Hi All,
Would you mind helping me out by completing a survey about the link between diet, RA and Ankylosing Spondylitis please?
I've been reading through the forum and seen several people discuss the link between RA (or Ankylosing Spondylitis) and the food they eat. I've been modifying my diet to control the A.S. 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.
We're all in this journey together. So I'd really like to share what I've learnt with all of you other sufferers to help reduce your pain too. I've created the survey 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 and take care,
AndrewThere is no link between RA and food that is eaten. Wishful thinking.Hi! I starting suffering with AS in my early teens. I'm now 23 and been on humira and enbrel anti tnf. I wanted to say that I couldn't agree more with food groups. I do not / or eat very little wheat rye oats barley corn eggs or diary. I'm careful with my choice in foods. Believe me I have followed it to extremes and not so. But. When I'm living wheat free / cereals free I am without doubt better. I'm not saying it as an alternative for drug treatments for AS, obviously depends on severity. I believe without these food groups I am a world better, I've reintroduced and saw very big differences. I think with AS and all these immune issues they are all so involved. Afterall, people with chron's disease etc are treated by humira / other anti tnf's too. Must be a biological/ gut link. Drs say yeah and she has Ibs and history of allergies and this and that in family so genes are genes! If u have AS I don't think personally eating a cereal/ high inflammatory diet (eg tomatos) would make sense right? You would eat foods right for YOU and your body. I feel like it leaks from my stomach into my spine all this inflammation in that area (pelvic sacral joint) why would I put more in? Anyway! Couldn't agree more with food groups.
Sarah xx
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