protein Power diet, the Atkins diet. It seems the only way I feel good, is if I just eat fluffy green salads, fish and cooked vegetables (celery, carrots, zucchini, etc) except not sweet potatoes, potatoes, hi-starch veggies. If I eat hi-carb I'm miserable. Naturally, I don't travel well because of this. During one dining experience at a restaurant, the waitress was horrified that I didn't want any bread, potatoes, etc. I thought, "Lady, you're only here to take my order, not act as my nutritionist." I also think it's possible that I'm celiac. RA is a well known symptom of celiac. My whole family is grain & sugar intolerant.

Zellima Howard

07 Jul 2010, 16:27

what is the clean diet that I continue to hear about. I need some help with my RA desperately. My has gotten so bad, i can't stand, sleep, or sit for a period of time. Please somebody help me.

sharon

25 Jun 2010, 06:04

Hi i have RA which was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I have the most excruiating pain in my wrists and fingers. Does anyone have recipes for a weekly period that i can try. Waiting for an appointment to see nutrionist.

elaine bailey

24 Jun 2010, 21:37

Oh my word! I have been recently diagnosed with RA and it is such a relief to know there is something I can do as far as diet to help myself. All of you are my lifelines and support systems. Thank you so much for giving me hope. I mean-how much worse could things get? I get to be in the worst pain of my life but I don't get to die? You can't imagine my relief when I found that there is hope with something other than the medications which gave my grandmother cancer and caused her death. You guys are the greatest!!

Wendy

24 Jun 2010, 12:31

Julie - you really will have to be ver strict at the beginning because the effects of your previous diet must get out of your system... get rid of dairy, sugar (that's all sugar) in addition to caffeine and all processed foods... what they really leaves you is the perfect eating of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains (like rice and oats - avoid corn at the beginning), nuts and seeds, and lots of water. Remember that everything should be eaten as close to its natural state as possible...
Once you have eaten this way and found relief (it could take a couple months or more) then you can test a few things infrequently (such as allowing a small scoop of ice cream OR a tiny slice of cake at a birthday celebration...).
Remember that this is the way everyone should eat to be healthy - it is not a diet but a change in your dietary habits.

Julie

19 Jun 2010, 16:54

Fascinating reading this information about food and RA. Also reading such similar stories. I am now entering the 7th week of an 8-week wait to see rheumatologist, GP has confirmed RA from blood tests. My feet and hands painful and progressively worse since Feb; shoulders and knees had recent excruciating flare-ups (never had pain like it and comes on and goes so quickly). I'm on strong anti-inflams daily and sometimes take painkillers if I'm desperate. I am DREADING being put on a cocktail of awful drugs and will become vegan tomorrow if it is going to help. I have had two better days and am racking my brains to think what might have helped. I have already tried to amend my diet over the past few weeks (loads more veg, no alcohol, minimal coffee, red meat etc) but am obviously not being strict enough. Any quick tips before I see doc on 29th much appreciated. Thank you so much.

jen

16 Jun 2010, 23:37

A few people mentioned nightshades. I want to repeat this. Look them up... nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc.) are well-known triggers of arthritic inflammation. Eliminating wheat and dairy would be my other starting point. And no we don't need either. I've gotten loads healthier without either, and plenty of people eat neither for years and continue to get healthy and even cure things like autism on that elimination diet. Also check into the 4-day rotation of food families, so that you give yourself a chance to eliminate the food (allergen) from your body before you add more to your allergic load. Of course you avoid what you know you are allergic to, but some of us get to be allergic to everything (time to see a naturopath and determine why), and you should just assume that everything you eat is causing at least mild inflammation. Digestion is very demanding on the immune system.
Oh, and you also want to see a naturopath who is literate about Lyme disease, of course. And eliminate all mold in your home and all synthetic chemicals from your food and home. Those go without saying. Do NOT underestimate the power of mold. If it's the indoor type, it is toxic.

Andrew

12 Jun 2010, 13:17

"For the record, mankind's early diet included many grains and vegetables and not very much meat."

Your record is false. The only reason humans evolved is because we started eating larger quantities of meat. Man did not bother with grains, being so inefficient in terms of work expressed vs caloric intake, until the mesolithic, and even then they were whole unground, occasionally cracked. They were not consumed in any substantial quantity until the neolithic and the advent of grinding stones and agriculture. Grains were likely the reason agriculture developed in the first place.

As can be seen by many of the comments here, grains should be avoided by anyone with an inflammatory condition (by everyone, actually). The reason being they are toxic, having evolved defense mechanisms to prevent consumption and digestion, in this case lectins triggering inflammation, and are quite alien to us.

Research the paleolithic diet. Paleo eaters experience significant relief from RA, among a host of other modern ailments. For more visit paleodiet dot com slash ra.

Amy

11 Jun 2010, 23:33

I have been waking with stiffness for the last 9 months and after some blood test. I had a ANA test and it came back slightly elevated. I'm so scared that it might be RA. I haven't yet seen my Rheumatologist but I'm scared and don't know what to expect. Can I lead a normal life with this, and will I ever be able to have children? I just got married and this isn't how I want to start my new life out. Any suggestions?

Sheryl

11 Jun 2010, 21:53

I have just been told that my ANA levels were high. I am waiting to see a specialist. I have been dealing with the pain for quite sometime. I found that whenever I took a multi vitamin the pain in my joints were so bad that I could barely move. Has anyone ever had this experiance?

joanne

09 Jun 2010, 11:20

I have had RA (classified as severe)for 12 years. I am currently well controlled with drugs,exercise and a healthy diet. I have experimented with a vegetarian diet which made me anemic and did not help at all. I have tried gluten free which also had no effect. I have eliminated coffee and various other things at different times also to no effect. Food does not cause RA. The disease varies a lot between people and medicine is not an exact science. There is no magic bullet. Follow the advice of your doctor.

gael

01 Jun 2010, 12:38

also been researching raw diet as there isnt much excitement n food left to eat look up detox your life by shazzie she has some gr8 recipies even just for a change or to incorporate with normal diet.

gael

01 Jun 2010, 12:25

hi cecil i was diagnosed with ra 5 yrs ago but had it since i was 15 i have intolerance to wheat and dairy i have tried several times to cut them out of my diet altogether but have failed keep trying tho. On the fertility note i have 3 boys aged 7 4 and 1 and am 32 years old i think as natural a diet as possible as much raw food minus the chemicals should help also think about chemicals in shampoo hair products etc keep to a minumum when wanting to conceive good luck

31 May 2010, 12:55

Hi, this is for KB...I was wondering what the Clean Program is? I am 22 years old with RA, soon to be 23, and its a lot better now that it was 4 years ago. But still I have inflamed fingers and some days it gets to be hard because I can't do simple things on certain days like open a bottle of pop. Anybody have any suggestions??

Thanks for your help!

29 May 2010, 13:19

I found this site while searching for suggested foods for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I was shocked to see The Stone Age diet recommended.
I HIGHLY ADVISE AGAINST THE STONE AGE DIET. Your body absolutely needs grains and cereals, it is the most important thing you should be consuming daily. Do not follow this diet, please.

John

27 May 2010, 22:23

If you read the book "The China Study" the author says that in his study of thousands of people that those who ate the least animal products had the least arthritis and autoimmune disorders.

I think that coffee is also a problem.

Dr John McDougall (www.drmcdougall.com) says he has had good success with getting people off coffee and animal products and reversing rheumatoid arthritis.

Mary Sorensen

25 May 2010, 13:35

I don't know how I am going to proceed with
sn elimination diet and then on to a RA diet quite yet - there is so much confliciting info. I do know that I was in so much pain last night after eating wheat crackers, cheese -- then later tomatoes with parmesan cheese -- later still a few glasses of milk.
I was in tears my hands and wrists hurt so horribly ... One thing I have noticed is that my pain is much worse in the evenings now than in the a.m. so this leads me to believe that it could possibly be food I am eating. I'll continue to do reseach ...
I gave up both wine and beer because I was in pain before I even finished a glass ...

sharon

24 May 2010, 19:13

cecil

the best place to start is with a qualified nutritionist ie naturopath,

to access the environment and personal health factors affecting your health,

even w/out ra many people are having difficulty conceiving often turned around by individual nutrition advice,

they have the training on how food is used by the body andhow well your body is using food, and how to help your body improve digestion if required

and this is done taking into account ra if present.

cecil

24 May 2010, 08:37

am 25 years old and have had RAsince i was 21yrs(4yrs now)am worried if i can ever conceive they say RA affects the fertility,right?anyone with details??????????????

23 May 2010, 22:17

I was diagnosed with RA five years ago. It's roaming and I never know which joint it's going to hit (it's also not simultaneously bi-lateral with me). I was on prednisone for 18 months, and have been on methotrexate for three years. I recently began the Clean program which included a pretty strict elimination diet. Within a week of starting the diet, my pain had lessened about 95%. After two months, I am now completely pain free, have dropped my med dosages twice (down to about 7.5mg per week), and am able to work out regularly. I have almost no signs of visible inflammation... and the awful fatigue is gone. I have an appt to visit my rheumatologist in three weeks to have blood work done. I'm hoping I can completely come off the meds. I've also dropped 10 pounds (an added bonus!) An elimination diet is not an easy thing to do but being pain free and lowering meds is an incredible motivator. I am amazed at how simple the idea is -- but since there's no money for the pharma companies in changing eating habits, this is research we'll have to get out by word-of-mouth! Hoping this helps someone like it's helped me!

dutch

11 May 2010, 16:28

vitamins B's how we take them ! are important ! multi-vitamin and high doses of B's / you need a health book listing vitamins and and which to take so they all can work together to be the most beneficial.--- nsaids irritate period . sugar of course SUGAR BLUES EVER HEARD OF THAT ? EXERSIZE OF COURSE ! PAIN WHILE DOING IT ....PUSH YOURSELF ITS THE ONLY WAY TO NEVER GIVE UP... DOCTORS THE RISK OUTWAYS THE BENEFITS ???? U GO BLIND ,YOUR LIVER FAILS ETC. READ THE MEDICAL REPORTS. SORRY DOC ? THE NATURAL IS THE WAY TO GO.STOP PROMOTING THE DRUG MFGS. SUFFER WHAT THEIR IS TO SUFFER AND ENJOY WHAT THEIR IS TO ENJOY AND REALIZE THAT SOME THINGS ARE A FACT OF LIFE , LIKE SUFFERING AND OVER COMING WHAT EVER ! HAVE THE SPIRIT TO STAY POSITIVE AND MAKE WINNING OVER THE PROBLEM THE ONLY OPTION. GOOD LUCK PEOPLE .

carol

10 May 2010, 15:17

Fresh ginger is a natural anti inflammatory. Garlic and cider vinegar and cod liver oil all good for RA and green tea good for general well being. And swimming and hydro therapy beneficial too.

Paula McGowan

03 May 2010, 19:07

I am a 44 year woman and have been suffering with Ankylosing Spondylitis for 15 years now. My pain has been increasing since to the point where I could not sit for more than 10 minutes without being in terrible pain, despite my daily dose of Celebrex and fish oil.

2 months ago i started working with a dietitian who firmly believes in treating arthritis and other related illnesses with a controlled diet. She too believes that food allergies cause pain and inflammation among other things.

I have been very rigid on this diet and have felt much better overall but still had a more tollerable amount of pain.

This week I saw an allergist who confirmed that I am allergic to wheat, corn, barley, oats, as well as foods from the nightshade family. I have omitted all from my daily diet including all whites (white flour and white sugar) . My pain has decreased AGAIN! considerably. I am so thankful and only hope I am on a path that will free me from pain and celebrex permanently.

Shirley

02 May 2010, 01:51

Thank you all for your comments. Have recently received a high reading for Rhuematoid arthritis and am yet to see a Rhuematologist. I have been having swelling and pain for about 4 months. I too have had allergies in the past from eating certain foods so have been excited to hear diet may be the answer to a pain free life.

God bless you and be with you all

Shirley

Susan

02 May 2010, 00:35

My 7 year old has JRA. We recently discovered she has food intolerances to wheat, all milk products, night shade vegetables, citrus fruits and bakers yeast.

After removing these things from her diet she got better right away.

Many of you have asked what to eat. We eat all organic (if possible). All non citrus fruits, all non night shade vegetables, brown rice, lentils, quinoa. We'll eat fish once a week that is sustainable and we know where it came from.

Stir fries, spring rolls, veggie sushi rolls, vegetable tempura. Always make sure you have a gluten free product like tamari, corn meal and rice flour, etc... And never eat red meat, it's an inflammatory.

Andrew

28 Apr 2010, 22:22

I agree with this article too. I've got Ankylosing Spondylitis and have been modifying my diet to control the swelling and pain in my body for 7 years now. Because of the diet I don't need NSAIDs or pain killers anymore. I haven't got rid of the core meds yet. But, the burning feeling in my body has gone, I have much more energy and I control the arthritis rather than it controlling me.

Would you all mind helping me out? I'm running a survey about the relationship between diet, RA and Ankylosing Spondylitis please? We're all in this journey together. And I'd really like to share what I've learnt with all of you other sufferers to help reduce your pain too.

The survey I've created tries to capture the questions and concerns you guys have about using diet to control RA or Ankylosing Spondylitis. Here's the link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/68BG63N

As a bit of background approx 7 years ago I swapped rheumatologists because I wanted a fresh perspective. The first thing he did was scribble down several food groups on a piece of paper and say take those out of your diet if you want me to treat you. I love food and fought like crazy thinking he had to be wrong. I tried every food I could find from each food group. I went to the organic shop and challenged my body with every type of grain. Sigh. He was right. They all affected me. Some affected me acutely. Others made me ache a bit. Now I've eliminated all of those food groups and feel much better. I don't use NSAIDs or pain killers anymore. I still haven't got rid of the core meds. But, the burning feeling in my body has gone and I have much more energy. Here are some of the food groups the rheumatologist told me to eliminate:

Eliminate:
Grains
Cereals
Dairy
Root vegetables

Eat these Good foods:
Fresh fruit
Greens
Lean meat
fish
poultry
Olive oil (anti-inflammatory effects)

Since then I have refined the list, adding more things to the bad list and more to the good list.

Elminating even just the four food groups above caused a pretty drastic change to my lifestyle. So I've had to learn how to live day to day, still have balanced diet (its very easy to over indulge on good foods to compensate for eliminated foods and cause other health problems), have tasty food and enjoy a social life.

The online survey will help me to guage the interest for a book - don't want to waste time writing a book if there is no interest :-) Here's the link again:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/68BG63N

It would be great if you could fill out my survey and pass this link onto others who have RA or Ankylosing Spondylitis.

By the way, if you complete the survey and there is sufficient interest for me to write an eBook then I'll send you a free copy.

Thanks heaps.

janet

26 Apr 2010, 05:04

I have recently diagnosed with RA in excruciating hand pain.just read some of the posts and it all makes sense now I have multiple food allergies no one I have seen in NHS has mentioned this.
I went to Breakspeare hospital in Hemel Hempstead I am on neutralisation injections for food allergies.on diagnosis of RA I stopped the vaccines however I am starting again today am tempted to fast
I am so glad I have found this site
Thanks to you all
Take care janet

curtis

23 Apr 2010, 08:43

I never had any RA problems until I started using whey protein power and casine monohydrate. After only a couple weeks of consuming 30 mg of power and on teaspoon of casine, my joints throughout my body would ache. I couldn't walk in the mornings because my toe joints were too sore. I couldn't shake hands because they were so sore. I've stopped. The pain went away. Simple as that. Too bad I bought like 6 bags of the power and two big containers of the monohydrate! Interesting.

rosa stevens

17 Apr 2010, 15:25

I have R.A. for almost 19 years, now on MTX at 20 mg/wk +plaquenel 2/day, still have pain on both hands and fingers. I would appreciate some one can list the good food for R.A. people to eat, if wheat is no good, what else can I eat?

jenny

10 Apr 2010, 16:52

i just found out that lymes disease may play a role in RA you can have it for years and not know it. i got tested it is not negitive and not positive so i have to take another test called the western blot. Look it up on the internet. i have had RA for 21 years i am still in pain had to have a total knee replacement. i know foods play a very important role. i am week for my food. i wake up at night with my heart pounding like im having a heart attack because of the food i ate before bed, that is my dead give away on certain foods. others i cant tell so good. but i will keep trying. you all do the same. God Bless

Sara Kirchheimer

08 Apr 2010, 13:42

Okay. So the lag time between the health food industry and conventional medicine is now only 35 years. I think the only thing this study missed is that immunoglobin thickens our plasma and thus lymph fluid hangs around too long in the extremities overnight instead of moving the allergens along.

Debbie

07 Apr 2010, 21:51

I have had RA for about 2 years mostly in my hands and fingers and then one day seemed to be in all my joints, hardly being able to move in the morning and get out of bed with such pain in my shoulders. I was on Methotrexate for 6 weeks and had a severe reaction and my lungs were inflammed and found it very difficult to breath and was admitted to hospital for 4 days, high doses of antibiotics and prednisone. This has put me off taking any drugs and I am currently taking liquid Gold and apple cider vineger but feel I need to alter my diet and intend on finding some books that may help me on the right path, I'll try anything than put up with this pain, I have a life to live and it doesn't include RA.

Leonor

06 Apr 2010, 05:36

I am a 52 year old female, and two year ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I started with Plaquenil. After a while the symptoms increased so, my doctor added Methotrexat, Celebrex and Folic Acid. Since I was so frightened with this medication, I learned that with a proper diet I could even be cured from RA. I followed A Docto's Home Cure for Arthrits by Dr Giraud W. Campbell. Unfortunately I started the elimination diet after a dose of cortisone. I felt great for 4 months. Then, the pain came back in a worse way.

I was in sooooooo much pain that I had to go back to the the medications. I am not happy and tend to be depressed mainly because I lost too much weight. I weigh 46.7 kg. with 1.72m tall. My normal weight was 54kg. I feel so bad in the way I look. If I coud gain some weight I would feel less depressed and handle better my RA. What can I do to gain some kg? Please help me. (I am sorry, Inglish is not my mother lunguage)

bill_h

06 Apr 2010, 01:39

Hi M. Glen,

You wrote: "Therefore, I started to look at ways to decrease inflammation through my diet and I noticed I feel better since I rarely eat processed foods, which leads to my questions. CAN ONE HAVE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE TO FOODS WHEN ALLERGEN BLOOD TEST INDICATED NO ALLERGORIES?"

The answer is yes. RA often results from INTOLERLANCE to one or more foodstuffs and the only way to determine which foodstuffs you are INTOLERANT of is to follow an elimination diet.

ALLERGIES to foodstuffs and other agents (which can be determined through e.g. reaction tests) produce negative physiological effects very rapidly, e.g. people with pollen, peanut, gluten allergies, etc.

Good luck with your dietary control!

Bill

M. Glenn

30 Mar 2010, 09:57

Question,

The doctors don't know what I have but I have abnormal high levels of RF in my blood. I do have the episodic crippling pain in my joints but my symptoms don't follow the traditional RA patterns. Since inflammation accompanies my pain and my kidneys are not function effectively, I cannot take NSAID. Therefore, I started to look at ways to decrease inflammation through my diet and I noticed I feel better since I rarely eat processed foods, which leads to my questions. CAN ONE HAVE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE TO FOODS WHEN ALLERGEN BLOOD TEST INDICATED NO ALLERGORIES?

Thank you all for your post. I am learning so much from reading the post and it has help me deal with a confusing and trying period. Thanks again.

42 year old female

Steven

17 Mar 2010, 23:21

so basically what i hear repeated over and over is:

+ don't eat juicy grilled steaks
+ stop eating that gourmet cheese you love
+ egg's benedict? their out...
+ no more gourmet dark roast coffee
+ no more yummy gourmet chocolate
+ no more sugar
+ no more fine French wine

Ok well that sounds great. I guess I might as well just shoot myself now since the simple pleasures of this life are causing the problem. What else is left?

Maggie

11 Mar 2010, 11:33

I have recently stumbled upon this website and wonder if there is a connection between herpes simplex/chicken pox/shingles and RA/autoimmune diseases.

http://www.krysalis.net/rheumatism.htm

bill_h

04 Mar 2010, 03:37

In 2000 (then aged 49) I was diagnosed with chronic RA. I won't describe all the painful symptoms, medical visits, drug side effects, depression, lethargy, lack of sleep, etc. as they are all too familiar to anyone who suffers from RA. I suffered for five years thanks to the ill informed specialists I was seeing who simply said 'incurable' and keep taking the tablets (and all the other pills to overcome the side effects of these tablets, oh and regular blood tests to make sure we are not destroying your liver).
After five years I had had enough (Methotrexate makes you sick!) and once I read the book 'Diet and Arthritis' by Gail Darlington and Linda Gamlin (get it secondhand on amazon.co.uk) I was determined to get off medication and stick to the recommended elimination diet and food reintroduction program. (Read all the other books and most contain some good info and a lot of misguided info).) Within a couple of weeks there was noticeable improvement in terms of reduced swelling and pain, within a few months my mobility had improved and joints were only occasionally painful and after about 9 months of sticking with it I woke up one sunny day to find that even the morning stiffness (feet like planks of wood) had completely vanished. AMAZING! Now, ten years since I was first diagnosed, I can eat and drink pretty much what I like (although I am still careful with my diet and drinking 'habits' of course, e.g. no coffee, no milk, no nitrates (preservative) limited bread) and I no longer have any symptoms or recurrence of any kind of pain or swelling or stiffness. And it's all thanks to this book. I now understand the principles much better - equally what triggered the condition in me, nevertheless this book remains the definitive guide to using an elimination diet. I have bought several copies for friends over the last few years and everyone has enjoyed positive results. In truth there is more to controlling and eventually curing RA than is contained in this book (e.g. recommended exercise, meditation, etc.) and, as the authors state, it does not work for everyone, but believe me when I say that this method (although difficult) is absolutely the best starting point for reducing pain and joint inflamation and regaining your health and strength once more.

There is also another book Conquering Arthritis by Barbara Allan published in the US that uses a similar dietary technique (although in this book, starting off by fasting is very tough and dramatically lowering blood sugar when you are already in a fatigued state I can't recommend).

I've had no pain no inflamed joints and best of all no drugs for the last five years. I guess I'm not cured - if I drink coffee for example I can get a small flare up quite quickly (even within one hour) and it can take two or three days of being very strict on my diet to get back to normal again. But it's been probably 2.5 years since I last had even a minor flare up because I avoid foods to which I'm intolerant.

To hear Dr. Gail Darlington speaking on BBC Radio 4 The Food Programme about Diet and Arthritis - it is 30 minutes well spent to listen to the whole show. Download Realplayer (it's free) to listen to the broadcast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/foodprogramme_20060528.shtml

Buba

25 Feb 2010, 07:37

I was diagnosed with RA a month ago after having an inflamed left ring finger joint for more than 3 months. All my blood work was normal, except the anti-CPP test, which came out positive. Based on that and the swollen joints in my finger, I was diagnosed with RA.

My condition was caused by stress and prolonged depression. I am trying to control my emotional condition now. Food, undoubtedly, has its effects. I am on almost raw diet of fruit and vegetables and I have started eating a lot of raw garlic these days. I am even rubbing garlic on my swollen finger.

Garlic has worked for me in the past. When I was 8-9 years old my hair started falling down, most likely caused by radiation as the Chernobyl incident had happened a few years earlier. My grandma used to rub the bold spot on my head with garlic for hours every day and within a few months my hair started growing back. Being a child, I was never stressed out by the condition, so I am sure that must have helped out.

Many people ask about what is the ultimate RA diet. There isnt such thing as trigger foods are specific for each individual. Therefore, I am going to be tested for food sensitivities and based on the outcome of this test, I will modify my diet. I have had one corticosteroid injection in my finger and I hope this is the last treatment I will get. After being unable to resist eating my cookies, the joint immediately below the nail of my affected finger got red and warm, but I ate a raw clove of garlic and the joint looks much better now.

There is a way with this disease, according to me. There is no cure, which makes the disease exciting as patients need to be very informed about their condition and do their own research. Personally,I am very curious, and do not curse my disease as I know I have only myself to blame after 2 years of bitterness, resentment anger and stress, which resulted in RA.

Roberta Mello

22 Feb 2010, 15:00

I totally agree with this article.I have had RA for 8 months and found out by myself there is some food I can't eat at all because it triggers the symptoms: read meat(the worst of them), chocolate, milk, wheat, peanuts and coffee.Since I started a special diet, I have had very little pain in the joints.I am also allergic to some kinds of food like pineapples,alcohol, sweets, etc.I really believe RA is connected to food allergy.My father had RA when he was 40 years old.It was very serious.He had to take lots of medicine and my mom had to dress him everyday in the morning because he couldn't open his hands.He followed a special diet but it didn't work for him.So, a friend of him told him about an alternative therapy called Bee Venom Therapy or Bee Sting THerapy.He went to a farm in Uruguay and was stung by two bees everyday.After two months, he was cured.The doctors never understood how he could be cured.He had tests and he had no more RA.Today he is 65, very helthy and has no pain in the joints.Some studies say that the bee venom fix the fail people with RA have in their immune system.If you want to have more info about that, you can send me an e-mail(reilert@bol.com.br).I have been thinking about having this therapy but here in Texas there are no doctors who work with this therapy.I know there is on in California and one in New York.Hugs.Roberta.

Erica

21 Feb 2010, 21:55

Hi all :)
Im a 32 yr old female who was diagnosed with RA a couple years ago. I have been on every drug out there, and nothing seems to work for me. Currently Im on Methotrexate and getting Remicade infusions. Nothing will help my ankles. I now use a walker for the rare time I am off of the couch.
I've tried altering my diet, but have gotten frustrated. I just love my lattes, and I'm a bit of a sugar addict!
I know in my heart that all these drugs are NOT the answer, and that I need to change what Im eating. So I will be giving this another serious go.
I get very confused though. If you cant have:
dairy, meat, eggs, cheese, wheat, high sugar fruits, night shade plants, caffine, sugar, flour....WHAT REMAINS??? :)
-Thankful to be able to have your support, Erica

Jared Mekenye

20 Feb 2010, 07:31

I Have my son 2 years Old, Who has had a very painfull joint pains in the evenings for 3 days .My mother has Atrhitis.I fear could it be Atrhritis as well ?What foods do we give him to avoid more reooccurances ?

Janet

10 Feb 2010, 06:57

I was just diagnosed with RA yesterday after having a meniscus repair and exploratory arthroscopic surgery. My Dr sent several biopsys for testing and RA was diagnosed. I am currently waiting for lab work results and have 4 mos wait to see a RA specialist. I only have symptoms in my knee with pain and stiffness but am so anxious to begin research and becaome active in my health care. Your posts have helped me already and I thank you all
Janet

Darek Johnson

06 Feb 2010, 13:42

For the record, mankind's early diet included many grains and vegetables and not very much meat. "Hunter/gatherers," remember? Meat was the most difficult food item to obtain (some of it bit back), especially in winter.
And, when early man did find and kill such gtrass eating animals as deer and buffalo, they would cut open the stomach and ate the soupy contents, usually on site. This provided various vitamins, especially C.
Also, find and read "Fast-Food Nation," to learn that today's for-market cattle are fed massive-growth supplement s and the cooked remains of destroyed Humane-Society animals, not corn and Colorado grass, as the sellers would have you believe. Not to tell you what to eat, but I would seriously reseach today's for-market meat -- chicken, beef and (farm-raised) fish -- before eating it.

Andrew

05 Feb 2010, 18:09

I strongly encourage the adoption of a natural paleolithic human diet for all sufferers of autoimmune and absolutely under no circumstances should an individual pursue a vegetarian diet. All grains should be eliminated from the diet, all legumes, especially soy, potatoes, and all dairy products. A natural human diet is meat-based, from animals raised under natural conditions (organic, cage-free, grass-fed) although I do advise against consumption of pork.

Linda

21 Jan 2010, 22:30

Yes, diet is a big factor in all arthritic and auto-immune illness. I ate a soy burger (frozen-out-of-the-package) on a whole wheat bun. I avoid wheat and processed veggie burgers, but this night I as too tired to cook. The next day my fingers were swollen and stiff. I could hardly bend them.
Lots of water is important too.
Glad to read all the posts her. I was heading back toward eating poultry, now I all stay all vegetarian. and see if I feel better than before with less flares.

Joseph

21 Jan 2010, 04:21

Im married to a beautiful 26 yrs old woman with RA since she was sixteen.
RA is really a life Altering desease. today she was 6 months pregnant. She was on 30mg of Prednisone per day. Flare-ups was frequent this days. We will be trying this Diet way of elliminating the symptoms. Wish us luck

Jody

20 Jan 2010, 22:21

I had a bout of RA about 12 years ago which was debilitating. I got pregnant without taking any RA meds. The RA went away like I never had it. It came back last summer with a vengence. Just got back from the specialist and started Methotrexate, and folic acid. It seems everybody says diet diet diet, . Will a nutritionist be of great help or should I just guess and hope it works. I'm just overwhelmed.
HELP Thanks Jody

Queeny

19 Jan 2010, 22:11

Hi again when i was using the walking stick i started acupuncture it really helps with the circulation i was going 3 times a week i felt alot better and stopped using the walking stick after 2 weeks. I also tried Boron that didnt take, make sure you all get b12 checked sometimes your body will not be able to absorb it from food or vitamins, they can give you 3 monthly injections also check vitD .

Queeny

19 Jan 2010, 21:57

Hi im a 42 year old female i woke up march 2008 and could not walk i have arthritis i refused to take medication but instead i fasted for 5 days water only my arthritis was gone the blood tests were clear. Over the period of 18 months i did about 5 fasts all with fantastic results but you must watch your diet. I always was a strict vegetarian but i cut out all wheat,gluten, night shade vegs and limited alcohol. My arthritis got worse and the fasts no longer worked after 2 years so i tried everything that did not involve drugs eventually i was so stiff i was using a walking stick it was then i had to have methotrexate it worked for 2 months then i was back to pain again. Im now on triple therapy as the doctors wont put you the inhibitor injections unless you fail 2 drugs as they are $5000 per month (gov funded). I hate being on drugs but i would rather have a better life than using a walking stick and being unhappy. Yes you must take folate and if anyone can get DHEA you should be taking it with cortisone every day but this is banned in australia & NZ although you can buy "blue Roc DHEA" from the health stores. Good luck.

Kevin

11 Jan 2010, 08:47

After reading through this article I cannot keep myself from commenting that the research results which they were mentioning here is not new at all. Its mentioned like antibodies will be developed against proteins from cow’s milk, cereal, hen’s eggs, codfish and pork.

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 11 & now i'm 24. The food items my Dr told me to avoid were more than what i can eat. & the main items i was told (back in 1996) to avoid were cow's milk (butter & cheese also), chicken & hen's eggs, oily food and all the cold drinks & food items(ie nothing from fridge).
I have followed all those strict restrictions for almost 2 years though all the symptoms were gone in 3-4 months.

I had this disease again when I drank cold water for 10 continuous days. Again gone back to same diet for 5-6 months...

And to say nothing is left now with god's grace. Currently I'm taking only one restriction from all those 100's- no cold drinks & shower in warm water only. Hope this will help some one.

Regards
Kevin

Michael

09 Jan 2010, 16:32

I was diagnosed with RA 7 years ago. It came on very fast and was extremely debilitating. My shoulders and collar bones were the worst. It took me 15 minutes to turn in bed at night. I had to remove milk from the fridge on my knees to support my arms.

I'm allergic to anti-inflammatories so I researched and went to see my accupuncturist.

He said he could help me but would be able to help much sooner if I stopped eating animal products. No meat, chicken, fish, dairy, mushrooms or peanuts.

I went straight vegan for 4 months and went to see him regularly. After 5 months my symptoms were gone. Not improved but completely gone.

I finally got to see a rheumatologist after 6 months. She said I definitely had RA based on blood seds tests and my symptoms. She could not explain how I was not still hurting.

I have kept up a meatless diet since but now eat fish. I take Moducare, MSM and Glucosamine daily. I feel great and recommend an attempt at this approach for anyone who is willing to try it.

No more pain is the big plus.

All the best,

Michael

swapna

22 Dec 2009, 01:03

Please suggest me some food items including vegitables and frutis to be used for R.Arthritis.

brigid

18 Dec 2009, 04:08

I am 44 and started methotrexate 3 weeks ago because I felt there was no alternative. Reading this has given me cause to think further though. My mother is coeliac although I am not supposed to be. I have vitiligo for 15 years and an underactive thyroid. I have had an awful flare up over the last month or more- response to pneumonia and flu shots suggested before starting metho?? Whatever it is, it's frightening going to bed because I know I will wake up later in excrutiating pain. I am going to try a diet change because 6 or more painkillers a day do nothing and I was afraid to stay on prednisone.

Sasa

16 Dec 2009, 06:10

Heath Speedwell, Common Speedwell or Common Gypsyweed tea and nettle tea is what helps me among other things. I am 36 and was diagnosed RA in 1999, and I was supposed to take several drugs, according to my doctor. But I turned to alternative medicine instead and have learnt to pay attention to what I eat as well. Yoga also helps me a great deal. Massage helps as well. Avoid alcohol and stressful situations.
You can also try Swedish bitter.
http://www.swedishbitters.com/
Hope you all find this helpful!!

Peter

10 Dec 2009, 05:44

Hi,

I am 62, I first got RA when I was 37. To begin with it was very bad, I tried all kinds of food fads but just when I would think the answer was found, back it would come with a vengeance. I continued work for 14 years, building and out in all weathers. Sometimes I would have to soak my hands in a bucket of freezing water to be able to continue working. Eventually I became too slow to continue as a self employed builder, and of course no one wanted to offer me a job. For a couple more years I taught people how to use computers until they became so user friendly that there was little need anymore. Following a severe flare up I was unable to continue with any work. I had been taking up to 14 Indomethacin a day to work. The result of that was blood pressure of 252/142 and a stroke at 60. So be warned. NSAID's are effective but dangerous.

Fortunately the flare ups subsided after I was given Anti TNF treatment, almost everything else had been tried. I have been relatively pain free ( I doubt anyone without RA would actually consider this pain free) for a couple of years but recently I have endured a week long severe flare up. The question is why? No change of diet, no extreme physical activity. My daughter was driven out of her house with 2 children by her long term partner just before the flare up and I have to wonder if this was a contributory cause? It certainly gave us a great deal of stress and heart ache. Our grandchildren are only 3 and 5 and if anything makes me want to continue, it is them.

While this may sound like a catalogue of unending pain, to those just diagnosed I would say there is great hope with the new treatments as long as it is diagnosed early and your doctor and rheumatologist are pro-active (which many are not as I found to my cost).

Penny Thorpe

08 Dec 2009, 08:53

I am 49 yrs old and have a RA factor of 423.Supposed to be 0-14. The pain is so bad, I'm sure you all know.It helps me to read that I am not alone. I agree with the food allergies and especially the leaky gut syndrom. I also believe that our teeth are causing some of this to go wrong in our normally healthy bodies. I started the Methotrexate last Thursday, so far no relief but I am hopefull.It is a confusing terribly depressing painful problem. Good Luck and my prayers are with you all.Penny

Steve

07 Dec 2009, 12:56

Thanks for all the info and shared stories. It helps.

Most list what not to eat. Can anybody provide a good starting list of what can be eaten. Man I find it hard to find things to eat.

Robyn

02 Dec 2009, 17:37

Hi!
Thankyou to everyone who has written a cmment on this site. I have suffered with fibromyalgia for 20 years. i have many food and chemical sensitivities. Also over the years have suffered flairs of severe joint pain. Recently the joint pain has become a chronic constant severe pain difficult to function. I knowm diet and chemicals play a pivitol role in my health. Thankyou to all who have written as at my lowest point in years I am inspired and challenged and know it is critical to recognise the culprits and it is tiring when one is so unwell but I would not have got through the last 20 years without playing detective and discilin. Do not give up address all issues and good luck to all in the quest. I know I have been healing the gut over two years and started to add foods I have not been able to tolerate without fibromyalgia flairs for years and then after recent antibiotics which was the clue the bodys immune system was not coping, I crossed the threshold and now am in major trouble with severe joint and muscle pain. So it is back to a very basic diet, low to some small amount of salsycilates, low to small amounts of amines and low oxylates, not easy. In the meantime Im on pain medication as it is all so unbearable. But I have navigated the stormy seas before and I will get back on course.
God Bless all and my prayers are with you
sincerely
robyn

JoeG

20 Nov 2009, 14:36

Stay of high acidic fruits. Too much acidity in the body is bad. A glass of milk after a meal helps neutralise.

patty

19 Nov 2009, 16:35

what fruits reduce the inflammation of RA

Grant

15 Nov 2009, 13:26

Oh, and you MUST STOP drinking any alcohol completely. Occasional alcohol free beer is fine.

Grant

15 Nov 2009, 13:25

I as diagnosed with RA in March2009, all started after a little too much red wine. Lethargic limb muscles then swelling and pain whilst asleep with swollen fingers and feet.
Since taking Kortisone, reducing to 5mg per day with calcium and Vitamin D im feeling good, no more swelling. Also I recommend staying off red meat totally and I dont eat courgettes or Aubergines.
My diet which works is Potato, carrots, green beans, pulses, sweet peppers, lots of fish, olive oil, cream, milk and no problems generally.
When I touch red meat I get pain including some mineral waters high in Sulphate. Evian seems to be best with only 12mg Sulphate per litre.
You have to bestrict on the diet, and plenty of excercise like Cycling and swimming. I feel great after a good workout cycling with lots of fresh air.

effy

15 Nov 2009, 02:40

I'm 29 years old
my RA started 4 years ago
I used Cortisone for 3 years but stopped since 6 months ago.I go to 2 different doctors and I take Methotrexat, one of them said I must use it with Folitab, what do you think?

rama

11 Nov 2009, 11:59

iam a 36 year old women. my R.A factor test result was 52.5 . doctor says its ok. but my joints gives me somuch pain, even sometimes iam unable to move my hands and legs. but sometimes i even forgot about my health problem. nowa days pains are heavy. and iam becoming depressed . can anyone give me advise that is it necessary to stop all my activities. i work 3 to 4 days for a week.and it includes 3 to 4 hours journey. iam also lost 7 kgs of my weight.

thank u everyone

rama

Pam

07 Nov 2009, 22:06

I am a 50 year old woman who has been diagnosed with RA for about a year now. I have been on several medications that I had reactions to, and now the doctor wants me to start on Enbrel. I am really scared to take it. How do you decide what to take? Also, reading some of the comments, where do I start with the diet? I have to do something.

rajan

24 Oct 2009, 01:28

pattameedi palli

Judy Stabler

21 Oct 2009, 23:09

Sure - find out if you are allergic to specific foods. But in the meantime, make a commitment to eating NO flesh foods. None - chicken is as bad as beef/pork. Animal flesh keeps the inflammation going. Decades ago a wise physician told me I had to go vegetarian if i wanted to get well and stay well. He was so right - research is there. So-called blood-type diets are faddish and unnecessary. Take the time to Google veg web sites, buy cookbooks, take some classes and do it right.
It breaks my heart when I hear people telling how sick they are and all the drugs they are taking. Just say no.

Laura

20 Oct 2009, 14:35

Just started reading Conquering Arthritis by Barbara Allen. This was written by a woman that has RA and was able to walk again after fasting and then adding back foods a little at a time. She talks about the eating for your blood type as well. I was diagnosed with RA 1 1/2 years ago. My RA was brought on by the stress of quitting smoking. I'm determined to get to remission by eliminating what is making me sick. I found I'm allergic to beef, eggs, milk peaches, oranges, lettuce, squash, sweet potatoes via the skin test. I'm going to take the blood test, so I can find out what my food sensitivities are. I plan to juice fast in two weeks for 3-5 days. It will be tough, but if this brings answers and wellness - bring it on!

Althea

11 Oct 2009, 10:17

everyone is different but there are common allergy foods, on this site there's some advice from two guys who had rheumatoid arthritis and found relief with diet

Joe Hackett's site he has a copy of Robert McFerran's elimination diet
This elimination diet take you down to 6 or 7 simple foods (bland white fish, sweet potatoes etc.) and then you add things back in one at a time.
http://www.paleodiet.com/ra/
Wheat and dairy seem to be the most common villins
I had great luck trying an elimination diet with my husband this summer ,he was completly symtom free after 4 weeks----- then he got annoyed not eating wheat, started eating it again , got very sick (gut problems),decided he had a parasite and decided to go off methotrexate ---------disaster now, bad Ra back, on methotrexate for 6 weeks and on week one of wheat free, no relief yet but we are hoping.

Barb

04 Oct 2009, 14:02

I'm 58 yrs. old & have just been diagnosed with RA this week. Up until about a year ago, I was in perfect health. In 2003 I had some arthroscopic knee surgery to clean up a damaged maniscus (sp) & torn cartilage resulting from extensive exercise and a fall. Everything was wonderful until I started experiencing severe knee pain in that same knee. When I began experiencing extreme pain, swelling & stiffness in my left knee about 3 months ago, I became very confused & concerned because it virtually came out of the blue!

I'm not looking for a "quick fix" through medication, so I'm grateful to all of you who have already done the "leg-work" as it pertains to RA & food allergies/sensitivities. I was praying that there would be ONE SPECIFIC FOOD LIST to avoid, but that's impossible.

I'm on my own quest to see what foods I need to eliminate because it's obvious that although similar, we're still all very unique in how our bodies respond. If I "discover" something that I think will be a benefit to any of you, I'll be sure to post it.

Thanks again!
Barb

dale

27 Sep 2009, 07:58

Yes, food does change the way my RA acts up for me. I was diagnosed almost a year ago and being an active 44 year old, it really slowed me down. I was in a lift chair for two months while waiting for the doctor appointment. Prednisone has helped greatly but could barely use my hands. After doing my own elimination diet, I have my own list of bad, good and maybe foods. RA is real and it can ruin your days while the fight to feel better never ends.

Duende

26 Sep 2009, 08:07

A few years ago I had bad joint pains and on the 6th day of a 10 day cleanse I woke up with no pain. After the cleanse I became a raw foodist (60-80% raw) and then went to the green smoothie routine. I had been a vegetarian, actually a vegan (no eggs or dairy) but was still able to eat garbage. My joint pains never once returned. Until now.

I moved to Guatemala in December of 2008 and found my raw food diet was almost an impossibility due to the potential of infection from Amoeba and Gardia. My health was fine for 6 months since the woman I was living with ate healthy as well so while we weren't eating raw food we weren't eating crap. However we separated a few months ago and I started eating what was easily available. Cheese quesadillas were easy to prepare and quite delicious. I got into eating ice cream and cookies as well as eating a lot more whole wheat bread than before. To top it off I started drinking a cup of black tea every morning. Before I'd only drink an herbal tea. Oh yeah..two fried eggs with southern style fried potatoes every morning.

My pains have returned with a vengeance. I KNOW it's diet. A friend here in Guatemala has the same issues if she even gets close to sugar, processed flour and even processed salt.

It's almost impossible to be a raw foodest down here unless I devoted my whole day to food preparation as does another acquaintance here in Guatemala. However I know for a fact that things like wheat, animal fats, sugar, caffeine, fried food and even processed salt will effect me negatively. I've been cutting all these out of my diet and have had a tangible improvement. However the last three days while preparing to move I decided to not move three containers of opened fruit juices so I drank them all in two days. This has taken me back a few steps backwards for sure. They all have added sugar of course. However one of them was pineapple and when googling the causes of Arthritis in regards to diet, pineapple had come up in a discussion or two so I'm wondering if there's some correlation since I had just recently bought two other pineapple juices which I hadn't before. However when I was with my previous partner we used to drink a pineapple drink ever morning and I didn't have any pains. However while with her I was eating much cleaner in the other areas as well. Bottom line is that I don't think there is any ONE item that causes this but a culmination of things that can take you to the edge and then it may take just one special item to push you over the edge.

I also ate organic in the states and I've seen some allusions to insecticides having an effect on arthritis. This wouldn't surprise me at all however in Guatemala, where they spray vegetables with insecticides that have been outlawed in the US (but imported back into the US) I had been fine for 6 months.

All I can say is please don't settle for some pharmaceutical that if your lucky will cover up the symptoms (and not address the cause) with out causing another problem 10 years down the road. Maybe use one temporarily for relief as you change your diet. This will also eliminate most of the causes for so many other degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes and of course heart diseases.

Love and Light

Duende

www.SaveLakeAtitlan.org

Duende

25 Sep 2009, 23:19

It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.
It's what we eat.

Vicki in Virginia

25 Sep 2009, 06:51

I was on methotrexate for a year. My Dr. took me off and said that he thought I would be a lucky one as my RA was caught early and was now in remission. Been off for 2 months and it's back with a vengeance. Seeing him next week & will discuss plan B, but I need to get proactive here and do anything I can to fix this. I simply am not functioning well and my hands are the worst part, so if diet is going to help I really want to start looking into it. Thanks for the info on this site, but there has to be more out there that helps as far as diet goes. Anyone hear anything - please post it here!

Ally

22 Sep 2009, 09:07

I recently developed RA symptoms (my mom has it so I know) but my test results are negative. I have days when I feel fine and days when I hurt so bad I don't want to move. Has anyone tried the Blood type diet to cure their arthritis? I found this diet while searching for natural treatments for my girlfriend's daughter's rare incurable cancer. Anyway, I was rereading Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo's "Cook Right for(4) your type" and I noticed that when I eat the foods that my blood type should avoid I have a bad day. At least it is a starting point so if the book says avoid I think I'll not eat it. His introductory book 'Eat Right 4 your type' explains his theory about blood types having different nutritional needs and ability to digest different foods. You can read about the diet on his website, www.dadamo.com.

Hope it helps.

JUlie, LA

19 Sep 2009, 20:36

I am just new to RA. Your stories and experience are very interesting and helpful. My doc wants to put me on Methotrexate, but I am trying alternative first.
I have lots of stiffness, especially in my knuckles.
I appreciate all of your info concerning food allergies and hope that I will be able to comment and contribute in the future.

Peace and Flexibility to you

Amy

17 Sep 2009, 22:45

I've had lactose intolerance all my life w/ stomach "prolems" even when I didn't drink milk. I got RA 8 years ago (27 yr old). I read a book called "The yeast connection" and read about leaky gut syndrome because I had a feeling my RA was food related. I tried elimination diets, but he guessing game was unbearable. Just went to Immuno Labs, took a blood test (cost me $500 bucks, but my doctor took the blood and we mailed it to them). It came back with - no fooling - 16 foods I was reacting to!! I suggest you folks check them out online. Pinto beans? Surprise, surprise. I'll keep you posted. - Amy

Tracey

04 Sep 2009, 14:02

Hi Guys;

I have done a lot of research about my joint pain and food allergies and come up with something that should help you all connect the dots and give you great hope for a cure. I have been successful along these lines.

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

I believe the cause of many diseases of unknown cause (like rheumatoid arthritis) have their link to Leaky Gut Syndrome or Gut Permeability. This is where the bowel has become permeable due to the unhealthy way we eat and live (stress, too many antibiotics, medications, & frequent use of aspirin) which kills off the good bacteria in our bowel (probiotics) that protect us from germs on our food like fungi & parasites which get into our systems and cause further inflammation, damage, and disease.

The bowel wall becomes unhealthy without these probiotics to keep it clean and protected and holes form in the bowel.
You see, holes in our guts cause whole food particles to get into our blood rather than the molecules that normally nourish us. The body sees these particles as invaders, so you may not actually be allergic to the food to get an immune response, thus inflammation. However, you may test as allergic to certain foods at first but no longer be allergic once your bowel is healed.

You will want to learn how to get your bowel healed. The best article for this is found here:

http://mdheal.org/leakygut.htm

I do suggest getting allergy tested because it is vitally important to your recovery to know exactly what foods you are allergic to and don't try to guess with an elimination diet. As I said before, those foods that you react to now may not cause you a reaction once your bowel is healed, so once you feel you are well, and you can get tested by a mannitol and lactulose test to see if you are better, then get another allergy test.

While you are getting well and even thereafter you won't want to eat anything that gives you a positive allergic reaction on the test because it can further damage your bowel.

GUT DYSBIOSIS: FUNGI & PARASITES

When your bowel has an infection of germs it is called gut dysbiosis. It is difficult to detect with cultures so that won't help. You just have to assume if you have inflammation in your joints or allergies, maybe even other issues, this could be the cause. Doctors don't know much about any of these topics, especially fungal infections but our food and environment is full of fungi, especially corn which is universally infected. That is a problem when you consider we sweeten everything with corn syrup, use corn starch in lots of stuff, and other corn products & fillers in our foods.

Fungi go further to bore holes in our intestines and can get loose into our blood streams to affect other parts of our bodies, causing inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. To learn more on fungi, you can go to this website http://knowthecause.com. You can watch this guy's popular television show and read his books to know what to do to go on his program to kill the fungus/yeast in the body. It is a very difficult program to follow, and I suggest you follow it for at least a year to make sure you are rid of the fungi, but it will also help heal the bowel and remove inflammation as well. I suggest it to you guys because you want to get well. He is the foremost authority on fungi today. Doctors can't help you there as they don't get a single class on fungal infections in medical school.

COMMENT
COMMENTS ON DIET

I see people identifying tons of different foods to avoid because they found relief by eliminating this. I believe this causes a lot of confusion for everyone. Find out what you are specifically allergic to and stay away from those things so your bowel can heal.

I would both heal my bowel and assume I have a fungal infection. You will find those diets are both similar to one another but very restrictive. You will do these things:

Remove the allergens and any foods that have fungi in them.

Stop feeding the fungi with starches, sweets, and high sugar fruits & vegies that keep them alive.

Kill the fungi with supplements and/or medication.

Heal the bowel with probiotics, L-Glutamine, & Collostrum, etc...

Your friends will become non starchy vegies, low sugar fruit, meat, sour cream, cream, butter, & yogurt on the initial stages. They never actually tell you how long to do the various phases of the diet but some people stick on the first phase for a few months to a year before adding in starches like legumes just to be sure they have killed the little beasties. Fungi are hard to kill whereas it doesn't take long to heal the bowel.

Most doctors won't give you antifungal medications unless you can teach them why you need them so you will have to go on supplements that kill fungi, but don't take supplements with a mixture of substances, because the fungi become resistant. Take single substances like garlic or oregano oil or olive leave extract and rotate them every week.

Antifungal meds kill different categories of fungi so if you find a doctor who will give them to you, be sure to take one that kills yeasts like Diflucan then one that kills environmental molds like black mold. I think Sporonox does that.

You will find you will need recipes for this diet. You will also need to keep stuff on hand (celery sticks, carrot sticks, cold turkey, yogurt & frozen berries) to survive

Good luck!

Cheryl, Honolulu

25 Aug 2009, 04:33

I was diagnosed a year ago. Medications that I'm on is Celebrex, Methotextrate, and folic acid. I do believe that what I eat affects the inflammation of RA. The inflammation in my joints comes and goes. I don't eat pork and red meat. I am trying to stay away from white rice, fried food, junk food. I try to choose foods that are fresh and 'light'. Even though my doctor says that food has nothing to do with RA, my body tells me different.

BrianBoston

24 Aug 2009, 14:47

Was diagnosed with RA in my early 20's and spent 4 years in a medical library trying to find a solution. The medications I was on were helping, but were not a solution I wasn't prepared to accept for life!

The short story is that I discovered I was allergic to a range of foods (including Chicken, Tomato, etc)just before my university finals. The hardest part of truly identifying which foods effect you is that the reaction can be anywhere from 4 hours to 96 hrs later. And it's a cumulative build-up. Doctor's (including my best future best man) thought I was crazy...but I've been clear of symptoms for 23 years. I get the odd joint pain (eat pizza now and then!) but its quickly cleared up by being 'good' for a few days. I ski 40 days+ each year (every winter weekend and holida), swim, cycle and love heavy garden work.
I travel lots for work so have to eat out - usually manageable. However, following a meal out with my wife in June this year came down with the worst flare up in 20 years. Got tested (new RAST test) and seems my allergies have expanded sugnificantly. I have things under control again but am still researching my new challenge. I have the advantage of knowing I've beaten these symptoms before and have just over 3 months to ski season...
Learnings:
1. Joint pain can DEFINITELY be caused by what you eat and small traces 'count'.
2. Don't be surprised if it takes weeks of clearing the foods before symptoms subside - stick with it.
3. No food (even beer) is worth the pain of RA (try Sorghum beer if your problem is grain/gluten related)!
4. Doctors are great but they don't have all the answers (yet)- listen to your body and track what you eat.
5. Skin tests are a waste of time for this reaction (reactive time is too slow - go for IgE blood tests)
6. Additives/chemicals in foods in tiny, tiny doses MAY be to blame (I can eat pineapple but can't touch the outside with gloves or my skin flares up - go figure?). Preservatives also cause me problems...
7. This is very individualised. Stay focussed on what you are eating and track it carefully (get to like cooking and food shopping :-))

Good luck - if you're looking here you are probably on the right track already...

Brian

marie condon

24 Aug 2009, 04:11

i'm 31 and found out i had RA after my son was born 2 years ago. i'm finding it very difficult to cope with the pains and find it hard to even lift my son up. If anyone can give me any info as to help the pains i'm on all the usual medication and was recently taken off the methotrexate so we can try for our second baby. pls there has to be a list of foods out there somewhere that affect it!!!!!!!!

Matthew Adam Ramirez

07 Aug 2009, 17:46

I am a 24 year old man, and a year ago I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. With this disease entering my life I have come across many obstacles. The pain, and stiffness is sometimes unbearable and I have a hard time going through a lot of the daily activities that most my age take for granted. I am a very active man so I went through a depression for a short time after I was diagnosed but quickly realized that I was not doing myself any good. I am on Prednisone, Celebrex, Methrotrexiate, Folic Acid, etc. But I have recently found out that certain foods cause flare ups. The one thing I loved I understand can cause flare ups, Alcohol. I have read that red meat, wheat, corn, milk or anything diary, tomatoes, potatoes, fried food, etc all cause flare-ups. Anyone knows a website or have any suggestions for me about the foods I should eat? I would really appreciate that. I find that red meat does cause a tremendous amount of pain for me, stiffness, and inflammation. And does beer trigger these flare up as well?
Thanks, Matt

lynea

06 Aug 2009, 09:41

+Yvonne, that is very interesting about the wheat. When I had stopped wheat for a while (a few weeks), I felt a lot better, but I was hoping it was just a coincidence (it is very difficult to give up wheat for me).

Gary, I've heard that about potatoes (particularly white potatoes) and tomatoes are very 'carby', and I wonder if there high, fast-acting carbs resulting in higher amounts of sugars in the bloodstream have something to do with weight gain and RA flare ups.

Mary Anderson, organic is the way to go. Don't mind that awfully biased "study" from the UK that came out recently. If you read the actual study (based on only 11 studies), you'll see that they only tested over short periods of time (24 hours to 2 weeks) and mainly invitro or in test tubes, and even then, only for nutritional-related responses (nothing to do with pesticides, heavy metals, etc.). Yet their conclusion, and the media's conclusion: organic no better than non-organic. Pretty irresponsible of UK govn't to pay for that nonsense and publish it.

Anne Simpson

06 Aug 2009, 03:04

I am sure that I had a reaction to pineapple, following which I was in pain for around 24 hours - I am allergic to oranges but they give me migraine rather than joint pain. Has anyone else had a reaction to pineapple?

Maryann

24 Jun 2009, 19:57

Anita from England, have you looked into Celiac Disease? Just a thought

Ms. Sudesta

17 Jun 2009, 10:48

I recently learned there is a link between my food allergies/chemical sensitivities and RA.I have learned which foods/chemicals trigger my symptoms.

Anita

17 Jun 2009, 03:57

Just reading this very interesting article.
My son has JIA and Chronic Pain Syndrome. He is always saying that he has pain in his tummy every time he eats which inturn hurts his joints. Any Ideas or has anybody elses child had this problem?.

Thank You
Anita
England

Jeanne Love

03 Jun 2009, 04:40

I find the above remarks very interesting. My feeling is that the vaccine for pneumonia gave me a bad flare up last year and the flu vaccine does the same - in fact I think my first jab was the original trigger for RA - I also have other auto-immune problems - thyroid and vitiligo. I have recently put myself on a diet which cuts down on carbs plus fish oil and plenty of avocado pears! I don't have nearly so much to eat- just protein and good fats and small amounts of carbs and my blood test shows my inflammation has subsided quite a lot already. Anybody tried this diet?

Dee Jardine

28 May 2009, 04:34

I have RA and am becoming aware of food intolerances. In May 2008 after eating a soft cheese with garlic I became unwell. I began to shake, had a violent upset stomach, a swollen tongue and a rash. After some hours in A and E was sent home with a course of steroids and anti histamines. This wasn’t an anaphylactic shock but very scary.

Since this time I cannot tolerate garlic, even a mere ‘whiff’ and my tongue begins to tingle and swell. Also I am experiencing similar although milder symptoms with onion.

Has anyone else experienced this?

YVONNE COPPOCK

11 May 2009, 15:24

I did an elimination diet, according to instructions in Gail Darlington's book "Diet and Arthritis" (sadly out of print, but probably available second-hand from Amazon), and discovered that wheat seemed to be the thing I was reacting to. I have been on a wheat-free diet for three years and have been completely free from symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis since giving up wheat.

Mary Anderson

10 Apr 2009, 18:12

Hello!

Our family was poisoned by pesticides over an eight year period which resulted in numerous health problems in all five family members. We experienced many of the same symptoms people experience with food allergies. As we learned more about what happened to us, and how to get well, we discovered eating organic food made a huge difference in our health. We regained our health by eating a strict organic diet and avoiding everyday chemicals like pesticides, cleaning compounds, air fresheners, fabric softeners, disinfectants, sanitizers, and more.

After a long period of time, I started to understand that the additives, and other toxic residue in food from the growing process, is what we were reacting to, and not the actual food. It is interesting to me that we didn’t react to organic peanut butter whereas we did react to non-organic peanut butter. No one in our family has life-threatening peanut allergies, but we did react to non-organic peanut butter with rashes, itching, minor breathing difficulty, and more. I encourage anyone with food allergies to try eating a strict organic diet. For anyone allergic to peanuts, I don’t recommend even organic peanuts including organic peanut butter; however, for those who can eat peanuts, organic peanuts and peanut butter are significantly better health-wise.
I thought I would pass on our experience in the hope that it would help someone.

Mary Anderson

gary

09 Mar 2009, 12:55

We need to see more specific foods instead of general catergories. such as fried foods because there cooked in fats.I am a very healthy 64 who just got told he has RA and it immediately changed how I work out. Last year I lost 30 lbs because I wanted too and gained back 7 while we were trying to figure out what had happen to me in a short period of time. I'm a person who is very health concious and don't wait to long to react.I just found out yesterday that some foods in the dark family are supposed to be bad like potatoes and tomatoes of which I like both so I came back to your ite looking for answers.

Thank You
Gary

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: RA and Food Allergies

A new study suggests that food allergies may be linked to RA, after all

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: RA and Food Allergies

A new study suggests that food allergies may be linked to RA, after all

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