LOL!

Diet makes no difference to me at all! I've tried various diets, and nothing helped but strong meds. Or is he testing for allergies? I have loads of allergies, but they don't connect to my RA at all.

I can't address this from an RA standpoint because I'm too recently diagnosed myself. But, I can answer part of your question: you need to approach this exactly the way you would approach a high school science fair project.

You need a hypothesis (for instance, item X might case inflammation) and a way to test that theory, and a way to assess the results Ideally, you'd use controls and blind tests and all sorts of things that become impractical when you're subject is your own self.

Another challenge is to find a baseline diet that would not cause inflammation, so that you've have a starting point. But at the very least, you (we, because we're all in the same boat here) can change only one factor at a time, and give it enough time to work, and figure out how to assess the results in an objective way if possible (measuring the circumference of your ankles, for instance, if they're prone to swelling, or comparing before-and-after photographs of red joints, as opposed to deciding if you 'feel better' on particular day.)

So, you might start with a safe diet that causes you no problems, and add seafood as your X factor for three weeks, and see if you have skin or gastro issues or whatever. I don't know if there's a link between RA and diet, but it stands to reason that anything that knocks us out of balance in non-RA ways, even if it's just an occasional upset stomach or bloating due to dietary choices, can't be a positive thing. So why not get as much information as you can about your own personal self? Good luck to you.

Katie, my SO would love you. all logical points. nerdgasm! :) thank you all for your opinions :) please keep sharing away your experiences and such.

and BTW DS users: i made my SO a food binder to try simplify their thinking in meal planning. they were frustrated yesterday in trying to meal plan and going 'can't have this. that. this...' (throw hands in air). i told them that when they find something they like, i'll print it and put it in the binder, this way they can see only 1 recipe per page and make notes on them to add/remove items to make life easier than being on the computer skimming through recipes. I hope this method helps them to focus better.

Food has no effect on RA. At all.

However, if you're trying to determine if someone is sensitive to food, an elimination diet would probably be a good way to go. Maybe there's a group that focuses on food allergies?

I have done a lot of research on RA and diet. I have Hadhimotos also and cut out gluten 9 months ago which alleviated my swollen tear ducts which were causing severe and painful dry eyes. I do believe that some RA sufferers can alleviate some symptoms with diet... But there are so many opinions! I have cut out dairy so far. I have some AIP cookbooks and plan on following them soon. My husband, who is disabled, just got out of the hospital and will be pretty much bedridden for the next 6 months or so, so I am putting my diet on hold... With so much on my plate I can't imagine cooking 2 different dinners!! And I certainly am not going to give up my wine!!

To add on to my previous reply... I was only diagnosed a week ago with Seronegative RA and started taking Plaquinel . I do not believe you should try to treat RA with diet alone... Only use diet to help along with your medication! Best of luck to your SO... He is fortunate to have a partner to help him!

I have tried a number of elimination diets: dairy, gluten, vegan,corn,soy, nightshade etc. nothing helped my RA but being dairy free makes me feel better so that's the only one I've stayed with for 3 yrs now. I was more lactose intolerant than I realized.

There's been good suggestions already. I would only add that you need to do them for a good 4-6 weeks to really know and pay attention to when you add a food type back in to see if it's making you feel worse.

This is not as onerous as it sounds and I think worth a try. Good luck!