Does diet affect arthritis? - PaleoHacks.com

Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T14:46:44Z

I was reading an article about a teenager's struggle with Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. They mention in the article that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and its main symptom is joint inflammation. They also mention what they think causes it:

"The disorder is believed to have several causes, according to the Web site of the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, including unknown environmental factors and a genetic susceptibility, reflected in a family history of autoimmune disorders and a positive blood test for the HLA B-27 antigen."

They don't mention her diet or that diet is a known cause of arthritis. Because they mention it is an autoimmune disorder, I'm curious about how a person's diet might affect the condition.

Has anyone with arthritis noticed any difference from changing your diet?

Answer by Jeff for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T17:14:18Z

Robb Wolf writes a lot about controlling autoimmune disorders with a strict paleo diet, and seems to have a lot of success.

Answer by semirade for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T17:29:35Z

Hi, I'm brand new, with 5 days under my belt (literally) - I was convinced after reading Robb Wolf's Paleo Solution Diet - I have so many health disorders, RA and diverticulitis among them. I feel that there can be nothing to lose by giving this diet a try! Thus far I feel quite well, satiated and am feeling less joint discomfort daily -- I'll see how I feel after the 30 day "challenge",right now I'm very optimistic! Wolf's book specifically addresses auto-immune disorders which appeales to me, as well as intestinal disorders that I also indicate. Why Not!? Good luck!

Answer by Geoff for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T17:31:10Z

Yes, I had arthritis and now most of it's gone. The key was to cut out all nightshades (they pop up in a lot of spices) and also to cut eggs. I also do not eat dairy but not sure if that was a cause.

Answer by Jennie for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T18:42:31Z

Absolutely, yes. I'm on a low carb path, myself, and I mention that before bringing up nightshades and dairy because it made an immediate difference for me. I noticed relief right away just giving up the grains.

I'm a candidate for rheumatoid arthritis from both sides of my family, lucky me, and it shows up for my ancestors in the hands. Ever since I was a kid living on the East coast I remember feeling achy and swollen in the fingers with certain shifts in weather.

Then I lived in California for my entire adult life and noticed it only a little here and there.

I now live on the East coast again (sigh) and after a year of low carb Paleo eating I barely feel it at all unless I go overboard on the potatoes or dairy (which I ferment myself. It helps.) Oddly, tomatoes don't affect me adversely at all but I won't go near eggplant ever again.

Eggs are not an issue for me, though I was allergic as a child and then again for a while after my one and only flu shot.

Answer by Dana for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T19:51:05Z

Years ago I was having problems with my knees. Most of the time they felt OK but if I went on a car trip of just two hours, I had to stop periodically to stretch my legs or my knees would hurt.

The first time I tried low-carbing, I went on one of those car trips shortly after I started my dietary change. I didn't need to stop except to take a potty break. My knees were fine.

Answer by sienna for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-23T20:24:12Z

Paleo has done wonders for me ( me being older than dirt lol ). Nightshades, mature cheeses do not bother me. Xheavy whipping cream and coffee every morning is OK too.

Grains and Legumes and tubers are my culprits. I fought for months to try keeping my fav natural peanut butter in my diet but finally , after a life long obsession , I gave it up.

When ever I experimented and brought PB back in, I would feel it in a day or 2 . The downside is it takes me weeks to get rid of the bad effects.

I can barely remember being this pain free. Maybe 40+ years or so ?

Answer by ChronicHope for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-02-24T11:40:37Z

There is definitely some scientific evidence that diet affects arthritis For example link text and link text However, much of this evidence is contradictory or inconclusive.

There is also much anecdotal evidence. Some people wil tell you that a strict vegetarian diet is necessary. Others that paleo is the only possible option. Some that you have to drink vinegar others that you must avoid it. It all gets quite confusing after a while.

Since neither the scientific or anecdotal evidence can agree on a definite strategy, I take from this that the best course of action is to try out for oneself alterations for diet that seem like they may help. See if they do work for the individual concerned and if not, move on and try something else. After all, each body has its own genetic heritage which is bound to affect the interplay of nutrition with disease. Other people's experience offers some clues as to what to try - and what to expect in the initial stages - but only our body's response can tell us if a particular dietary choice is right for us.

Answer by tbonesteak for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-05-01T17:53:16Z

digging up an old post here...

the wife has RA and though she is not free and clear, going gluten free was a big game changer for her. as we all know, white flour and it's cousins are pure evil :) now im slowly getting her to cut sugar.. and hopefully have her adopt paleo in the not so distant future.

also, i had a post here on eastern medicine and body types... and for my wife, since she is a "cold" person, she was told to avoid all "cold" foods like pork and focus on "hot" foods like beef and chicken.

Answer by Namby Pamby for Does diet affect arthritis?

2011-05-01T21:55:25Z

I'm curious what you guys take if there is a flare up of RA. Do you take NSAIDs such as Naproxen? If so, doesn't Robb Wolf and others warn specifically about NSAIDs' effects on the gut flora?

Answer by NotoriousDBA for Does diet affect arthritis?

2012-03-19T17:29:20Z

My wife and I have been eating Paleo for about two and a half weeks now. The chronic swelling of her knees and ankles, not to mention the chronic inflammation of her knees from osteoarthritis, are completely gone. To top it off, her knees are now almost completely pain free, to the point that she's considering canceling the total knee replacement surgery she's scheduled to have next month.