Hey, Tim:

What could we say to someone with an 'opinion' (we know what these are!) who obviously has NOT TRIED THE DIET.

Most people do not appreciate how recent are the shifts in dietary choices and the severe fault of the food pyramid mentality. Some actually think that starches have important nutrients, beyond empty calories, and carbo-loading was drilled into their heads by the likes of the late Jim Fixx.

One point I do agree with is the overuse of the fatty meats, but NOBODY with AS should eat starch (except by informed choice) and if the choice is between bread and pork, the healthier option is the pork...as much as this ex-vegetarian hates to admit this fact!

So, I don't have any response to Scotty since he did not seem interested in the NSD, but only wanted to add his opinion to the chorus; his posting is sacrilege in these halls, however.


Health,
John

Hey Scotty,

Glad to see you posting! I understand your skepticism. When I first learned I had AS, I bought a number of books and checked books out of the library that dealt with autoimmune issues. These were all independent of one another -- and all of them advocated a grain free diet. And I thought, "yeah . . . right."

Some of these books are:
Living Well with Autoimmune Disease by Mary J. Shoman (an excellent book with an brief overview of many diseases -- but it's valuable because it looks at all the possible ways that we can work at improving our health. It's a balanced book -- it doesn't advocate any one thing, in other words. It also has a wonderful resource list in the back which is how I found this web site.)

The Inflammation Syndrome: The Complete Nutritional Program to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Allergies and Asthma by Jack Challem (now, I will admit, this is a more radical read -- and it scares the heck out of you in regard to any medicines!!)

I also read Going Against the Grain and The Paleo Diet that Tim mentioned already. I know there were other books, too, but I can't recall the titles right now.

ANYWAY, I found this web site, and here it was endorsing a grain/starch free diet -- just like everything I had been reading -- and it was specifically for AS. So I decided to try it a year ago. I can't say that I haven't had my bumps with the diet -- but they ALWAYS come when I've gotten sloppy with the diet. When I have stuck to the diet carefully, I have felt great with NO arthritic symptoms. Also, the arrythmia that I often get when I'm in an inflamed state is non-existant when I stick to the diet, but when I start eating starches, I begin to have momentary lurches. When I'm in a state of high inflammation, I can have arrythmia constantly every day. Talk about worrisome!! It's almost worse than the arthritis!

I have energy to run my kids around, go to grad school (full time this semester!!), manage a household (the cooking, grocery shopping, clothes shopping for myself and the kids, house cleaning, laundry, managing everyone else's schedules and enforcing chores, etc. . . ), serve as chorister at church, and work a small job for which I coordinate weekly programming. I have to say that I've pushed myself to do all that kind of stuff when I've been in a high flare, but it is a lot more enjoyable and easier to do when I'm eating right (starch free) and feeling great.

To offset possible nutrients that I may be missing with a grain free and dairy free (in my case) diet, I make sure to supplement. This does get expensive, but I think it is less expensive than medications might be, and certainly there are fewer side effects than is probable with various medications. I make sure to get my calcium and a multi-vitamin, but also take extra magnesium and a B-complex to aid calcium absorption, extra selenium and Vit. E, extra C, omega 3 fish oil, and sometimes some aloe vera juice and/or sour cherry juice.

I also try to exercise, and I try to be fastidious about getting enough rest.

In January of 2004, I was in a major flare. I was having such severe sacroilitis that I could barely walk, was having my 2nd bout of iritis, was having constant arrythmia, fatigue . . . I was feeling pretty awful. I was put on Vioxx which made life more tolerable but not perfect, but after finding this web site about 7 or 8 months later, I ditched the Vioxx (just as well since it was pulled from the market because of increased risk for heart attacks), and, although I've had a few flares when I've indulged in starches, I've felt pretty good if not great most of the time. When I'm careful, I can even forget that I have AS.

Well, that's my testimonial. I realize that it's long, but I really believe this is a healthier way.

Blessings!! Paula

P.S. I'm not saying that I'll never take any kind of medicine -- there could come a day when I might need to combine the diet and medication. I'm trying to hold off on that as long as possible, though.

Hey there Scotty,

The Atkins Diet and the No Starch Diet are very different. With the Atkins people rely heavily on high portions of meat and also a lot of fatty food. My hubby and many others here actually cannot have Dairy products at all so that cuts out butter, cream, cheese, ice cream etc. My husband eats the same amount of meat that he used to before the NSD but he has added heaps more fruit and non-starchy veges. Doesn't eat much pork or beef, mainly chicken, fish which are low fat and some lamb.

On the Atkins you cut out all carbs - not even allowed fruit. On the NSD fruit and veges are staples are you only cut out starchy carbs. So you still get plenty of carbs every day.

My hubby had his cholesterol tested after 10 months on this diet and it had come down well into the safe range.

I had similar reservations to you before my hubby started the diet. However pain and the threat of not being able to work and the prospect of life in a wheelchair made him desperate to try something ANYTHING to get rid of the pain.

Pre-diet he ate a "normal" diet which consisted of quite a bit of junk food especially during the day but now of course that is all gone and he has salads & fruit for lunch instead and drinks green tea from a thermos. Sound like an unhealthy lunch? I think not. Sound fat laden? No.

He doesn't seem to have any problems with energy. Owns and operates his own painting & water-blasting business full-time and works on our house (we're renovating) on the weekend. Daily pain levels down to 1 out of 10. Pre-diet 8-9 out of 10 every day. NO NSAIDS, NO DMARDS.

I personally consider this treatment method 1000 times healthier than a life on a "normal" diet full of processed chemically enhanced food while taking toxic medications that cause horrendous side effects - even death. That's my opinion.

I would highly recommend this diet to anyone with AS, it really works and is perfectly healthy.

All the best
Chelsea

Thank you for your concern about my health.

I have more stamina than a carbohydrate addict because my metabolism has switched over to to fat burning, which provides long term energy. In other words, I'm a diesal engine and you, dear Scotty, are running close to "E" and still stuck sucking gasoline fumes.

Fortunately I've read several of the Atkins books (poaching and adapting recipes) and retained just enough of the text that I can tell you No Starch and Low Starch are not Atkins, altho there are some similarities. Atkins is a restrictive weight LOSS diet. Low starch diets are specific diets created to help people who do not process grains properly in their guts which then gives them symptoms of disease because they become vulnerable to infections which provoke the immune system. Atkins is a commercial enterprise. Low Starch is for people who want to be able to eat a normal, nutritious meal without doubling over and falling to the floor in agony, literally. No and Low starch diets are very high in healthy fruits and vegetables.

I'm not worried about dying from a stroke or heart attack. That was Atkin's gift, showing the relationship between high consumption of processed grain products AND fatty meat foods at the same time, and inflamation in the body. One of my main fat sources is extra Virgin Olive Oil, now suddenly the darling of the health food crowd once again. I don't eat pork. I figure if I go fast someday, say at age 60, it beats a slow, lingering decay and destruction from my organs slowly being destroyed by NSAIDS or prednisone, being overweight, and being sedentary because of immobility.

Scotty, I have now been on the diet about 14 years, yes I have had cheats from time to time and suffered the consequences. Before the diet I was contemplating giving up work, I was in so much pain and could hardly walk. I now am contemplating retirment in about another 4 years when I will be 60, In the meantime I will keep playing golf every day I can, practicing for retirement. My blood pressure is good my chloresterol is good, my ESR is now 10, from a pre diet high of 98. I have to tell you that if you are a young man or woman suffering with chronic AS the diet is certainly not something to fear. Good Luck George

To all who replied to my post. Thank you for your replies and you have all made me re-think that post. I am so grateful i have found this site and the people on it are wonderful. Don't get me wrong here guys i'm not trying to discourage something that is working for you all but i was concerned. Next time before i state my opinion so boldly i will do a little more reasearch into it. Sorry if i offended anyone for that was not my intention at all. Sorry, Scotty

Scotty, Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I believe that you were expressing your concerns. A lot of people on this page have had the same concerns as the one you expressed hopefully the replies have gone someway to helping you understand the diet. Believe me you have much more to fear from the prolonged use of anti-inflamatory drugs than you have from a Low starch diet. Good Luck George