R.A. and fish

stickywicket

I guess it's a bit late for us on here :roll: but a recent survey (and this is a 'proper' survey using a statistically relevant number of people under controlled conditions) shows that eating a portion of oily fish weekly helps to prevent R.A. Alternatively, one can eat 4-5 portions of ordinary lean fish. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2390856/Eating-salmon-week-reduced-risk-rheumatoid-arthritis-half.html .

I know that a portion of oily fish weekly (salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring etc) forms part of a healthy diet anyway but I thought it worth mentioning because, although I've never made the connection before, I think my R.A. started to improve around the time my fish consumption went right up.

It certainly seems like a harmless and painless experimental method of trying to improve matters.

DebraKelly

I eat 2 portions of oily fish per week since I got diagnosed with RA and it certainly has made a difference to my movement and energy levels.

dreamdaisy

I love fish but haven't noticed much difference - there again I don't have RA. I shall keep up my intake though, tomorrow morning's breakfast will be smoked haddock. Thanks for the link, Sticky, I shall have a butcher's later on. DD

Starburst

I have RA or some other kind of inflammatory arthritis (it changes according to how my rheumy feels when writing letters ) and I eat salmon at least once a week, usually twice. I have done for years and years because I'm a fussy eater but I love salmon. I feel cheated! :P

Thanks for sharing, Stickster. Interesting article.

Toots

Very interesting stuff. May be the same article my parents read which prompted them to turn up at my door not a couple of hours ago with a tub of cod liver oil capsules - they know I don't do fish lol.

You know, I was reading an article the other day that suggests (to find out if any foods are setting off flares) going back to the 'stone-age' diet. Food basics as our ancestors would have eaten, and fish would be included in that I'm sure. Pretty sure that all the processing etc our food goes through can't be good for us.

Starburst

Toots I've tried every kind of omega 3 oil tablets and found that they all leave fishy tastes in my mouth for ages. I was given a similar type of omega 3 oil called starflower oil. It's not as good but it's better than nothing. Worth a try?

Disclaimer: Speak to your GP/Rheumatologist before trying any kind of supplements.

Toots

Interesting, thank you for sharing Starburst.

I'll check it out, my parents brought me cod liver oil and a glucosamine/chondroitin/calcium supplement. I have been taking rosehip, which I asked my pharmacist about in conjunction with the naproxen and omez, she was fine with it, but I don't want to be randomly taking stuff on blind faith! Thanks for the reminder to check with gp x

charleeh

Hiya Sticky

My husband bought back the paper with that article today for me to read

I have noticed my diet is shocking and I am currently in a battle with my willpower to break my bad habits! .... I honestly didn't know how bad I was, I looked up info on the nhs website just last Thursday and decided to make a change this week. My family had poor diets and I think I got my bad habits from them to be honest. We never had proper milk when I was a child (amongst other things), it was the tesco basics uht milk in the box.... I still think that contributed to my arthritis!

Problem is when your tired with the arthritis and hurting from it too the last ting you want to do is stand in the kitchen chopping fresh veg and opening oven doors etc even tho I have ergonomic saucepans and a bent handles knife etc it still hurts to use them come the time when I am due treatment.

I did notice tho when I ate aspartame (fake sweetener in diet drinks) or E numbers my wrists have swollen up within an hour of consuming them. It happened to me while out with my friend on a hot day, I went to the ice cream van and bought a 'slush puppy' thing - something I never eat. Within 30 mins my wrist was huge and I couldn't grip my stick.

Today on my 'diet' I ate a bag of special k crisps and my wrist became stiff... I looked on the label and discovered 3 E numbers in them!

I think diet must play a big part but its only just something I am reviewing. 5 years into the condition lol.... better late than never I guess!

Best wishes
Charleeh

LignumVitae

Cheers SW for this, though I have to say, why is it always fish or similar healthy food and not gin and tonic, red wine or whisky that should be consumed often?! I know what is prefer.

stickywicket

Oh come on, LV! You've known me long enough to realise that the salmon requires a glass of CB to help it on its way

LignumVitae

Have you tried omitting the salmon though, or replacing it with more CB? I think we need to carry out a more thorough study!

stickywicket

Lead us not into temptation

salamander

Yes, I read that article Sticky. My fish consumption is quite high as I don't like meat. I do mean to have 2 oily fish a week but sometimes only manage one. Sometimes it makes me feel sick and, years ago, I was diagnosed as being low in Omega 3 and was given a supplement on prescription. It didn't taste fishy but I used to throw up at times. I think I may have an intolerance for it.

elnafinn

I consume sardines daily at lunch time now to up my daily calcium intake since being diagnosed with osteoporosis. Perhaps that is too much
as I sometimes have oily fish at least once for dinner too in a week.
Good job I love fish.

Elna x

stickywicket

I think one can eat too much salmon due to its mercury content but I don't think one can overdose on sardines, Elna

barbara12

We were brought upon mackerel..my cousin was a fisherman...it didnt help me..but never say die I will start to up my potions to see what happens

stickywicket

elnafinn wrote:

I consume sardines daily at lunch time now to up my daily calcium intake since being diagnosed with osteoporosis.

How do you eat them please, Elna? I don't think I could manage the same lunch daily whatever it was but, in the interests of 'oily fish variety' I have tried to eat sardines over the years but really don't like them or pichards much whether in oil or tomato sauce. I'd love to discover a way I liked them more :roll: Any suggestions, please?

Barbara - you have OA, if I remember rightly, not RA so, who knows, all that mackerel might have saved you from RA

elnafinn

Hi Sticky

When I say I love fish, sardines do not rate all that high as a favourite. I eat the sardines as they are, drained of oil or spring water,with salad, coleslaw or whatever. Sometimes on toast. I eat them daily, purely to up my calcium intake as I do not have much milk, if any some days although yogurt has some calcium in it and I like that. I like figs and almonds so that helps with the calcium too. I could eat cheese all the time but that would not be a good idea at all unfortunately. To me having been diagnosed with OP is far more of a challenge than the OA. I am on two OP forums now and learning many new things every day, which sometimes makes it easier but other times more difficult, if you know what I mean.

Elna x

applerose

Thanks Sticky. I read the article too. I always have tins of oily fish in the cupboard but rarely actually eat them. I am hoping to up my fish intake, both tinned and fresh, and lower the meat. I don't think we need a lot of meat in our diets anyway. Hopefully it will help ease the symptoms of those who already have RA too.

stickywicket

Applerose - I eat a lot of tinned tuna but apparently that doesn't count as oily fish. Tinned salmon does but only fresh tuna - lovely but expensive.

Elna - Thanks for that. I do get plenty of calcium from other sources. I shall try again with the sardines but the only time I really liked them was when visiting a friend's uncle's sardine factory on the beach in N. Portugal. We watched them come in from the sea and go straight into the ovens. He picked some up for us as they came out. Pure heaven - but nothing like sardines

elnafinn

"We watched them come in from the sea and go straight into the ovens. He picked some up for us as they came out. Pure heaven - but nothing like sardines"

Hi Sticky,

Now that does sound like pure heaven. And yes, I can imagine they tasted NOTHING like tinned sardines.

Elna x

Boomer13

Hi Sticky;

I love sardines and never had a problem eating them on toast (my mother's standard lunch). I did put them in a pasta sauce once and thought it was quite delicious and they didn't taste so much like they came out of a can. Husband however, would not even try my dish and was utterly horrified :roll:

As a bonus they are extremely high vit B12. I wonder about mixing them up in cream cheese, like salmon, with a little spice and spreading on crackers? I might taste this......

The bones etc don't really bother me but you could mash them well if they are distasteful.

stickywicket

Thanks, Anna. I might have another go with them though I'm sure Mr SW wouldn't have them at any price. He's not big on fish though he'll tolerate 'more normal' ones twice a week :roll:

My Dad had them on toast quite often. It never worked for me.

applerose

Thanks Sticky. I didn't know that. I wonder why.