During my latest 'Ask Me Anything' post, someone asked me what the best diet for Ankylosing Spondylitis would be.
This is a complicated question.
The biggest problem with diets of any type is that they are not universal. Each person will have varying reactions and symptoms with what they eat.
Because Ankylosing Spondylitis is a disease riddled with inflammation, the general agreed-upon diet is one that cuts out known inflammatory foods.
Here is a link to the Anti-Inflammatory Diet for quick reference. It gives a comprehensive list of foods that are supposed to reduce inflammation and foods that have been known to cause or increase inflammation.
But does it work?
There are mixed reviews.
Very mixed reviews.
Here are some things to remember:
1. No two bodies are the exact same. No two bodies will react to foods in entirely the same way.
2. Food sensitivities - for whatever reason - can change. In the same way that allergies can develop or change.
3. Go with whatever works for you.
The best way to find out whether or not a food bothers you is to cut your diet down to an extremely restrictive one. Bland anti-inflammation foods. Just a few. Follow that for a few weeks or even a few months, then slowly re-introduce foods one at a time. Then you can really see if it causes a problem or not.
For me personally, foods that are extra acidic, like tomatoes, and certain nightshades like peppers are foods that tend to cause problems in my system. While I don't cut them out 100%, I no longer eat these foods on a daily basis and I actively avoid them in most situations. Too much sugar may cause issues, as well as processed meats and white bread. Switching from white and wheat bread to rye bread actually made quite a big difference. I also avoid alcohol most of the time and only have dairy once in a while. At a party I'll indulge in a cheese tray, for instance, and I'll have a hot chocolate with real milk, but most of the time I stick with coconut milk or soy milk.
There is no tried-and-true diet for AS, unfortunately. Not in my experience at least. My personal situation is complicated by other illnesses like Crohn's Disease and Macular Degeneration that require specific dietary changes as well that often do not go hand-in-hand.
My advice:
Try eliminating most things from your diet, then reintroduce foods that could be beneficial and even foods that are thought to create inflammation. If you notice anything becoming worse, try avoiding that food for a while, then try again. If it becomes a pattern, then it will be clear what you can and cannot eat on a regular basis.
I am a firm believer in going all out with something for a while, but then not limiting yourself 100% of the time. How can a diet become an entire lifestyle change if you never allow yourself any cravings?
Plus, in my experience again, giving into cravings is often what solidifies a suspicion on a certain problematic food. (Like if I have been craving caprese salad and decide to go nuts with it one night, then feel horrendous the next day, it's a pretty clear sign that tomatoes and cheese are not exactly good choices for me).
Start with a list of foods and try each one. You'll be able to tell which ones are problematic.
And if ALL food seems to cause an issue, then you are likely in a major flare-up. So eat what you want. ;)
