Talking To Your Doctor About Arthritis And Bread
Remember that everyone will have different needs based on their own symptoms and diagnosis. You should talk to your doctor to ensure you understand which types of bread are right for you! There are countless ways to prepare all types of foods, so there should always be something out there that both tastes great and won’t harm your joints!
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Quinoa Salad To Fight Inflammation
It seems like everywhere we go, quinoa pops up. As this healthy, protein-rich seed has become more mainstream, more people have begun to embrace its health benefits. But for those of you with arthritis, quinoa offers an additional perk: it suppresses cytokines. What are cytokines? Simply put, they are produced by the immune system as a substance that may lead to inflammation. Quinoa is delicious when made into a salad or tabbouleh, as it blends so well with fruits, vegetables, and a bit of olive oil.
Saturated Fats And Inflammation
As important as it is to include inflammation-fighting foods in your diet, it is equally important to limit foods that contribute to inflammation. There is a link between inflammation and saturated fat, especially those found in meat and full-fat dairy.
Pizza, cheese, and processed meat are major sources of saturated fat in the typical diet. Avoiding these foods in favor of healthier, nutrient-dense foods may help sooth joint inflammation and arthritis pain.
Learning strategies to better manage your arthritis can improve your quality of life. It is possible to live well with arthritis. If youre struggling with arthritis pain, we can help. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fink, or request one online.
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The Link Between Nutrition And Arthritis Pain
While theres no magic bullet when it comes to the perfect diet for arthritis, there are aspects of nutrition that can both ease arthritis inflammation and contribute to it. Arthritis affects more than 54 million adults in the United States. Characterized by joint inflammation, arthritis commonly causes pain and limits mobility.
Successfully treating arthritis involves a multifaceted approach that takes various factors into consideration. Nutrition is an often overlooked aspect of managing arthritis pain. In this blog, Samuel I. Fink, MD, and his team discuss ways you can use nutrition to combat arthritis pain and improve joint function.
Should I Use Heat Or Ice For Acute Injuries
If the new injury is red, swollen, or inflamed, then cooling the injury may help prevent inflammation. For example, if your pain stems from a muscle injury, treat it immediately with RICE rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest the injured body part and then apply ice. You can use an ice pack or a pack of frozen vegetables or fruit for 20 minutes. Then take it off for 20 minutes. Add compression with a firm elastic bandage. Elevate the injured part to keep swelling to a minimum.
Before using moist heat or ice therapy, be sure your skin is dry and free from cuts and sores. If you have visible skin damage, dont use cold or heat. And always protect your skin with a towel. After using heat or cold, gently move the arthritic joint to reduce stiffness.
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What Temperature Is Best When Using Heat Therapy For Arthritis
When using moist heat therapy, make sure the temperature is not so hot that you burn your skin. Find a temperature that you can comfortably tolerate, whether using a bath, hot water bottle, or spa therapy.
You also need to give it time to work. Use the moist heat application for at least 15 minutes before exercise. Then use it again immediately following exercise. You can also use moist heat anytime you want additional relief from arthritis pain.
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The 8 Best Healthy Snacks For Arthritis
Who doesnt love a good snack? Weve all felt the guilt that comes from reaching into the lazy Susan and grabbing a cookie or candy bar. But snacking doesnt have to be synonymous with bad for you. In fact, many of the best snacks for arthritis are actually quite healthy without sacrificing any of the delicious appeal. Lets take a look at eight healthy snacks that will help you fight inflammation and get back to the activities you enjoyed before arthritis came into your life.
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Is There An Ra Diet
No. But research shows that the Mediterranean diet‘s tasty fare — like olive oil, fish, greens, and other vegetables — can lower inflammation, which is good for your whole body.
In one study of women with RA, those who took a cooking class on Mediterranean-style foods and ate that way for 2 months had less joint pain and morning stiffness and better overall health than those who didnât take the class.
Aim to eat a healthy diet with:
- Lots of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. They should make up two-thirds of your plate.
- Low-fat dairy and lean proteins, which should make up one-third
- Small amounts of saturated and trans fats
- Limited alcohol
Although no food plans are proven to help with RA, you may read about some that claim to do so or about people with RA who say a diet worked for them.
Before you try one, itâs a good idea to discuss it with your doctor, especially if it calls for large doses of supplements or cuts out entire food groups.
Instead of getting fixated on fasting or finding the perfect foods, be sensible about eating. Don’t make huge changes to your diet. Don’t skip meals. Eat three healthy meals and a couple of small snacks a day, says M. Elaine Husni, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinicâs Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Treatment Center.
People With Arthritis Might Want To Avoid These Foods
While there is no list of arthritis-triggering foods that all people with arthritis should avoid regardless of their health circumstances and specific condition , there are certain foods that may promote inflammation and possibly aggravate symptoms. Whether or not a specific type of food is problematic can vary from person to person. If you have arthritis, you might want to experiment with limiting certain foods in your diet to see if you get some arthritis relief. Heres what you need to know.
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Chips And Salsa Can Offset Joint Pain
We know your eyes gravitated right to this one and thats great! Calling chips and salsa one of the best healthy snacks for arthritis is something we knew would attract attention. To clarify, the benefits for arthritis come from the salsa, as the blend of veggies and spices in many salsas provides ample amounts of fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. This classic snack can be a great way to help offset joint pain and inflammation, but dont over-do it. Fried chips are also loaded with fat.
Additional Things To Remember
I have mentioned that rice is good for you and I stay by my claim. However, you need to avoid processed types of rice and foods that contain them. They wont directly cause a gout flare or anything similar, but they can help you gain weight and as a gout patient, you must avoid that at all costs.
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100% whole grain rice, white obviously is the ultimate food and you can consume it daily. Brown rice can be consumed in moderation. The situation is the same with all whole grain foods. Now you know the link between rice and gout.
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Veggies And Dip For Osteoarthritis
Heres an easy one. Who doesnt like to dip veggies in Ranch? The catch here is that it does matter which veggies youre eating. Broccoli is the best healthy snack because its stocked with sulforaphane, a compound that hinders the joint deterioration caused by osteoarthritis, as found in a study noted by arthritis.org. Other great and tasty options include tomatoes, red peppers, carrots, onions, and other veggie rich in Vitamin C and fiber.
Advanced Glycation End Products
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.
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Get Your Vitamin C From Foods Not Supplements
Vitamin C offers loads of health benefits but, like everything in life, too much can be a bad thing. Most vitamin C supplements contain several times the recommended daily dose, which may exacerbate your arthritis symptoms. For reference, men only need 90 mg/day and women need 75 mg/day.
Most plant-based foods are a great source of vitamin C. Look for ways to add oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, mangos, kidney beans, and pineapple to your diet. And skip the supplement.
Inflammatory Foods To Avoid
According to many experts, certain foods seem to promote inflammation and should be avoided.
- Processed foods, such as commercial baked goods and bars and many prepackaged meals
- Red meat
- Refined grain products, such as white bread and white pasta
- Refined sugar and refined sugar products, such as candy and soda
- Deep-fried foods
- Certain oils, including corn, safflower, soy, and peanut oils
- Dry roasted nuts and beer nuts
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Grocery stores are filled with processed foods and sugary drinkstoo many to list hereso this list is merely a guideline. People are encouraged to read food labels and avoid foods that contain ingredients such as refined sugar, corn syrup, refined flour, and corn oils.
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Food As Treatment For Arthritis
Arthritis symptoms can include joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Some forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, are inflammatory diseasescaused by inflammation in the body that affects the joints and other systems. Others, like osteoarthritis, are the causes of inflammation, particularly in the joints.
Either way, managing and reducing inflammation is essential to reducing pain, stiffness, and swelling for both types of conditions. Inflammation associated with arthritis is often targeted by medications with the aim to help improve symptoms and decrease pain. Certain foods also have inflammatory properties, making them a powerful complementary treatment for arthritis.
Researchers have found that the Mediterranean diet may provide benefits in reducing pain and swollen and tender joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients. One study looked at adherence to the Mediterranean diet and pain associated with osteoarthritis. It concluded that, within the study group of 4330 subjects, a lower risk of osteoarthritis symptoms and pain was associated with those who followed a Mediterranean diet pattern.
Other studies have looked at a general anti-inflammatory diet and its impact on arthritis. One research trial saw a positive effect of an anti-inflammatory diet on disease activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Salmon Tuna Sardines And Mackerel
These fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have found can decrease inflammation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, eating a 3 to 4 ounce serving of these fish two or more times a week is recommended for protecting the heart and reducing inflammation.
While fresh fish can get pricey quickly, one tip to make it more affordable is by looking in the freezer section or buying canned sardines, salmon or tuna. Be sure to choose lower sodium options when purchasing canned items if you need to keep your sodium in check.
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Youll Make Happy Memories
Chances are that when you think back on eating ice cream, youre reminded of cheerful memories like a birthday party, a day at the beach, or even just buying a cone with your friends at the local ice cream truck. And youre not alone. A study from 2008 found a pattern between sweet treats like ice cream and feelings of happiness .
Conducted by Dr. David Vanata, associate professor in the foods and nutrition department at Ashland University in Ohio, the study involved more than 200 adults who had to rank 62 foods based on how they made them feel. Keep in mind that the participants were only supposed to record their knee-jerk reactions to the food. Not surprisingly, ice cream ranked high in the following four categories: happiness, pleasantness, excitability, and comfort. In addition, chocolate, which is an ingredient often used in ice cream , also scored high in these areas. In fact, ice cream and chocolate were among the foods that received the overall highest score in this study, along with cookies and cake.
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And Go Easy On Coffee Concoctions
Thats because a medium pumpkin spice latte from one popular coffee house has more than 12 teaspoons of sugar and 420 calories a medium frozen mocha swirl from another chain contains about 35 teaspoons of sugar and 730 calories. Thats right in one drink. Some flavored syrups are all sugar, says Dubost. Unsweetened tea and coffee are your healthiest options, she adds, but if you prefer flavor, consider the syrups made with non-nutritive sweeteners.
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You Could Raise Your Cholesterol
Did you know that your body needs cholesterol? No, thats not a typo. Cholesterol is crucial for a number of activities happening inside of you right now, like the making of vitamin D and the building of new cells . However, not all cholesterol is the same, and unfortunately, ice cream boosts the wrong kind for your health.
As Healthline explains, cholesterol is divided into two types: high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein . While both HDL and LDL contain fat and protein, LDL has more fat than protein, making it bad for your heart. And, yes, when you hear about the dangers of having high cholesterol levels, youre specifically hearing about the dangers of having high LDL levels. Although your liver makes both HDL and LDL, eating foods that are high in fat can lead to the production of more LDL. And since ice cream is a full-fat dairy product thats loaded with saturated fat, theres an excellent chance eating it regularly will raise your LDL levels.
If youre an ice cream lover and worried about your cholesterol, you dont have to quit your favorite treat cold turkey. An occasional scoop should be all right as long as you take care of yourself by regularly observing a healthy meal plan and exercising, etc. But indulging in even a small amount of ice cream every day is not a good idea if you want to keep your cholesterol under control.
Nutrient Rich Fruit And Vegetable Smoothies
If youve had your fill of fruits and veggies in their whole form, try blending them into a smoothie to go. Check out these recipe ideas and incorporate them into your next trip to the grocery store. Smoothies are a great way to get your nutrients on busy mornings or while sitting at your desk at work and theyre delicious to boot!
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The Best And Worst Foods For Arthritis
Arthritis is an incredibly common condition. According to The Arthritis Foundation of America, 17.1 million men and 24.3 million women in the United States currently have a form of arthritis.
The word arthritis just means inflammation of the joints. There are several different types of arthritis and it can affect any joint in the body. The most common joints to suffer are the knees, hips, elbows, finger joints and joints in the feet.
Arthritis is so incredibly common it seems like its almost inevitable once a person grows older. Is arthritis just a symptom of old age? I dont believe it is and I also dont believe its genetic in most cases.
There are a number of different anti-inflammatory and pain relieving drugs used for arthritis, but they can be ineffective at best, and lead to harmful side effects. Some arthritis medication raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and some can cause digestive problems.
You have a lot of control over whether or not you will develop arthritis, and how severe the arthritis may be. The food you choose to eat or choose to avoid can make all the difference.
Worst foods for arthritis
Wheat and gluten
These foods are a major driver of inflammation and arthritis. Allergy or intolerance to wheat and gluten is incredibly common and joint pain is one of the most common manifestations of the immune response to these foods.
Dairy products
Nightshade vegetables
Sugar
Industrial vegetable oil
Citrus fruits
Arthritis Wonder Pain Relief Cream
Wogonin is relatively new to the Western pain relief model. But it works on the familiar principle that reducing inflammation will reduce pain in most cases. Its a sound principle, and Arthritis Wonder Pain Relief Cream is proof of that.
What we like: We like the way this cream feels going on and that it seems to get to work pretty fast. It also has a pleasant scent and doesnt leave your skin all greasy. The open-ended money-back guarantee is also nice.
Flaws: The relief is real but relatively short-lived, so you have to keep on using it. Also, its not so effective for rheumatoid arthritis.
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