Best Summer Fruits For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Theres no time like summer to start incorporating these fresh fruits into your RA-friendly diet. Theyre packed with nutrients and antioxidants that can help fight inflammation.
Canva Everyday Health
Summer is the time for fresh fruits. If youve got rheumatoid arthritis , take advantage of the seasonal abundance and increase your consumption fruits are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyphenols that help reduce oxidative stress and fight inflammation.
What About The Mediterranean Diet
Studies have suggested that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the inflammation that contributes to the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
As well as helping to reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis, eating a Mediterranean-style diet offers many other health benefits, including weight loss.
Following a Mediterranean diet may also reduce the risk of:
When someone is living with osteoarthritis, their body is in an inflammatory state.
While foods with anti-inflammatory properties may reduce symptoms, some foods contain substances that actively contribute to this inflammation. It is best to avoid or restrict these dietary choices.
The types of food to avoid are those that include the following:
Reducing Joint Pain Through Diet
Take this list and start incorporating these foods into your daily and weekly diet. Remember that one of the significant side effects of being overweight or obese is putting an increased amount of weight and pressure on your joints. This significantly increases your risk of deteriorating soft tissues at a more rapid rate, leading to joint inflammation and pain. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight serve an essential role in reducing joint inflammation and irritation.
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Advanced Glycation End Products
When you grill or fry your food or consume foods that have been cooked at high temperatures, including pasteurized foods, your body produces toxins called AGEs. These toxins can damage proteins in your body, which triggers your immune system to destroy the AGEs with cytokines. Cytokines cause inflammation.
Dietary Fibers And Whole Grains
Most of the staple food consumed all over the world are comprised of dietary fibers and whole grains. A definitive explanation for dietary fibers can be put as remnants of food not digested in small intestine, which then moves to large intestine and gets fermented by the microflora and induces several health promoting effects . Insoluble fibers such as cellulose and lignin are found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and soluble fibers include pectin, guar gum, and mucilage . Earlier studies have found an inverse relationship between intake of dietary fiber and inflammatory biomarkers such as plasma fibrinogen, hs-CRP, TNF-, IL-6 levels which are indicators of RA . However, contradictory reports were published as well by Hu and the group .
When germ, endosperm, and bran are present in same proportions as in intact grains, they are regarded as whole grains. Whole wheat, whole rice, oats, corn, rye, barley, millets, sorghum, canary seed, fonio, and wild rice are generally included in the category of common whole grains . Whole grains provide rich amounts of antioxidants, phytic acid, vitamin E and selenium, and these components are known to be involved in anti-inflammatory processes .
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Whats Next For Paxlovid
Rebound COVID-19 symptoms have been reported in some patients who completed the five-day course of Paxlovid. This means that symptoms recurred four or five days after completing the treatment or the patient had a positive COVID-19 test even after completing the drug, per Yale Medicine.
In the clinical trial for Paxlovid, several participants appeared to have a virus level rebound around day 10 or day 14 .
Experts are now studying the effects of longer treatment durations for Paxlovid. If you do experience a rebound, you can report it to Pfizer on their portal for adverse events associated with Paxlovid.
In the future, Paxlovid may be used to treat those who are not high risk for COVID-19 as well and some doctors have already prescribed it in this way. While those non-immunocompromised or not at high-risk are unlikely to get hospitalized, Paxlovid can quickly reduce symptoms in everyone and might reduce their risk for long COVID, says Dr. Klausner. The impact of Paxlovid on long COVID is under study.
It May Benefit Your Immune System
Eating grapefruit regularly may be beneficial for your immune system.
Its prized for its high content of vitamin C, which has antioxidant properties known to protect your cells from harmful bacteria and viruses .
Additionally, several studies have shown vitamin C to be beneficial for helping people recover more quickly from the common cold .
Many other vitamins and minerals found in grapefruit are known to benefit immunity, including vitamin A, which has been shown to help protect against inflammation and several infectious diseases .
Grapefruit also provides small amounts of B vitamins, zinc, copper and iron, which all work together in the body to promote immune system function. They also help maintain the integrity of your skin, which acts as a protective barrier to infection .
Summary:
Grapefruit may benefit your immune system, as it contains several vitamins and minerals known for their role in preventing infection.
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Tips For Eating More Anti
If youre looking to add more anti-inflammatory foods for rheumatoid arthritis to your diet, then follow these tips:
- Choose foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber
- Add more antioxidants to your diet like vitamins A, C and E
- Opt for deep red, blue and purple fruits
- Pick nuts and beans as your snack foods
- Choose natural cooking oils over hydrogenated ones
- Add more fish to your weekly dinner plans
- Eat more plant-based foods overall
A change in diet can make a difference for many people with rheumatoid arthritis. Be sure to consult your doctor if you have any concerns over types of anti-inflammatory foods for rheumatoid arthritis.
What Diet Is Good For Arthritis
Answer
As of yet, there is no specific food or diet been proven to be beneficial for arthritis. However, there is a small amount of research available on inflammation and joint pain. What we do know is that a healthy weight is important for easing the workload on joints. Part of achieving or maintaining a healthy weight is a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. A recent study on cruciferous vegetables found a reduction in inflammation by 13-25% in women who consumed one and a half cups of cruciferous vegetables a day. Other studies on Bing cherries and cherry juice found a reduction in inflammation caused by arthritis. To reap the best health benefits, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. What Counts as a Cup of Fruits or Vegetables
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Vegan Diets Are Challenging To Follow Long
Another drawback, says Dr. Sandon, is that a vegan diet is difficult to maintain. Many people just try it and give up. If not approached correctly, many may end up with nutrient deficiencies. People with rheumatoid arthritis are already at risk for nutrient deficiencies they don’t need to put themselves at greater risk. They need adequate protein. They need adequate vitamins and minerals.
Dr. Bose suggests, We tell our patients wishing to go vegan to take it step by step, especially if they were not previously vegetarian. First, cut out the red meat, and then all meats and fish. Do it slowly, because going vegan can be a little overwhelming. If you cant maintain it, try eating a vegetarian diet, because a diet you can stick to is better than one you cant.
If you do wish to adopt a vegan diet, plan on where you will get your nutrients that you’re now giving up: protein, calcium, B vitamins, and iron. It is best to consult a registered dietitian or a registered dietitian-nutritionist on how to create a balanced, healthy diet.
Water For Arthritis Relief
There is no such thing as a magical elixir to drink to keep us healthy. But if there was, it would be water. Hydration is vital for flushing toxins out of your body, reducing inflammation, soothing damaged joints, regenerating damaged cells, and providing relief from pain. Adequate hydration levels can help keep your joints well lubricated and offer additional protection against damage. Unless you have an underlying condition that makes it necessary, most experts agree fancy waters with added minerals and electrolytes are a waste of money.
To learn more, give our pain management clinic a call and let our team of pain relief experts help you find the arthritis relief you need!
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Beverages To Ease Arthritis Pain
Remember the saying You are what you eat? Well, turns out you are what you drink, too! When we think of nutrition, we often think only of solid foods. But what you drink is a large part of what we put into our bodies and should be considered as part of our overall nutrition. Making healthy beverage choices is equally as important as choosing healthy foods.
What you eat and drink is passed on as information to your bodys organs and can have an adverse effect on how you feel. Consuming sugary drinks such as soda can negatively affect your bodys ability to absorb calcium. Instead, try these drinks. Besides being healthy choices, you may very well find them to help relieve arthritis pain!
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How Does Paxlovid Work Against Covid
Each three-pill dose of Paxlovid includes two different medications packaged together: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir .
Nirmatrelvir inhibits the SARS-Cov-2 protein from replicating. Meanwhile, ritonavir is used to boost levels on antiviral medicines and thwarts nirmatrelvirs metabolism in the liver, per Yale Medicine. This helps nirmatrelvir stay in your body for longer and extends the amount of time it works for, giving it extra power in fighting the infection.
Youll receive 30 total pills expect to take three pills twice daily for five days. Youll receive them in a blister pack labeled with daytime and nighttime doses, so you can keep track of the medication.
Its a very potent antiviral drug and will help stop the ability of the virus to reproduce itself in a patients body, whether theyre immunocompromised or not, says Dr. Aronoff. Its really viral replication that is part of what causes damage to the infected persons body, so when you can stop the virus from multiplying, you can limit the amount of damage the virus can do which in turn, limits the symptoms that result from that damage.
Like other antivirals, Paxlovid needs to be taken early in the course of the illness . Thats because damage caused by the virus in the body after a week cant be reversed by the antiviral pill and even within the first five days, its likely that taking the drug sooner is better.
You can take Paxlovid with or without food.
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Grapefruit Helps In Losing Weight
It has been seen that being over-weight is a factor which can cause osteoarthritis.
Obesity can put pressure on the knee joints which can injure them and cause tissue damage and cartilage loss.
Grapefruit is a low-calorie fruit and if taken 20 minutes before a meal, it can reduce your appetite.
This is probably because of the water content in this fruit makes you feel fuller faster. The compounds in grapefruit reduce the level of insulin in the body which can help lose weight.
A study was published in the Journal of medicinal food which studied the effectiveness of grapefruit in losing weight.
In this study, 91 obese patients were given grapefruit juice and grapefruit capsules 3 times a day before each meal.
The effects of grapefruit on metabolism were studied for 12 weeks.
At the end of the study period, it was observed that having half a grapefruit before each meal leads to a significant loss of weight. Grapefruit was also reported to improve insulin resistance.
What does this mean? Grapefruit is extremely effective accelerating in weight loss. By losing weight, a person can reduce the pressure he puts on his joints, especially knee joints and prevent knee injury. This can in turn prevent the development and progression of osteoarthritis.
What Is The Arthritis Diet
For people with arthritis, following an anti-inflammatory diet may help with managing symptoms such as pain and swelling. Many of these foods are found in the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruit, vegetables, beans, fish, and healthy fats such as olive oil, notesDeborah McInerney, clinical nutritionist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Those with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of heart disease because they experience systemic, or body-wide, inflammation. Therefore, a heart-healthy diet can help manage arthritis symptoms and lower the risk of developing other chronic illnesses such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, says Hinkley.
People with obesity are at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis because carrying extra weight puts more strain on the joints, especially those in the lower body, Hinkley adds. Due to that elevated risk, those with osteoarthritis often benefit from following a heart-healthy diet due to its ability to help with weight loss.
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Grapefruit Helps Clean Your Arteries And 4 More Things You Need To Know
Articles March 19, 2014
Grapefruit is rarely mentioned as a super food extraordinaire, yet it contains many powerful health-promoting properties and deserves a place on everyones plate. Find out SupermarketGurus top five reasons here.
Grapefruit is rarely mentioned as a super food extraordinaire, yet it contains many powerful health-promoting properties and deserves a place on everyones plate. Here are 5 reasons you might want to add some grapefruit to your daily diet:
Immune Boost: Grapefruit is high in immune-boosting vitamin C. Vitamin C-rich foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms or the severity over 20 scientific studies have suggested that vitamin C is a cold-fighter. Grapefruits vitamin C content also naturally boosts the bodys amount of glutathione, which helps to conquer the effects of stress and aging. This helps prevent the free radical damage that triggers the inflammatory cascade, associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Pain: Grapefruit can help reduce pain. Grapefruit has natural anti-pain properties thanks to its salicylic acid content, a natural aspirin.
Grapefruit should not be consumed when taking statins, blood pressure meds, and some others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for any specific interactions.
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How To Take Grapefruit For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Grapefruit is consumed on a regular basis as breakfast in different parts of the world.
Grapefruit supplements are available but we would suggest consuming the fruit as a whole.
Half a grapefruit prior to meals helps in controlling appetite and reducing calorie intake.
Additionally, it would provide you with all the nutrients and anti-inflammatory agents.
You can also consume grapefruit juice the one you make at home and not processed.
A glass of grapefruit juice daily should benefit in rheumatoid arthritis and overall health. You can also add grapefruit to salads.
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Whats Inside The Cranberries
Cranberries are rarely eaten raw due to its very sharp and sour taste. They are often consumed as a juice. Fresh cranberries are nearly 90% water and the rest are mostly fiber and carbs. The juice extracted from cranberries is a rich source of several vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B6, C, E, and K1, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, manganese, folate, zinc, and copper.
The fruit also contains important bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants particularly polyphenols and flavonol:
Quercetin a polyphenol with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the genes that cause inflammation in the joints and protects the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. Depending on the fruits quality, half a liter of raw cranberry juice contains approximately 82 units of quercetin.
A-type proanthocyanidins also called condensed tannins, these polyphenols have antibacterial properties that are believed to be effective against UTIs and can help prevent stomach cancer.
Ursolic acid this is a triterpene compound which is concentrated on the cranberries skin. It has been used in many traditional medicines due to its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. It can protect the musculoskeletal system and the cardiovascular system.
Myricetin this flavonoid has anti-inflammatory effects that contribute to the overall effects of the cranberry juice. Studies have also found that it can help improve heart health and brain health.
Antioxidants Which Help Quell Inflammation Are Plentiful In Fruits And Other Food Sources
The most troubling symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis pain, stiffness, and swelling stem from the same source: inflammation. What to do? Part of the answer may involve your diet.
Findings from a study published in April 2021 in Arthritis Research & Therapy, showed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis had significantly more pro-inflammatory diets, and those individuals with RA who were able to lower diet-associated inflammation between 2011 and 2017 were also able to maintain low disease activity. That particular result was extraordinarily strong and consistent as indicated by more than 3.5 times greater odds of maintaining good control over the disease compared with those who did not adopt a more anti-inflammatory diet, said study coauthor James R. Hébert, MSPH, ScD, Health Sciences Distinguished Professor and director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Even more important, since the study was conducted over a number of years, it shows that the beneficial effect of a low inflammatory diet is long-term. Because such a diet can be extraordinarily diverse and sensually pleasing, it can be very easy to maintain over very long periods of time, added Hébert, via email.
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