I now think that I have some kind of gluten intolerance. I cut out wheat, barley, oats and rye for about two months -- seemed to have a good effect, felt quite well -- but have only started eating oats again but I seem to be in some kind of big flare. I think could be the gluten in the oats and have cut the oats out again to see what happens. Gluten intolerance is supposed to be quite common with RA... does anyone else have it? I wonder if it is part of the disease? Cause of the disease? Progress of the disease? Or just an effect of the disease?
What a drag! I don't think i'll be able to eat gluten again!
anna_uk
This would be a huge drag for me too. I absolutely love anything with
gluten in it. And it seems to be in so many foods. Lets hope this is not the
case. I think I have a dairy intolerance. Seems to set off more physical
symptoms in me. Maybe we should just quit eating, lol. I guess you can
cut out the oats and see if that helps. Keep me posted.Yeah, I thought about trying that too. But I don't really know if I can do it. I already gave up meat and dairy. If I eliminate gluten, that pretty much leaves just fruits and veggies, which I love, but that really limits choices. Ugh.i recently began eliminating gluten...I feel better for it. I happened to be near a Whole Foods a couple weeks back and bought a bag of gluten-free flour. Yesterday I made waffles and there were GREAT. I did have to double the baking powder and add a bit more sweetener. The batter tasted AWFUL but once cooked I had no idea the flour was made from a variety of legumes.
Of course the wonderful thick Grade B Maple Syrup is a help too... :)Apparently, a lot of people with ra do have food sensitivities, or so I have read! There is a blood test for it but I have heard its not really accurate. They can do an upper endoscopy (the scope down the throat thing) and look for spores. I had the endoscopy done last fall and it didn't show any spores at all.
Whole foods is great!! Expensive but great!
anna:
What happens in gluten intolerance (possibly lactose issues also) is the villi that line your intestines begin to die. Usually this is from decreased blood flow. It is a not uncommon side issue of RA. Why it happens in RA is weird but it is likely do to the constant state of inflammation that can destroy the small vessels servicing these tiny villi. That is also the reason we can get peripheral neuropathy too...
Gluten issues are common in all diseases that have effects on peripheral blood flow. It can even be an early warning sign for diabetes, PAD and other diseases. That is because small changes can affect the smaller vessels sooner as they are more sensitive to change.
But blood flow is only one potential cause. Fungal or parasite overgrowth can also be a cause.
The blood flow issue is one reason more exercise is often successful in helping with digestion issues. The exercise helps increase circulation which can help heal the damage. Of course it is also imperative to eliminate the gluten or nothing will likely help.
There are tons of sites around with info on gluten intolerance. But some are just scammer sites. So read as much as you can is the best suggestion I have to learn about it all...Also when the villi are flattened it stops us from absorbing a lot of nutrients from the food we eat. Did anyone try the gluten free breadmaker bread recipe I posted a while ago, it is very good. I have recently been given another bread recipe, not for a breadmaker but it looks like it would be good so if anyone wants it I will post it.Please post it, I would love to try the breadmaker recipe.thanks for your replies. nowadays there are lots in the supermarket that is gluten free so im grateful ive got it now rather than 5 years ago!! some of it is really nice as well (has anyoen tried Dietary Specials almond and apricot cake - omg it is delicious!!).
i wonder if i hadnt cut out the gluten if i would still be able to eat it... perhaps by cutting it out ive made the intolerance worse?????
anna_uk
Lorster - the breadmaker gluten free recipe was posted under the thread Gluten free to help RA by beccy38 on 18 Febrary 07. If you cant find it will type it out again.
Some of the ingredients will have to be bought at a health food shop I would think. It is a reliable recipe, light and crusty but you will need to use the ingredients listed, substitutions wont work.
Hope you enjoy it.
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