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I am 55 years old. I have had diabetes for a few years and am watching my diet pretty well. However I was also just diagnosed with RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) so I really need to get on the diet even more so now.

One person said I should cleanse my system and then start a different diet.

After looking at the 12 day diet here on this web and the recipes also here, it seems as though whole wheat flour is ok for cooking? is this the case or if not why is it listed on the the recipes?

Would the 12 day diet be a good start or should I do something else?

Thanks for a great web site!

The 12-Day program is always a good place to start and may be sufficient to help relieve your RA. If after a couple of weeks you find you aren't getting any relief, I would switch to a gluten-free version of the Maximum Weight Loss plan. Sticking with whole gluten-free foods helped clear up my 'itis's - Burgess may want to step in here and tell you more about his experiences. If all else fails, here is a link to an elimination diet that will help you pinpoint any trigger foods that may be causing your RA to flare:
http://www.nealhendrickson.com/mcdougal ... pudiet.htm
Kate

In my opinion, neither flour products nor the 12 day plan are optimal for somebody with your medical issues. Check Jeff Novick's forum here, or drop him a question in that forum. I believe that he would want at least 95% of your calories coming from intact whole plant foods. Flour acts much like sugar in the body, so is not a great thing for diabetics. As Katy mentioned, if you are still having problems, the elimination diet would likely identify the cause. Dr. McDougall describes the elimination diet in detail in his Digestive Tune Up book, but you can also search here and find out how to do it. It is pretty restrictive, so you might want to first go to a more healthy option than you are doing now, such as the MWL plan.

What is the MWL plan?

1. MWL = maximum weight loss, a program for individuals who want to speed up weight loss. (Normal weight loss is typically 1-2 pounds per week, according to the comments I have seen.)

I would recommend starting with the McDougall Program Regular diet, but eliminate all wheat. My understanding of the Regular diet is that it is defined by these principles:
- Whole foods.
- Plant foods.
- Very low fat, overall.
- Wide variety.
- Coarse starch centered (perhaps 50-75% starch per meal, by sight).

2. FLOUR. My understanding is that some recipes here are for special treats or for people who can't handle making an abrupt transition to eating the McDougall Program way: whole foods, not processed foods. Flour is both processed and refined. My recommendation is to eat only whole foods. Apples, oranges, potatoes, intact grains, beans, stalks of celery, and so forth.

3. ARTHRITIS. My experiences with inflammation (-itis) problems are described here: http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/burgess_laughlin.html

Be sure to read all the other Star McDougaller stories for diabetes and arthritis.

4. QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
- How tall are you?
- How much do you weigh?
- How active are you?
- How would you rank your posture for sitting, standing, and walking: 1 for awful, 10 for perfect, or somewhere in between?
- Where is your RA pain? Is it constant?

5. A WAY OF LIFE. Always keep in mind that the McDougall Program is a way of life. It is not just a diet, and it certainly isn't a short-term approach. When you settle on the right diet, you will follow it for the rest of your life.

Thanks for the responses! I will check into the links you recommended.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
- How tall are you? 6' 0
- How much do you weigh? 220 lbs
- How active are you? low active but not sedentary
- How would you rank your posture for sitting, standing, and walking: 1 for awful, 10 for perfect, or somewhere in between? 7
I had both knees replaced this past 6 months so really watching how I walk.

- Where is your RA pain? Is it constant?

Elbows right now. Right one is consistent sometimes late in the day is about a 8 on the pain scale. Normal every day (for the last 4 week when it started is about 3 )

I have a few points to offer.

1. CAUTION. Keep in mind that I am not a physician, only a layman with experience in one set of problems, which I have described in detail in this weblog: http://anti-itisdiet.blogspot.com/2007/ ... ation.html

2. ONE MORE QUESTION. What kind of work do you do? A lot of sitting, kneeling, or holding heavy objects? Could it be related to your knees and elbows?

3. WEIGHT. You and I are the same height. I weigh about 90 pounds less than you do. (I walk about six miles a day and do light exercises.) Technically I am underweight but no doctor who has seen me has suggested I worry about it, because I am fully functional.

You could probably lose about 50-70 pounds and reduce the stress on your knees and (for the future) your ankles and hips. I would still recommend starting with the regular McDougall diet, minus all traces of wheat. If you see any improvement, you know diet is a likely suspect. http://www.drmcdougall.com/free.html

4. INTERPLAY OF DIET AND POSTURE. My experience is that poor diet set me up with a tendency to inflammation and poor posture while sitting, walking, and standing determined where I felt the most pain. Pete Egoscue's book, Pain Free, was a big help to me, but I had serious posture problems. I also discussed that on my weblog.

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That is a lot of information to absorb. I would suggest for now:
1. Invest time into learning the McDougall program.

2. Aim for 100% compliance (but accept the fact that learning takes time). You have nothing to lose (except a lot of weight).

3. If in the next month you see a reduction in your arthritis, even by a small though consistent amount, then consider trying the elimination diet (which helps determine the kinds of foods that are causing a problem). In case you need the information later, here is a link to my experiences with the elim diet: http://anti-itisdiet.blogspot.com/2007/ ... foods.html

Thanks for all the comments! I am on day 2 of the elimination diet and so far so good.
thanks

The elimination diet is a great thing to really zero in on problem foods. Let us know what you find. Many people find relief from arthritic type pains on Dr. McDougall's diets. I hope that you will be another.