Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the linings of your joints causing inflammation, stiffness and eventually joint destruction, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Multiple medications are available for treatment of this chronic condition, but making changes in your diet may help reduce the inflammation associated with RA. You should speak with your physician before making dietary changes and you should not stop any prescribed medications without a doctor's approval.
Foods Containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have multiple health benefits; one of these benefits is the decrease of inflammation. Omega-3s can help shut off the inflammatory process associated with rheumatoid arthritis, reports ArthritisToday.org. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel. Incorporating more of these foods in your diet may help with your RA symptoms.
Fruits and Vegetables
Eating fruits and vegetables offer many benefits to patients with RA. These foods are part of a healthy diet and can help you maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can make the symptoms of RA worse, so eating foods that contain less fat may help ease your symptoms. Fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants, which may decrease inflammation as well, according to ArthritisToday.org.
Avoiding Food Allergies
For some people, foods allergies or sensitivities may worsen symptoms of RA. To determine if a specific food makes your RA worse, you should try an elimination diet whereby you eliminate foods from your diet and add them back -- one at a time, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. As you add each food back, you note whether your symptoms change or not; to get the best results with this diet plan, you should work with your physician or dietitian. Common foods that may be related to food allergies include dairy products, meats or processed foods, notes the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.
Vegan Diet
Changing your diet altogether may improve your RA symptoms. A study by I. Hafström and colleagues and published in a 2001 issue of "Rheumatology" indicated that patients adhering to a strict vegan diet for one year had an improvement in the symptoms of RA. A vegan diet is a vegetarian diet that also omits dairy products and eggs. These patients were also instructed to avoid foods that contain gluten, such as wheat, barley, oats and rye, during this time. Making these types of dietary changes requires the assistance of a physician or other health care provider because you need to ensure that you obtain the needed nutrients and protein while following the restrictions of the diet.
References
- Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center: Nutrition & Rheumatoid Arthritis
- ArthritisToday.org: Inflammation and Foods That Fight It
- Maryland Medical Center: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- ArthritisToday.org: Fatty Acid Benefits: How Omega-3s Reduce Inflammation
- British Dietetic Assocation: Diet and Arthritis
- "Rheumatology"; A Vegan Diet Free of Gluten Improves the Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The effects on Arthritis Correlate with a Reduction in Antibodies to Food Antigens; I. Hafström and colleagues; 2001.
