How Food Choices Affected My Ankylosing Spondylitis

Four years ago, I was living in the throes of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Health professionals told me my pain stemmed from an autoimmune disease that was best treated with biologics. At that time, I would have laughed at you (or more realistically, gotten angry with you) if you’d suggested that a modified diet could reduce my AS symptoms in a life-changing way. I found little scientific evidence to back up the idea. Plus, it appeared too easy. Infuriatingly, it seemed to minimize the severity of my pain.

Yet, that’s what my story has become.

I never expected my diet to have that great of an impact on my health. I was already baking bread from scratch in my own kitchen, cooking most of my meals (and plenty of desserts) at home, and avoiding fast food as much as possible. I only occasionally had processed treats (that’s what I told myself, anyway). Many processed foods I purchased were labeled as healthy. I was doing pretty well, or so I thought.

When I was at the end of my rope with no access to effective medication, I researched. I had hoped to find at-home remedies to try to get my AS symptoms under control. Out of sheer desperation, I figured I could try to clean up my diet a bit.

Finding the right fuel

The more I started researching, the more I realized that people who shared stories of healing from autoimmune disease all had something in common: They fueled their bodies with a whole, anti-inflammatory, nourishing diet and focused on healing the gut.

It makes sense that if you put the wrong fuel into your car, you will experience issues. Is the body any different? I figured I could try dietary modifications as I waited months for my initial appointment with a rheumatologist. I had nothing to lose.

I started eating fresh, whole, nutrient-dense foods. I eliminated all foods that had the potential to cause inflammation. I cut refined sugar (I initially cut even natural sugars down to a handful of blueberries daily), starches (grains, legumes, root vegetables, etc.), dairy, nightshades, nuts and seeds, unhealthy oils, and anything processed or artificial.

I started to treat food as medicine.

At first, I resented the monotonous diet and struggled to thrive. Still, there was a marked reduction in my pain, inflammation, and symptoms. Encouraged, I carried on. I slowly reintroduced more variety to my diet, still avoiding inflammatory foods but adding flavor and diversity. Gradually, my plates of colorful food looked more appealing (to me) than the mac ‘n’ cheese of the person next to me. When I started to embrace this diet, I finally started to thrive.

Hippocrates once said, “Before you heal someone, ask him if he’s willing to give up the things that make him sick.” I had to come to terms with giving up a diet of convenient comfort foods because there was no guarantee of improvement.

Lifestyle and diet modifications may not be for everyone. Still, I found it helpful to at least be aware of alternative treatment options instead of simply taking medications for the rest of my life.

It amazes me to think of how food has impacted my AS journey. I now live a mostly pain-free and entirely medication-free life with ankylosing spondylitis. Yet, it’s maddening to think I’ve turned into one of those “crunchy mommies” who thinks everything can be healed with food (OK, OK, not everything)!

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This blog post was originally published on June 7, 2023 in my Just Keep Swimming column @ Ankylosing Spondylitis News