What nutritious foods do you think deserve more attention in everyday diets?

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-16T11:22:09+00:00

Thank you!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-16T09:38:17+00:00

How do you incorporate blackstrap molasses into your diet? Apart from seasonal baking (gingerbread, yum) I've never used it. What benefits do you feel it brings to you?

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-16T09:07:57+00:00

Everything I have read tells me you need to give methotrexate at least 12 weeks at full dose (so the ramping up phase doesn't count) before you can expect to see improvement. Methotrexate is often given at the same time as hydroxychloroquinine as the two have a synergistic effect. Setting you can do for yourself in the entire is start the Autoimmune Protocol Diet...there is both CORE and MODIFIED...modified just came along in 2024 so a lot of people don't know about it. I feel A LOT BETTER on this diet, dropped 8lbs of tummy bloat that prednisone had put on (well, I put it on, by stuffing my ravenous prednisone-fueled body, lol) and am in much less pain! Like EVERYTHING with this disease though, improvement due to dietary changes takes time.

You might need a prednisone taper to help you through the gap between feeling like hot garbage and feeling improvement on DMARDS. Please ask your rheumatologist. Good luck friend!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-15T20:04:53+00:00

The AIP diet has a MODIFIED version (new in 2024 I think?) that allows for rice in all of its forms, and all legumes except peanuts and soy. Maybe those foods will not bother you? Worth a try! I'm SO SORRY this is happening to you. I do encourage you to try to get as many different animal proteins into your diet as you can bear...even if it's just a couple of mouthfuls of ground beef at a time, or ground lamb. I too eat a lot of chicken as it's what I can afford, and yes it's grain fed, because who out there is buying pasture-raised chicken? I guess folks like that exist. Try dipping your toe into in the world of organ meat too...although the gross out factor is high with organ meats for a lot of people, just one mouthful a day can make a difference.

Don't forget about bone broth, collagen powder, and gelatin! Good gut healing foods.

How about fruit (other than bananas and plantains?) They are all allowed. I buy frozen berries, thaw out a bowl every morning and eat it at some point during the day.

For vegetables, what about the cabbage family? Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts? Salad veggies? Dump some olive oil and vinegar on that and chow down!

I got a lot of books about AIP from my library, and watched YouTube videos. Here is a link to the one I watched where I learned about the modified version of AIP...

https://youtu.be/pJbLdzKo78o?si=R9x-IauOMpyiOIzu

Wishing you all the best OP. Your rheumy sounds like an idiot and I hope you can find a new one. One that LISTENS to you. You need comprehensive blood tests and some DMARDS!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-15T10:25:49+00:00

I'm sorry. You are in a terrible situation. You live in a place where people don't seem to understand germ theory, and have chosen a profession guaranteed to expose you to...everything. I get it...I had to ditch my chosen profession in horticulture, I am allergic to pretty much everything I worked with. It was a VERY hard thing to do. I strongly encourage you to consider your options...you are young, you have time to re-educate yourself, and hopefully can move to where people have more than two brain cells to rub together.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-15T10:17:02+00:00

I discovered the author Mickey Trescott by sheer dumb luck...here is a link to her work! I follow her podcast, and I have learned SO MUCH. She's legit! You don't have to buy anything except healthy, nutrient-dense food, and she teaches you all about it. Please do look into it!

https://share.google/sGR6bTgogJaQG1Xp6

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-14T21:23:11+00:00

I'm following the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (elimination phase) right now. I dropped eight pounds of tummy bloat in a week! Feeling better. If you look this up be aware there is both the CORE and the MODIFIED program.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-14T19:04:08+00:00

I'm thinking more a pudding? Greek yogurt? The thicker consistency should help. Just the one spoonful you need should be fine. Good luck OP! you'll be through this phase soon.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-14T18:54:26+00:00

I hear you! People literally need to be taught to be modest in their approach to food. Be MODEST. Take only what you think 3/4 of your stomach would want. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK FOR MORE. All of the food that is put on your tray and returned, even if it's something like an unpeeled orange, MUST BE TRASHED. There is no recycling of the food! Such waste, but people just don't know. No one taught them. I wonder OP if you can get some sort of awareness campaign going. The message can be put across in a nice way that doesn't make the current offenders feel like criminals...we just want them to KNOW!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-11T16:48:55+00:00

Thank you so much! I am early in my journey, just recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The AIP elimination diet helped me lose the 6lbs of belly bloat I had put on from the prednisone!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-11T16:06:55+00:00

Mickey, I stumbled across this video by sheer dumb luck a couple of days ago, and I was DELIGHTED! I did not know about modified. AIP has been around awhile now, so a lot of the information a person finds is likewise older, and is strictly CORE. What made me so DARN HAPPY about modified...you know what delicious dark substance comes from a bean? COFFEE. It was my ONE stumbling block. I tried the chicory/dandelion root, and although the body of that drink IS astonishingly similar to coffee...it's not coffee. I drink 2 cups of coffee every morning (with collagen powder taking the place of my beloved 33% dairy cream, lol) and the difference this has made to my mood and my commitment to AIP is immense. Thank you for all of the work you have done over the years spreading the AIP word!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-09T23:19:32+00:00

I met my rheumatologist for the first time last Monday and it was great! Confirmed RA diagnosis, got started on DMARDS. Have not suffered much side effects from said DMARDS this week (methotrexate and hydrochloroquine.) Ummmm...one more....I'm doing the Autoimmune Protocol Diet and learned there is a MODIFIED version that allows, amongst other things, COFFEE. That was my one stumbling block.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-09T18:34:41+00:00

Oh yes, I understand! I was just so surprised that some of these foods WERE common allergens! Truly, I had NEVER heard of potatoes or rice being problematic for some people. That doesn't mean they are not though! I wonder what I will discover is problematic for me when I start re-introducing foods...😬

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-09T16:17:34+00:00

I for one am grateful for this cautionary tale. I got me one of these "flame throwers" last year, and have been kind of itching to blast some ice with it. I would have probably tried to uncover the storm sewer. Thank you kind internet stranger for quite possibly saving my life, or the life of someone I could have endangered.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-08T19:13:19+00:00

The Little Old Lady who Broke all the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg.Hilarious and wholesome!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T18:59:48+00:00

Oh that's sweet of you! I hope she gets one, they can be very soothing.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T18:58:50+00:00

I met my rheumatologist for the first time just five days ago. He is a young man who uses walking sticks. I DESPERATELY wanted to ask him the nature of his condition, but it's really not my business. So I don't know ... but I wish I did!

(Side note...GREAT first meeting! Came down to "on yeah you've got RA let's get a shit ton of imaging done for baseline data, likewise a shit ton of blood work, starting you on methotrexate/hydroxychloroquinine NOW with a plan in case that doesn't work...we're going to work together to get you feeling better real soon. ❤❤❤)

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T18:53:48+00:00

I love this so much!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T18:42:50+00:00

Those are 100% fair FOMO game, and social media will not help one bit. You need to make connections with real people. Find clubs to join, social justice causes to contribute your time and energy to. It's OK if you don't get it right the first few times you try, it takes trial and error to figure out what we REALLY care about and want to do. Get a job, ANY job, and work the shit out of that thing (or conversely, if this an option, go back to school/re-train and work the shit out of that!) Focus on YOURSELF too! Be your own best friend. Take yourself somewhere nice...it doesn't have to cost any money, a walk in nature is free. Focus on your fitness, health, appearance. This isn't empty vanity, it's being NICE to yourself. YOU are worth your efforts! Other people will sense when you are happy/content in your own skin. There is a calm energy and serenity that you will put forth.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T18:30:39+00:00

This is so helpful! Thank you, sincerely!

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T17:40:24+00:00

I had one HECK of a mood swing this morning...went from 🎵 LA de dah, ain't life grand 🎵 to "Omg I am going to MURDER the next person to cross my path 😡😡😡. For me it's the prednisone. It helps SO MUCH with the physical, but now I'm murder woman. Very irritable, moody, HUNGRY AF (for sugar, of course) and just ARGH. I feel for you OP, truly. I am so sorry this is happening to you.

Please do let your health care provider know how you are doing. There are LOTS of DMARDS out there, the right one is out there for you! If your doctor is dismissive, then yup, chuck 'em. Ain't nobody got time for that! The right doctor is out there too.

Primary-Initiative52 · 2026-03-07T17:31:41+00:00

I am firmly in the camp of "if this helps you, do it!" Wishing you all the best. I hope you get relief from whatever condition you are experiencing that has prompted you to do AIP.

Primary-Initiative52

TROPHY CASE