More and more we’re finding that inflammation from certain kinds of arthritis can be managed and minimized with dietary and nutritional changes. Rising rates of rheumatoid arthritis in developed countries are suggested to be related to high-fat, high-cholesterol diets. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but experts think that dietary changes can help rheumatoid arthritis sufferers deal with chronic inflammation and immobility as a result of swollen joints.
If you suspect a certain food is aggravating your arthritis, you can start a process of elimination by keeping a diet and pain journal. By keeping a diary of everything you eat and your pain and symptoms, you may find correlations before food triggers and swelling.
Once you suspect a certain food is behind your joint swelling, eliminate it from your diet for at least a week. Then add it back into your diet and monitor the results. If you find yourself getting worse upon introducing the food (you may need to do it a couple of times), you may be on to a direct link.
A previous study of rheumatoid arthritis patients found that patients could pinpoint trigger foods, including corn, wheat, bacon/pork, milk, eggs, coffee, malt, cheese, tomato, butter, and lemons.
On the other hand, these foods have been found to offer relief from arthritis symptoms:
- Fruit
Fruits like blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries that are high in Vitamin C, but not citrus are particularly good choices. - Vegetables
Veggies with a high Vitamin A and Vitamin C content, such as carrots, brussels sprouts, cabbage, squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, and broccoli can help relieve swelling in the joints. - Fish
Oily fish can also help if it is rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids and high in Vitamin E. Examples of these fish include salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna, and trout. - Nuts and Seeds
Also filled with omega-3 essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, unsalted nuts, like walnuts, Brazil nuts, and almonds, as well as seeds like sunflower, linseeds, and pumpkin seeds are excellent choices for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
Suffering from arthritis? Make an appointment to visit with an arthritis specialist at one of our locations for help regaining your range of motion and minimizing your daily pain. Appointments at 757.215.3789.