Dont Avoid Nightshade Vegetables
Tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, and eggplants are sometimes called nightshade veggies. Some people say they have less joint pain and inflammation when they stop eating nightshades, but research hasn’t shown this. Take tomatoes, for example. They have lycopene and vitamin C that help curb inflammation. Chili peppers also have benefits.
Are They Harmful For People With Autoimmune Diseases
Although nightshade vegetables are a rich source of nutrients, many people claim theyre harmful and should be avoided.
The majority of these claims seem to center around a group of substances found in nightshades called alkaloids.
Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing substances typically found in the leaves and stems of nightshades. Theyre often very bitter and function as a natural insect repellent.
But the edible portions of these plants contain some alkaloids, too. Consequently, many people with autoimmune diseases eliminate nightshades from their diets, believing they contribute to their health problems.
However, research has yet to show that nightshade vegetables contribute to autoimmune diseases.
Are Potatoes And Tomatoes Bad For Rheumatoid Arthritis
There is no scientific evidence that firmly supports the notion that potatoes or tomatoes worsen symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. I have rheumatoid arthritis and have never found a connection between my symptoms and these foods. Making a connection between the foods we eat and RA symptoms is hard to do because symptoms can vary from day to day for other reasons.
If you think a food made may be causing an increase in symptoms, I recommend keeping a food and symptom journal for several months. Write down everything you had to eat or drink as well as what activities you did that day and the symptoms you experienced. This can help you and your registered dietitian identify patterns in the foods you eat that might be linked to RA symptoms.
For now, the research that is available on diet and RA supports eating a mostly plant-based diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains along with healthy fats from vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish to help lower inflammation levels. Regular exercise can also help with pain, stiffness, fatigue and joint function.
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Foods Arthritis Sufferers Should Avoid
Arthritis stems from the degeneration and overuse of joints. It mostly affects the knees, fingers, and hips. Individuals with this condition experience joint pain and stiffness that often gets progressively worse, especially as they age. There are many types of arthritis out there, though the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Although arthritis is not a pleasant condition, however, there is arthritis treatment out there. Many patients take anti-inflammatory medication to achieve arthritis relief. There are also topical ointments for arthritis out there. Some individuals even engage in pickleball for arthritis, along with other forms of physical activity. Of course, it is vital to note that individuals with arthritis must pay attention to their diet. Certain foods can have a significant and negative effect on their symptoms.
Best Beverages For Arthritis
Theres an old saying you are what you eat. But what you drink can have an enormous effect on your body and health too.
People dont put enough thought into what theyre drinking, says Sonya Angelone, a nutritionist in private practice in the San Francisco area and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. What you eat and drink is information to your body and if you are drinking well, it can definitely affect how you feel and the messages your body is getting.
Angelone recommends starting every day with a glass of water before you eat any food, since many people wake up a bit dehydrated. She says you want to stick primarily with water the rest of the day too. The typical recommendation is eight glasses a day.
In general, nutritionists advise you to avoid soda since its full of sugar, aspartame and phosphoric acid. The latter negatively affects your bodys ability to absorb calcium.
But what should you be drinking?
Tea
Tea is one of the most-studied drinks when it comes to its benefits for arthritis patients. Green, black and white teas are all rich in polyphenols compounds from plants that have strong anti-inflammatory effects.
Coffee
Research shows coffee also has antioxidant polyphenols. That means coffee can help fight free radicals in the body, which cause cell damage. Other research suggests coffee may have a protective effect against gout as well.
Milk
Juices
Smoothies
Alcohol
Water
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Arthritis: Doctor Gives Advice On Best Foods To Help Ease Pain
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Arthritis affects more than 10 million people in the UK. If you have arthritis, youll know that certain foods are meant to make the condition worse. What about tomatoes?
Best Vegetables For Arthritis
Going green and yellow and orange could be benefit your joints.
When you have arthritis, the produce section is one of the most important stops you can make in the grocery store. Vegetables are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients that protect against cell damage and lower inflammation throughout the body, including in your joints. When choosing vegetables, remember the more color the better, and variety is key.
Heres a guide to some of the vegetables that should color your plate every day.
Get Expert Advice
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Fact: Fiber Is Your Friend
Feel free to dig into foods with plenty of this stuff. It’s a good way to help you fight back against RA. Studies show it can lower your levels of a chemical called C-reactive protein , which is a sign of inflammation. So how much do you need? Fill a quarter of your plate with whole grains and half your plate with fruits and veggies at each meal.
Coconut And Cherry Porridge
Remember that its all about getting more fiber. This is one of the quickest ways to do so. Porridge oats will make a filling breakfast, but you can also make the portions smaller for a snack in the middle of the day.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of oats
- 4tbsp chia seeds
- 3-4 cups of coconut milk
- 3tbsp raw cacao
- Pinch of coconut shavings, chocolate shavings, and stevia
- Fresh/frozen cherries
- Drizzle of maple syrup
Method:
- In a saucepan, mix the oats with the coconut milk, raw cacao, chia seeds, and stevia, bringing to a boil before simmering until the oats are cooked through
- Pour the porridge into a bowl and top with the rest of the ingredients to taste
You can also make this as an overnight oats snack. Place the oats at the bottom with some Greek yogurt on top instead of the coconut milk. You can add the rest of the ingredients in layers between the oats and the yogurt. Mix when you are ready to eat. Mixing before will just make the oats soggy.
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Is It True Or Just A Myth
As with many things in life the theory is not always consistent with practice, this is especially true in medicine. You can have foods with one or more unhealthy substances, and they are not necessarily bad. Remember that there are thousands of elements in fresh foods, and we only know some of them. We may see how the body reacts to a single substance, but theres no way to predict what happens when thousands of other elements interfere.
Thus, to affirm or deny claims about food, we need scientific proof, and there is simply not enough to forbid tomatoes for patients with arthritis. Based on the lack of evidence, many doctors prefer to recommend tomato consumption instead of discouraging their consumption. Remember that tomatoes have various antioxidants that modulate inflammation throughout the body. These antioxidant prevent DNA damage and may contribute a great deal to the patients health.
Keep in mind that tomatoes do contain glycoalkaloids, and excess consumption can cause problems such as inflammatory bowel disease and symptoms like drowsiness, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Tomatoes do contain various proteins that cause allergy to some people. In allergy processes, histamine is released in large quantities and may cause pain in the joints. When the level of solanine is significantly increased in the body, it has toxic effects including GI tract symptoms such as stomach burning and abdominal discomfort, bloating, and diarrhea.
Pineapple: This Fruit’s Enzymes Can Decrease Swelling
Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and the enzyme bromelain, which has been linked to decreased pain and swelling in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, Sandon says. So, add this tropical fruit to your diet every chance you get. Try it cubed in fruit salad, baked in savory dishes, blended into a smoothie, or added to stir-fries to give a sweet-and-sour zing.
Bromelain is also available in supplement form, but check with your doctor before taking it because it can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you also take blood thinners such as Plavix , Coumadin, or aspirin. Bromelain may also interfere with the action of antibiotics and sedatives.
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Q: Will Nightshade Vegetables Worsen My Arthritis
A: One of the most persistent myths about arthritis involves avoiding the nightshade family of vegetables, of which tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant and bell peppers are members.
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Some people blame arthritic swelling, pain and stiffness on a buildup of solanine, a bitter-tasting chemical found in nightshade plants.
Its true that solanine is one of the glykoalkaloids that make deadly nightshade deadly, and green potato leaves, sprouts and stems poisonous.
But it is highly unlikely that avoiding the trace amounts of solanine found in nightshade vegetables will ease your arthritic pain or inflammation. Research to support this claim just isnt there.
Furthermore, it would be a shame to eliminate these nutritious foods from your diet.
One of the best ways to reduce arthritis symptoms and inflammation is to eat well. By that I mean following an anti-inflammatory diet such as the Mediterranean diet, or one that is predominantly plant-based .
Youll also want to limit meat, especially processed meats like sausage fried foods and processed foods and other forms of refined carbohydrate.
Are Potatoes Bad For People Who Suffer From Arthritis
Guest over a year ago
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annamarie103763336 over a year ago
anna over a year ago
Guest over a year ago
50 percent less pain in the neck over a year ago
Interesting about potatoes: Someone in the medical profession suggested that I leave off eating anything potato. So I started almost a month ago and eliminated potatoes from my meals, not even french fries – and I love french fries. I miss french fries.
I have arthritis and fibro myalgia. Now, something is working. No potatoes equals less pain and less swollen joints. I’ve been feeding my chickens every day for the past month without asking my son to do all that work. I helped someone in cleaning a house recently and didn’t suffer any pain or distress the next day. In fact, I got up, got my clothes on and went and tended to the chickens. And got breakfast. And did some work in the yard.
There is something to this.
CSievert over a year ago
over a year ago
In reply to anonymous on 2011-01-31 – click to read
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Best Foods For Arthritis
Although there is no diet cure for arthritis, certain foods have been shown to fight inflammation, strengthen bones and boost the immune system. Adding these foods to your balanced diet may help ease the symptoms of your arthritis. Find out how.
Fuel Up on Fish
Because certain types of fish are packed with inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids, experts recommend at least 3 to 4 ounces of fish, twice a week. Omega-3-rich fish include salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring.Great for: rheumatoid arthritis
Step Up to Soy
Not a fan of fish but still want the inflammation-busting benefits of omega-3 fatty acids? Try heart-healthy soybeans . Soybeans are also low in fat, high in protein and fiber and an all-around good-for-you food.Great for: rheumatoid arthritis
Opt for Oils
Extra virgin olive oil is loaded with heart-healthy fats, as well as oleocanthal, which has properties similar to non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. But its not the only oil with health benefits. Avocado and safflower oils have shown cholesterol-lowering properties, while walnut oil has 10 times the omega-3s that olive oil has. Great for: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis
Check Out Cherries
Studies have shown cherries help reduce the frequency of gout attacks. Research has shown that the anthocyanins found in cherries have an anti-inflammatory effect. Anthocyanins can also be found in other red and purple fruits like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.Great for: gout
Go Green
Could Diet Cure Arthritis
Gut and autoimmunity expert Dr. Steven Gundry, author of The Plant Paradox, has been making waves with his research on lectinsa type of protein found in some plants that he believes to be at the root of most diseases. Gundrys diet recommendations have proved particularly effective for patients struggling with arthritisa condition he not surprisingly has an unconventional stance on, and one that he connects to a breakdown in the gut. We interviewed him about the causes of osteoarthritis and the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, and what he sees as the potential cure:
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Green Tea: A Nice Cuppa May Sooth Your Joints
Green tea has an abundance of catechins that interrupt the expression of inflammation. Its effect on rheumatoid arthritis has been long studied one such study, published in August 2017 in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, reported that the consumption of green tea offers an overall anti-inflammatory effect. However, most studies have been on small samples. A newer study, published in the March 20, 2020, issue of Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism looked at a real-world, large scale study. Result: A higher intake of green tea was associated with lesser disease activity.
Red Meat And Fried Foods
Meatespecially red meatis high in saturated fats, which may cause high cholesterol and inflammation. In addition, meat contains high levels of advanced glycation end products that stimulate inflammation, particularly when it is broiled, grilled, roasted, or fried.1
Its not just fried chicken that you should avoid, though. Other fried foods, such as donuts and french fries, contain trans fats in addition to AGEs.
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Its All About Minimizing The Inflammation
The main reason for your pain and stiffness is inflammation. This is a perfectly normal response within the body. Its your immune systems response to start healing. The problem is the body can react when it really doesnt need to. It believes that theres a problem and sets off the inflammatory response without anything to fight.
Rather than help to improve your health, the inflammation causes pain. It has been linked to so many types of chronic pain, including rheumatoid arthritis.
What you need to do is get rid of the inflammation in the body. You need to minimize this response to help live a better, more fulfilling life. When it comes to the right diet, that action really isnt that difficult. Each of these seven vegetables has proven to reduce inflammation.
One of the best things about reducing the inflammation is that your whole body will be healthier. Youll experience less overall pain and can help to reduce the damage to your bodies, such as cell death and damage. Your immune system also isnt hindering itself through the unnecessary action, so you fight off more illnesses daily. Of course, the vegetables have also proven to help other conditions.
If youre not going to eat these vegetables for your rheumatoid arthritis, eat them to improve your overall health and happiness!
Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Some of the early signs and symptoms of the most common form of arthritis rheumatoid arthritis are as follows:
- Numbness and Tingling in Hands One of the main symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is a continued tingling and numb sensation in wrists and hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. The swelling caused by arthritis compresses the nerves and cause this tingling sensation.
- Foot Problems Yet another early symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is recurring foot trouble. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation and pain in the forefoot and heels caused by plantar fasciitis.
- Hard to Heal Injuries If you had a sprained ankle that is taking too much time to heal then it might be an early sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Joint Stiffness Stiffness in smaller joints of fingers and toes is a typical sign of arthritis.
- Joint Pain Joint stiffness is accompanied usually by tenderness of joints and joint pain during movement. The most common areas affected by joint pain are shoulders, wrists, fingers, knees and ankles.
- Joint Swelling The first sign of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is swelling of joints that feel warm to the touch.
- Inflammation and pain in joints lead to deformation of the ligaments and tendons, which causes difficulty in straightening the joints, thereby limiting the range of motion.
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Is There Such A Thing As A Joint
Although the compounds in many foods are said to improve RA symptoms, more research is needed to determine just how much of those compounds would have to be eaten to derive the benefit.
What scientists know for sure is that there are important links between your stomach and inflammation, and that Western diets, with their emphasis on the fast, cheap, and highly flavorful, create the conditions for diseases like RA to flourish.
Its certain, for starters, that obesity is a risk factor for inflammatory conditions. Body fat generates substances that generate inflammation, and the more fat there is, the more inflamed the body will be. In addition, the foods that lead to obesity ones high in fat, sugar, salt, and processed ingredients are known to increase inflammation.
Also, scientists are increasingly finding out more about the ways that intestinal bacterial imbalances, which may result from high-fat low-nutrient diets, contribute to these conditions.
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That said, changing your diet probably won’t reduce inflammation enough for you to forgo other RA management treatments. But it can help reduce the amount of medication needed and the side effects of the medication, says Lona Sandon, PhD, RDN, an associate professor in the department of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, who is also an RA patient. And, Dr. Sandon adds, eating well has never been known to make any condition worse.