April 11, 2008

What Foods Should a Person Experiencing Rheumatoid Arthritis Avoid?

Posted in Category : Bone, Joint & Muscles Disorders

Your diet plays a crucial role in the treatment of any kind of arthritis. As the food may enhance the development of arthritis and can also help to cure, you should clearly know what to eat and what is to be avoided. You can have specially recommended rheumatoid arthritis diet to manage the symptoms of this disease and live a healthy life.

A healthy and balanced diet is essential to control the body weight and to maintain overall health. Your diet should be rich in plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and grain products and low in sugar content and saturated fats. As Omega-3 fatty acids contribute a lot in the inflammatory pathway, an intake of salmon oil, walnut oil, soybeans and avocado oil which are rich sources of Omega-3 fatty acids is recommended. Your rheumatoid arthritis diet is suggested to include more amounts of cooked or raw foods and rice, fish, vegetables and fruits.

It is very essential to know what is harmful for the people with rheumatoid arthritis and what should be avoided. Your rheumatoid arthritis diet should exclude the allergic foods which may a cause of rheumatoid arthritis. The most common foods that may result in aggravating the rheumatoid arthritis are corn, beef, wheat, saturated fats, salts, milk and other dairy products. Fatty acids play a significant role in the inflammation mechanism through formation of thromboxanes, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The intake of dietary oil may significantly decrease or increase the inflammation depending upon the type of oil. Avoid intake of rich fatty foods, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and fried food which may make the internal environment of joints more acidic which can result in inflammation and pain in joint.

You should avoid the foods that enhance the formation of arachidonic acid which is derived from the animal sources such as dairy products, meat etc. It is converted to the inflammatory leukotrienes and prostaglandins which significantly contribute to the inflammation. Approximately 1/3rd of people with rheumatoid arthritis are nightshade plants or solanines. Hence, the nightshades like capsicums, eggplants, tomatoes and potatoes should be eliminated from your rheumatoid arthritis diet. In addition to that, you should avoid the calcium inhibitors such as red meat, eggs, coffee, alcohol, excess salts and the foods that are high in oxalic acid such as plums, rhubarb, chard, spinach and cranberries.

The patients with rheumatoid arthritis may get benefits from fasting which can decrease the absorption of allergic food components and also interfere with the immune system.