Foods You Should Avoid With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Roughly 54 million adults have been doctor-diagnosed with arthritis and according to the Arthritis Foundation, the number of people battling this disease by 2040 is projected to soar to over 78 million.
Arthritis is a general term that encompasses conditions of joint pain and functional limitations. Symptoms of joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion mark the illness.
There are many different types of arthritis, divided into two main categories: inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The most common form of non-inflammatory arthritis is osteoarthritis, while the most common inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory illness that occurs when joints and other tissues are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. Halyna Kuzyshyn, M.D., board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine, explains that if the tissue remains inflamed it can lead to the loosening of tendons and ligaments while also destructing joints with cartilage damage, bone erosion, and loss of function.
Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs is critical to reducing inflammation and pain, improving physical functions, and preventing further joint damage. However, Dr. Kuzyshyn advises that a persons diet can be complimentary to medication and can help to control inflammation. After all, we are what we eat, she says.
Should I Cut Out Gluten Dairy Or Choose A Plant
Many people with arthritis have concerns about a link between eating gluten and the symptoms of arthritis being made worse. But there is no research that directly links gluten to any type of arthritis.
Some people can experience problems with gluten, including coeliac disease, allergy and intolerances. But these are very rare, and you should speak with a doctor or dietitian if you are having problems.
Some people say that a dairy-free diet helps their arthritis. However, research on this is mixed, so its worth seeing what works best for you.
If you feel unwell after eating dairy, you could be lactose intolerant. This means that you can’t properly digest lactose, the sugar that’s naturally found in milk products. If you’re concerned about this, its worth speaking to your doctor.
Dairy products, such as milk and yoghurt, are packed with calcium. Calcium helps to maintain healthy bones, and if you dont get enough calcium, it can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Many people with arthritis are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis
If you decide to follow a vegan or plant-based diet, it can help you get more fruit and vegetables on to your plate It’s important to make sure you get all the nutrients you need, particularly calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D and selenium. Read our vegan diet tips.
Im A Fitness Influencer Heres Why Respect Is The Secret To Optimal Health
Heres some spooky news for rice lovers this October: A new study has found that eating too many refined grains is just as bad for your heart as eating too much Halloween candy.
The report, which studied the eating habits and health histories of Iranians, says the risk of premature coronary artery disease, or PCAD, from eating refined grains which include white rice, the Daily Mail reported, is similar to that of eating the kind of unhealthy sugars and oils found in sweet treats.
The study focused on a group of some 2,500 people, some with normal arteries and some with coronary artery disease. Each participant answered a food frequency questionnaire to determine how often they ate whole and refined grains.
Researchers found a higher intake of refined grain was associated with an increased risk of PCAD, while eating whole grains was associated with a reduced risk.
Grains are refined when theyre processed into flour or meal, which gives them a finer texture and longer shelf life but eliminates some key nutrients. However, whole grains, like brown rice oats and whole-wheat bread, contain the entire grain.
There are many factors involved in why people may be consuming more refined grains as opposed to whole grains Some of the most important factors to consider include the economy and income, job, education, culture, age and other similar factors, said Dr. Mohammad Amin Khajavi Gaskarei, the studys lead author.
Also Check: Can You Get Social Security For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Ra Inflammatory Foods: What Foods Should I Avoid
For rheumatoid arthritis patients, controlling inflammation is critical in being able to live a better quality of life and improve overall health. An important way to help control inflammation is by adhering to the right diet and choosing healthy foods. Just as there are certain foods to seek out in your diet, there are also foods that should be avoided or eliminated altogether. These foods stimulate the immune system and the inflammatory process, worsening the pain, stiffness and other health complications associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
You May Like: Best Remedy For Arthritis In Fingers
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.
Recommended Reading: How Serious Is Rheumatoid Arthritis
Added Sugar Can Increase Oxidative Stress In The Body
Sugar consumption is known to lead to a variety of diseases that are caused by affecting the normal oxidation-reduction balance in the body.
The derailment of this balance creates oxidative stress within the body. Antioxidants are substances that are essential to maintaining the redox balance.
In similar manner arthritis is also one such condition the redox balance is important and arthritis patients are known to have a lesser level of antioxidants.
Sugar is nothing but glucose, which when metabolized generates reactive oxygen species .
Sugar metabolism in the body created AGEs which bring about the oxidative stress in the body.
Scientific data proves that sugar meals increase the antioxidant requirement in the body, failing which oxidative stress is inevitable.
What does this mean?Arthritis patients are already a victim of higher oxidative stress within the body. The consumption of added sugar can further worsen this stress leading to cellular damage.
Recommended Reading: Rheumatoid Arthritis In Arms
Five Reasons Why Sugar Worsens Arthritis
Sugar worsens arthritis symptoms such as pain.
This is due to the increased inflammation caused by sugars and by giving rise to an oxidation-reduction imbalance in the body.
Sugar is also found to increase the weight which is not recommended in arthritis as it can worsen the pain and disease control.
Lastly, sugar also raises cholesterol levels in the body that causes more inflammation and pain.
Recommended Reading: Ra Back Pain
Also Check: Why Does Exercise Help Arthritis
Five Top Tips On Navigating Health Advice About Arthritis
Weve all done it. You go online to find the answer to what you thought was a simple question. An hour later, youve visited a dozen websites, your heads swimming with information, and youre still not sure of the answer!
Here, we address some of the most frequently asked questions about diet and exercise for people with arthritis.
Or Scan The Ingredients List
Ingredients in a given food are listed by weight if theres sugar in the top three, says Dubost, you know the product contains a lot. There are at least 61 different names for sugar listed on food labels. Some common ones include sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup, as well as cane sugar, dextrose, invert sugar, maltose, and rice syrup, among others. Honey and molasses may be more natural, but they still count as added sugar, says Dubost.
Don’t Miss: Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Autoimmune Disorder
Eating Well To Fight Arthritis
What we eat often has a large impact on our health. With arthritis, this is especially true. While certain diets do not cause arthritis, research has shown that there are many dietary factors that can help to ease the problems and symptoms associated with arthritis mainly, pain caused from inflammation.
Arthritis literally means inflammation of the joints . Arthritis is not one disease it is a term describing more than a hundred different diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile arthritis.
If you have any form of arthritis or joint pain, there are many dietary changes that can help reduce inflammation and lead to a more pain-free life.
Increase Dietary Fiber and Reduce Refined CarbohydratesConsuming a low-fiber diet has been linked to increases in C-reactive protein, which is one of the acute phase proteins that increase during systemic inflammation. Research has shown that diets high in refined carbohydrates, especially white flour and sugar, can lead to inflammation. Refined carbohydrates include white table sugar and white or enriched flour, and all of the products that contain them. Foods high in refined sugar and flour include some cereals, baked goods , fruit drinks , some salad dressings, white pasta, and white bread.
Here are some practical tips for increasing the amount of fiber in your diet and decreasing the amount of refined carbohydrates:
Spice-Rubbed Roasted Salmon with Lemon-Garlic Spinach
Ingredients
Potentially Relevant Pathophysiological Mechanisms
Looking at the effects of glucose, there is evidence for a specific role of glucose on oxidative markers, which can, in turn, lead to increases in biomarkers of chronic inflammation. High dietary glycemic index has been linked to increased inflammatory responses by means of recurrent hyperglycemic responses in the early postprandial phase, as well as elevated levels of free fatty acids in the late postprandial phase, both of which are considered to result in an overproduction of free radicals and releases of proinflammatory cytokines, which may, in turn, induce inflammation and vascular damage . Fructose has a low glycemic index , and there is evidence that suggests that consumption of foods with a lower dietary GL/GI is associated with anti-inflammatory effects. Accordingly, ingestion of fructose may contribute to a reduction of chronic inflammation, due to the avoidance of glycemic spikes . This may be one potential explanation for the absence of consistent signals or harm in response to fructose intake.
Read Also: Severe Arthritis Symptoms
Also Check: Is Red Wine Bad For Arthritis
How To Consume Sugar In Moderation
These simple practices may seem small, but youll be amazed how they reduce your osteoarthritis pain. If your knee is hurting, give Arthritis Knee Pain Centers® a call at 1-833-300-5633 or visit arthritiskneepain.com to schedule your FREE, no-obligation pain assessment.
Should I Eat Oily Fish
YES.
Oily fish including salmon, sardines, pilchards, trout, mackerel, and herring are the best source of long-chain omega-3 fats, which are important for overall health and can help people with some types of arthritis.
This is because oily fish contain long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and research has shown these acids can reduce inflammation and disease activity in people withrheumatoid arthritis.
Its recommended that you have two portions of oily fish a week. This includes sardines, mackerel, salmon and tuna, though not tuna from a tin. Some eggs are also enriched with omega-3. Short chain omega-3 oils, such as flax seed, dont have an anti-inflammatory effect.
You can also buy fish oil supplements to take, but make sure you speak to your doctor before starting these.
Health Dr Schenker says: Mackerel is one of the richest sources of omega-3. Smoked mackerel is a really easy lunchtime option because it doesnt need cooking. Tinned sardines or pilchards are also really rich sources.
If you dont like fish, consider taking a daily omega-3 supplement. Fish oil supplements are the best source as they contain the three most important omega3s EPA, DHA and ALA. If you dont eat fish for ethical reasons, algal oil is a good vegan source as it contains EPA and DHA.
You can get ALA in your diet from leafy green vegetables, walnuts, seeds and some vegetable oils .
Don’t Miss: How To Diagnose Arthritis In Hip
How To Satisfy Your Sugar Cravings
If you have RA, you donât have to skip the sweet stuff entirely. âAll the studies show an association between sugar in your diet and RA. We canât definitively say the two are connected,â Goldberg says. âBut if you do find that sugary foods seem to make your RA symptoms worse, then you should keep them to an absolute minimum.â
Here are some ways to do it:
Skip the sugary drinks. Theyâre already the biggest contributors of sugar in the American diet, Prest says. Women who drank at least one sugar-sweetened soda a day were about 60% more likely to get RA than women who drank less than one a month, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Read food labels carefully. Seemingly non-sugary foods like cereals, yogurts, frozen meals, and even condiments like ketchup may have a lot more added sugar than you may realize. If you have RA, itâs a good idea to keep your added sugar intake to less than 5% of your total daily calories, Prest says. Check the nutrition label, which is now required to list added sugars in grams and as a percent of Daily Value.
You should also do a quick scan of the ingredient list for common names for sugar, such as sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, barley malt, dextrose, maltose, and rice syrup, Hsiao says. If one of those is among the first three ingredients, chances are, itâs a high-sugar product.
Show Sources
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.
Read Also: Does Fish Oil Help Arthritis Pain
Tips To Reduce Sugar Intake
The previously mentioned studies show not just that sugar is harmful, but that the type of diet that tends to include lots of sugar one high in processed, fatty foods can also worsen arthritis symptoms.
People with arthritis should focus on reducing sugar while adding nutritious foods to their diet. They can try adding foods like:
- fruits and vegetables
- legumes, nuts, and seeds
- unsweetened beverages, especially water
Making dietary changes is hard, so it is important to go slowly and focus on making consistent, positive changes. Some people may find it useful to replace existing foods with more nutritious alternatives. They can try:
- replacing desserts with sweet fruits like mangos or watermelon
- reading ingredient labels and paying close attention to added sugar
- eliminating sweetened beverages
Search For Rheumatologists Near You And Schedule Your Next Appointment Today
Dietary choices are always important to overall health, but if you have arthritis, the foods you choose can have a surprising impact on your joint health. You may find some arthritis trigger foods cause pain, stiffness, and swelling, while others actually alleviate your symptoms.
There are several common trigger foods to avoid if you have arthritis. For happier, healthier joints, try these simple food swaps.
Don’t Miss: What Makes Tylenol Arthritis Different
Can I Exercise With Arthritis
YES.
When youre in pain, exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing. But regular exercise, of the right type and at the right level, can increase your range of movement, increase muscle strength, and reduce pain and stiffness.
Dr Fiona Chikusu, a GP and clinical adviser to Versus Arthritis, says: We encourage people with arthritis to exercise, as there are many benefits. Weight-bearing exercises are particularly good for osteoarthritis.
If you want inspiration on good exercises that you can do from home, even from your chair. Take a look at our Lets Move With Leon movement programme.
Alternatively, your GP can give you some exercises to suit your needs. You can also access physiotherapy via your GP. Keeping active is very important, too not just for arthritis, but for a healthy lifestyle. Walking, cycling, swimming and yoga are all good options.
Why Quitting Sugar Is So Darn Hard
Are you ready to quit sugar cold turkey? Good luck. Not only is sugar-free food hard to find, but evolutionary and cultural influences come into play, too.
Back when food was way scarcer, our ancient ancestors needed to take every advantage they had to consume high calorie foods. So the human brain evolved to perceive sugarand fatas very rewarding, says Schwartz. Today, our brains are still wired for feast or famine, even though you can buy thousands of calories of food for a couple bucks at the local convenience store.
Schwartz agrees that sugar can cause major health problems, but says it isnt acting alone. The most potent way to activate the brains reward system is actually by combining sugar with fat, he says. And much of the American diet contains both of these components.
Thats why one bite of ice cream never feels like enough and before you know it, youre looking at the bottom of a pint. Or why you find McDonalds french fries so hard to resistthe ingredient list includes both dextrose, an added sugar, and fat in the form of canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil and hydrogenated soybean oil. Dip those fries in ketchup and youre getting even more sugarthis time high fructose corn syrup.
I wouldnt say people become dependent on it in the way they become dependent on a drug, says Schwartz. But for some people, the anticipation of eating something that is highly rewarding becomes an important focus for how they live each day.
Recommended Reading: How Long Can You Take Aleve For Arthritis