Diet and Nutrition

Conquering Rheumatoid Arthritis Bite by Bite with Chef Seamus Mullen

Conquering Rheumatoid Arthritis Bite by Bite with Chef Seamus Mullen
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Conquering Rheumatoid Arthritis Bite by Bite with Chef Seamus Mullen

Seamus Mullen is an extraordinary chef who is showing those with rheumatoid arthritis how they can keep some of their symptoms at bay by creating certain meals. The best part? They taste delicious!

Changing technique

Sometimes cooking can be daunting for anyone - it's a lot of work! But for those with rheumatoid arthritis, the process can seem overwhelming due to the physicality of it. While others might not realize that there is some strain in chopping, stirring, or getting down to put something in the oven, for those with rheumatoid arthritis, these actions are a barrier. Therefore, Seamus Mullen has put together certain strategies to cook great meals that can help with pain, without straining yourself to make them.

You might be wondering how such a renowned chef would know how to combat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The answer is pretty simple - he has it. He was diagnosed with the condition in 2007, but still went on to be an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and even wrote his own cookbooks.

Mullen's story

In 2011, Mullen opened his restaurant Tertulia despite his battles with rheumatoid arthritis. He knew that he would never let it get in the way of his passion, no matter how much added difficulty there would be. In 2013, he opened another space in Manhattan called El Colmado, but this time it was a Spanish tapas and wine bar. Also in 2013, Mullen became a finalist for the James Beard Best Chef in New York award. Needless to say if you have ever eaten in Manhattan, that is a pretty big deal.

If the name sounds familiar, you also might have seen him on television. He was a finalist on The Next Iron Chef on Food Network and has even participated as a guest judge on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.

In 2012 he wrote his first book Hero Food and this past year, in 2017, he came out with Real Food Heals with Genevieve Ko.

Using food to its fullest

Mullen believes that consuming the right foods can actually act in a medicinal manner. Even before his diagnosis, he believed in using only the highest quality ingredients, and paid attention to the seasonality of different foods - never using anything that wasn't perfectly fresh or in season. After his diagnosis, he began to realize, even more intensely than before, the effect the meals he consumed could have on him.

When Mullen saw how much of an effect vegetables had on his wellbeing, he not only increased them in his own diet, but also on the menus in his restaurants to try to spread the benefits to others - regardless of whether or not they had arthritis. He also significantly reduced the amount of refined sugar and simple carbohydrates he would offer, and replaced them with healthy fats.

He believes that changing these methods have saved him, as he feels very grateful that he is still able to do what he loves. The life of a chef is intense, and every day is a bit of a battle. Having rheumatoid arthritis amplifies this, but he can still manage to stay on his intense schedule because of how he takes care of himself through what he consumes.

His next project? Sharing ways to make cooking more accessible to those with rheumatoid arthritis. Read on to learn more.

Photo: Chef Seamus Mullen Cooking at Tertulia by Breville USA