1. Increase Nutrition to Decrease Pain
For years, the public has talked of an arthritis diet, but so far, the perfect diet has evaded people with this condition. However, it's been determined that some foods and nutritional substances can affect arthritis in some people. To make sense of all the nutritional information, it's a good idea to consult with a nutritionist about arthritis diet guidelines. She can help you plan a balanced diet with lots of variety. Additionally, being overweight can put additional stress on joints. A nutritionist also helps plan diets for weight loss and can educate you about alternative ways to prepare food for maximum nutritional benefit. Check with your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation for cooking classes that include easy preparation tips for those with arthritis.
2. Avoid Foods That may Increase Arthritis Symptoms
By keeping a food diary, you may find that certain foods exacerbate your symptoms. For example, some people report less inflammation when they exclude or minimize coffee, tea, fried foods, red meat and chocolate from their diets. Some people report that foods from the nightshade family, such as tomatoes and peppers, aggravate arthritis symptoms. People have tried specific arthritis diets that cut out alkaline foods or foods from the nightshade family with mixed results. One diet that may have some validity for arthritis sufferers, however, is a vegetarian diet. Just keep in mind that specific forms of arthritis do react negatively to certain foods. For example, there's one type of arthritis linked to eating wheat products. Plus, excessive amounts of alcohol and any food that raises uric levels makes gout worse.
3. Watch the Effects of Arthritis Medication
Certain arthritis medications can deplete specific nutrients in the body. Some medications can also cause your body to retain too much sodium, which can be unhealthy. A nutritionist can help you replenish the potassium lost when taking corticosteroids or add possible nutrients to your diet that have shown promise. Some of the nutrients undergoing study include ASU (avocado-soybean unsaponifiable), boron, bovine cartilage, bromelain, chondroitin sulfate, GLA (gamma linolenic acid), glucosamine, glucosamine chondroitin, SAM-e, shark cartilage, stinging nettle and turmeric.
4. Add to the Diet
Foods rich in Vitamins A and C and antioxidants should be part of a healthy diet for anyone with arthritis and including calcium in your diet reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Many arthritis patients have found that regularly eating oily fish can reduce the joint inflammation that causes pain. Preliminary studies suggest that the polphenolic compounds in green tea may decrease the severity of arthritis symptoms.
