Diet for sjogren's???

[sktaylor]

I saw an article about the tennis player who has Sjogren's and she was talking about certain foods she could and couldn't eat. Is this because she is an athlete? My rheumy never said anything about changing my diet. Have any of you been asked to change your diet?

[rudytudy]

I haven't changed my diet but some others do for many different reasons.
On the top right side of this page is a "Search" button and you can put different diet words in there to see previous posts which may be helpful too. 

[mshistory]

I saw that article but didn't read it because I personally hate the idea that we can control our disease by what we eat. If it were that simple, we'd all be healthy by now. Those kind of headlines make it seem like we're just exaggerating or being lazy... or maybe I'm just being overly sensitive because I've had a rough year and instead of getting better, I continually get worse with new symptoms and diagnoses 

[gardenlover]

I feel your pain MShistory, however, just like any treatment things will work for some and not for others.  I'm sure that food will not CURE sjorgens, but I look at where I was a few months ago and where I am now and I'd never go back to how I ate before.  I've done it a few times just to try and the symptoms come right back.  Thus, there is "something" to what we eat.  It may be that people are at various stages of the disease, too.  I feel it is an easy, non-invasive way to try and make a difference.  It doesn't hurt to try if you make changes safely.  Just think about even limiting sugar and salt.  Of course what we eat impacts us....just look at diabetics. 

[Sven]

I am willing to try everything if there is any chance at all i can improve my condition. I read somewhere that LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) is good for people with rheumatism so now I trying that.

But reading that Venus Williams turned vegan maybe that is a better alternative ( while she has probably the best doctor money can buy ...).

[lolo1979]

I go back and forth as to whether I think changing our diet can really change the course of our disease.  I do believe the healthier we eat, the better.  I believe it will make us feel better in all the ways that it can, and that it can help lower our inflammation load. I think we should try to do the best we can with our diet, without going over the top and limiting ourselves to like 3 things we can eat!

But I still don't know if I believe it has an overall impact on our autoimmune stuff.

YET, having said that...from the time my son was 3 months (right after i quit breastfeeding) he started developing this awful rash on his face all around his mouth and chin.  It would NOT go away. He was also spitting up, but not necessarily any more than other babies.  We tried EVERY different formula with him that we could buy in a store.  NOTHING worked. Finally, we switched to a formula called Neocate, where the proteins are all broken down to the amino acid level.  It is literally the most expensive formula you can buy, and our insurance doesn't cover it  

Anyhow, within 2 days of being on the neocate, his rash began to fade and it was completely gone within a week - never to return. He is now almost 1 and I'm not sure what we'll do about switching to cow's milk. 

SO...I see firsthand how much what we eat can affect our bodies, thus I guess I should be convinced!!! 

[mshistory]

I just read the New York Times article on Williams which was much better and never implied that her vegan diet had a huge impact on her Sjogren's. I'm sure it does help her feel somewhat better - eating healthy makes us all feel better! I am, unfortunately, all too familiar with dietary restrictions. Both of my daughters have celiac disease so we are gluten free, and I try to make sure we have balanced meals. I don't cut things out of our diet except for gluten, but do practice moderation for the things that should only be eaten in moderation (like red meat and sweets).

lolo, our pediatric allergist said that children who are genetically predisposed to developing atopic dermatitis have a 1/3 less chance of developing eczema if placed on an extensively hydrolyzed formula from birth as opposed to a regular formula which suggests that cows' milk proteins do play a role in the development of AD in some children. (Both of my kids have eczema too!) I was unable to breastfeed either, so they were placed on regular formula (before we were told about this connection) so I will never know if the formula contributed to their AD or not. At least we have awesome products now like CeraVe to help manage it!

[sktaylor]

Thanks for all the great replies. I already watch what I eat(not a diet), but I was just wanting to know where others stood on the subject.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I know one of our members - who has not been around in here recently - really seemed to help herself by going on what I think she called "The Candida Diet". It sounded terribly restrictive but it did make her feel better.

We are all so different though. I don't think any one eating regime would work for all of us. We have to find the way we can feel the best we can for ourselves.

Take care - Scottie 

[jazzlover]

I feel your pain MShistory, however, just like any treatment things will work for some and not for others.  I'm sure that food will not CURE sjorgens, but I look at where I was a few months ago and where I am now and I'd never go back to how I ate before.  I've done it a few times just to try and the symptoms come right back.  Thus, there is "something" to what we eat.  It may be that people are at various stages of the disease, too.  I feel it is an easy, non-invasive way to try and make a difference.  It doesn't hurt to try if you make changes safely.  Just think about even limiting sugar and salt.  Of course what we eat impacts us....just look at diabetics.

-
I feel better staying away from sugar and carbs (starches), dairy and gluten. I may be a celiac, but not willing to pay for another test. They screwed up the biopsy 30+ yrs ago.

Many RA patients follow the low carb plan with great success. I can see why. I get joint pain when I eat sugar and crap.

[Skylar]

Hi sktaylor, I switched a few years ago to a much healthier diet. I was following the American Heart Association diet and I was in terrible shape.

I read The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health  by Dr. Colin Campbell and that book changed my life and my diet. OMG I started to change my diet as I was reading and from his diet I read many other books on diet and found Dr. John McDougall's diet on the internet and then read all of his books - I follow his diet - mostly his Maximum Weight Loss Plan. He has a website with tons of information so it's all out there for free on that site. I borrowed his books from the library.

This diet put almost everything I was suffering from into remission. Unfortunately about two years afterwards I had major surgery - and it set off a flare. I'm thankful that not everything came back = I haven't had bronchitis since starting this diet, my allergies to pollen etc. are gone and I rarely have any muscle or joint pain. And I got rid of a lot of medications - no more high cholesterol or high blood pressure etc. Even with the flare up I'm still a million times better than I was before I started. And that American Heart Association diet I was following did nothing, I was just getting sicker.

Dr. McDougall has published a number medical journals articles on his diet, including one on Rheumatoid Arthritis. He is currently on a double blind study regarding his dies and Multiple Sclerosis that is being done at OSHU medical school which is based on the original Swank Diet that is often used for MS. To get to his website, add www.       drmcdougall.com

[Sleepy In Seattle]

As has been mentioned, diet is no cure and everybody is different - but I definitely feel better when I am gluten-free, and (ironically) low-carb. I feel best when I eat mostly fruit, veggies, nuts, and protein.

Grains, sugars, etc seem to make me feel cruddy. I am TRYING to go dairy-free right now, but am finding it really hard. Maybe because I am not doing it well, I don't see much of a difference. Or maybe I am just not sensitive to dairy...wouldn't THAT be nice - to be able to eat cheese again!!!! :p

I don't do it perfectly - any of it. I just watch what I eat and then pay attention to how I feel afterward. I do all of it with my doctor's knowledge - I don't wanna do anything medically contraindicated.

I also take a bunch of supplements, some of which really seem to help - again, all with doc's blessing.

I think it takes a lot of reading and being willing to experiement and maybe find what works for YOU.

[meow]

Very little sugar or grain/starch. Like many here, I have found that sugar seems to aggravate the symptoms. My rheumy says that is extremely common with autoimmune diseases and cnacer, as well. Dairy does not bother me. So, caveman diet! Protein, fresh veggies, a little fruit, some cheese, that is best for me. YMMV.

[rcristal]

  A few weeks ago Terry and Joe Graden (The Peoples Pharmacy) had on a renowned Nutritionist.  He talked on and on about diet and health.  At the end he made a point that I will NEVER forget.  He said that every time one goes into a grocery store you should think that you entering a pharmacy.  Just my opinion, but it makes a great deal of sense.  While I absolutely agree that to the layman we can simply eat our way to health, it does not give me Carte Blanch to eat whatever I choose.

Best of good health to all.