is there anything in my diet that i should avoid with RA/

The first time a doctor suggested a change in diet to me was over 30 years ago and since then, I've heard different recommendations for a different things in terms of how what you eat can affect your RA. At present, diet can't replace medical treatment, but there is some evidence that the Mediterranean diet has some anti-inflammatory properties. Joy Buchanan wrote an article on a study of the vegan diet and included links to another article about the Mediterranean diet - you can read more here.

In general, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can never go wrong - at the healthier you are, the better you'll feel. Personally, I once spoke to my shiatsu therapist about diet and she mentioned that tomatoes, potatoes and fried foods can increase inflammation and I noticed a definite connection - if I ate fried foods more than two days in a row, my joints started feeling damp and soggy. You might consider keeping a food and symptom diary for a few weeks, maybe even a month, in which you can write down what you eat every day and what your symptoms are like. It may help you discover patterns and possible links between the food you eat and how your RA is feeling.

Hi - if it helps, I've always been told by my homeopaths that anything in the nightshade family - potatoes, tomatoes, peppers/capsicum, aubergines/egg plant and tobacco - should be actively avoided.  Also, anything acidic can increase flare ups and I've been advised to limit eating red meat.  Fish is good - in fact, anything that's rich in Omega 3 and you could take fish oil supplements to assist in maintaining good joint mobility.  I take cod liver oil in tablet form plus multi-vitamins to assist in all round good health.

I have Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (am 38) and have found acupuncture to assist plus yoga is marvellous for helping to maintain mobility, strength and mental well-being; knowing that you have some movement at times when you may not feel that things are so good does wonders for your emotional health (or it certainly does for me).

All the best.

I was diagnosed with RA about six months ago.  My doctor told me that diet does not affect RA.  I have been experimenting on my own with foods to see what I should avoid.  I notice that any type of dairy makes my pain and swelling really bad.  I am avoiding all dairy.  I am also avoiding red meat and only eat chicken every 3 days.  I eat alot of fish, veggies and fruit.  This really seems to help.