The Arthritis Diet

Dr. Norman B. Gaylis, following a holisitc approach, recommends all arthritis patients to review their diet and makes the following recommendations:

Do Eat

  • All seafood
  • All vegetables, including avocados
  • Vegetable oils, particularly safflower and corn Margarine free of milk solids, such as Mazola Egg whites
  • Honey
  • Nuts, sunflower seeds, soybean products
  • Rice of all kinds: brown, white, wild
  • Bread to which nothing listed below has been added
  • Tea and coffee
  • Plain soda water
  • Parsley, onions, garlic, bay leaf, salt
  • Any kind of flour

Do not Eat

  • Meat in any form, including broth
  • Fruit of any kind, including tomatoes
  • Dairy products, including egg yolks, milk, cheese, yogurt Vinegar, or any other acid
  • Pepper (definitely)
  • Chocolate
  • Dry roasted nuts (the process involves monosodium glutamate)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Soft drinks (I have never found one without additives)
  • All additives, preservatives, chemicals. most especially monosodium glutamate. One exception to this rule is the lecithin in margarine.
  • Salt
  • Sugar

Perhaps Ocasionally

  • Breast of chicken and chicken broth
  • A small amount of wine in cooking
  • A small drink of scotch
  • A small pinch of spicy seasoning such as curry powder
  • Noodles or spaghetti, since the amount of egg is relatively small and somewhat broken down in the cooking
  • White wine with some plates

Exceptions:

Persons who have gout, or who have been diagnosed as having what is called gouty arthritis, will do well to avoid certain things. This sensitivity must be determined by the individual, since it varies from person to person, but in general mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, artichokes, peas, and beans are possible offenders. As for alcohol, bourbon does not seem to be right for some people with gout; I would suggest vodka for their rare indulgence.