Author: rafitnesswarriors

I want to share a bit of my story. 16 years ago I was having so many health problems. I was unable to even put shoes on. I was barely able to walk and to sit down was so hard, getting up was almost impossible. After being told by one Dr. that it was because it was humid out, one telling me I had the flu, and one saying they were just not sure but something must be wrong. They finally started testing me. I had Lyme's disease it took 16 weeks for them to diagnose it and now not only do I fight the side effects that never go away from Lyme's but, I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis. As it has progressed over the last 16 years I have started developing Fibromyalgia. After a crazy amount of med changes, going on prednisone that made me gain 75 lbs in 3 months. I had been put on methotrexate. I loved this one! FINALLY no pain or at least in was manageable. Months of this relief I finally thought I might get back my normal life. Then I go for my 3 week blood draw. I get a call 2 hours later saying I need to immediately stop taking them and go see my Rheumatologist. My wonder drug/ life saver had done so much damage to my liver he compared it to that of someone drinking hard liquor all day for 20 years. I was devastated. I started to feel defeated and wanted to give up. For the next year it was a constant medication change. Then when I finally realized my RA Doctor was not even paying attention to me I switched. This one gave me a stern talking to about the meds and talking care of myself. I had been put on Humaria shots along with my other meds by the initial RA doctor.  After 3 months I finally had enough my leg would swell up every time and everything that swelled up then turn into a bruise. I took my shot the day before going to my next RA appointment. She took me off those shots right away and had me start Enbrel I really like the help it gives me but I had finally had enough. I feel horrible I am too heavy and I wanted to give up.  Then one day I just realized that I am letting this thing beat me!!!  I started working out eating healthier and cleaner. I opt to try more natural products and foods. This is what made me start wanting to create a blog. There are so many people out there that don't know where to start or how. My intention with this blog is to help those hoping to go the healthier route. I am a certified nutritionist for fitness and I have gone through being a fitness trainer.  If you have questions feel free to send me a message or post. If you want personal help I will go through this with you too.

Talking Inflammatory Foods

I am sure you have looked at the overwhelming list of foods that you are told to avoid. There are many that are definite NO NO foods. There are some that not everyone gets reactions from. For newly diagnosed people and people that have battled for a while this list can still feel so frustrating. I still have days where I think oh man I am never going to eat. I will starve to death with all the foods I am not allowed to have. I do want to say that only you know your body. So if there are foods here minus the big NO NO foods and you do not react to them you can continue to eat them. This list is just the top recommended ones. So lets start with the ones that are clearly going to be ones you want to avoid.

* ALCOHOL – not only is this made with a lot of the grains you should not have but a large majority of medications will tell you that alcohol and them do not mix. I was not really a drinker before so this was not an issue for me to stop. However, the reality of how this one is no joke hit me when I went to a friends bar. I had a beer halfway through that beer I got dizzy and felt so sick it took me 2 days to recover. I am not saying this is the case for everyone. What I will say is this is one that should ABSOLUTELY be followed. Meds and alcohol are do not play well together. The main reason this causes inflammation is because of the effect it has on your liver.

*REFINED SUGARS and HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUPS – they will not help you and if you are trying to control weight these are one of the biggest hidden diet sabotages. If you are hypoglycemic or diabetic there are natural ways to get sugars and we will discuss them in a future post.

*FRIED FOODS – This should need any explanation. Without RA, fibro

*ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS – A lot of us might drink coffee (even though we are not really supposed to but I personally have not had side effects of inflammation so I do drink it or tea. Try using Erythritol, truvia, stevia, sucralose, and I have not used this one but swerve. You can also try a bit of honey.

* REFINED GRAINS – This is going to be your white bread, white rice, regular pasta, cookies and cakes. A few healthy replacements, brown rice, whole wheat or whole grain breads, pasta made from whole wheat, or veggies (this is my favorite) some areas you can get ones made from chickpeas now. Some people like chickpeas, some do not so it will be a personal choice.

* DAIRY – If you love dairy this is going to be one of the hardest. I am from Wisconsin we are a dairy state. I swear it is an unwritten rule that you are required to take in so much dairy as a resident of this state.. I fail. 🙂 I do eat cheeses like grated Parmesan and feta. As milk replacements I use Almond milk or soy milk.

*GLUTEN – This will include the refined grains since it’s partially the gluten that creates the problem. breads, pastas, crackers, couscous, durum, farina, fu (common in Asian foods) kamut, matzo, semolina, spelt, barley, rye, processed oats, chicken broth, malt vinegar, soy sauce, soba noodles. Now with this list I would say try some of these and see. Not everyone will react to them. I eat couscous, chicken broth and malt vinegar often and have not had any inflammation issues.

*PROCESSED MEATS AND FOODS – I do eat some but try to keep 90% of my intake fresh foods. I do eat processed sandwich meat but i get the nitrate free ones. I use them for my meal prep. which will be on other posts.

*SODA (regular or diet)

*RED MEATS

*EGGS

*COFFEE

*HIGH SODIUM

*CHOCOLATES- I still eat chocolate but I eat the ones that are higher in the cocoa 72 and up but they are bitter so if you are not into bitter chocolates you might not want to try

*VEGETABLE AND HYDROGENATED OILS- regular vegetable oils, shortening, margarine, ready to use dough, liquid coffee creamers (dairy or non-dairy), some peanut butters, popcorn

*PEANUTS – mainly because of the oils. Try almonds, cashews and other nut butters

*NIGHT SHADE VEGETABLES – this list would be another one I would suggest try them and see. If you are able to eat them now and have no issues I would not cut them. There are some that I cut for the diet portion, but if you are following just to see then keep eating them if you do not react

Tomatoes

Potatoes (white and reds not sweet)

tomatillos

eggplants

goji berries

garden huckleberries

peppers -sweet-chili-jalapeno-capsicum-pimiento (I am not 100% convinced on this as hot peppers have capsaicin and that is actually a great form of inflammation reducer

sorrel

tobacco

okra

gooseberries

*ARTIFICIAL CHEMICALS – Additives and food coloring can be found in all processed foods. Your body triggers an immune system response since it doesn’t recognize these things as food and so it causes inflammation

This is the list I complied from my Rhuematologist list as well as doing research myself. If you find there are things that could be added talk to me and I will look into it and add them.