“Could something I was eating be making my joints worse?”
In the early days of my RA diagnosis, I was overwhelmed. My joints were flaring up, my energy was unpredictable and I had more questions than answers. I remember sitting on my bed one afternoon in 2013, flipping through a small booklet someone had given me — “Stronger Than Steroids: Nature’s Solutions for Beating Arthritis“. The title alone gave me a spark of hope. Could simple, natural steps make a difference?
The answer, I would come to learn, was yes — and it all started with what was on my plate.
🍞 Food Can Fuel Inflammation — or Fight It
That little booklet introduced an idea that changed the way I looked at healing: some of the foods I was eating every day might actually be triggering my pain. Not through the usual allergies, but through something called hidden food sensitivity— subtle immune reactions that lead to inflammation, fatigue and joint flare-ups, often hours or even days later.
⚠️ Foods That May Trigger Inflammation
These were some of the early discoveries that helped me connect what I was eating to how I was feeling with RA.
🥩 Animal Fats
These fats are harder to digest and may contribute to inflammation by placing strain on the immune and digestive systems. They can also interfere with the body’s ability to process healthier fats.
Examples include:
- Red meat
- Deli meats like ham or sausages
- Full-fat dairy such as cream, butter, or hard cheeses
🍩 Saturated Fats
Saturated fats can block the absorption of essential fatty acids, which are important for joint and cellular health. They also increase inflammatory markers in the body.
Examples include:
- Deep-fried foods
- Fast food
- Baked goods made with margarine or hydrogenated shortening
🍅 Nightshades
Nightshades contain a natural compound called solanine, which may aggravate joint pain and inflammation in some people with arthritis or autoimmune conditions.
Examples include:
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Brinjals (eggplant)
- Bell peppers
🧪 Acid-Forming Foods
These foods can leave an acidic residue in the body after digestion, potentially disrupting the pH balance and aggravating inflammation, especially in those with chronic conditions like RA.
Examples include:
- Processed sugars
- Refined grains (white bread, cakes, biscuits)
- Coffee and black tea
- Fizzy soft drinks (especially cola)
- Vinegar (excluding apple cider vinegar for some)
- Red meat and deli meats
- Cheese and full-fat dairy
🧁 Refined & Processed Ingredients
These are often stripped of nutrients and filled with preservatives, artificial additives, and flavor enhancers that may trigger inflammatory responses or immune sensitivity.
Examples include:
- Store-bought pastries and biscuits
- Packaged breads with yeast and additives
- Artificial flavorings and food colourants
- MSG and chemical preservatives
I had no idea that something like margarine or even tomatoes could be contributing to my flare-ups. But once I started making changes and observing my body’s response — even just small tweaks — I noticed a difference.
🥦 One Small Change at a Time
It didn’t happen all at once. I simply started by cutting back on red meat and soft drinks and introduced more fresh greens and water. I also paid attention to how I felt after eating certain foods. The idea wasn’t to create a strict diet — it was to become more aware.
One line from the booklet that stuck with me was:
“The greener the vegetable, the more it will help increase alkalinity in your body.”
That became a simple rule of thumb: eat more greens, observe your body, and allow healing to happen gradually.
🙏 Faith in the Process
This journey wasn’t just physical — it was deeply spiritual too. I often returned to this scripture:
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 1:2
I believe that God cares about our wellness — not just spiritually, but physically too. Taking steps to care for my body was one way I learned to walk by faith, even when I didn’t have all the answers.
🌱 A Gentle Reminder
If you’re in the early days of RA or just trying to manage a flare-up, be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to change everything overnight. Just begin. Get curious. Observe how your body responds. Every small choice matters — and you’re not alone.
In my next post, I’ll be sharing the foods and natural remedies that actually soothed my symptoms — including a few surprising ones like celery and blackstrap molasses.
Until then, may you find strength in small steps and grace in every decision.
