How do you counsel patients who ask if there are any dietary modifications they can make to help control their autoimmune disease?

Do you have resources you find helpful? Do you generally encourage them to make these changes to see if they feel better? Does your advice differ depending on their diagnosis? This question is part of a collaboration with RheumMadness and is specifically in reference to: ADIRA Diet

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In patients with rheumatic disease who inquire about anti-inflammatory diet modifications, do you generally encourage them to try changes to see if they feel better?

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4 Answers

Mednet Member

Rheumatology · UT Physicians

Answered on

I send patients to a website called nutritionfacts.org. This is a non-profit website that reviews medical literature related to nutrition and diseases. It was founded by Dr. Greger and he is not trying to sell anything which I appreciate. He has bite-sized videos on anything you can think about related to nutrition including autoimmune diseases and arthritis. The bottom line - more plants and whole foods and less processed foods and animal products.

I also emphasize that improving nutrition is a complement to the treatments that we have them on and to discuss with me before changing or stopping medications. I have had a patient that used turmeric along with other medications to control her recurrent pericarditis. Once she started on the turmeric she was able to stop her prednisone and reduce her methotrexate.

Mednet Member

Rheumatology · Arthritis and Rheumatology Consultants, P.A.

Answered on

I refer patients to this website created by UCSF Rheumatologists and dieticians: "Nutrition for People with Rheumatic Diseases". It has a decent amount of helpful information about diet, and I appreciate that it is evidence-based and references the studies that the information is based on.

Mednet Member

Dermatology · Stephen B. Tucker M.D.

Answered on

I have a diet for all patients who wish to be healthier, but especially those with autoimmune diseases. I call it the PDK diet. If you can PICK it, DIG it up, or KILL it, you can eat it. The anti-inflammatory diet leads to healthy bacteria, and all of them feed on fiber. Only a few actually change, but at least they are informed.

Mednet MemberInvited Expert

Rheumatology · Ohio State University

Answered on

This is such a difficult question to answer because diet and microbiome is so important to chronic autoimmune disease. However, this is such a personal journey; going to gluten-free does not fix all. This is such an area of importance to our patients; there are likely food triggers, and a health coach is likely the best answer for these patients.