Arthritis today is
thought to be a common disease and because of the fact that medications are
prescribed to it, people tend to think it has a cure. Actually, the only cure
that arthritis has is by having a healthy and balanced diet. Time and time
again, eating right has been emphasized because it helps us stay away from
illnesses and if we do develop certain diseases, we may still manage it by a
good diet. This goes the same for arthritis because the foods you eat will make
a large impact on the disease. There have been studies that showed that having
too much weight can put stress to inflamed joints making arthritis a great
ordeal thus a healthy diet is very much needed.
What is the Best Diet for Arthritis Sufferers?
There really is no
‘miracle diet’ that can actually cure arthritis but in most cases, a healthy
diet helps a person make the disease much tolerable. There are certain people
that do avoid or eat specific types of foods or take in supplements to help
alleviate the symptoms of the disease. But arthritis comes in different types
too all of which are characterized by joint stiffness, swelling or pain.
Regardless of the type of arthritis a person has, making sure that he/she has a
well-balanced diet will definitely make a big effect on the disease.
What foods to include in Diet for Arthritis?
Although medications are prescribed by
physicians to those suffering from arthritis, having nutritious meals help
fight the symptoms of the disease most especially the inflammation. People need
to understand that the medications prescribed do not right away spell out the
word cure instead they are meant to alleviate the pain and inflammation. But
instead of leaving it all out on the meds, nutrition can also take on this role
only it has more benefits as it not only fights the pain and swelling but it
adds up to energy and of course we can get nutrients. Some of the foods that
will help you fight arthritis are as follows:
- Foods high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Fats are also needed
by our bodies to function well and the healthiest known fat is the omega-3
fatty acids. This fatty acid suppresses inflammation by stopping the
production of certain enzymes that wear away the cartilage.
- Antioxidants. When there is inflammation, the formation
of free radicals happen. Free radicals are molecules that damage the cell
and it is with antioxidants where the body is protected from the effects
of these molecules that can eventually be damaging. There have been
studies that shown that it is with specific kinds of antioxidants that
help relieve pain and slow the progress of the disease.
- Ginger
An ideal diet would
definitely something that is not just nutritious but also tasty. Just like
fruits and vegetables, ginger is a plant-based food and makes a huge impact to
the health of a person. Ginger happens to have chemicals that have
anti-inflammatory properties making it an ideal part of the diet.
What foods to avoid in Diet for Arthritis
If there are foods that should be part of your
diet, there definitely are foods to avoid as well as they can either trigger
inflammation or pain. There have been studies stating that arthritis pain in
joints can be triggered by allergic reactions to specific types of foods. If
you keep these foods out of your diet, you will be able to experience relief of
the pain and perhaps the swelling as well. It would be advisable to avoid these
foods in your arthritis diet:
- Red Meat (beef, pork, lamb) – have fish and chicken
(without the skin) instead
- Sugary foods such as honey, chocolates, etc.
- Dairy products such as cheese, cow’s milk, etc.
- Salty foods and foods high in fat such as butter and
margarine
- Nightshade family foods such as eggplants, white
potatoes and tomatoes
- Flour and bran from white wheat
- Dry roasted nuts – you can have walnuts and almonds
- Alcoholic beverages
- Drinks such as soft drinks, coffee (even decaffeinated
ones), tea
At this point in time,
there is still no scientific study that has come up with a special diet that is
meant as a cure for arthritis. There are not even enough studies to support
specific kinds of foods that can actually affect arthritis except for gout but
even so, making necessary dietary changes can make a big difference. If you
happen to be suffering from arthritis and feel that a certain type of food only
makes it worse, you have every reason to not eat that kind of food if it means
helping you cope with the disease.
Most importantly, before
you even start making changes in your diet, always seek advice from your
physician or dietitian. The purpose of this is to ensure that even changes are
made in your dietary plans for arthritis; you are still getting enough
nutrients your body needs. Furthermore, there are also certain types of foods
that can actually interact with your medications for arthritis but with the
help of your dietitian you may avoid this. Even if arthritis seems to be not
that alarming, the fact that it is a disease is something that people should
not take for granted but regardless of the disease that you have, having a
healthy and well-balanced diet is crucial.
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