Can people actually “cure” their arthritis with diet?

bretaincrab3
bretaincrab3 Member Posts: 2
edited 4. May 2020, 10:22 in Living with arthritis

Maybe a highly debated topic but... I see this all over the internet. Can an anti inflammatory diet do anything more than help symptoms? Maybe if you have a mild case?

I am on humira and I find anti inflammatory diet helps but certainly cant imagine not taking the biological as well. I am only a few months into my thritis journey so I need some perspective. Thanks in advance!

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Comments

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,959

    Welcome to the Versus Arthritis online Community bretaincrab3 on behalf of myself and the Moderating Team 🙂

    This is indeed a highly debated topic, but one which deserves to be discussed from time to time. Some poo-poo the very idea others swear by diet!

    I attach the Versus Arthritis information on the subject it is very comprehensive:

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/diet-and-nutritional-supplements/

    This link is all about diet less about vitamins:

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/february/can-your-diet-help-arthritis/

    I am very pleased that you have found this forum and hope you will find it helpful.

    Best wishes

    Ellen.

  • Kitty
    Kitty Member Posts: 3,583

    Hi Chris,

    On a purely personal level, diet never made any difference to my RA or my OA, so I can't be any help. But I know quite a number of people swear by one particular diet or another. I think it's a case of try it and see. I think the most popular diet among those who do, is the Mediterranean diet. Although many won't touch tomatoes or potatoes.

    Mediterranean Diet (Penn Medicine).jpg


    kitten.jpg

    "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." Robert A Heinlein

  • helgamcc
    helgamcc Member Posts: 2

    I have osteoarthritis affecting my hands & feet. I have had a terrible journey of increasing pain. Constant throbbing in my hands and occasional spikes in pain.

    The NHS specialist gave me Corticosteroid injections which only helped slightly for a few weeks before the pain returned. I was only 48 at that stage & they were suggesting the next step would be surgery, but that would permanently affect my grip and ability to pinch.

    I tried a Cannabiinoid MediPen which helped releive the pain, and meant I needed less injections. Not sure the doctor was too happy about that. It is very expensive however.

    Anyway, I made a dietary change as an experiement, to see if it would help. I measured my progress each day. Amazingly, after 2 weeks, my pain suddenly "dropped off cliff" down to virtually no pain. Inflammation gone.

    The change I made was to the carnivore diet: basically, avoiding vegetables. A wonderful diet of meat (steak, lamb, pork, chicken), fish & eggs.

    I have now been on the carnivore diet for 686 days, and no sign of scurvy. I have aso had full blood tests done (Medichecks Well Woman) and all good results.

    Apart from massively helping my arthitis, I have also found it easier to lose weight and improved skin & hair. Would highly recommend anyone with arthitis to try the carnivore diet, just for 1 month, to see if it helps you.

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,959

    Very interesting @helgamcc to read.

    I am glad to hear you don't have scurvy! That made me smile 🙂 Do you take vitamins to combat any possible deficiencies in your diet?

    Welcome to the Versus Arthritis Online Community and thank you for sharing your story.

    I am looking forward to reading what our members have to say on the subject.

    Ellen

  • helgamcc
    helgamcc Member Posts: 2

    Thanks @Ellen

    Diet is such a complicated subject. Science is very poor. Humans aren't lab rats and there are a lot of people with an agenda. Meanwhile, people like us suffer and need to find our own way.

    The carnivore diet makes sense to me as it elimates a lot of potentially toxic plants and is providing all the nutrients we need as humans. I don't take any supplements (like vitamins or fish oils). Just eat real food.

    It's a strange thing to get our heads around a different diet, and I only tried this out of desperation & pain. Amazing results though and I highly recommend people try it to see if it helps.

  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,399
    edited 28. Apr 2020, 16:45

    Hi Bretaincrab3,

    Some people say diet helps their arthritis whereas others poo-poo it. For me, personally, I'm in the latter category as I found it didn't help me when I changed my diet.

    I tried, 34 years ago and at first I convinced myself it was helping. I cut out all red meats, dairy and fresh fruit following a book I'd read in the library. When I started the diet I weighed 8 stone and when my weight fell below 7 stone I stopped weighing myself but continued on the diet. After I'd been following it, strictly, for 4 months we went on holiday and I decided to relax the regime. It was then, when I went back to a balanced diet, that I realised how ill and tired I had been.

    Below is a photo of me on the diet and then a couple of years later when I'd clawed some weight back. I know which one makes me look healthier.

    I would add too, that, for you, it might be worth a try as we're all different and if you don't try, you'll never know.


    Love, Legs x

    Picture1.png


    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • Airwave!
    Airwave! Member Posts: 2,479

    If a diet Helps then it’ll give you a positive lift which may be real or perceived. I have loved oily fish since I was little and in general eat all the right things in life but I still have widespread OA from an early age, or was I just standing in the wrong place when it was handed out?😁


    its a grin, honest!

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,337

    Legs! It's LOVELY to see you you look as gorgeous as I thought you would 🙂

    Airwave bless you i think you were in the wrong place at the wrong time🙄

  • Japagow
    Japagow Member Posts: 4
    I do think diet is important. The nightshade (?) foods ...I might have got the name wrong...aubergine, sardines, red pepper are a few could be avoided. I think avoiding processed foods as much as possible is good for all of us but for RA sufferers it is advisable. Eat "live" food. Salad, veg, fresh fish chicken. No junk crap.
  • Japagow
    Japagow Member Posts: 4
    Fruit is important avoid citric acid e.g. oranges
  • Ray
    Ray Member Posts: 7
    Diet does play a part,.its just to what degree. Few years ago.i had an attack of.what I now know as gout, looked into what I ate and found some trigger foods which I now avoid, but i also increase amount i drank water but with.tea bag in lol. I only had 3 more attacks since2 were down to not drinking enough the other was another food which had become a trigger food but like most things its different each person what works for one dont for another

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