I Tried Eating Like My Grandma to Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis — And It Actually Helped
I used to think diet didn’t really matter much when it came to autoimmune conditions. If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), you probably know the drill: medications, supplements, pain, repeat. But a few months ago, I decided to test a theory — what if I went back to my roots and tried eating like my grandmother did? Mostly plant-based, full of spices, and unmistakably Indian.
That experiment changed how I think about food and healing.
It wasn’t a random idea. I stumbled upon an article from AskDocDoc (you can find it here: https://askdocdoc.com/articles/1104-managing-rheumatoid-arthritis-with-indian-vegetarian-foods
) that explained how Indian vegetarian foods — lentils, leafy greens, turmeric, ginger — can actually help manage inflammation. It wasn’t some fad diet or supplement ad; it was backed by real nutritional logic.
What Changed When I Went Vegetarian Again
I started with small shifts. Breakfast became oatmeal or poha with turmeric and lemon water. Lunch? Dal, brown rice, and vegetables cooked in olive oil. Dinner was simple khichdi or soup with paneer or tofu.
Within a few weeks, I noticed the swelling in my fingers was calmer. My morning stiffness got shorter. And I had more consistent energy at work — no mid-afternoon fog.
What really clicked for me was reading a short post on Threads that said, “Inflammation begins in the kitchen, and so does healing.”
Here’s the link if you want to see it yourself: https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DQHixMJCfIr
It’s funny how that one line stuck. I stopped thinking of diet as a restriction and started seeing it as daily medicine.
Then, on Twitter (X), I saw a simple explainer about how turmeric and cumin reduce inflammatory responses in RA. It was straightforward science: curcumin blocks certain enzymes that trigger joint pain.
You can read it here: https://x.com/1881713393369030656/status/1981031610943201725
It felt validating to realize that my grandma’s cooking habits were basically anti-inflammatory science in action.
What Professionals Are Saying
On LinkedIn, I came across a post that broke down how plant-based diets can help professionals with autoimmune issues stay more productive and less fatigued. It made sense — when inflammation drops, focus and energy rise.
Check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7386797392752435200
And if you’re into visuals like me, there’s this colorful Pinterest board full of Indian vegetarian anti-inflammatory meals. It’s honestly inspiring and proves healthy food doesn’t have to be boring.
Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279439709700/
The final push came from a Facebook post I read — someone simply wrote, “Healing began when we changed what we cooked and how we thought about food.”
Here’s that post: https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122144269868743210
That line sums up everything I’ve learned.
Final Thoughts
Eating this way isn’t about going vegan or giving up joy. It’s about reconnecting with food that actually supports your body. The spices, the simplicity, the balance — it all matters.
If you have RA or any inflammatory condition, I’d say: start with one meal. Swap processed stuff for something homemade. Add turmeric and ginger. Track how you feel for a week. It might surprise you how much power your plate holds.