Arthritis causes pain and disability for those who suffer from its inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, NSAIDS, carry a risk of side effects when used for long periods. These include the popular drugs ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen. Often arthritis sufferers cannot take NSAIDS because they interact unfavorably with other medications they take regularly. Certain foods, identified as having anti-inflammatory action on the body, can offer a safe way of reducing the inflammation of arthritis.
Significance
Arthritis has crippling effects on people. According to Pilladvised.com, 43 million people in the U.S. are disabled by the disease and an additional 19 million have a curtailed activity level. A disease of pain, arthritis is common in old age. Health.com states that adding specific foods to the diet has, in some cases, shown to relieve the discomfort of inflammation.
Arthritis Types
Osteoarthritis, or OA, and rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, develop in the joints. Their causes differ as well as the mechanism of inflammation. OA occurs in overused or injured joints. A right-handed person would, therefore, have OA in his right knee or shoulder or wrist because he has used his right side most often. RA, in contrast, affects both right and left joints. RA stems from a disease within the body involving the autoimmune system. Both forms of arthritis can cripple, maim and cause debilitating pain secondary to inflammation.
Inflammation
The inflammatory response comes from the body's immune system. When you have a wound or bruise on outside of the body, the site appears reddened, swollen and often hot to the touch. These features come from the immune cells that race to the damaged site to heal it. Sometimes, however, the body cannot heal a joint that after years of use and so the inflammation becomes constant. Eating a diet that includes foods known to reduce inflammation and avoiding foods that can aggravate the condition may be helpful in treating symptoms.
Anti-inflammatory Foods
Cherries have even better anti-inflammatory effects than aspirin, according to Health.com. Besides eating the actual fruit, you can drink its juice or take it in extract supplement form. Berries have similar abilities, including blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries. The phytochemicals in colorful fruits such as quercetin in apples and brome in pineapples fight inflammation as well. Once thought to aggravate arthritis, tomatoes and bell peppers have 20 anti-inflammatory compounds apiece and now take their rightful places on the anti-inflammatory foods list. Whole grain bread, pasta, cereal and brown rice should replace white flour products and white rice to help reduce arthritis inflammation. Some good spices to use include ginger and turmeric.
Omega Oils
Omega-3 oils come from fish such as tuna, salmon, haddock and sardines. They have tremendous anti-inflammatory capabilities as well as heart disease and cancer fighting properties. Omega-6 oils come from corn oil and other oils that actually increase inflammation. These two omegas should keep a balance in the body, but the American diet provides many more sources for omega-6s in processed foods. Therefore, you need to bump up the amount of omega-3s in your diet. Besides fish, good sources include flaxseed and canola oil, walnuts, and dark leafy-green vegetables such as spinach and kale.
Foods to Avoid
While adding or increasing fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish to your diet, make a conscious effort to minimize sugar in all forms. Watch for its content in processed foods. Sugar creates inflammation. Avoid refined flour products. Switching to whole grain flours will take care of this. Do not eat foods that contain trans fats or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. If you can, try to eat only whole foods instead of processed foods, or become a label reader and choose those foods that will help, not hurt, your arthritis.
