Have you seen beneficial results from changing your diet?
Hi! I'm asking another question on behalf of a fellow community member:
"Has anyone found beneficial results by completely changing your diet as a functional approach? Enough to avoid conventional medicine."
How effective have you found diet to be in managing your psoriatic arthritis? What kind of diet changes? Please share your experiences with us!
Yes!
My daughter was diagnosed as coeliac. I’ve never had any gastro symptoms but they recommended all close relatives were tested.
Tests and a further biopsy confirmed I was coeliac too.
Within a month of going gluten free I had come off all my immunosuppressants which had been making me sicker.
Definitely worth trying a month gluten free!!!!wow. It's crazy how things happen sometimes. If your daughter had not been diagnosed sounds like you might have never known you had it as well. I hope both of you are doing well now. Vickie W., Team Member
I would never say that diet alone will suffice for treating PsA, and I believe it is foolish to try this approach without the benefit of medications. But, certainly, one's diet can lead to a better treatment outcome than medicine alone. The very first recommendation I would make for anyone suffering PsA is to change your diet, if you haven't already adjusted to a healthier diet. I'm not talking gluten free, dairy free, keto, or any of the popular diets that people speculate will lead to an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. I also do not believe in an "anti-inflammatory" diet. But there are plenty of foods that can cause or exacerbate inflammation. The big one I cut out was red meat, at least on a regular basis. I only ever rarely eat red meat, and then only as an ingredient in a meal, in small amounts. My primary source of animal protein is dairy, eggs, and fish, with occasional poultry. But the bulk of my diet, I'd say 75% or more, is plant based. I found that lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and legumes really have no effect on my disease activity, whereas trans fats and red meat, as well as sugar and other refined carbs, do cause an immediate uptick in symptoms.
, I agree with you that diet alone will not cure PsA. Throw a rock and you are bound to hit some new and trendy diet. Its an overload of information and promises. Supplements have their place but used without medical supervision can cause problems. I have made changes in my diet in an effort to drive down inflammation.
I am a sugar lover. I have cut that way, way down. I eat cleaner. More vegetables and fruit, more protein and less carbs.
Do I still have PsA? Yes. Am I flaring less? Absolutely.
One community member shared their experiences with us via private messaging on Instagram. Here's what they had to say: "Yes. When doctors couldn't figure it out I did my own research. Changed my diet and started supplements. Went Antiinflammatory or AIP. No bad oils, minimally processed, no corn/gluten/sugar/alcohol, etc. Started probiotics, vitamin D, Curcumin, Boswellia, Fish Oil, Black Seed Oil and Joint specific supplements. Was feeling much better, but then in Nov 2019 I caught Covid before knowing what it was. That flared me worse than ever and advanced all the symptoms I ever had. Now diet/supps alone don't work. But, at least I have an official diagnosis to treat." Warmly, Minel (Team Member)
