New Support for Nutrition Changes Recommended in this Blog

I have been convinced for quite some time nutritional changes I have made are partly responsible for how well my pain is controlled and my continuing “clinical remission”. Part of my “integrated approach” is working to control all bodily inflammation, not merely RA inflammation. The link I’m posting concerns the FODMOP diet and strengthens my hypothesis. Of course, it is being looked upon as a way to get rich quick which is how the greedheads approach everything. You don’t have to pay to learn these things. Make a change today. The hardest part is getting started.

The same could be said for blogging. My apologies for having ignored this blog since last March. This is merely stories about those things I feel have made a positive difference in living with RA.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-28/taming-stomachs-with-fodmap-diet-spurs-8-billion-market.html

Is the Paleo Diet for You?

Is the Paleo Diet for You? | Natural Grocers

This article is very helpful in understanding my dietary approach to nutrition. There is an even better article in the latest sales flyer from Natural Grocers, the Vitamin Cottage. I’m trying to get a link for it and I’ll post it when I do. My dietary changes have benefited my over-all well-being and if not a direct part of my RA remission, it is certainly an indirect part as exhibited by my increased vigor.

Statins and the Brain

Here is another interesting New York Times column concerning something that affects many of us. Anybody out there in RA land experience memory problems or brain fog? Any RA patients out there on statins for cholesterol? It seems statins could be part of my problem which, since I started statins in 2005, has been finding the energy to work out in the gym. It is a vicious cycle. It is more like a piece of the downward spiral I’ve experienced. I’m making it to the gym 2 days/week currently but having trouble working around MTX and daily fatigue, aches and pains. Brain fog has been a large part of my RA journey. Gee, I also don’t have much energy.

I’m going to continue my current supplement and statin regimen and make a decision after I see my next blood work in about 4 weeks. I will likely drop the statin and focus on the red rice yeast and niacin route.

Exercise, Statin Drugs, RA

My wife picked up a column in the New York Times on the effect of statin drugs on exercising, the cardio-vascular system and muscle tissue. It is rather disconcerting if true and reported accurately and one such as myself is on a statin drug. This gives me motivation to delve into how I might lower my total and LDL cholesterol because I am taking a statin. I tried omitting it for 6 weeks prior to my last blood draw and the rebound total cholesterol was higher than when I started the symvastatin. My new doctor called when he got the blood draw results because I forgot to tell him I was not taking the  statin and he thought the insanely high number was with the statin drug (heheheeee, NOT).

Looks like I’m in for another try on the the old red rice yeast and niacin treatment. I’m exercising now, only two days/wk but I can feel an improvement and that will be interesting. I wonder why I might not still have the energy to do more than 2/wk? Is it this or is it MTX and statin with RA (plus Father Time)? Stay tuned. Like Gilda Radner said “It’s Always Something”.

Vitamin B6 Eases Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis | Natural Grocers

Vitamin B6 Eases Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis | Natural Grocers.

Supplements and foods with anti-inflammatory properties has been a big part of my nutritional and supplement approach to managing my Rheumatoid Arthritis. This article supports that theory.

Beneficial Tree Nut Oils

Update: Great page from University of Nebraska about Nut Nutrition including the number of nuts/oz (28grams).

Here is a recent article posted on Twitter by Mike Weller, The Brain Guy,  concerning beneficial effects on the brain when walnuts are a strong part of diet as in the Mediterranean Diet. Another beneficial effect from olive oil, tree nut oils and fish oil is reducing arterial plaque. Sorry I am not to swift on posting new links (amongst other things).

@MikeWeller1 from Twitter.

Antioxidants in walnuts seem to boost memory and counteract cognitive decline (Wall Street Journal) – bit.ly/wJNOj5

This is why I try to have 1-2 oz of tree nuts daily. Beneficial common tree nuts include hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, filberts, almonds and pistachios. All oils have about 175 calories per tablespoon and can add up quickly. Eat no more than your total daily caloric intake allows, ie, you must account for these calories.

Thanks, Mike Weller!

Juice Fast for Weight Loss? – Dr. Weil

Juice Fast for Weight Loss? – Dr. Weil.

This article has some good, general nutrition suggestions for weight loss. There are other links in the article I urge anyone interested to read.

Invisible, Incurable Disease

Invisible, Incurable Disease

Good video for demonstrating that autoimmune diseases like RA are much more than the uninformed imagine.

Are Food Allergies Implicated in RA and AutoImmune Arthritis

This video presentation at TedXAustin by Robyn O’Brien, former Wall Street Food analyst and “Real Food Evangelist” is informative in documenting the beginning of food production and crop manipulation that has become a hallmark to big agri-business. It seems to me the linkage between engineered food and auto-immune processes is nightmarish and a matter of national concern. Unmentioned are other food industry standard operating processes, products, and containers like the similarity between canned food lining plastic and certain hormones.

Daily Diet Planning Aid for RA

Non-Inflammatory Food Chart

This chart is an aid to daily diet planning for 60ish male and female. One underlying assumption is there is no gluten or high fructose corn syrup in this diet. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2009 we came up with this diet for an elimination diet or challenge diet and basically, a long-term guide for daily living. I never used all the soy mentioned in the chart. Lean, free-range, hormone and anti-biotic free meats were added after a few weeks due to other issues with soy.

“tea” in the chart is abbreviation for “teaspoon”. Sorry. Oil in tree nuts is known to reduce arterial plaque so I purposely consume pecans, walnuts, filberts, hazelnuts and pistachios although the volume must be carefully monitored because a fat is a fat is a fat calorie-wise. Peanuts and peanut butter is not a tree nut and while the oil is much better than some kinds of oil it is not as concentrated with Omega 3 oil. Fruits like blueberries, cherries and dark grapes are grazed at will during the day due to their anti-oxidant properties. Raisins, dried cranberries, and dried prunes are eaten when fresh is not available. All bright color veggies are also usually loaded with anti-oxidants.

If you are immuno-suppressed reduction in all forms of inflammation in your body will give you greater resources to deal with the RA.

Remember to add stuff back one thing at a time. I was pleased to be able to basically add back everything but gluten bearing grains. Most importantly, figure out if you are gluten sensitive or intolerant.

Up next, supplements.