Have any of you changed your diet in order to help your RA? Is there such a thing as an RA diet?
Yes. Though I did it also due to another autoimmune disease and on suggestion from gastroenterologist. Gluten free, dairy free, no sugar, low Fodmap. Have felt enormously better. Others on here have too. Generally seems like people feel better with low carb, no sugar. Good luck!
I don’t have IBD but rather have had IBS type issues. The first autoimmune disease I was Dx with 15 years ago had my specialist suggest getting off dairy which I did at that time. Then a couple of years ago was having gastritis episodes. After endoscopy gastroenterologist suggested doing low Fodmap diet testing. Sure enough discovered a major Fodmap category that was awful for me. Also went gluten free during that process (though gluten is not a Fodmap, but wheat is) and felt way better. Then when Dx with RA in January decided to cut out sugar because it’s so toxic to the gut. Lo and behold, getting rid of sugar was a huge help. In the end I have given up some foods but added way more! I’m doing 30 plants per week now (also includes things like spices and nuts) and feel way better. That’s an additive section of my diet, lots of different fruits and veggies. But like others have mentioned sugar is the worst of the worst for me. If I cheat on that now it will be a tiny tiny lick of dark chocolate rarely. It was hard at first, sugar is so addictive but now it just tastes sickly sweet to me. Something like A handful of blueberries with a handful of nuts takes the place easily of sweets. Anyway that’s my story! Good luck on your journey 
Thank you for sharing what has worked for you. No sugar is a huge one for many, including myself. Did you end up working with an integrative doctor or nutritionist? Or did you just go at it on your own? -Effie, team member
For decades I poo-poohed diets and tried so many of them that didn't work. Well, you can guess what happened. Recently, I tried another diet just to prove to somesone who kept asking me to do it that it wouldn't work and then lo and behold... yeah, it worked. No sugar, low carbs, low fat. Turns out, sugar is like one of my super-duper RA triggers, right up there with stress. I can start to feel the effects literally hours after I eat it. Then there is the whole AIP - autoimmune protocol diet, but that was way too strict for me. I just edited it down and made my own that works for me. The number one rule with diets is you have to make it so that you can actually do it. Too strict and you will fail, 100% of the time! Let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Keep on keepin' on, DPM
Hello
thanks so much for reaching out! In addition to the helpful feedback from CeePS101 and Daniel, I just wanted to share a couple articles with you about diet and RA. This article has some general information about diet and RA, https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/diet-and-nutrition, and this one has more information on the AIP diet that Daniel referenced above, https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/clinical/aip-diet. Have you changed your diet, or are you currently thinking of trying this? There are a lot of ways to help get some relief, and many people here have found dietary changes helpful, that being said, what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. We appreciate you starting this discussion! -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) i will openly admit this has been THE HARDEST PART. The lifestyle change - causal glasses of wine, eating whatever I want..,I’ve put a lot of pressure on my self since my diagnosis over the last 4 years to “get it right immediately” some days I’m better at it than others my biggest advice is - BE PATIENT, START SMALL. I’m constantly having to remind myself change didn’t happen over night.
I aspire to go full Mediterranean but I grew up in a household that eats LOTS OF MEAT. Im leaning more towards veggies and seafood. Occasionally chicken maybe once a week. But I honestly got the best tip from my functional medicine doctor: KEEP IT SIMPLE AND ROUTINE. Routine is brining but it works and your body can expect it!
I make sure every meal has TONS of greens: add spinach to my eggs and slice of avocado for bfast, salad with veggies beans or fish for lunch, snacks are raw veggies and nuts…I don’t add a lot of variation because that overwhelmed me but…
Start slow and easy. There are also A LOT OF good examples of easy anti inflammatory meal plans online for free!
It’s hard. There’s no way around that part I’m finding!
Hi
. You certainly are not alone in finding developing a plan for diet/food to be one of the hardest aspects of managing RA. I do want to share with you this article from our patient leader Kelly Mack (full disclosure - I'm her husband) which cites some research backing up the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the Mediterranean diet: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/diet-holistic-approach. Hope this helps with keeping on your path. Best, Richard (Team Member)
