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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.
Impact Of Foods On Ra Symptoms
At least one food was reported to affect RA symptoms in 24.0% of subjects. In 10.1% of subjects, some foods improved and some foods worsened RA symptoms. Foods only worsened RA in 9.2%, and foods only improved RA only in 4.6%. Additionally, 24.3% of all subjects reported avoiding foods because they worsen their RA.
Among subjects who reported eating the specific foods listed, blueberries and fish were most often noted to improve RA symptoms . Soda with sugar and desserts were most frequently noted to worsen RA symptoms among subjects who consumed them. Caffeinated coffee and caffeinated tea were each reported to affect RA in less than five percent of subjects.
Specific foods that affect subjects’ RA symptoms, displayed as the percentage of subjects who eat the food
Foods That May Exacerbate The Symptoms Of Ra
According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are several foods that you should avoid or decrease from your rheumatoid arthritis diet. Not only do they increase inflammation, but they can increase the risk for other chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Below, youll discover what types of foods to avoid with RA.
Foods High in Sugar
If you have a nightly ice cream habit, frequent the donut shop and have a tough time passing up the candy dish at work, it may be time to decrease your intake.
However, if youre willing to try a sugar substitute, youre in luck! There are a variety of options available: stevia, aspartame and sucralose are all non-caloric options. Caloric sweeteners include maple syrup, agave and honey.
Foods High in Salt
Excess salt can also increase inflammation, and any additional risk of inflammation should be avoided when you have rheumatoid arthritis.
The recommended amount of sodium for the average American is 2,300mg or less, but people with comorbid conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and hypertension should limit their sodium intake to 1,500mg per day. However, the average American eats upwards of 3,400mg of sodium per day. Therefore, if you have RA, it is very important to be cautious about sodium in your diet and read nutritional labels if you are unsure.
Not All Fats Are Created Equal
However, certain fats are not good for inflammation. These fats include saturated fats, trans fats and omega-6 fatty acids.
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Ditch The Coconut Oil If You Have Osteoarthritis
The type of fat you consume can make a big difference in how you feel when you have osteoarthritis. In a study published in 2018 in Arthritis Care & Research, researchers followed over 2,000 individuals with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis for four years. Participants filled out a questionnaire about their eating habits and the researchers took X-rays of their knees at yearly intervals to measure the amount of space in their knee joints .
In the end, the study authors found that higher levels of total fat and saturated fat intake were associated with greater losses in joint space, while those who ate more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats didnt lose as much space in their joints. Those who ate the least amount of saturated fat lost only 0.25 millimeters of space in their knee joint, while those who ate the most saturated fat lost 0.37 millimeters.
While you probably know that meat and dairy products are high in saturated fat, you might not realize that coconut oil is as well. In fact, 80 to 90 percent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated .
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Clinical Contributors To This Story
Halyna Kuzyshyn, M.D. contributes to topics such as Arthritis, Mens Health, Womens Health.
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.
While there is no concrete research on diets that can treat rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have identified certain pro-inflammatory foods. Dr. Kuzyshyn advises that the following six foods should be avoided or at least limited to help reduce inflammation and joint pain:
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How Alcohol Interacts With Ra Medication
Because both alcohol and certain RA medications are hard on the liver, combining the two may put you at twice the risk for liver problems. These common RA medications may become unsafe if you drink alcohol while taking them:
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Actemra
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Azulfidine, Sulfazine
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Otrexup, Rasuvo, Trexall
Some supplements may also interact with the liver and make certain medications unsafe. Because every person is different, it’s important to talk to your doctor about alcohol, supplements, and any other meds you are taking, in case you are putting your liver at risk.
In The Kitchen With Arthritis: Foods To Avoid
The goal of an anti-inflammatory diet for arthritis is to reduce inflammation and the joint degeneration and pain it causes.What Are Anti-Inflammatory Foods?
You can influence inflammation by eating anti-inflammatory foods, such as leafy greens and colorful vegetables, and avoiding these 7 inflammatory foods:
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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:
Sugar And Certain Sugar Alternatives
Foods that contain refined sugarincluding pastries, chocolate, candy, soda, and even fruit juicestrigger the release of proteins in the body called cytokines, which cause inflammation. Sugar is labeled many ways in food items in addition to sugar, watch out for corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, or maltose in ingredient lists.
Cutting back on regular sugar may lead people to seek out foods made with sugar alternatives, such as aspartame and sucralose, when a sweet tooth hits. However, some people are sensitive to these substances, which can cause an inflammatory response from the body. Sugar alternatives are often found in diet sodas, gum, sugar-free candy, and low-fat yogurt and pudding.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: What To Eat
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune form of arthritis which affects about 0.6% of the adult population in the United States.
It is characterized by stiffness, pain, and inflammation in the joints, numbness, burning and itching in the extremities of the body and dry mouth.
Rheumatoid arthritis is chiefly a genetic disorder caused due to the presence of certain genes. Sometimes, environmental and other factors like diet, smoking, infection or Vitamin D deficiency can also act as a trigger for the disease.
There is no known cure for the ailment. Most of the drugs help to relieve the disease symptoms.
However, diet can play a significant role in improving the living condition and reducing the suffering of rheumatic patients.
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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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: What You Should Include
Diet is considered to be a major factor in controlling the symptoms of arthritis and reducing flare-ups.
It has been since the 1930s when the scientists had claimed that there exists a link between rheumatoid arthritis and diet.
We do have reports where people claim to feel much better after following some special diet.
However, all this still remains unproven as not much work has been done to find the exact role of diet in alleviating or monitoring symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Nevertheless, the importance of a balanced diet cannot be underestimated. Additionally, studies have proven that some plants and natural products do play a significant role in reducing disease symptoms.
Hence the inclusion of these foods in the diet of the patients will certainly show positive effects. With this view in mind, let us have a look at the balanced diet which a patient suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis must have.
Stop Thinking You Can’t Exercise
Many people who have arthritis are afraid if they’re active they’ll have more pain and so they just don’t get any exercise. This may be one of the biggest misconceptions about arthritis.
At the same time, it’s an ironic idea because inactivity actually makes pain and disability from arthritis worse over time, while regular exercise keeps joints moving and prevents stiffness, strengthens the muscles around the joints, and improves mobility.
So if you’ve been sedentary out of fear you’ll make your arthritis worse, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure it’s OK to exercise. Then start slowly with gentle, joint-friendly movements. It’s fine to respect your arthritis pain, but you don’t have to let it stop you.
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Stay A Healthy Weight
The most important relationship between diet and arthritis is weight. Excess weight can make some specialist medications ineffective. It may increase disease activity and delay remission. If you are carrying more body weight than you should, try and lose the excess weight by combining healthy eating with regular exercise.
Ra Diet: 5 Foods To Avoid With Arthritis
It’s time to kick that morning doughnut-and-coffee habit. Research shows that eating certain foods like sugary snacks and desserts and certain caffeinated beverages may worsen rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
According to the American College of Rheumatology , rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis, affecting more than 1.3 million Americans. It is caused when the immune system is not working properly.
- Fatigue, fever, and weight loss
- Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
- Tender, warm, swollen joints
Early rheumatoid arthritis typically affects smaller joints first including the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet.
Over time, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may spread to the following joints and occur on both sides of your body:
- Ankles
- Shoulders
- Wrists
There are many new drugs, even surgery, to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but don’t ignore the simpler ways of reducing RA pain, like lifestyle measures and a healthy diet. Though the scientific research surrounding an RA diet and rheumatoid arthritis is still inconclusive, many highly trained doctors recommend avoiding certain foods to see if this helps your joint inflammation and pain.
Does coffee cause inflammation with RA? As mentioned, coffee may increase inflammation, so stopping coffee on an RA diet may be helpful in managing inflammation and joint pain.
- Duration of morning stiffness
- Pain symptoms
- Tender joint count
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Make Sure Your Diet Can Really Fit With Your Lifestyle
While lots of people with rheumatoid arthritis say they have found relief from eating a gluten-free diet, following one may not be right for everyone, or for the long run. Being gluten-free full time is difficult, says Andrews. Her Italian family tradition is to make pizza with her teenage daughters every Friday night and thats a pleasure Andrews is not about to give up. She does, however, limit her intake of wheat-based foods to the extent that helps her manage RA symptoms and feels doable.
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Fried And Processed Food
Fried and processed food are rich in omega-6 fatty acids which causes inflammation and thus must be avoided.
A study performs at Mount Sinai in the year 2009 proved that avoiding the consumption of fried and processed food helped reduce the uptake of harmful toxins by the body and thus improved the general health of the 350 participants.
It has been found that such snack foods contain high level of Advanced Glycation End Products .
These AGEs are toxins and have various harmful effects on the body one of them being increased pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis.
It is thus advisable that patients with Rheumatoid arthritis prefer baked or broiled food over fried or grilled options.
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Oils Rich In Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Linoleic acid accounts for a major proportion of dietary omega 6 fatty acid. It comes from cooking oils such as corn oil, cottonseed oil and sunfloweroil etc. Such oils with high omega 6 fatty acid content when metabolized, produce mediators of inflammation. Plants, unlike animals, do not have arachidonic acid they have linoleic acid instead.
Eat More Oily Fish Or Consider Having Fish Oil
Fish such as sardines, mackerel, herring, fresh tuna, salmon, and snapper have darker flesh which is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. In addition to their heart health benefits, fish oils have been shown to help dampen general inflammation and may help to reduce joint pain and stiffness.
Try to eat two portions of oily fish a week. Some eggs and breads are enriched with omega-3. Omega-3 fats from plant sources such as linseed, evening primrose and borage oils have a weaker effect on reducing inflammation and are of limited benefit.
High-dose fish oil supplements have been shown to reduce symptoms of RA, such as the duration of morning stiffness, the number of swollen and tender joints and joint pain. Fish oil supplements should have 500-1000mg of EPA and DHA per capsule. Be patient, as it can take up to three months for symptom relief. Speak to your doctor before taking any new supplements.
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Foods Containing Monosodium Glutamate
In fact, monosodium glutamate is a flavor-increasing food additive with some preservative properties most often found in packaged foods such as potato chips, frozen snacks, canned and frozen Chinese foods, frozen dinners, soups, and store-bought salad dressings.
Monosodium glutamate can trigger pain and inflammation in your body, including your joints. The artificial additive is extremely harmful to people who already have inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis.
Because most frozen and packaged foods contain artificial additives such as monosodium glutamate, you should strive to consume fresh foods made at home. You should use organic products and also avoid artificial flavor enhancers.
Apart from monosodium glutamate, you have to avoid foods having aspartame, an artificial sweetener that can also trigger an inflammatory response.
Eat And Drink Less Dairy On A Diet For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may flare in response to specific proteins found in dairy products. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis who report intolerance to milk have antibodies to milk proteins, Dr. Michet says. The body forms these antibodies to protect itself from what it mistakenly perceives as a harmful substance, but the antibodies attack other parts of the body in addition to the milk. Cut dairy products from your diet to see if that reduces your RA symptoms.
Try rice, cashew, or almond milk as anti-inflammatory alternatives, says Ulka Agarwal, MD, a staff psychiatrist at George Washington University in Washington, DC, who advocates a vegan diet. Milk may be a food to avoid with arthritis to see if it helps with RA pain.
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Do Any Foods Make Arthritis Worse
Some people feel that certain foods are bad for arthritis and that cutting them out helps with their symptoms. Some of the foods people worry about include:
- citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit
- vegetables from the nightshade family including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines
- gluten, a protein found in pasta, bread and cereals.
Theres no evidence that diets where certain foods are cut out, also known as exclusion or elimination diets, are helpful for people with osteoarthritis. They have been shown to sometimes help people with rheumatoid arthritis, though the food that may cause symptoms is likely to be different for each person.
This could be for a number of reasons, including the person being allergic or intolerant to the food they cut out, rather than being directly related to the arthritis. If healthy foods are not affecting your symptoms, you dont need to cut them out of your diet.
If you want to try cutting certain foods out of your diet to see if it improves your symptoms, the important thing to remember is to speak to a doctor or dietitian first. Theyll be able to support you and make sure youre trying out the change to your diet safely. Some foods are present in things we dont realise, so they can also help make sure you really are cutting out everything you plan to.
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