Diet? Gluten?

Moller841
Moller841 Member Posts: 28
edited 26. Apr 2012, 04:35 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hey,

I was told by a relative who has OA and she thinks that a gluten free diet could help me with my RA, is there any evidence or experience from other to support this?

Hope everyone is well

T

Comments

  • theresa4
    theresa4 Member Posts: 696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Everyone is different so you never know until you try, Ive been wheat and gluten free for years with no aid to my RA.
    Just bear in mind it is a hard one to avoid as its in alot of products so you will have to read everything and expensive unless you are ceoliac. It is a long term commitment if you want to have any benefit it is not a quick fix and you wont see any benefits if any for months.
    Im certainly not trying to put you off. I didnt realise how many other health issues the wheat caused me until I stopped eating it, I had indigestion which went with the wheat and other things.
    I wish you luck whatever you decide.

    Theresa
    There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those. --Michael Nolan



    Theresa xxx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I would doubt it but I guess we all try loads of stuff. I know I used to. If you look at the Publication & Resources button (top right) AC do produce a booklet on diet but I think the conclusion is that a healthy diet helps but as for the rest......it may or may not.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • theresa4
    theresa4 Member Posts: 696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    One more thing....

    try not to get roped into that ...my uncle/aqunt/cousin/friend of a friend took this or did this and their RA/OA went away, rememeber there are no miracle cures or we wouldnt be on here :) Take what advice you feel might help and ignore what you dont.

    Take it from someone who has spent a fortune on alternatives
    Diet adjustments may or may not help in my experience they havent.
    Reflexology is nice and Ive enjoyed massages, hydrotherapy, it all feels good, is expensive, but only lasts a short time.

    Its personal choice
    Theresa
    There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those. --Michael Nolan



    Theresa xxx
  • applerose
    applerose Member Posts: 3,621
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My rheumie told me that diet didn't affect RA at all but some people felt it did. The only way was to try it as everyone is different.
    Christine
  • Moller841
    Moller841 Member Posts: 28
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think i will try it and see what happens... even if it doesn't help with the RA it will probably help me lose some weight...
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    GF products are often low in B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, iron, zinc, magnesium, and fibre. Few if any gluten-free products are enriched or fortified with these nutrients so perhaps you should think about taking some supplements if you continue for any length of time. I am not sure that a GF diet will help you lose weight. Perhaps if you forgo the bread and cakes as they are expensive to buy but you can make them of course which would be cheaper!

    I wish you all the best if you go ahead.

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • kellerman
    kellerman Member Posts: 741
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I gave up eating bread weeks ago but not because I thought it would help my OA it was because of indigestion.
    It really has stopped that but as for helping anything else....no it hasn't helped.
    To go completely gluten free is a tough one as its possible some meds have it in them.
    Anything is worth a try but please don't lose out on your vitamins and minerals your body needs every day.
    May
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    elnafinn wrote:
    GF products are often low in B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, iron, zinc, magnesium, and fibre. Few if any gluten-free products are enriched or fortified with these nutrients so perhaps you should think about taking some supplements if you continue for any length of time.

    That's a good point. I once (twice actually) went on a very restricted diet which was supposed to help arthritis and got worse on both occasions. My guess is I wasn't getting enough of all those little bits of vital things. However, I think you should always check with your doc before taking supplements as some can interfere with meds.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Nellyphant
    Nellyphant Member Posts: 27
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm gluten free. It is hard at first. Not for my OA or fibro but for the IBS I've suffered with for my entire life. I'm lactose free too. It has really helped with my digestive issues but I can't say it's helped with any pain or swelling etc.
  • applerose
    applerose Member Posts: 3,621
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My Gp has asked me to try and be wheat-free from tomorrow for suspected IBS. Need to have blood tests to try and find out why. Will see if it makes any difference to my RA, although not expecting it to.

    (Went shopping today and didn't realise how many things had wheat in. :shock: )
    Christine
  • phoenixoxo
    phoenixoxo Member Posts: 625
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    I'm gluten free too, plus wheat free and lactose free for the same reason as Nellyphant: digestive issues. I haven't noticed any change to my joints (I have PsA, a type similar to RA), but I have benefited from no longer enduring chronic tummy trouble!

    Elna's right about the nutritional (lack of) value in GF foods, and my GP prescribes Fortisip to make up for this. GF bread's expensive, but I think you can get it on prescription along with other products if you have problems with gluten. I don't need to worry about cakes because my mum makes me batches of GF chocolate muffins! She's the best :D

    Happy eating, whatever diet you choose!
    Phoebe
    PsA (psoriatic arthritis) and other things since 1990. Happy to help when I can :-)
  • Moller841
    Moller841 Member Posts: 28
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yes i looked into doing a GF diet and most people agree it don't do much, but i have been suggested to go low Carbs for a while to see if it has any effect on how i feel...

    No i wish my mum made muffins haha ill be lucky if she puts the kettle on...

    Maybe trial and error is the best way forward with most of this stuff... o some fun times ahead...
  • phoenixoxo
    phoenixoxo Member Posts: 625
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Moller841 wrote:
    No i wish my mum made muffins haha ill be lucky if she puts the kettle on...

    Yes, I'm lucky my mum enjoys baking :lol:
    Keep us updated with your trials and errors – not too many errors, hopefully!

    Best wishes,
    Phoebe
    PsA (psoriatic arthritis) and other things since 1990. Happy to help when I can :-)
  • kate21
    kate21 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,
    My nan has Ra only mildly since she was 40 and manages it only with a gluten-free diet - going gluten-free when she has a flare.

    I developed RA in my late teens and have it much more severely than my nan. It took me a long time to get medical support so I explored diet following my nans advice. I didn't just do gluten-free through I went on a pretty drastic elimination diet to try and determine if eleminaing any certain types of food helped releive symptoms. I discovered lactose and gluten were both problems for me. Although having a lactose and gluten free diet does not eliminate my need for medication.

    I got the info from this website - recommended by a friend http://drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Main_Page
    but it has changed lots since then.

    Just thought you might like another perspective. Good luck. x
  • kate21
    kate21 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have to agree - some gluten free food is worse than awful. Particularly anything bread/cracker/biscuit based I would say. Can recommend rice pasta though and a lot of the sweet foods - chocolate cakes, macaroons etc that the do in the supermarkets are lovely. When did the elimination diet it was entirely no processed foods, so I don't have much experience of foods that would normally contain gluten but have been made without it - I just ate foods that were naturally gluten free.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I would imagine gluten is quite difficult to avoid. I read recently that it crops up in toothpaste, shampoo and cosmetics. :o
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • lululu
    lululu Member Posts: 486
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My sister has ceoliac disease and till then I would not have thought about it but have discovered that gluten is in almost every processed food I can think of, ie sauces, yoghurt just picked up a bottle of Omega 3 pure fish oil that is on the table in front of me and yes it is in them too.. And yes she is lacking in many vitamins. Bread is available on prescription but I think it is only for Ceoliacs not just for 'fad' diets, I read on I think a NHS site that GP,s will soon not be able to prescribe foods for Ceoliacs as the bread etc. is not esential for health. (more ways to save money)
  • AutoimmuneResearcher
    AutoimmuneResearcher Bots Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    I see lots if testimonies to gluten free helping ibd and crohns. I remember reading too that sulphasalazine is used to treat digestive issues as well as arthritis?

    I control my arthritis with diet and exercise. I use rice flour a lot for baking and agree with earlier post that rice pasta is almost as good as the real thing! I saw the ref to the drmyhill site that Kate posted - very interesting stuff there. I don't believe there is any calcium fortification in gluten products - but they do put other vits in bread.

    Whatever you try - stay strong and go with your gut!

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