Diets vs. Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis — Here's the truth

Can diet cure #rheumatoidarthritis? Can an #antiinflammatorydiet stop joint damage? In this video, we’re talking about what diet can — and cannot — do for RA. 🔥 Want to track your flares? Check out my new app: https://flarefamilytracker.com/ Hi! I'm Ellen and it's so cool that you're here. I was diagnosed with RA in 2010 and made SO many mistakes in the first few years that left me with permanent damage in my joints. But I've learned a lot and now I share what I've know with fellow RA friends like you. There is a lot of misinformation online about autoimmune disease and “natural cures.” While nutrition absolutely plays a role in overall health, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk, rheumatoid arthritis is a complex autoimmune condition driven by immune dysregulation — not food choices. We’ll cover: Why doctors prescribe lifestyle changes first for conditions like Type 2 diabetes and Hypertension • Why rheumatoid arthritis is biologically different • How insurance step therapy works for expensive biologic medications • What research actually says about diet and RA • Whether the Mediterranean diet can help inflammation • And why you did NOT cause your RA by eating the wrong foods As someone living with rheumatoid arthritis, I believe in nutrition, exercise, and metabolic health. My husband has reversed pre-diabetes through lifestyle change. I follow a Mediterranean-style diet that helps me feel my best. But supportive therapy is not the same as curative therapy. If you’re navigating RA and trying to make informed decisions about medication, diet, and lifestyle — you’re in the right place. 💊 Learn about Step Therapy: https://www.arthritis.org/advocate/is... 🍣 Mediterranean Diet: https://www.arthritis.org/health-well... #RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimmuneDisease #RADiet #Inflammation #ChronicIllness🌟 Check out my website for free resources on RA management, including downloadable guides on understanding RA, managing flares, and tips for loved ones: https://www.flarefamily.com/ The information provided by Flare Family is for general informational purposes only. All information on this YouTube channel, authored by Ellen McDowell, is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on this channel. The information found on this channel is NOT a substitute for advice or treatment from a licensed medical professional or specialist like a Rheumatologist. Information listed on this channel or in downloadable resources with or without cited sources on flarefamily.com may not be applicable to all patients with RA or other chronic illnesses as all patients are unique and require unique treatment from healthcare providers. You should not delay healthcare from a professional because of advice or information found on this channel. Sources: The American College of Rheumatology The Arthritis Foundation Overview of RA Immunopathogenesis Nature Reviews Immunology McInnes IB, Schett G. *The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.* Nat Rev Immunol. 2011;11(5): 337–348. DOI: 10.1038/nri2979 Cytokine Pathways in RA The New England Journal of Medicine Smolen JS, Aletaha D, McInnes IB. *Rheumatoid arthritis.* N Engl J Med. 2016;374:220–232. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1507093 Autoantibodies & Immune Activation Arthritis Research & Therapy Rantapää-Dahlqvist S et al. *Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide and IgA rheumatoid factor predict RA development.* Arthritis Res Ther. 2003. TNF Inhibition Mechanism The Lancet Feldmann M, Maini RN. *TNF defined as a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis.* Lancet. 2001. B-Cell Depletion (Rituximab) The New England Journal of Medicine Edwards JCW et al. *Efficacy of B-cell–targeted therapy with rituximab in patients with RA.* N Engl J Med. 2004. JAK Inhibition Mechanism Nature Reviews Rheumatology O’Shea JJ et al. *The JAK-STAT pathway: impact on human disease and therapeutic intervention.* Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2015. Omega-3 & RA Pain Goldberg RJ, Katz J. *A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain.* Pain. 2007. Dietary Interventions in RA Cochrane Hagen KB et al. *Dietary interventions for rheumatoid arthritis.* Cochrane Database Syst Rev. RA Treatment Guidelines American College of Rheumatology Fraenkel L et al. *2021 ACR Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.* Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021. 00:00 Intro 00:30 Why We Want Diets to Work 01:38 When Diets ARE Prescribed 02:45 Step Therapy & Diets 04:18 What is RA? 05:30 The Connection Between Joints & Immune System 07:15 RA Drugs vs. Exercise vs. Food 09:15 Why Do People Claim Diets Work? 11:00 Why Do Docs Push Drugs?