There is a theory that food allergies may cause flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. These food allergies can wreak havoc on the immune system. In recent studies, people with RA were prone to be allergic to tomatoes, milk, wheat, and certain other foods. The following excerpt is from: //www.connecticutcenterforhealth.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment.html "The most common food allergies found in one study of people with RA were: wheat, corn, milk and other dairy products, beef, nightshade family foods (tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco), and food additives." Rather than eliminating all these foods at once, try an "elimination diet" where you start out eating just fish and veggies for a couple days, and then adding one of the above foods to see if you have joint pain or inflammation. This will help you determine whether you may have an allergy to one of them. "Avoid inflammatory foods such as saturated fats (meat, dairy) and all hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated or trans fatty acids. Avoid or limit foods high in sugar and simple or refined carbohydrates. Consume a diet rich in whole vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Increase consumption of sulfur-containing foods such as legumes, garlic, onions, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Avoid caffeine." (same website) I was diagnosed with RA several years ago and simply cutting most dairy from my diet and following the above guidelines has eliminated the painful symptoms. I do not take any drugs, just supplements such as Omega 3, calcium, vitamin B (for fatigue) and glucosamine when I wake up feeling stiff. I get tested by a rheumatologist annually. I hope through proper diet and exercise I will be able to stay away from the heavy duty arthritis drugs. Remember to exercise regularly to maintain stamina and range of motion!

I have been in remission going on 4 years now and I attribute success to the following: I completely cut processed and fast foods from my diet. I never ever drink soda, I cut down on sugar and I took Seasilver for several months before I could wean myself from the prescription drugs. I also changed my way of thinking and I took charge and responsibility of my own life and health. I also forgave everyone who has ever hurt me and I treat everyone the way I would like to be treated. Not only do I not have RA symptoms anymore, but my overall health has improved a hundred fold. And oh yes, apparently tomatoes should be vine ripe before eating them.

I think tomatoes are okay...unless you are allergic. See article below for additional diet info. Could the Mediterranean diet help individuals with arthritic diseases? The Back Letter. May 2003 v18 i5 p58(1). "Recent studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks. Common cardiac diseases involve inflammatory processes that have some vague similarities to rheumatoid synovitis. Epidemiological studies suggest that diets rich in fish, olive oil, and cooked vegetables might have a beneficial effect in RA--for reasons that aren't clear. So it is possible that this diet has a beneficial impact on some mediator of inflammatory disease. However, an accompanying editorial points out that the results could also be explained by a placebo effect. "Many [patients with RA] are thrilled by the idea that the disease can be controlled by dietary intervention, and it is not unlikely that such an attitude may promote a placebo effect if they are randomly allocated to the experimental group," according to J. Kjeldsen-Kragh, MD." COPYRIGHT 2003 Lippincott/Williams & Wilkins