PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid

Posted by alan bruce @alanbruce, May 6, 2020

What foods to avoid and what food to focus on when on PMR

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

@johnbishop

What has really helped me the past couple of years to keep my weight down is lowering the amount of carbs I eat and using intermittent fasting. There is another discussion on the topic that you might want to take a look at it. Nothing to do with PMR but it did get me on a healthier tract.

-- Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-carb-healthy-fat-living-intermittent-fasting-whats-your-why/

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I'll have to look at this in more detail, but thanks for all the information. I'm not sure about the fasting aspect but cutting out carbs and sugar I know will help. I've been doing that for two days now and just had a sugar withdrawal...will keep going though. It's not so much with the weight for me, although I certainly could lose some, but getting my body back in a healthy balance. Just want to get off this darned Prednisone after almost 3 years. Your information is appreciated.

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There is a ton of information on the web regarding anti-inflammatory foods, diets, supplements, herbs and spices. Just be sure you are choosing sites that aren't ads... I avoid supplements that are not regulated by the FDA. There is no way to tell if what they are selling is what you're getting...

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@johnbishop

Hi @ncgal, You will notice that we moved your post to the following discussion on the same topic so that you could meet others who have shared their thoughts and suggestions on PMR diets and foods to eat or avoid.

-- PMR Diet: Foods to eat and avoid:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diet-and-pmr/

The following article might give you a jump start:
-- Polymyalgia rheumatica diet: Foods to eat and avoid: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683

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Thanks, John. This was so helpful. So, the weather on Hallowe'en turned dreary late in the afternoon, and I was left with an amount of candy. After reading the entries on foods to eat and avoid I now realize I should have thrown out the extra goodies. instead of including them in my otherwise very healthy diet. The flare-up was probably partly due to overextending myself in exercise and activity, but the sugar likely also played a role. Hoping to feel more comfortable now that I've eliminated that.

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@johnbishop

Hi Alan @alanbruce, thank you for starting this new discussion. It is a great topic. Notice I changed the title of your discussion a little to give it a little emphasis. I started looking at diet and lifestyle changes for helping with my autoimmune diseases after reading Dr. Terry Wahls book - The Wahls Protocol. She has an amazing story about how diet helped her MS symptoms - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/

Here is a good article on Medical News Today that offers some suggestions.
What to eat if you have polymyalgia rheumatica: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683

I've mostly focused on reducing or eliminating processed meats, sugar, fast food, and fried foods. Have you found anything that helps you?

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I don't believe diet can cure PMR, since I haven't eaten meat for 15 years, and poultry in about 5 years. I eat very little sugar and rarely have a drink. However, I have noticed something recently. My husband (physician) sent me research about a month ago about the benefit of eating 3 to 5 prunes daily. There is evidence they reduce inflamation. I believe I may have posted a link somewhere recently. I am on 3 mg. of Prednisone which is is my second taper. Coincidentally, I am almost pain free and ready to go down another 1/2 mg. I will continue with the prunes and will see what happens as I taper. Coincidences are possible and this journey has been up and down for 3 years.

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@johnbishop

What has really helped me the past couple of years to keep my weight down is lowering the amount of carbs I eat and using intermittent fasting. There is another discussion on the topic that you might want to take a look at it. Nothing to do with PMR but it did get me on a healthier tract.

-- Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-carb-healthy-fat-living-intermittent-fasting-whats-your-why/

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I happen to be a registered dietitian and I control my weight easily on a whole foods, organic diet with very little animal protein. Most of my calories come from whole carbohydrates, such as whole grains, sweet potatoes, and small, colorful potatoes. I do believe that this is the diet nature intended for us. Getting too many calories from fat can put you in a state of ketosis, which is not a healthy state for your body to be in. My 2 cent.

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@janiceem

I happen to be a registered dietitian and I control my weight easily on a whole foods, organic diet with very little animal protein. Most of my calories come from whole carbohydrates, such as whole grains, sweet potatoes, and small, colorful potatoes. I do believe that this is the diet nature intended for us. Getting too many calories from fat can put you in a state of ketosis, which is not a healthy state for your body to be in. My 2 cent.

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That's what I used to think also...even when I was up to 330 lbs. Turns out I was eating way too many carbs - loved my cereal, bread, potatoes (including sweet potatoes). I'm not a zero carb person but do believe limiting the carbs I eat really helps with controlling my weight.

I can relate to this video, have you seen it?
-- Dr. Jay Wortman - 'Undoing Atkins: A Cautionary Tale'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIegMp5cWBY

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@johnbishop

That's what I used to think also...even when I was up to 330 lbs. Turns out I was eating way too many carbs - loved my cereal, bread, potatoes (including sweet potatoes). I'm not a zero carb person but do believe limiting the carbs I eat really helps with controlling my weight.

I can relate to this video, have you seen it?
-- Dr. Jay Wortman - 'Undoing Atkins: A Cautionary Tale'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIegMp5cWBY

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I have yet to view the video, but it is very true that most Americans eat way too many processed carbohydrates, including sugars, and it has led to our obesity epidemic and and upsurge in chronic diseases. I rarely eat bread or crackers, but when I do, it must have whole grains and nuts in it. Russet potatoes have a very high glycemic index and are often eaten with a lot of fat, especially in the form of french fries. I only eat fingerling potatoes with the peel since most nutrients lie just below the peel, along with the very important fiber. Fiber is one of the most important, but overlooked, nutrients. It feeds our gut microbes and when our gut microbes get out of balance, it can contribute to obesity and other chronic diseases.

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@sashakay

I make Turmeric lattes in the morning and so far I find they are really making a difference both with pain and lowering my CRP. there a lots of recipes online but make sure you add a little bit of black pepper to facilitate the turmeric working I use oat milk and also chocolate oat milk which is delicious

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Can you please share your recipe for turmeric lattes? Please include ingredients and amounts for each. I can't imagine putting turmeric in a latte but I am willing to try!
Thanks
Ginger

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@gingerraspiller

Can you please share your recipe for turmeric lattes? Please include ingredients and amounts for each. I can't imagine putting turmeric in a latte but I am willing to try!
Thanks
Ginger

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You don't have to mix your own ingredients for a turmeric latte if you would rather use a commercial product. They are commonly called golden milk - turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cardamom, etc. or whatever ingredients depending on the "brand". I mix 1 tsp with a cup of half water/half soy milk and blast it for 2 minutes in microwave. It is quite delicious. You can get golden milk at a health food store, or online.

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@avidhiker

You don't have to mix your own ingredients for a turmeric latte if you would rather use a commercial product. They are commonly called golden milk - turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cardamom, etc. or whatever ingredients depending on the "brand". I mix 1 tsp with a cup of half water/half soy milk and blast it for 2 minutes in microwave. It is quite delicious. You can get golden milk at a health food store, or online.

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oops. Sorry, I meant to say "heaping teaspoon". - but see what suits you

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