Unfortunately, my doctors are doing the drugs as well.  But, the idea is to
eventually lower the amount of drugs I am on as the diet takes effect.  I am
also being given an antibiotic therapy.  There is mounting research to
suggest that RA (actually Ankylosing Spondilytis)  is triggered by bacteria
from the gut and that the immune system is trying to kill this bacteria,
hence all the swelling in the joints.

The reason I'm being put on the diet is to try and reduce my intake of food
that produces Lectin.  Lectin damages the gut lining and allows bacteria to
pass from the gut into the body thus causing an immune response and hence
RA.

I've done some research on Lectins since the last posting and seems there
are a few things in the Paleo diet that don't produce lectins and a few
things that do.  E.g. it would be nice to find a grain that doesn't produce
lectins - sorry if such a comment is heresey on this listserver :-).  I just
want to fine tune the diet to the real cause of the RA rather than take a
shotgun approach.

Does anyone have a comprehensive list of all foods that contain/produce
high/toxic levels of lectin?

Best regards,
Andrew


>From: Richard Archer <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Paleolithic Eating Support List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Is there a list of good foods and a list of bad foods for the
>             Paleo diet?
>Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 22:25:34 +1000
>
>At 7:45 PM +1200 19/9/03, Andrew Ward wrote:
>
> >My doctor has today put me on the Paleo diet to try and control
>Rheumatiod
> >Arthritis.  He has told me not to eat:
>
>I have a couple of friends with RA, and I sure wish their doctor would
>give them the same advice yours has given you!! Instead their doctors
>seem intent only on selling them more drugs which are guaranteed to
>make them deaf in another 10 years.
>
>If I were in your position I would follow your doctor's advice to the
>letter. If the diet works for you to reduce the symptoms of RA and reduce
>the need for damaging medications it is a very elegant solution to a very
>nasty problem. I would also eliminate coffee and chocolate from my diet
>at least temporarily.
>
>Once you have eliminated the RA symptoms and start to experience
>wellness again you can add these borderline items back into your
>diet on a trial basis and see how you react.
>
>And to answer the question in your subject line, your doctor has
>the list pretty much spot on. Be aware though that peanuts are a
>legume and should be avoided. I'm not sure why he has forbidden
>root vegetables... my guess is that he is referring to tubers
>(potatoes, yams, taro etc) rather than carrots and parsnip but
>you should double-check with him about that.
>
>Coconut oil is also a favorite oil to cook with for some of the
>people on this list. I guess your doctor will veto it because it's
>highly saturated but you should do your own research and draw your
>own conclusions about that :)
>
>  ...Richard.

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