Gluten & Nightshades Food Sensitivity

sonnyforee10, I am sorry that you have been recently diagnosed with MCTD. I imagine that must be very painful. I have been researching diet in regard to autoimmune illnesses, and am not an expert, but I do not believe there is a specific strict diet that is recommended to be followed for MCTD. However, sometimes exploring dietary changes can be beneficial with autoimmune and help to ward of symptoms. Generally a "flare-up" in relation to auto-immune disease means that your symptoms worsen for a time.... And there could be a number of triggers for a "flare-up" that are unique to each person. For some, the trigger could be diet related (accidently ate gluten, or dairy or a nightshade plant), for others a stressor or a sudden intense period of life, lack of sleep-- these are probably the most common, but there are many other potential triggers that could cause a person to have a a sudden onset of worsening symptoms, or a "flare-up".

It is my understanding, that it is generally recommended that if you have an auto-immune illness, that staying away from overly processed foods as much as possible can be helpful (anything that comes with multiple ingredients--mostly meaning more than one ingredient), especially things that are very high in sugar (candy, soda) but also things like processed meats are biggies. These foods can wreak havoc on any well person, let alone someone who has autoimmune diseases because they cause inflammation, and the common thread with all auto-immune disease is inflammation.

So.... If dietary changes are new to you, perhaps starting by keeping a log of what you normally eat could be helpful. Also note your symptoms on this same log. Then after a few weeks of this, look back and ask yourself: what things do I eat on a routine basis, that are unhealthy and I should cut out? Maybe at that point try taking those obvious unhealthy foods and replacing them with something healthy and less processed. (Be aware that finding a relationship between the foods that you've eaten and the symptoms you develop may take much longer than just a few weeks to figure out... This takes time and patience.) In time, you may find that even some healthful foods your body may be sensitive to... But especially once you get into this realm, it can be best to find a professional dietician, or a holistic doctor knowledgeable in nutrition who can help you to navigate your diet, so that you are not missing any key nutrients that are vital to your body's health.

Being tested for things like gluten sensitivity and other food allergies may be helpful. Do not ever give up gluten without being first tested for Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity; testing first is very important because going gluten free will normalize the results of blood work of someone who has Celiac. They do find that gluten sensitivity/Celiac can piggyback any one who has already been diagnosed with another auto-immune disease-- so that could be something to explore.

Exploring healthy foods is a great place to start, as well as seeing a dietician if you can. Auto-immune can be tricky but you are not alone!

Here are some links regarding MCTD. Many of us use diet to decrease inflammation. I think I was born after my time; I would have been better as a cave woman before processed foods, preservatives, wheat, and other things appeared in our diets/meds. Having to change our diets, limiting eating out and processed foods is tough, but in time it gets to be the norm. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15039-mixed-connective-tissue-disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542198/ https://www.stemcellcareindia.com/diet-tips-for-connective-tissue-patient/

With celiac, I have to completely exclude gluten. Going GF is 20 ppm and less. People with advanced celiac are frequently dairy intolerant, but can consume dairy once their gut has healed. I limit some foods/meds due to sensitivity to their sugars, proteins, and/or preservatives. With collagenous colitis I can eat most foods, but high FODMAP ones are only nibbled. Elimination diets to check food sensitivities are useful, particularly if one has a nutritionist that is conversant in autoimmune or other diseases.

Your disease is so complicated. My initial reply was a bit too glib. My concern was that you not go without certain foods, but instead reduce amounts to a level where you would not find them troublesome; and keeping some sort of record as you worked trial and error. My wife has aplastic anemia, incurable, but we are even more convinced than we were before we discovered the disease that fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and small amounts of fish & meat - all organic - is our best way forward as we pass the 85 year mark.

Sweet potatoes and black beans do not contain solanine. I make a chili with both of them.

Following up with an no tomato sauce recipe that can be used with the chili:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 yellow onions , chopped (about 2 cups)
4 garlic cloves , minced
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 pound carrots , peeled and chopped
1 medium beet , chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup water
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
https://detoxinista.com/tomato-less-marinara-sauce-nightshade-free-aip-friendly/

I would suggest to just stop eating the things that bother you. Have a food sensitivity test done to see exactly it is that you shouldn’t be eating. I’m sorry you’re suffering.

Food sensitivity & food allergy are distinct issues—you are describing the former, where certain foods trigger an immune response, but not histamine. You are on the right track: an elimination diet, removing then reintroducing common trigger foods one by one, plus a careful food log will help you protect your health —but will need to adjust your diet permanently. It might help to reframe not as deprivation but rather an opportunity to expand your diet, try new foods & cuisines. Lots of bloggers, chefs, nutritionists on line who deal with food sensitivities & can help spark your creativity. Hang in there—you are not alone