Do Any Foods Interact With My Medication
Your doctor should tell you if there are any foods you need to avoid or eat more of while taking the prescribed drugs for your condition. There should also be information in the patient information leaflet included with your drugs.
Complementary treatments, such as supplements or herbal remedies can also interact with certain medications and could increase the risk of side effects. Its important to let your doctor know if you take any complementary treatments.
Some drugs prescribed for arthritis do interact with certain foods. Below youll find information on some of the most common interactions.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice contain compounds that can block enzymes in your body. These enzymes are needed to break down certain drugs, but if theyre blocked, this can increase the levels of the drug in your blood. This could then cause new or worse side effects.
This can happen with some drugs to treat arthritis and related conditions, including:
Processed Fast Food The Usual Suspect
Fast food is no stranger to topping the “worst-of” list. Your body simply isn’t designed to eat foods that have been processed and contain trans-fatty acids . Obviously, French fries are jockeying for the unflattering title of “most offensive fast food” but other fried foods — such as chicken nuggets, hamburgers and “fusion foods” — can take their toll. Many of these foods, even if they don’t contain trans fats, are cooked in oils such as peanut or soybean oil. These oils are high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which have been linked to inflammation. You may find yourself with a midnight craving for a shake and fries but keep in mind that you may be setting yourself up for a world of hurt — literally.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Cured With Nightshade
A few months later, Susan came into my office, exclaiming she is pain free, and was off all the dreaded prednisone and methotrexate drugs.
I said , Hey thats Great !!! How did you do it?
Susan said,I eliminated Night-Shade vegetables from my diet. And now I am pain free.
Tom, a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis On AZT- Recovery on Gluten Free, Nightshade Free Diet, Vitamin K, LDN and Testosterone
Tom, a 46 year old gentleman with severe incapacitating pain and swelling in the joints arrived in my office with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Tom had already been seen by multiple rheumatologists, and had been prescribed AZT, the immune suppressive drug called Azathiaprine. However, this drug was not helping his arthritis. Instead, it was causing severe muscle weakness, a well known adverse effect of the AZT drug which is a mitochondrial toxin.
On examination, Toms hands and knee joints were visibly swollen, and tender with active inflammation. He was able to walk and to get up from a sitting position with difficulty, indicating muscle weakness from the AZT drug.
Going Gluten Free, Nightshade Free
Tom was advised to go on a gluten-free and nightshade-free diet, and supplement with Vitamin K2 and Omega 3 Fish Oil. Toms serum testosterone was low, below 300, so he was given testosterone replacement, as well.
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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.
Vitamin D During Pregnancy
Weve also funded a trial that showed that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy improved the bone mass of babies born during the winter the time of year when vitamin D levels are naturally lower.
As a follow up to this, were funding another study to find out whether this increased bone mass continues into childhood. If successful, this could lead to further discoveries in how diet and physical activity affect bone mass in children and could help make a case for taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy.
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Are There Any Foods That Help With Arthritis
Theres no specific food that will help with arthritis. But some people feel that certain foods help reduce their symptoms.
Making changes to your diet might help you, but this shouldnt be done instead of treatments youve been given, and its a good idea to speak to the person treating you before making any big changes.
Many foods have been said to help with arthritis or have anti-inflammatory effects. However, theres no evidence that things like apple cider vinegar and manuka honey can improve symptoms, and they can be expensive. Some people say they have helped, so theres no harm in trying them, but you should keep an open mind about whether theyre helping you or not.
Its important to have a healthy, balanced diet when you have arthritis, but there are some foods, vitamins and nutrients you may need to make sure you get enough of, to reduce the chances of other health problems, which are covered in the following section.
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Top Up Your Dark Leafy Green Intake
Of all the vegetables out there, the dark leafy greens are arguably the best. Theyre excellent for getting so many nutrients that we tend to be deficient in, even if we eat plenty of healthy meats, fish, and other animal products.
Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, and even broccoli, are full of minerals like iron, magnesium, and calcium. Theyre low in calories at the same time, helping to keep the weight gain to a minimum while offering the body all the nutrients it needs.
When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, dark leafy greens has vitamin E. This is a necessary vitamin to protect against cytokines, molecules that are known for cause inflammation within the body. While there are plenty of other foods out there that have vitamin E, theyre nowhere near as good as the dark leafy greens.
If you dont like the bitterness of spinach and kale, you could opt for other cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower. While not as good as dark leafy greens, the cruciferous vegetables are far better than so many other options out there.
The dark leafy and cruciferous vegetables also have plenty of phytochemicals. These fight off disease in the body, helping to boost the immune system and reduce the inflammatory response.
One of the best things about dark leafy greens is how versatile they are. You can cook them, eat them raw in salads, and you can even blend them together into green smoothies. In fact, green smoothies are considered one of the best ways to start your morning!
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Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our clinical contributor: Halyna Kuzyshyn, M.D.,
- To make an appointment with Dr. Kuzyshyn or a doctor near you, call or visit our website.
References:
- J Nutr. 2014 Jul 144:1037-42. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.189480. Epub 2014 Apr 17. Dietary intake of advanced glycation end products did not affect endothelial function and inflammation in healthy adults in a randomized controlled trial. Semba RD1, Gebauer SK2, Baer DJ2, Sun K3, Turner R3, Silber HA3, Talegawkar S4, Ferrucci L5, Novotny JA2.
- Autoimmun Rev. 2018 Sep 10. pii: S1568-997230210-6. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.05.009. Are we really what we eat? Nutrition and its role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Philippou E1, Nikiphorou E2.
- Adv Nutr. 2017 Jan 17 8:54-62. doi: 10.3945/an.116.013912. Print 2017 Jan. Formation of Fructose-Mediated Advanced Glycation End Products and Their Roles in Metabolic and Inflammatory Diseases. Gugliucci A1.
- Neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment causes obesity, diabetes, and macrovesicular steatohepatitis with liver nodules in DIAR mice. Tsuneyama K1, Nishida T, Baba H, Taira S, Fujimoto M, Nomoto K, Hayashi S, Miwa S, Nakajima T, Sutoh M, Oda E, Hokao R, Imura J.
- Rheumatology . 2013 May 52:856-67. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kes376. Epub 2013 Jan 3. The protective effect of alcohol on developing rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scott IC1, Tan R, Stahl D, Steer S, Lewis CM, Cope AP.
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Fruit Salad For Antioxidants
As if you needed another reason to indulge in a sweet bowl of fruit salad! Because many fruits like blueberries and blackberries are rich in antioxidants, and others such as strawberries and raspberries are full of Vitamin C and anthocyanin, a fruit salad is one of the most delicious and best healthy snacks you can have. May we suggest tossing in some grapes, and perhaps watermelon? This fruits anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to lower risks of rheumatoid arthritis.
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Eat This: Whole Grains
Whole grains are brimming with antioxidants, phytic acid, vitamin E and seleniumall of which are believed to help with inflammation. Plus, whole grains typically deliver healthy doses of fiber , and some research suggests that higher-fiber diets could help tamp down inflammation. Ladies, you should aim to eat 25 grams of fiber each day, while gentlemen need 38 grams
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Best Healthy Snacks For Arthritis: The Journey Is The Reward
Snacking isnt going to be your only tool against arthritis. We suggest our GLX3 New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel Oil supplement as part of your routine, along with a healthy, antioxidant-rich diet and appropriate exercise. If youre done with snacking and ready to make dinner, here are 6 super easy meal ideas for people arthritis.
These elements come together into a sort of full-circle arthritis fighting routine. Exercise is critically important for whole body health and wellness, but as youve probably learned, many exercises take their toll on your joints. By eating a healthy diet, you can do everything in your power to offset the inflammation and joint pain and get back to doing the things you love most whether that be playing with the kids or going on a morning walk.
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Combating Rheumatoid Arthritis With Pineapple
Taken from Fresh Plaza published 23/10/2012
Pineapple, which is one of the most abundant fruits in Paraguay can help reduce the pains that are caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The results of two nutritionists have shown that it can reduce 100% of the pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an incurable disease that is characterized by a chronic inflammation that affects the synovial membranes of multiple joints like fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and knees.
The purpose of the research carried out within the framework of the thesis of Liliana Enciso Lara and Clara Deleon Farina who now have their licenses in Nutrition from the National University of Asuncion was to find a natural solution to reduce the pain caused by RD.
On the basis of experimental research in Europe with synthetic Bromelain which provided satisfactory results when applied to rats, the two young women decided to try the same recipe in patients with arthritis with natural Bromelain from pineapple and the results were very promising.
Clara Deleon indicated, The AR is not cured, but we looked to relieve the pain of the disease with something natural.
The research was conducted with 31 adult patients with RA in the Institute of Social Welfare that followed an identical pharmacological treatment for three months and pineapple was included in the routine in the fourth month for 30 days.
The results were striking!!
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Top 6 Vegetables That Eliminate And Relieve Inflammation In The Body:
Now that you know which vegetables are a food to avoid, it is time to look at those that will actually fight the inflamed state. There are a number of viable health food choices that are easy to work into your daily diet. It is a good idea to eat at least one of the following vegetables per day to reap the anti-inflammatory and other benefits.
1. Leafy greens: Leafy greens are packed with antioxidants, especially polyphenols. Polyphenols are compounds and they have anti-inflammatory properties. They work to alleviate an inflamed state by fighting oxidative stress due to free radicals, according to a 2016 study in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. There are five leafy greens that are superior to most health food options in reducing an inflamed state and these include:
Cauliflower
2. Garlic and Onions: Both of these vegetable options are rich in anti-inflammatory substances. One of the most active is referred to as garlic organosulfur compounds. For centuries, these compounds have been used for the prevention and treatment of numerous health conditions, from cancer to heart disease. Some emerging research shows that the anti-inflammatory properties of these compounds may provide an anti-tumor response, according to a 2014 study in Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry.
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What Does A Good Pineapple Look Like
When searching for just-right pineapple ripeness, look for:
- Golden color: A bright orange pineapple is overripe and past its prime a green one is unripe. Look for one that has a consistent golden color.
- Large eyes: Those little knots on the skin give you a clue about whats inside. Look for larger knots, which mean the fruit had time to ripen on the tree.
How To Go Beyond Just Diet
Removing the bad stuff from your diet is one weapon to fight pain naturally. Delivering natural healing substances from the outside is another.
People who pair solid nutrition with a high quality, 100% natural pain relief cream typically see the best results when it comes to relieving joint pain and preventing flare-ups. The trick is routine and repetition. That means consistent good nutrition and application of a cream that is safe and gentle enough to use every day.
And that’s exactly how and why You Plus Relief was created. It’s designed to deliver quick relief without the harsh chemicals and useless fillers of other creams. Watch the video below to learn more.
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Summary Of Clinical Trials Assessing Bromelain For Osteoarthritis
The use of bromelain for the treatment of osteoarthritis looks promising. However, a number of methodological caveats indicate that further studies are warranted, in particular phase II clinical trials to identify the optimum dosage, followed by a definitive randomised placebo-controlled trial to confirm its efficacy in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
The Truth About Nightshades And Arthritis
Every time you eat eggplant, your knuckles start to throb. This sometimes happens after you eat other healthy foods like tomatoes and peppers.
What gives? These are some of the very foods you are supposed to eat more of to keep your weight down and boost your heart health, right?
Not necessarily.
Many people with inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis do report a worsening of symptoms such as joint pain and swelling after consuming nightshades. Known in agricultural circles as Solanaceae, nightshades are a botanical family of plants that share certain characteristics. There are around 2,500 species of nightshades . Some, namely potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes and pepper, are staples in the American diet.
There are some theories on how nightshades and arthritis symptoms are linked, the main one being that nightshades contain alkaloids such as the glycoalkaloid solanine which have pro-inflammatory properties in some individuals.
Loads of anecdotal evidence link nightshades to worsening arthritis symptoms, but theres little on the scientific side to support this link. To further muddy the waters, a study published in a 2011 issue of the shu showed yellow and purple potatoes actually lowered blood markers for inflammation in healthy men.
Sandon agrees: If these foods really seem to increase symptoms, avoid them and replace them with other sources of key nutrients. A registered dietician can offer suggestions on healthy substitutes.
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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.
Articles On Best Foods For Ra
People with rheumatoid arthritis know all too well the inflammation and pain that come with the disease. Although there’s no “RA diet” that treats the condition, some foods can lower inflammation in your body. And because they’re good for you, these foods — including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish — may help you feel better overall.
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