StemCell Therapy

Some people find that making changes to their diet improves their arthritis symptoms. This may involve avoiding inflammatory foods, such as saturated fat and sugar. It may also involve avoiding foods that are high in purines.

In this article, we look at five types of food a person with arthritis may benefit from avoiding, as well as foods that may help.

Read on to find out which foods to avoid with arthritis.

Several types of fat increase inflammation in the body. According to the Arthritis Foundation, a person with arthritis should limit:

One study in Nutrients indicates that people who drink regular sugar-sweetened soda have an increased risk of RA. Harvard Health note that excess sugar consumption also increases the risk of dying from heart disease. It can also lead to obesity, inflammation, and other chronic diseases.

Many products contain added sugars. Always check food labels on breakfast cereals, sauces, and soft drinks, as these may contain surprising amounts of added sugars.

AGEs are inflammatory compounds that can accumulate in tissues, particularly as someone ages. An article in Patient Education explains that people with diseases such as diabetes and RA often have increased AGE levels. So, reducing AGE levels may help reduce inflammation.

Fat and sugar both increase AGE levels in the body. Some food processing methods and high temperature cooking also increase the AGE levels in food.

Nightshades are a group of vegetables that contain the compound solanine. Studies have not confirmed that nightshades can trigger arthritis pain, but the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine indicate that removing them from the diet helps improve symptoms in some people.

Nightshade vegetables include:

The Arthritis Foundation advise that people who suspect nightshades might exacerbate symptoms exclude them from their diet for a couple of weeks, then reintroduce them one at a time.

Keeping a food diary may help a person keep track of any reactions they have to a specific food.

For people who have gout, a doctor may advise a low purine diet combined with the medication.

Purines are substances in foods that the body converts to uric acid. Uric acid can build up in the bloodstream, causing a gout attack. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following foods are high in purines:

However, a 2018 review identified that some purine-rich vegetables, such as cauliflower, mushrooms, and beans, have no links to gout risk.

There are several types of arthritis, all of which cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other forms include:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 23% of adults in the United States have a form of arthritis.

What a person eats can help:

Usually, inflammation protects the body from harm by helping defend against bacteria and aiding wound healing. However, when inflammation persists for an extended period, chronic symptoms can develop.

What a person eats has an impact on inflammation levels. Some foods are inflammatory, and others are anti-inflammatory.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, numerous studies show that anti-inflammatory foods can reduce arthritis pain and progression.

A persons body weight also influences inflammation levels. Fat cells produce cytokines, which are immune cells that increase inflammation.

A person can use diet to maintain a moderate weight, which may help with inflammation and also reduce pressure on the joints.

Finally, some types of arthritis have specific trigger foods. For example, foods that are high in purines can contribute to a gout attack.

Consuming the following foods may benefit people with arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation list the following as types of fat that can reduce inflammation:

Coconut oil may also be beneficial for arthritis. Animal studies show that even though coconut oil is a saturated fat, it has anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers need to carry out more controlled studies to confirm this benefit in humans.

According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, some studies indicate that plant-based diets can decrease RA symptoms. The Arthritis Foundation suggest that the following fruits and vegetables may be especially beneficial for people with arthritis:

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help someone stay healthy and avoid the symptoms of inflammation. One of the most researched anti-inflammatory diets is the Mediterranean diet.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on the following foods:

The diet also includes moderate levels of dairy products but limits sugar, alcohol, and red meat.

The Arthritis Foundation note that a Mediterranean diet can reduce inflammation and pain in people with osteoarthritis and protect against fracture risk.

Some people who follow the Mediterranean diet may also lose weight without counting calories or limiting portion sizes because the diet is predominantly plant-based.

A large population-based 2018 study found that men who followed the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of developing RA. Another study suggests that the antioxidants in the Mediterranean diet may decrease pain for people with RA.

Other tips that may help someone to manage their arthritis include:

Foods that increase inflammation, such as sugar and saturated fat, may worsen arthritis symptoms. Some people may also find that foods high in purines and nightshades trigger arthritis flare-ups.

To identify triggers, a person can try excluding suspected foods for a couple of weeks, then reintroducing them one at a time.

Anti-inflammatory foods may help someone with arthritis manage their symptoms. These include plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and anti-inflammatory fats.

Someone with arthritis who is struggling to find the best eating plan may wish to speak to a registered dietitian.

More:
5 foods to avoid with arthritis to reduce pain

This entry was posted on August 17, 2021 at 1:48 am and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |