Reader
Questions:
Why Break a Fast with a Baked Potato?
by Barbara D. Allan
Author of Conquering Arthritis
Dear
Barbara,
If potatoes (nightshades) should be avoided by people
with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) why is a plain baked
potato one of the first things you add to the reintroduction
after the fast?
Dear Reader,
Many, many different foods can cause arthritis. If
you or I were to avoid everything that caused someone
arthritis, there would be nothing left to eat. The trick
is developing a personalized list of those foods that
are a problem for you, and then avoiding them.
Only some people with RA need to avoid nightshades.
People with type A blood tend to have more problems
with the nightshades than do others, but it isn't a
very tight correlation. (I have type A blood and have
never had any problems with potatoes or tomatoes.)
If potatoes are a problem for you personally, I would
recommend testing millet and kudzu powder as two alternatives.
Here is why.
The reason for the potatoes in the broth and when breaking
the fast is that they are alkalizing. Arthritis is a
disease of acidity and the body throws off a lot of
acid when fasting. Alkalizing foods help move the body
into a healing pH range.
Most sources of carbohydrates have an acidifying effect.
Potatoes and millet are two of the few good sources
of carbs that are alkalizing. Kudzu powder is another,
but it is expensive and can be hard to find.
The other reason for breaking the fast with a plain
baked potato is that most of the other easily available
starches tend to be even more problematic than potatoes.
Adverse reactions to grains such as wheat and corn are
even more common.
Hope that helps,
Sincerely,
Barbara |
