Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

If you're like me, and will try just about anything to avoid a (shortened) lifetime on toxic drugs, you want to hear about these rheumatoid arthritis diet studies and other natural options.

If dangerous drugs were the only way for a person to gain relief from suffering, we would be forced to accept the drawbacks of conventional therapy for autoimmune illnesses. The reality is, however, that dietary and nutritional interventions work for autoimmune diseases such a rheumatoid arthritis.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD, Eat To Live

Below are some rheumatoid arthritis diet facts that I have learned:

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Tip #1: Avoid Your Food Triggers

Consequently, rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to allergies and food sensitivities (Zeller, 1949). Many studies have shown that RA worsens when people eat foods they are allergic or sensitive to, and improves when these foods are avoided (i.e. Darlington, Ramsey, Mansfield, 1986; Beri, Malaviya, Shandilya, Singh, 1988; Panush 1988; Taylor, 1983).

Interestingly, in studies, the vast majority of RA patients have elevated levels of antibodies to milk and/or wheat, suggesting allergies to these (O’Farrelly, Price, McGillivray, Fernandes, 1989). A study published in the Lancet suggests that one-third of people with RA may be able to control their disease completely through food allergy elimination (Darlington, Ramsey, 1991), suggesting that identification and elimination of symptom-triggering foods should be done with the help of a doctor.

Part of the rheumatoid arthritis diet is understanding what sets your immune system into overdrive. Unfortunately, common food allergy tests done on skin and blood don't do a good job showing food antibodies in people with RA. A better, though more expensive (and invasive) approach is to test intestinal fluids for food antibodies (See related study.) Therefore, possibly the best way to test for food sensitivities is via an elimination diet. In Dr. Fuhrman's book, Fasting and Eating for Health, he suggests that if your body is very symptomatic, you first do a medically supervised water fast to eliminate your body of the toxins that are stored in your tissues and allow your immune system to reset itself. Then, over a period of time, reintroduce foods back into your diet, noting how they affect your body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Tip #2: Avoid Fat

Jacobsson et al. (1990) looked at the correlation of the composition of fat tissue and fat intake with disease duration in rheumatoid arthritis. They found that people with RA reported to eat more fat, particularly animal fat, than those without RA. Similarly, Lucas and Power (1981) looked at the effect of dietary fat on rheumatoid arthritis and found that diets completely free of fat help people with RA achieve remission. In a study published in the Lancet, Palmblad (1977) showed that excess fat hinders immune function.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Tip #3: Eat Your Greens

Max Warmbrand, a naturopathic doctor, explained in his book, How thousands of my arthritis patients regained their health, how a very low-fat diet free of meat, dairy, chemicals, sugar, eggs, and processed foods was used to treat people with RA.

Similarly, Borchgrevink et al. (1991) found that a vegetarian, gluten-free diet leads to improved RA symptoms.

Studies looking at populations in rural China (Beasley and Bennett, 1983) and Africa (Beighton et al., 1975), which consume nearly vegetarian diets- mostly fruits, vegetables, and grains, find that autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are nearly nonexistent.

Need Help Getting Started?

I have found these websites which are quite helpful:

1. FatFreeVegan.com. She has tons of great Fat-Free, Vegan recipes - plus sections for gluten free and Eat to Live recipes too!
2. Eat-2-Live Yahoo group. This support group also has recipes, and you can talk to and connect with other Eat to Live'ers.

I love Chef AJ too:

Here are some helpful articles too:

• Eating Peas
• Cooking with Spinach
• Add Cruciferous Vegetables to Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

Other Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Research

Below are some other research studies I have found in support of an rheumatoid arthritis diet:

A vegan diet free of gluten improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: the effects on arthritis correlate with a reduction in antibodies to food antigens
I. Hafström, B. Ringertz, A. Spångberg, L. von Zweigbergk, S. Brannemark, I. Nylander, J. Rönnelid, L. Laasonen and L. Klareskog
Rheumatology 2001; 40: 1175-1179

Conclusion: The data provide evidence that dietary modification may be of clinical benefit for certain RA patients, and that this benefit may be related to a reduction in immunoreactivity to food antigens eliminated by the change in diet.

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