Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic condition.

As far as the official medical line goes, there is no “cure”, as yet.

However, there are a number treatments for AS that can help manage symptoms, reduce (and in some cases eliminate) pain and improve quality of life.

These treatments include medication, physical therapy, lifestyle and dietary changes. In some extreme cases surgery has also been used.

You can see a more detailed page on ankylosing spondylitis treatments here:

🔗 Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatments

The focus of Gut Heroes is to look at which lifestyle changes that can be deployed to help manage symptoms

This includes: eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, stretching, and maintaining good gut health.

Eating a healthy diet can help manage symptoms and reduce inflammation in the body.

Some foods that may be beneficial for people with AS include:

Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fatty fish and avocados for example. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Lean protein: Protein is important for muscle and joint health.

Exercise: Regular exercise is important for people with AS. It can help maintain flexibility and range of motion in the joints. It also helps reduce inflammation and improve overall health.

Some exercises that may be beneficial for people with AS include: low-impact activities, such as walking, trekking, swimming and biking. These are easier on the joints than high-impact activities like running.

(With that said many patients who successfully manage their diet and lifestyle and get to ‘pain free’ enjoy running!)

Stretching exercises, such as yoga or Pilates can help improve flexibility and range of motion in the joints.

Strength training helps build muscle to support the joints and improve overall health.

Gut health: There is compelling evidence to suggest that gut health is important for people with AS. Gut inflammation has been linked to the development of AS and some strategies patients have had success with include:

Avoiding processed foods and cutting out refined sugar, which can cause inflammation in the body. Avoiding antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary, as they can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria.

Eating fermented foods to promote a healthy and balanced microbiome

In Summary

While there is no ‘official’ cure for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.

Everyone is different and what works for one person may be more or less effective for someone else. Not everyone takes medication to manage their AS but some find it a necessity.

Some powerful and natural lifestyle changes that can be helpful for people with AS include eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, stretching, and maintaining good gut health.