I haven't heard of any of vitamins and supplements that you should stay away from when you have RA, although I've heard of several that can help. In terms of foods, I'll give you some links to articles about diet and home remedies that have been shown to have a positive effect on inflammation. In addition, my shiatsu therapists, who had a degree in Chinese medicine, once told me to stay away from tomatoes, potatoes and fried foods and I found that she was right, especially on the fried foods. People are individuals and some people may be able to eat certain things that others can't, so I'd recommend that you keep a food diary for 3-4 weeks where you write down what you eat and how you feel each day, which should help you to see if there's any patterns and connections between what you eat and how you feel.

In terms of diets and supplements that can be helpful for RA, there are number of articles on the site that can give you more information. There are is some evidence that the Mediterranean diet may reduce inflammation and a whole grains diet can work, as well. Supplements like vitamin D and cod liver oil may also help, as can home remedies like gin-soaked raisins and tart cherries.

June Cleaver

9/16/09 2:40pm

You might want to check this book:

"Conquering Arthritis" by Barbara Allan

 

I purchased it from Amazon.com.  It goes into great detail regarding nutrition and the effects of anti-inflammatory foods on RA. Pretty amazing story of the author's journey from a wheelchair to a "normal" life via alternative treatments. I have just begun the read, but am quite intrigued, as I would love to be off all meds. I have learned from personal experience that some foods clearly cause pain in my joints. Wheat and corn most definitely increase pain; soy causes swelling; tomatoes and other acidic foods (such as strawberries) accelerate inflammation.  Different foods affect different people differently.....Allan's book gives info on how you can test yourself for food sensitivities and intolerances. It's all very interesting, and I'm hoping an alternative to methotrexate, etc. (my gnarly fingers are crossed!)  :  )

Lene Andersen, Health Guide

9/17/09 10:48am

Thanks for the tip!

 

I'm a bit skeptical about claims about going from a wheelchair to "normal" (having been in a wheelchair myself since I was 16 because of JRA), but I know that diet and alternative remedies can have a significant impact on your health, which is why I use traditional Western and alternative treatments. I'm definitely open to checking the book out and I'm sure that many of the things she's discovered can be helpful for people living with RA, but in my experience, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. I'm not trying to be a downer, just that it's usually a good idea to approach such claims with a grain of salt.

 

Good luck - would you mind letting us know how things go as you make your way through the book? I think it would be very interesting reading.