Eating a healthy, nutritious diet is important for everyone, and it is particularly beneficial if you suffer from a chronic medical condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis. While dietary changes alone won't completely eliminate your RA symptoms, consuming certain foods and avoiding others can improve common symptoms, such as inflammation, stiffness and pain.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A diet rich in foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation in the joints, leading to less pain and joint irritation from rheumatoid arthritis. Cold-water fish, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel and herring, are the largest source of omega-3 fatty acids in natural foods. Cooking with flaxseed, canola, walnut or soybean oils adds omega-3 fatty acids to other foods. Fish oil supplements are also beneficial to many RA patients who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their normal diets.
Food Allergies
Removing certain foods from your diet can help reduce the severity of RA symptoms due to food allergies. While some food allergies are very obvious because they cause skin rashes, breathing problems or other noticeable symptoms, others are more subtle with regard to how they act in the body. Antibodies in the stomach and intestines can attack certain foods, which can lead to increased inflammation. If you notice your RA symptoms seem worse after consuming certain foods, talk to your doctor about eliminating those foods from your diet to see if your symptoms improve.
Other Diets
Consuming a diet that includes many foods that have antioxidants can help alleviate RA symptoms in some people. Vegan, vegetarian and Mediterranean diets include many fruits, vegetables and healthy oils, such as olive oil. These antioxidant-rich foods can reduce stiffness and pain from RA by neutralizing free radicals that lead to cell damage.
Diets that restrict calories and focus on healthy, natural foods, including fresh produce, lean meats and whole grains, help you lose weight or maintain your current weight. Staying at a healthy weight for your age and height can reduce the severity of RA symptoms since excess weight puts more strain on inflamed joints, leading to more pain and stiffness.
Considerations
Research on just how much diet affects RA symptoms is limited, and many study findings contradict each other. This makes it difficult for doctors and medical researchers to determine the true benefits of dietary modifications with regard to rheumatoid arthritis. If you suffer from RA and you're looking for natural ways to improve your symptoms, discuss your concerns with your doctor or a dietitian to help you make healthy eating choices that may improve your symptoms. Other lifestyle changes, such as increasing the amount of low-impact exercise you engage in and practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing, can also help reduce pain and stiffness.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- MayoClinic.com; If I Eat Certain Foods, Will My Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Improve?; April Chang-Miller, M.D.
- "Arthritis Today"; Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: RA and Food Allergies; Denise Lynn Mann
- National Jewish Health: Rheumatoid Arthritis: Lifestyle Management
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