Starch-Free Success Stories Guest Blog: Jacqueline New
This latest starch-free success story by Jacqueline New reminds me so much of my own story: decades of symptoms, eventually a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis, and then the journey toward relief.
I love reading about her drive to seek answers instead of accepting the status quo. It’s amazing to read about how she’s embraced the starch-free lifestyle and thriving as a result of it. Even 5 years into the starch-free diet, I am inspired by Jacqueline’s story and I trust you will be also!
Jacqueline’s post is part of the “Starch-Free Success Stories” series.
A Life-Changing Journey: How Eliminating Starch Freed Me from Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain
For decades, I accepted pain as a permanent part of my life. Diagnosed in my late twenties with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), and being HLA-B27 positive, I learned to live with chronic lower back pain. It limited me, forcing constant adjustments to my lifestyle. Information and support were scarce in those pre-internet days, making isolation an added burden.
In November 2023, everything changed dramatically. I experienced my first severe flare—a terrifying bout of neck pain so debilitating that I physically couldn’t lift my head from my pillow without pulling on my own hair. It was a wake-up call. After taking anti-inflammatories, the immediate pain eased, but this incident drove me to seek answers.
Turning to social media for clues, I stumbled upon a Facebook group dedicated to Ankylosing Spondylitis. Among many posts, one chance comment caught my attention—it mentioned the remarkable improvements some had seen by eliminating starch from their diets. Curious, I found another group, specifically focused on low-starch living, and discovered the starchfreefeasting website. It felt like a lifeline.
Taking immediate action, I radically transformed my diet, cutting out all starchy foods and relying entirely on recipes from starchfreefeasting. Within just one week, the difference was astonishing—my chronic back pain completely vanished, along with associated discomforts I’d lived with for years. It felt miraculous.
However, life threw another challenge my way. In June 2024, returning home to care for my elderly mother, I found myself temporarily without my trusted anti-inflammatories. Seeking a safety net, my GP prescribed a mild anti-inflammatory, and later lansoprazole to protect my stomach. Tragically, I overlooked the starch content in the lansoprazole. This triggered severe costochondritis, resulting in two months of debilitating illness, one of which confined me mostly to bed.
Realizing the cause, I decided to endure the pain by stopping all medication and strictly returning to a starch-free lifestyle. My conviction was rewarded—slowly but surely, my pain diminished until once again, I was pain-free and medication-free.
These experiences weren’t mere coincidences. Twice, starch elimination had directly correlated with my relief from pain, reinforcing my understanding that starch was fueling the autoimmune attack characteristic of AS.
Today, I am thriving. Thanks to starchfreefeasting and its supportive Facebook community, my dietary choices have never been easier or more enjoyable—even as a vegetarian. Contrary to my initial concerns, my meals are delicious and varied. It involves simply cooking with fresh ingredients and avoiding hidden starches pervasive in pre-made foods and medications alike.
My advice to anyone dealing with AS? Vigilance. Always read the Patient Information Leaflet accompanying medications, even those prescribed by a GP. Starch is frequently used as a filler, yet often goes unlisted in medical databases. Given the profound impact starch elimination has had for many with AS, it deserves recognition akin to allergens.
Embracing a starch-free life has gifted me freedom from chronic pain and returned control over my health. I encourage others to explore this path—it could transform your life as it did mine.
Jacqueline New is a Crime Thriller and Mystery author. You can find her books here – jacquelinenew.com / jnewwrites.com
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