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What nutritional plan helps fight ankylosing spondylitis

A MySpondylitisTeam Member asked a question 💭
July 8
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MySpondylitisTeam

There's no single "official" diet for spondylitis, but an anti-inflammatory eating plan is widely recommended to help manage symptoms. The core idea is to focus on foods that calm inflammation while avoiding those that trigger it.

Here are foods to embrace:

- Colorful fruits and vegetables (rich in antioxidants)
- Whole Show Full Answer

There's no single "official" diet for spondylitis, but an anti-inflammatory eating plan is widely recommended to help manage symptoms. The core idea is to focus on foods that calm inflammation while avoiding those that trigger it.

Here are foods to embrace:

- Colorful fruits and vegetables (rich in antioxidants)
- Whole grains
- Fatty fish like salmon and sardines (high in omega-3s)
- Walnuts and flaxseed
- Healthy fats like olive oil and avocados
- Beans and legumes
- Plenty of water (6–8 glasses a day) Foods worth avoiding or limiting include:

- Refined sugars and sugary drinks
- Refined carbohydrates (white bread, white rice, pastries)
- Fried and processed foods
- Red and processed meats
- Saturated fats
- Alcohol
- Gluten, dairy, and MSG (these may trigger flares for some people) Some MySpondylitisTeam members have also found success with a low-starch diet, though research results are mixed. Keeping a food diary can help identify personal triggers, since everyone's body responds differently.

Always check with your doctor or a registered dietitian before making big dietary changes — they can tailor recommendations to your specific situation and medications.

July 8
A MySpondylitisTeam Member

Kevin, as far as I can tell, there is no single eating plan for AS. Each of us is so different as to how we respond to certain foods. I started eating scientifically, not what I liked but what worked. For example, I stopped eating bread and meats because I couldn’t get them down into stomach without hanging up midway. I started eating dried pineapple to help my stomach, Instead of drinking coffee, I eat dark chocolate expresso beans.I made a rule for myself- at each meal, I have 5 separate things. For example: expresso beans, dried pineapple, crackers, grapes, fruit chews. Lunch I might take canned chicken, plain cooked pasta, grapes, crackers, fruit chews. Dinner- might be a healthy choice meal with pineapple, rice, chicken, grapes, fruit chews. I have lost weight. can generally get food down. The reason for fruit chews is for me is to help so I am not constipated. I am eating in a way to make it easier for me to undergo upper/lower GI series tests in a few weeks. Gastroenterologist believes that AS may have created a structural impairment for food getting down. so I am eating to keep things smooth.You will find what works for you. Good luck!!

July 24

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