Arthritis FoodFood and pain are not commonly considered to be companions but for persons with Arthritis, food can be a trigger for pain. And if there are foods that make arthritis symptoms worsen, then is there an Arthritis food plan to improve symptoms? Gout is one type of Arthritis that has a known connection with foods high in purine. Eating certain foods with more purine than the body can manage leaves a build up of uric acid. When the kidneys cannot filter out all the excess uric acid, gout symptoms flare up. The American Medical Association suggests that gout symptoms are best managed by reducing foods such as organ meats, yeast, anchovies, sardines, herring, dried beans or peas and meat gravies. Sounds like a meat-eaters problem but wait, there are purine rich vegetable offenders like spinach, asparagus, cauliflower and also mushrooms. Recommended Arthritis food items for persons with gout include soybeans, tofu (made from soybeans), salmon, olive oil, nuts and dark berry fruits. The American Medical Association advises that the balance of foods is important with emphasis on complex carbohydrates (grain, fruits, vegetables), low protein (lean meats, lean poultry and soy) and low fat with no more than 10% animal fat. Other types of Arthritis including Rheumatoid Arthritis respond to food choices. Any food allergens create a strain on the immune system which has less ability to deal with arthritis flares. For some individuals, a full panel of allergy testing may be necessary to identify specific allergens. Other people know immediately because they experience hives, itching, rash or congestion soon after eating certain foods. Overall the foods found to be potential offenders for persons with Arthritis are: dairy products, sugar, caffeine, chocolate, red meats, MSG or other preservatives, salt and nightshade vegetables such as bell peppers or tomatoes. It may be that the best Arthritis food is the food eliminated or drastically reduced in the diet. Persons with Rheumatoid Arthritis need to include antioxidant foods or supplements daily in their diet. Some studies promote green tea for its antioxidant properties. Fewer cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis are found in China, India and Japan, countries with high consumption of green tea. The best Arthritis food approach is one that helps maintain a healthy weight. Too much fat, sugar and empty calories from junk food or fast food are particularly problematic for persons with Arthritis who are sedentary. It's a vicious cycle: less movement because of pain, eating more out of boredom, weight gain, more joint pain, less movement and the cycle continues. Drinking alcohol is another problem for persons with Arthritis. Alcohol is high in empty calories, drains vitamins and minerals and interferes with medications. The best Arthritis food and drink choices are those that maintain proper weight for a person's height and body type. A fad diet or so-called miracle diet can be dangerous. Safe choices for arthritis food are not found in diets that are restricted to only one or two types of food. Arthritis food must be high quality nutrition in balanced meals. |