Rheumatic diseases are among the most widespread illnesses. For example, rheumatoid arthritis - the most common autoimmune disease - affects about 68 million people worldwide. Typically, arthritis is treated with strong, gut-damaging, and immunosuppressive painkillers that temporarily relieve pain but do not address the underlying cause. On the contrary, by damaging gut health, they worsen the chances of healing, as the origin of healthy joints is actually rooted in a healthy gut. Dr. Susan Blum has identified inflammatory processes in the gut - the so-called leaky gut syndrome - as the underlying cause of rheumatic diseases. Her innovative method therefore aims at a diet-based elimination of inflammation sources that arise in the gut. Initially, all potential triggers are removed in an elimination diet.