Rheumatism Diet

Rheumatism is not a single condition, but a group of conditions involving pain in the joints as well as the associated muscles and ligaments. It is usually thought to be more common in the case of middle aged people and elderly people, however, due to the wide range of conditions that are included under the umbrella of rheumatism, almost anyone can be affected by it. Rheumatism includes conditions as diverse as spondilytis, frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, and rheumatic fever. Usually however, the term rheumatism refers to arthritic conditions.

Arthritis and Diet

Diet is therefore an important element in managing rheumatism. It is extremely important to eat plenty of fresh fruits, such as apples, grapes, peaches, pears, oranges, pineapples and grapefruits. Vegetables are of course equally important, and you should eat plenty of carrots, sweet potato, spinach, kale, broccoli, and cabbage. Fish containing omega 3 essential fatty acids, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, and tuna should also be eaten, as omega 3 fatty acids are known to fight inflammation. Nuts and seeds such as walnuts and almonds, as well as legumes and grains, such as lentils, brown rice and whole wheat bread should also be consumed in plenty. It is advisable to avoid consuming too much soy oil and corn oil, since these types of fat are thought to increase inflammation and therefore increase rheumatic pain. You should therefore also reduce the consumption of processed foods. Foods that need to be completely avoided would be margarine, snacks, fast food, and ready made cakes and cookies. You should also avoid liquors and pork, and reduce consumption of red meat consumption. Cutting down consumption of dairy products may also be advisable, and ensure that the dairy products you do consume are low fat.

However, remember that any dietary plan should be prepared in consultation with your doctor. As mentioned earlier, rheumatism includes many different conditions, and your specific condition may have different dietary requirements from those mentioned above. You should also remember that your diet alone cannot cure any rheumatic condition. Along with diet control, other measures such as exercise are equally important in order to strengthen your muscles and improve circulation. Exercise will also help you lose weight, and excessive body weight is often an aggravating if not a causative factor in many rheumatic conditions. Exercise should of course be mild, as strenuous exercise may further stress your joints. Yoga and swimming are ideal, but you should always check with your doctor first. In some cases, medication may be needed in spite of all these measures.