RA and Diet. Does it work? | Arthritis Information

I think I just posted a message in the wrong place. Sorry. I'm new here.

I've had RA for several miserable years and the meds I'm supposed to take are scaring me. I found a web site (arthritis-alternatives) that says diet changes are the way to go, so I'm thinking about giving it a serious try. Has anyone had experience with this? Did it work?

I'm coming out the tail end of an elimination diet and reintroduction trial. I did not use a book however. In the past I've tried various diets out there with no success (including the "blood type diet," Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter D'Addamo, M.D.).

This time I went to a certified naturopathic/homeopathic physician in a trusted practice. It was hard work. I gave up beef, coffee, tea, all dairy, peanuts, corn, soy, sugar, gluten containing products (wheat, barley, breads, etc.), oranges and all nightshade veggies (tomatoes, peppers, white potatoes and eggplant). I swore to the doctor "I do no have nightshade sensivities" but she said they are commonly bad for arthritis symptoms so out they went. Pork was off the menu but I don't eat that anyway, learned long ago it is inflammatory for me. Most people are on the bare bones elimination phase for 25 or 28 days but I was on it over 50 days. She prescribed a rice protein supplement with anti-inflammatory herbs, vitamins and minerals.

I was exhausted for the first two weeks then began to think I was feeling a little bit better. I was bored and frustrated, to make matters worse it was blazing hot and humid out, and not fun weather for cooking all my own meals. I got adapt at making interest grain and bean salads, ate a lot of grilled chicken, drank almond milk, lots of fruits and veggies (minus nightshades). I've slowly started adding things back in and found to my dismay that tomatoes and especially peppers cause an immediate inflammatory response.

I must stress however that is my individual reaction. I'm by no means cured, either - am just experiencing less inflammation and taking the same meds, minus a couple mg. prednisone. Other people will have different reactions to different foods.

I say all this with some hesitancy because I don't want to send anyone off on a wild goose chase, like the many wild goose chases I've tried in the past. Blood type diet, blue green algae, juice fasts, yada yada yada predominantly all fads in which I stayed in the same miserable shape and some scoundrel got my money.

Bottom line if you try it = go to a certified nutritionist or a doctor. Best wishes to you.

I was a vegetarian when I was first diagnosed with RA and since then, I have tried several other diets.

None of them had any effect on my RA.

I now follow a mediterranean based diet because it's heart healthy and I like the food choices.

In my experience, like Tara, diet is a very individual thing...Not a one size fits all solution.