Rheumatoid Arthritis DietSome people with rheumatoid arthritis find that certain foods seem to contribute to flare-ups of the symptoms associated with their condition. Are there steps you can take to determine which food or group of foods might be responsible? You bet! Process of Elimination The way to find out whether a certain food is the culprit is to by process of elimination. Keep track of what you are eating on a daily basis, as well as the severity of your symptoms. If the symptoms start to worsen, then cut out the foods you think may be responsible. Slowly add these suspect foods back into your diet, one at time. Allow several days between each re-introduction. Keep track of your symptoms as you do so. When you get to the point where you have a new flare-up, it's a safe bet that you have found a food that will trigger a worsening of your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. That particular food should be avoided. Foods to be Avoided Foods that are high in acid are more likely to trigger a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Some examples of these foods are: * Coffee * Tea * Processed foods * Salt * Fried foods Balanced Diet Even if you do not find that eating certain foods tends to trigger a worsening of your symptoms, it is a good idea to eat foods from all the food groups. (This is good advice even for people who do not have rheumatoid arthritis. Be sure to include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein in your diet. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight Since rheumatoid arthritis affects weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, and ankles), try to keep your weight in the normal range. If a person is overweight, the extra pounds add to the stress on the already-painful joints. If surgery is deemed necessary, being overweight can increase the likelihood of complications. Fish Oils According to some studies consuming fish oil can help to relieve inflammation in the joints. Liquid fish oil is recommended for this purpose. Take the fish oil without stirring and drink juice immediately afterward. The omega-3 fatty acids in the product are thought to help reduce inflammation. Before starting to take fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis, consult with your doctor. He or she needs to be aware of any other substances you are taking. Fish oil can have an effect on the effectiveness of certain medications. Vitamins and Rheumatoid Arthritis Research has shown that consuming Vitamin D may prevent rheumatoid arthritis. A study followed more than 29,000 women between the ages of 55-69 over an 11-year period. 152 of the participants in the study developed rheumatoid arthritis. The women who consumed the most Vitamin D were the least likely to develop the disease. Vitamin D is found in milk. A one-cup serving contains 100 IU (International Units) of the vitamin. Vitamin D can also be found in cod liver oil (1360 IU/tablespoon) and salmon (425 IU/three-ounce serving). |