Just wanted to share my experience and research.I've been symptom free for nearly two years now and believe I control my Psa through a therapeutic diet. I am now moving to a maintenance phase and have been using resistant starch in the form of potato starch(Bobs Red Mill) and plantain flour - it has strong research supporting its use being very helpful for colon health. Just wondered if anyone else has used itx
A useful link http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/resistant-starch-a-powerful-nutrient.html
Hi there, melanie! Interesting article. Did you know that we have a whole section for Complementary Therapies on the discussion board? Mind if I move this to there?
I’ve just finished reading Michael Pollan’s latest book, “Cooked”. Fascinating. There’s a large section on fermented foods in which he discusses the microbiota of our gut. Fascinating! He even provides an explanation of leaky gut that I found thought-provoking. Hightly recommended, in fact, I think I’ll put that up in Book Reviews.
Interesting from the perspective that the only reasonably good research out there (Dr Brown) points towards a Starch Free diet as the solution particularly with the flora.......................
Many have had reduction of symptoms, and inflammation levels only to discover the disease still exists.
Hello Seenie! great to hear from you- I totally agree with your recommendation of Pollan's "Cooked". Have you read his article "Some of my best friends are germs" -another wonderful,thought provoking ,original piece.
Seenie said:
Hi there, melanie! Interesting article. Did you know that we have a whole section for Complementary Therapies on the discussion board? Mind if I move this to there?
I've just finished reading Michael Pollan's latest book, "Cooked". Fascinating. There's a large section on fermented foods in which he discusses the microbiota of our gut. Fascinating! He even provides an explanation of leaky gut that I found thought-provoking. Hightly recommended, in fact, I think I'll put that up in Book Reviews.
That's an interesting article,- thanks for posting. It does raise some questions for me - do you know any more about the research they're citing in the article? I'd love to read it! I have celiac and other issues, so diet is a huge concern of mine.
While symptom and inflammation reduction can sometimes be found with dietary and other changes, the disease is still there and can be doing damage. I'd be interested to know if you're being followed by a doctor for your PsA, if you wouldn't mind sharing. My GP is very pro-dietary changes to help with symptoms, but my rheumy doesn't discuss diet much.
From what I understand research into the complex interrelations and symbiosis between gut flora and us is in its infancy. The American Gut Project has some interesting ,novel work which I am following; in fact one of the pointers which lead me to look at current thinking about the role of resistant starches in the history of our species. I am sure you are right about the 'disease' label- I have found quite quickly if I did what I used to do- ie :eat without attention to season, time of day, too much, I can encourage the gut dysbiosis too return with some joint inflammation. I prefer to avoid that !!!
tntlamb said:
Interesting from the perspective that the only reasonably good research out there (Dr Brown) points towards a Starch Free diet as the solution particularly with the flora.......................
Many have had reduction of symptoms, and inflammation levels only to discover the disease still exists.
Hello Nym,
I no longer need to see a rheumatologist as my inflammatory markers are normal. I was under a rheumatologist for over twenty years and used the whole spectrum of drug therapies. My hands have improved in the sense that all joints are reducing- no swelling,just a small amount of calcification of one joint at the end of my little left finger.My toes are no longer turned over and I have gone down a half shoe size. There is no heat in any of my joints and I am physically stronger than I ever been. Even after vigorous exercise I do not get an inflammatory response- I use postural therapy to gain a full range of movement.I had a full health assessment in December done privately as I wanted some evidence for myself.My blood tests showed no inflammatory markers,my cholesterol ratio was 'exceptionally good' as was my fasting glucose and my cardiac results also.I was also in a the top third for my core strength . My GP is very pleased as it vindicates my self experimentation with diet and now the addition of resistant starch has given my well being another boost. !!!
nym said:
That's an interesting article,- thanks for posting. It does raise some questions for me - do you know any more about the research they're citing in the article? I'd love to read it! I have celiac and other issues, so diet is a huge concern of mine.
While symptom and inflammation reduction can sometimes be found with dietary and other changes, the disease is still there and can be doing damage. I'd be interested to know if you're being followed by a doctor for your PsA, if you wouldn't mind sharing. My GP is very pro-dietary changes to help with symptoms, but my rheumy doesn't discuss diet much.
It's wonderful that you've had such wonderful results from the changes you've made. The thing that concerns me is that even symptom- and inflammation- free, with zero inflammatory markers, the psoriatic arthritis is still a part of your medical makeup. For me, personally, even at my worst, my inflammatory markers are zero. PsA is known to be seronegative, so blood markers can't be counted on to asses whether or not the disease is active in your body. True remissions without medication are incredibly rare, if even possible. Keeping up a relationship with a rheumatolgist might be in your best interest, in case your PsA decides to stop playing so nicely and takes a dramatic turn for the worse, which can happen overnight for many of us. Once damage is done, there is no reversing it. Have you had x-rays or an MRI to make sure there's no degeneration going on that you're not feeling?
Now I need to have a conversation with a friend of mine who is very knowledgeable about gut healing and see what her take is on it - I'm finding this very interesting.
My Rheumatologist and GP were of the opinion that if there is no inflammation or symptom then what is there to treat ? My bone density is still very good- and my range of movement far better than it was three years ago- at my private health assessment looking at all biomarkers I was in the top third for my age. My gut health is amazing- I have never been so comfortable in my body and my general mood energetic, positive and relaxed. I never felt like this on medication- but I did feel like this as a teenager. I understand and appreciate your concern- inflammatory processes are particularly insidious for heart health-but as I am well I do far more robust and challenging exercise and suffer no repercussions. My husband and I are precautionary to a fault-hence the extremely expensive private health assessment. But thank you for your concern .
MOD NOTE: Moved to Complimentary Therapies forum :)
Hi Mel,
This was something I looked into a while ago.
The comment I would make from all my reading is that it can be a great tool to manage satiety in someone who has weight issues and craves carbs (possibly in diabetes, though that’s not proven). You don’t need to buy a supplement though, just cook potatoes and let them cool, then make a green salad with a couple of cooled potatoes diced and mixed in 
In terms of digestion, there is a lot of suggestion that resistant starches actually pose a significant problem for many of us - they are one of the things the SCD diet, which empirically works for some, particularly designed for those of us with autoimmune intestinal issues, seek to exclude.
I haven’t yet had the energy to try it (I had to take a biologic anyway, so why not Humira, which has improved my intestinal issues by about 95% with only a small modification in diet), but for the scientific rationale (clinical trials are nearly impossible with diet), I would think the SCD diet has at least as much or more credibility.
Maybe it depends on who you are and what your particular system has a weakness for?
Yes..I think the individuality of the gut biome means there can be no one size fits all.I have had however had such success with my personal therapeutic diet and adding some potato starch to my kefir has been amazing.I don't have weight issues, nor blood sugar issues, but have used RS as a prebiotic. It has clearly some weird effects... I have noticed great mood effects- calm,focused and great sleep and dreams. I also like the idea of it having such benefits for feeding colonic bacteria and reducing likelihood for colon cancer- always a plus for a celiac xx
Hello Sybil,
my main sites for this are: http://eatingoffthefoodgrid.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/resistant-starch-and-sibo.html and the the blog of a straightalking young man at' Free the Animal'- they refer to Resistant starch and list hundreds of anecdotal reports of people's experimentation with using it in a form called potato starch - added to biolive yogurt mostly - to avoind gluten/ fermentation issues.
food for thought!!1
sybil said:
I've just checked the link & most of the foods mentioned are already a big part of my diet. I'm guessing that the therapeutic diet you mention is rather more specialised. Just wondered if you happen to know of any good sites outlining the therapeutic approach that you could easily provide a link to?
Will also read, thanks for sharing!!
melaniej said:
Hello Sybil,
my main sites for this are: http://eatingoffthefoodgrid.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/resistant-starch... and the the blog of a straightalking young man at' Free the Animal'- they refer to Resistant starch and list hundreds of anecdotal reports of people's experimentation with using it in a form called potato starch - added to biolive yogurt mostly - to avoind gluten/ fermentation issues.
food for thought!!1
sybil said:I've just checked the link & most of the foods mentioned are already a big part of my diet. I'm guessing that the therapeutic diet you mention is rather more specialised. Just wondered if you happen to know of any good sites outlining the therapeutic approach that you could easily provide a link to?