I have people that want to help me by telling me to go vegan, or sugar free, wheat free etc, or try an expensive juice.... Has anyone had any sucess with any diet change? I feel guilty when I don't take the advice. What if they are right? On the other hand, I eat a really healthy diet and I have for years. I don't want to restrict my diet unless it really will help!
Jodi
Jodi,
I feel better overall when I eat good. I think finding what works for you is the most important thing. You can always try eliminating some things and see if they affect the way you feel.
Phats
Hi Jody....this is my favorite subject. Eliminating Gluten and sugar from my diet has REALLY helped me MANAGE my disease. Isn't that all we can really hope to do??? Anyone that tells us that this juice or that diet will "cure" us is not honest.
I have been able to cut down from 4 meds to 2. I am now taking my Enbril every 2 weeks instead of weekly AND I am exercising daily. (OK maybe not daily....didn't exercise today!!!)
Try baby steps....increase your fruits and Veggies and lean protein. Eventually cut out processed foods and sugar....see how you feel. I am not tempted by any desserts because I feel so darn good.
Good Luck Jodi!!!!
There is a big difference in how I feel when I don't eat processed foods and sugar. I've been off my diet for 2 weeks due to holidays and the pain and inflammation is back. Today is the first day back on my diet and I know I'll feel much better in about 3 days. You have to experiment and find what works for you. Your trigger may be gluten, fat, or nightshade foods. If you're eating healthy now then you might do an elimination diet for a month or so. Lindy
The Magic Bullet is the best machine out there. It's cheap, easy to clean, and makes up smoothies like crazy. A typical morning smoothie for me is ice, aloe vera juice, juice of the day (orange, prune, green foods, etc.), kefir or yogurt, a slug of Udo 3-6-9 omega oils, liquid calcium, and a sprinkle of whey protein powder, to wash down my probiotic pill. You can buy their guarantee and this little puppy was the best Christmas present I got two years ago. My system can barely handle heavy foods anymore and it kills my jaw to chew alot so liquidized or juiced meals really keep my system from going whacky (whackier). I agree with you, Gena. I have been reading so much about eliminating grains and sugar so decided to give it a try. I have been on it a week and am almost pain free. I have quit taking my naproxen as well. I have more energy and have lost weight. I feel so good I have no desire to eat sweets or gluten products. I highly recommend giving it a try!I feel much better if I cut down on my Coke habit (cola, not cocaine!!), reduce red meat and dairy (high in omega-6), eat more fish and take fish oil supplements. Of course, sometimes I just gotta have a Coke!!! Diet Coke or other pop just won't cut it.Thanks everyone! I think there could be a sugar/grain link. I have read in several articles that sugar is very inflammatory.
A friend of mine is trying to sell me on a vegan diet (anyone hear of the Hallelujah Diet?) but I really don't think meat is the problem especially since I eat so little of it anyway.
To me, moderation is the key. A can of Coke has 140 calories, all from sugar. If I drink three cans of Coke, that's 420 calories - about 20% of the total calories I need in a day, with no nutrients, fats, fiber or protein. It's out of balance. But if I drink an occasional Coke with a sensible meal, that's a different story. Hi, I don't know if you take prednisone, but if you do you will be retaining water!! ugh. So, I take lasix a diuretic and sure enough I take off 3-4 pounds right away. Don't like
It is a very healthy diet. I nuke a sweet potato instead of white potato, eat only whole grains, and do eat meat. Skinless chicken is on the menu at least 3 days a week and fish once a week. The other days are beef or pork. Most of the food that I eat is organic.
Lynne
Lynne
Oprah had a great show today with Dr. Oz and her friend Bob Greene. Perhaps if you go into her website it will tell you all about it. It's worth a peek. And I noticed that Oprah has gained back some weight and she said it's because she doesn't exercise. She is a very pretty woman.Oprah is saying in the Oct isssue of "O" that she has had thyroid problems. That would certainly contribute to a weight problem
Also for what it is worth, I eat very naturally, eat no "white" foods, drink only water and have seen no direct impact on my RA activity. I have lost a boatload of weight ( over 60lbs) which obviously helped.
Just like meds each persons reactions to food can vastly differ. It takes experimentation to see how you react.
To the Original poster....you can't let others "guilt" you into doing anything you aren't comfortable with and that includes your doctor. You haveto trust your own instincts and remember that you have to do what you feel isright for you. You can't worry about what others think
Buckeye - thank you. I know that red meat is terrible for me, but I also only drink water (and coffee me bad) and also eat some processed foods, and haven't been able to notice anything. I try to stay away from sugar, but I swear its addictive, and when I am off sugars and eat something at say a friend's dinner or out at a restaurant, it trips me into a sugar binge. Plus I believe in three chocolate chips every night as a reward for living another day :)
I think I reacte to red meat because of the estrogen they put in the grains fed to the cattle to fatten them up faster for slaughter. I agree with you, your diet tolerances and intolerances are unique, and its probably why the studies keep coming out saying they can find no link between diet and disease. But personally, I think sugar and sodas menus is akin to slowly committing suicide. And its so scary to watch all these youngsters survive on a soda for breakfast, candy bar for lunch, and take out for dinner, if that. It's going to get interesting.
Well, what I find helpful in weightloss is if you google some of those ingredients on the processed foods we all buy. The latest thing I've googled is a commonly used additive in baked goods called L-cysteine. I urge you all to google it. It's so disgusting. It's a protein made from HUMAN HAIR that is in bagels, croissants, pizza dough, pita etc. I saw it listed on a bag of my Pepperidge Farm whole grain bagels and tossed them. If you can't find it just by googling the L-cysteine, google "Human hair in dough" and you will be shocked.Connie
Hi, My only success is when I take a diuretic. I take 20mgs of lasix and then I lose 'weight' I think it has to do with water retention from the prednisone. I try not to eat too much but still gain? I'm taking the lasix for a week and see if I can take off the lard and the water??It will help my poor feet, as well!! LyndaI think if the average person knew what they consumed in everyday foods, they would *die*. I had no idea what I was putting in my mouth until I did some research. Basically it is in everything you eat unless it is whole food (fresh/raw). Scary, huh?
Phats
Jesse - Her stopping Lupus meds is really scary. She can get permanent organ damage doing that.
I know a woman who stopped all her diabetes meds and went natural. She is now in a nursing home with brain damage.
I am not totally against natural methods, just skeptical and want to use common sense. I mainly eat organic and have tried herbal remedies, but my prescription drugs are what work for arthritis.
Lynne