Change of diet to ease arthritis.

pipkin71

A friend suggested the other day that I look at my diet to help ease the pain I'm in, which has led me on to read some interesting stuff, but I wondered if anyone else has had results from a change of diet and what sort of stuff they cut out?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Probably more use (if you have inflammatory arthritis) to add better foods to your diet rather than eliminating stuff - oily fish, rapeseed oil, etc, (the omega 3 things) are alleged to be antiinflammatory. And they have the advantage of being good for heart and mind, too. (as per proper randomised clinical trials)

My rheumatologist mentioned that it is known that some people who switch to an entirely vegan diet can have improvements, but it's not routinely given as advice as proper trials have not provided the evidence needed to make this a valid response.

Cutting out processed junk and increasing 'real food' is probably better for you than avoiding potatoes/tomatoes/aubergines/courgettes/cucumber/bread/wheat/
corn/apples/beef/pork/chicken/peppers/chilli/ham/oranges/lemon/limes/milk/cheese/eggs/butter/whatever.

It's an incurable autoimmune condition.

Try listing all the foods you are advised to eliminate; there will be so few left that you'll be more likely to expire from starvation that witness a miraculous cure, I'm afraid. (or get beri beri, osteoporosis - already a risk from steroid treatments - anaemia and a whole bunch of other deficiency related conditions)

skipsmum

DS has crohns and juvenile arthritis, his intestines and knees both get much worse with food such as tomatoes and orange juice. He also won't eat sherbert or a lot of sweets as he feels that makes it worse!

absolutebounder

In some cases plants of the tomato virus cause arthritis. try cutting them out. (dont forget tobacco is related)

bitsandpieces

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Probably more use (if you have inflammatory arthritis) to add better foods to your diet rather than eliminating stuff - oily fish, rapeseed oil, etc, (the omega 3 things) are alleged to be antiinflammatory. And they have the advantage of being good for heart and mind, too. (as per proper randomised clinical trials)

Yes - eating more good foods (inc. sources of omega 3) and avoiding eating too much junk, is a very sensible place to start. Essentially, move towards a Mediterranean-type diet. Some sensible advice here http://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/0409Arthritis.pdf

If you're looking at eliminating foods or addressing what you think might be allergies, speak to your doctor. They should be able to help with testing, and to help you avoid eliminating so much that (as with lots of cranky arthritis 'cure' diets) it would leave you half starved.

silvertoes

My rheumatologist mentioned that it is known that some people who switch to an entirely vegan diet can have improvements, but it's not routinely given as advice as proper trials have not provided the evidence needed to make this a valid response.

I've been a vegan for 15 years and I got RA two years ago. So it's very hard to compare what diet is best unless you slowly cut foods out of your diet to test.

blue_haddock

i find that whilst ice cream doesnt help my arthritis it does make me feel better!

mouseymousey99

Hello sorry I've just found this thread. I bought this a few months ago:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chronic-Pain-Diet-Book/dp/1847090249/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270335977&sr=8-1
I don't agree with everything, but; a lot of it worked for me.
Do you recognise any of your own 'triggers' Pipkin? (Mine coffee, alcohol etc). I've cut them out totally (also decided a good time to go veggie).
I started 1st March and as of today I've lost 7lbs, but that was not the main aim. I've read about the tomatoe thing; it applies to all the nightshade veggies, but as I adore pasta, I've just limited them.
I feel better, but I'm also trying to walk a little almost every day so its a long term thing.

luxor4t

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

.... It's an incurable autoimmune condition.

bitsandpieces wrote: »

......speak to your doctor. They should be able to help with testing, and to help you avoid eliminating so much that (as with lots of cranky arthritis 'cure' diets) it would leave you half starved.

blue_haddock wrote: »

i find that whilst ice cream doesnt help my arthritis it does make me feel better!

3 really sensible points made here.

I've got rheumatoid arthritis. I'm secretly sick to the back teeth of would-be helpful suggestions for 'cures', particularly as the person offering them is not an arthritic.

In the words of my excellent Rheumy "if a diet sheet was all it took to get people moving painlessly, then I'd retire immediately a happy man."

Meanwhile, if icecream helps me through a bad day, then I'll eat it

chelleybelley

same as my thinking luxor4t

clutterbunny

Diet changes did help me.
I was in so much pain that I would wake myself up with my own screaming and could barely walk. The doctors at the time said I had RA.
I wont go into how I discovered that milk was my trigger but just to say that when I am milk free, I am pain free. I can walk again and hold down a job get a full nights sleep without pain killers and best of all play with my kids.
A friend got me a book called "eat to beat arthritus" which helped but most of the recipes were not realy for me but it is helpful for ideas and for possible trigers.
As it turns out, I ont have RA (I was misdiagnosed) but I have a related condition which has a very high incidence of allergys including food.
Its worth looking at your diet. Are you in pain in the 24hours after eating a large amount of one type of food. What happens if you cut that out for a few days?
Dont bother with the allergy testing offered on the high street though. I find that very hard to belive.
Good luck

CB