What to Eat - When You're Craving Something Sweet (& want to stay pain-free with RA)

It’s been another lovely day, and if I’m honest, I’m seriously craving gelato. Probably because I’m still dreaming of those glorious creamy scoops from our Lake Como trip—treats in every sense of the word. But now that I’m home and back to my RA-friendly lifestyle, it’s a different story. That scoop of indulgence has to be weighed against something more valuable: waking up without joint pain.

Before my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, I wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping in the car and buying a tub of Ben & Jerry’s—maybe even grabbing a pack of Cadbury Flakes to crumble on top (yes, I was that extra). Sugar was my emotional comfort, my reward system, my everything. I’d happily skip meals in favour of a sugar high. It felt harmless, and at 38 years old, still fitting into the same dress size, I thought I was getting away with it.

Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.

The damage wasn’t on the outside—it was on the inside. Chronic inflammation was building quietly, fueled by sugar, stress, and a whole load of unrealistic expectations I placed on myself. I was, quite literally, a ticking autoimmune time bomb.

Now in my sixties, I sometimes wonder what might’ve happened if I hadn’t been diagnosed with RA—or if I’d chosen the medication route and continued my same old lifestyle. Would I be facing diabetes like my mum? Or high blood pressure and heart issues like my dad? Or some other chronic condition caused by unchecked inflammation?

Thankfully, that diagnosis was the wake-up call I needed. It forced me to take a brutally honest look at my habits and make real, sustainable changes. And a huge part of that transformation started with food.

One of the first things I did was start keeping a food diary—not just meals, but snacks, cravings, and emotional eating patterns. Even when I thought I was “eating pretty well,” the diary told another story. I was still indulging in sugar, processed foods, and salty snacks more often than I wanted to admit. And those things? They fuel chronic inflammation like gasoline on a fire.

Once I saw the patterns clearly, I had a starting point. And here’s the truth: the most powerful thing you can do to reduce inflammation and pain is to cut out sugar and processed foods. That includes:

• Processed meats: deli meats, bacon, sausages, jerky.

• Sugary cereals: even the ones that pretend to be healthy.

• Packaged bread: especially with long shelf lives.

• Snack foods: crisps, crackers, instant noodles, microwave meals.

• Sweets and ice cream: all the sugary stuff that used to be my go-to.

• Sugary drinks and diet sodas: packed with high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame—both seriously inflammatory.

  
  

If any of your favorites made the list, I get it—it’s tough! But once you connect those treats to the pain in your joints or the exhaustion you can’t shake, it gets easier to say no. And with a bit of prep, you can swap them out for delicious alternatives that heal rather than hurt.

That’s what I did. I began filling my plate with nutrient-dense foods that nourished my body and, to my surprise, satisfied my cravings too. But I’ll admit—something weird kept happening. Even though I was eating clean and ditching sugar, I still had occasional flare-ups. That’s when I discovered the magic of eating for your blood type.

I’m blood type B+, and one of the biggest staples in my diet back then was chicken. Turns out, chicken is highly inflammatory for B types. I was eating it four to five times a week! Once I swapped it out for beneficial meats for my type (hello, lamb and turkey), the results were dramatic. My pain reduced even more, my energy soared, and I felt like I’d turned back the clock.

Your blood type matters more than you think—it affects your digestion, immune response, and even your ability to handle stress. Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s work in Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type helped me figure this out, and it changed everything.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the four main blood groups:

• O – Our hunter ancestors: thrive on high-protein, meat-heavy diets.

• A – The first farmers: best on plant-based, veggie-focused meals.

• B – The nomads: most versatile, do well with balanced diets and certain dairy.

• AB – The rare combo: a blend of A and B, needs a mix of moderation.

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So—back to my gelato craving. Instead of driving to the store and undoing all my hard work, I made my own ice cream that supports my health. For us B types, here’s my go-to:

B+ Healing Ice CreamBlend together:

• A splash of double cream

• 1 egg yolk

• A couple teaspoons of instant coffee

• A drizzle of local honey

  
  

Pop it in the freezer for an hour, and voilà! Creamy, dreamy, anti-inflammatory ice cream.(If you’re type A or AB, you can use silken tofu instead of cream and skip the egg—still delicious and healing!)

What I’ve learned is this: it doesn’t take a huge effort to satisfy a craving and still stay true to your healing journey. A little knowledge, a few swaps, and the right mindset can take you from temptation to transformation.

And honestly? Feeling good feels better than any tub of ice cream ever did.