Two weeks ago, my body went into a powerful arthritis flare. I felt pain in every joint; as if I could track where a joint was by noticing where I hurt. Within a few days, I wasn't able to fully close my right hand. I had trouble walking, because the joints in my feet were so irritated. My hips and lower back kept me awake at night, sending pulses of agony up my spine and down my legs. There were no comfortable positions to be in; no matter where I was, it hurt.
I have had plenty of flares before, but this one was by far the worst. It lingered; three days, then five, then ten. It was just too much.
I made the decision, with help from my rheumatologist and my chiropractor, to make the change to an anti-inflammatory diet. Food is medicine, I have been told. I struggled against this idea for decades, not wanting to give up the tastes and textures I love best (hello, white flour and sugar, I'm talking to you!)
I can't do that any more.
The good news was, I am already doing a lot right. We cook mostly with olive oil (and I prefer extra extra virgin) in our house; I lean towards Middle Eastern spices, many of which are anti-inflammatory. I drink quite a lot of water and green tea.
The bad news was, it wasn't enough. If I wanted to make long-term improvements, long-term changes had to happen.
When something like this happens, the first step I take is research, research, research. There is a lot of information out there about anti-inflammatory foods and practices. Much of it, I quickly found, is conflicting. That's frustrating.
It seemed that culling out the most commonly cited, agreed-upon foods and making a list of what I would eat would be the way to go. I'm a notoriously picky eater, and some foods I can't tolerate, but I came up with a reasonable list within a day.
I also came up with a list of "villains", food that are linked to increased inflammation. There were not many surprises on the list; red meat, white flour, white sugar, fried foods. You know, all the stuff your doctor always wants you to stop eating. Naturally, all the stuff I like best.
The purpose of this blog is NOT to tell you what to eat. I'm NOT a doctor. If you are looking to make changes in your life, please consult a medical professional.
What I do hope to do is share information, encourage others, and honestly just give myself support as I document my journey.
I wish you the best of everything in yours!
Holly
I have had plenty of flares before, but this one was by far the worst. It lingered; three days, then five, then ten. It was just too much.
I made the decision, with help from my rheumatologist and my chiropractor, to make the change to an anti-inflammatory diet. Food is medicine, I have been told. I struggled against this idea for decades, not wanting to give up the tastes and textures I love best (hello, white flour and sugar, I'm talking to you!)
I can't do that any more.
The good news was, I am already doing a lot right. We cook mostly with olive oil (and I prefer extra extra virgin) in our house; I lean towards Middle Eastern spices, many of which are anti-inflammatory. I drink quite a lot of water and green tea.
The bad news was, it wasn't enough. If I wanted to make long-term improvements, long-term changes had to happen.
When something like this happens, the first step I take is research, research, research. There is a lot of information out there about anti-inflammatory foods and practices. Much of it, I quickly found, is conflicting. That's frustrating.
It seemed that culling out the most commonly cited, agreed-upon foods and making a list of what I would eat would be the way to go. I'm a notoriously picky eater, and some foods I can't tolerate, but I came up with a reasonable list within a day.
I also came up with a list of "villains", food that are linked to increased inflammation. There were not many surprises on the list; red meat, white flour, white sugar, fried foods. You know, all the stuff your doctor always wants you to stop eating. Naturally, all the stuff I like best.
The purpose of this blog is NOT to tell you what to eat. I'm NOT a doctor. If you are looking to make changes in your life, please consult a medical professional.
What I do hope to do is share information, encourage others, and honestly just give myself support as I document my journey.
I wish you the best of everything in yours!
Holly
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