| Might you have a food intolerance that makes your | | | | If you think certain foods affect your arthritis, you could |
| joints ache? | | | | try eating the standard Stone Age Diet, which includes |
| If you thought your joints felt achy after a meal, only to | | | | only fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, for one month, or |
| doubt yourself after hearing that no evidence links | | | | follow the elimination diet, which is discussed in the |
| food allergies to rheumatoid arthritis, you're not alone. | | | | book The Real Life Diet. Studies have shown that if a |
| Until now science offered little evidence to support this | | | | person is food-sensitive, this type of diet can help |
| connection. | | | | reduce morning stiffness and pain, improve range of |
| Most studies have focused on antibodies (proteins that | | | | motion and lower inflammatory mediators in the blood. |
| attack foreign substances) in the blood, but that focus | | | | In a recent study British researchers noted that when |
| may have been wrong. Food-related antibodies may | | | | on The Real Life Diet, more than one-third of |
| not show up in the blood but in the gut of people with | | | | participants with rheumatoid arthritis felt better and had |
| rheumatoid arthritis, and that's just where researchers | | | | less morning stiffness. A few study patients were able |
| at the University of Oslo, Norway, looked. They found | | | | to return to walking and all other previous activities. |
| that, in test tubes at least, the intestinal fluid of people | | | | Investigate the Food Detective for Food Intolerance |
| with rheumatoid arthritis had higher levels of antibodies | | | | Self-diagnosis by diet alone can be difficult, as food |
| to proteins from milk, cereal, eggs, cod and pork than in | | | | intolerances often have a delayed onset. This means |
| people without rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | that symptoms can arise hours, days or weeks after |
| Gut to Brain: Here Come the Allergies | | | | you've eaten a problem food. |
| Since your gut welcomes food first, the gut's immune | | | | An alternative way to check whether you have food |
| system is the first to recognize potential substances | | | | intolerance is to use a new test called the Food |
| that cause allergic reactions. | | | | Detective. A first in the world, the test can be done at |
| Food allergies occur when your immune system | | | | home with a simple pinprick of blood, which will yield a |
| mistakenly believes that something you ate is harmful. | | | | result in 30-40 minutes. |
| To protect you, the immune system produces | | | | The test results will show which food(s) you should |
| immunoglobulin E - also called IgE antibodies - against | | | | eliminate from your diet to alleviate your symptoms. |
| that food. The antibodies set off a chain reaction that | | | | These foods include gluten, rice, cocoa beans, |
| causes symptoms. | | | | mushrooms, yeast, nuts, soya, shellfish, eggs and dairy |
| In some people, the antibodies and proteins bind | | | | products. More than 70% of testers who eliminated |
| together and form immune complexes in the intestine. | | | | offending food groups from their diets experienced an |
| These immune complexes then circulate and get into | | | | improvement of their ailments. |
| every nook and cranny of the body, including the joints, | | | | If you're suffering with aches and pains or diagnosed |
| where they may contribute to inflammation. Once | | | | arthritis, it might be worth it to eliminate the guesswork |
| antibodies are made against a particular food, the body | | | | and get yourself properly tested. If you have food |
| instantly recognizes that food the next time it is | | | | intolerance the symptoms can range from anxiety, |
| consumed, and the cycle begins again. | | | | constipation and diarrhoea to insomnia, migraines, |
| Do Certain Foods Make Your Arthritis Worse? | | | | arthritis, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome. |