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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

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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