blackcurrants and flares

salamander

My joints have been flaring up quite a bit these last few days and I have been trying to work out what is causing the problem. I've been eating blackcurrants from the freezer for three days and realised my joints are worse after I eat them. So I googled 'blackcurrants and arthritis' to find they are recommended to reduce inflammation

Anyone have a similar experience?

elainebadknee

Salamander

No but seem to remember reading somewhere isnt it the acid in these kind of fruits that cause this...Could be totally wrong however dont quote me

Elainexx

salamander wrote:

My joints have been flaring up quite a bit these last few days and I have been trying to work out what is causing the problem. I've been eating blackcurrants from the freezer for three days and realised my joints are worse after I eat them. So I googled 'blackcurrants and arthritis' to find they are recommended to reduce inflammation

Anyone have a similar experience?

rockchick

I would imagine you'd have to eat quite a lot of currants on a regular basis for any anti inflammatory benefits. Do you mean you're eating them frozen, straight from the freezer. Could it be the coldness? Or are you cooking with them. Are you sensitive to sugar?

The only way you'd know for sure if it's the blackcurrants is to stop for a few days, then try again, and see if you notice any difference. Could be something in them that you're sensitive to. Hope your flare eases though.

salamander

i am cooking them rock chick but accidentally defrosted too many as the bags were stuck together so have a huge bowl in the fridge. Yes, I thought it was the acid in them Elaine but on googling they are touted as being one of the best anti inflammatory fruits!! It could be I've got a sensitivity but I do love them. Might have to make cordial out of them next summer instead.

trepolpen

hi salamander

I find most fruits like strawberries & raspberries , grapes & oranges + dried fruit does this + tomatoes , got to avoid them mostly ,

you need to try it again sometime to make sure its that whats doing it ,
hope you feel better soon

stickywicket

Citrus fruits are sometimes acknowledged to cause problems but I, too, always thought berries were safe and, indeed, often beneficial. I eat them a lot. We are all different, though, and all have our own stumbling blocks. However, I've long given up trying to attribute a flare to something I've eaten. If I'm flaring I need my meds tweaking. If my meds are working well I don't even think about such things.

salamander

I suspect you are right Sticky! I've had them before with no ill effects. It's just that it was marked this time. I have been eating satsumas too - trying to ward off a cold.

stickywicket

I'd be more inclined to suspect the satsumas as they are more acidic.

salamander

hmm! not giving up my satsumas!

Roadback

Hi Salamander,

I read that virtually any food can give a flare - and that it can be different in every person. Trouble is finding out what all our individual trigger foods are is very difficult. Have any of you ever read anything about the Burghwood Clinic in Surrey?

I am worried that beef might be one of my triggers.

dreamdaisy

If you suspect a certain foodstuff of being a trigger then one way to check is to eliminate it (and anything else that may contain it) from your diet for a good while to see if symptoms improve. One thing I can 'guarantee' is that the trigger is usually something you enjoy. I had chronic eczema as a child, which my mum discovered via trial and error was triggered by Vitamin C and dairy products. I had a very restricted diet and how tedious life was. Now thanks to the immuno-suppressant meds I can eat fruit and dairy - the dairy is OK but fruit? What a disappointment. DD

PS Apologies roadback, I forgot to say hello!

salamander

Thanks Roadback and DD, yes, I know about food triggers and thought blackcurrants were one but now think it is just that my joints are flaring and the food thing a coincidence as getting worse by the day. Had to put up the steroids this morning for just a few days as getting quite bad.
Don't give me the lecture anyone about how bad they are for you :roll: I know, esp having been diagnosed with steroid induced cataract yesterday!
Don't suppose the weather is helping either.

Hope you all well.
x

dreamdaisy

If you need steroids you need them. They help and that is what matters, it's the quality of life now which counts and that is all that matters, yes? I hope things improve for you joint-wise soon, I am very sorry about the cataract (but hopefully that can be sorted) I am thinking of you. DD

salamander

Thanks DD for your kind words. Yes I do need them right now but only for a few days and will get back down after this flare. How are you finding things in this weather?

dreamdaisy

How am I finding things? Utterly ghastly, trruth be told. I'm shuffling about like a little old woman, bent over, hobbling, wincing and running out of swear words. No matter, 'tis only a rough patch and things will improve. (Who am I kidding? ) Take care and keep warm. DD

salamander

Sorry to hear that, let's hope it is just a rough patch. Hope things improve soon - for both of us. x