Diet and vitamins questions

Meeee

Hi All,
Over the last few weeks I have read a couple of books on how Diet can help with RA. I was wondering if anyone had tried any of these special diets and if so what sort of results did they get?
Also while reading I have come across several articles which recommend taking additional vitamins and supplements such as Glucosamine & Chondroitin, cod liver oil, brewer’s yeast and even Boron to name but a few. Does anyone take any of these or any other supplements and if so do they really help?

Thanks in advance.

Meeee

stickywicket

Oh yes, I've tried diets – and always got worse I think that was because some of the diets are so restrictive you don't get essential nutrients. Also beware any diet that claims to help 'arthritis' rather than a specific type of arthritis - auto-immune types and OA are different beasts.

It's good to self-manage though as much as possible and to explore these things. The NHS used to prescribe Glucosamine and Chondroitin but I think the current thinking is that they don't relieve pain though they are supposed to reduce loss of cartilege. My husband, who has very mild OA swears by them.

Cod liver oil is different and I think it is supposed to help OA. I don't know about Brewers Yeast or Boron.

A word of advice. Supplements are not regulated in the way prescription meds are so ensure you're taking ones of consistent quality, in the right dosage, which won't clash with any of your prescription meds or conditions. A pharmacist could advise on these things.

As for diet, I believe the only proven help is a generally healthy one ie lots of fresh veg and fruit, not too much red meat and avoid processed foods. sugar and salt as much as you can. Have a look at Arthritis Care's suggestions in 'Healthy Lifestyle' at the bottom of the page. http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Selfmanagement

cherrybim

Hello Meee,

As ever, Sticky has given good and sensible advice

35 years ago, whilst in hospital for a month, during which time my Rheumy Consultant was trying to stabilise my RA, he tried the 'diet' idea on another patient. It had no effect and 10 years later his opinion was; normal diet such as would've been the norm during and after WW2 when fats and carbohydrates were limited, was probably the most sensible diet. He said that the baby boomers were seldom overweight whereas, (even 25 years ago) obesity was becoming a problem with the emerging population.

"My" Orthopaedic surgeon who has now performed 10 ops on me, gosh is it that many :shock: was having a chat with me and the lady in the next bed prior to surgery and she asked him about the benefits of glucosamine etc. His answer was "Well you can't get it on the NHS any more because it's unproven, but if you feel it's doing you good, that's a lot of dosh in the myriad companies profits"

Cherry x

dreamdaisy

In my experience nothing helps ease any aspect of my PsA or OA (not even the drugs) but a good healthy diet may help the rest of me in that I should avoid diabetes, stroke, heart disease etc. etc. etc. DD

ELAINE55555

HI Meee,

I think only the meds can help Ra. However I do take multi vitamins with iron, but only because I have a poor appetite. But anything is worth a try, what does not work for one may work for another.

kimbo1

Hello

When I was first diagnosed last year I looked into the diet malarkey but decided against trying a specific one. I think generally as long as you eat a well balanced diet that gives you all the nutrients you need you are on the right track!! And alot of the supplements are unproven and anyone can make claims about their benefits to health (one of my modules at uni is about public health and nutrition and learnt that little tip yesterday!)

Meeee

Thanks to everyone for the info, So it sounds like all these special diets don't really work.

Meeee

dreamdaisy

If they worked then this forum would not exist. It does because they don`t. DD

Kittkat

Hey mee. I believe the best management = meds+Good diet+Exercise. I hate restrictive diets.They make me miserable+they don't really work in my opinion/experience.

charleeh

Hi all,

the irony ay... I am just reading a book my friend bought me from a charity shop :

The Arthritic Cookbook - a diet for life

it's scary! On this diet, you must give up all dairy and all meat except chicken and fish, all fruit and not eat anything with additives in; especially something called monosodium glutamate.

My issue is this: when you have this horrible disease and your on a bad week, with swollen wrists, painful fingers and unable to stand for very long how can you really cook a fresh meal - I for one can't. I'd love to but physically I can't.

however: I have personal experience that eating certain foods can make me have a flare up, sweets like haribo and skittles have given me flare up's; pate has given me a flare up, drinking fruit juice can give me a flare up, having aspartame in sugar free drinks can give me a flare too.
I love fruit and couldn't be without that, but if I eat too much it can make me have a flare too but I just have small portions, I keep away from oranges though...... when I say flare: I generally mean I get swelling in my wrists from these foods. They have not yet caused a 'big flare'.

I believe that if you cut out foods that provide health benefits to try and reduce arthritic symptoms you could do more harm than good.... however, I do think there is something in the additives theory. Also, some folk believe that the pesticides on fruit and veg can cause flare ups - I have not experienced this tho; although I do buy a lot of organic stuff - thats just cus I am a hippy

I am just about to start a bit of a detox, nothing major just no take away and junk. I have ordered me some new essential oils (excellent for massaging painful joints and sciatic nerve!!!) and herbal teas from holland and barret (the sale is on!) and am going shopping tomorrow to buy some easy to prepare healthy organic stuff!

I don't think it can hurt eating more of certain foods to gain the heath benefits from: a herbal book I have says that ginger can help with inflamed joints, so I ordered some crystallised ginger to eat instead of chocolate. Also, I only eat ginger biscuits.

Sorry to waffle......

best wishes
Charleeh x

charleeh

p.s

I have a friend who has OA in his back and he swears by Glucosamine tabs.

I didn't get any benefit from them though, but I have RA - a different kettle of fish.

x

Settler

I truly believe what works for one person might not work for another, as in taste buds, my hubby loves wine and coffee, I do not like either in fact even the smell of coffee makes me retch , so it has to be trial and error for every singly person, hard it may seem, but thAts how it is, we were all made different

Settler

My chiropractor yesterday told me , do not eat red meat, dairy, or chicken it has pesticides and a few other things, she says eat salads, veg seeds and nuts, so I went home had lasagne chips and peas followed by a chocolate bear, lol, never asked her about alcohol , lol
Charleeh might keep an eye on what I'm eating, having said that though I do tend to eat same things, I am having a long flare at present,
Going try ibuprofen instead of diclafenac , was reading about them and I'm not keen on the latter, trial and error, might try some organic stuff though might have a point there