Foods that help/hinder RA?

[diane4623]

Does anyone out there have any knowledge about specific foods that either help RA or irritate the situation - for you anyway???? It would sure be nice to know if there are foods to stay away from..... Thanks in advance!

[diane4623]

Thank you both for your replies!

[TrudieC]

I have found benefit from taking fish oil capsules and increasing the omega 3's (eggs, flax, fatty fish) in my diet.  I've seen some references to avoiding nightshade vegetables (potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) but I feel the health benefits of them far outweigh any possible negatives.  They do say to stay absolutely away from alfafa sprouts and since this wasn't part of my diet no problems.  Some say soy can cause inflammation so I limit my intake but have not cut entirely out.  Rooibos tea supposedly has anti-inflammatory abilities.  Because of possible heart disease with RA it is advisable to eat a lower animal fat (reduce your red meat and stick to lean cuts, increase fish and chicken) diet that includes lots of vegetables and complex carbs.  Try to keep your consumption of sugars and caffeine down.

[txsilver]

Excellent question!  The mayo clinic site states that there is some research to support oranges and fish oil as reducing joint inflammation.  I also attended a lecture by a rheumy who had done some studies involving cherries and found they were beneficial to reducing symptoms.  I tried it and I think it helped, but I cannot say with certainty that it was not the power of suggestion.
I saw an accupuncturist who told me to stay away from spicy foods as they are believed to increase inflammation.  I have a passion for horseradish and wasabi so this was not easy for me.  Sometimes I eat them and think I feel worse the next day and sometimes I think there is no impact at all, but it may have to do with the fact I do try to avoid these foods and only eat them on special occasions when I am likely to over exert myself anyway.
If you search the web, you will find all kinds of advice and special diets that are sure to change your life!  Many years ago when I was wrongly diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I tried several snake oil miracle cures.  As I got no results except a lighter pocketbook, I realized that if there was anything out there that really would make a huge difference, I'd see it on the nightly news and plastered all over the web.
That said, there are people with food allergies who omit the food discovered to be the culprit and find they either are or are practically symptom free.  I wish that were the case for all of us!  I would gladly give up a food (and have tried it in earnest) to relieve my pain.