5 Best Foods For Rheumatoid Arthritis Care
This post may contain editorial samples and/or affiliate links. We earn a commission on your sales.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes chronic pain and inflammation of the joints. It can also cause damage to other organs, such as your lungs or heart. While there is no cure for RA, dietary changes can help ease symptoms and support joint health. Here are 5 of the best food for rheumatoid arthritis recommended by experts at Harvard Medical School that you should include in your diet to keep the body strong and healthy.
Table of Contents
Anti-Inflammatory Diets for Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
Although this post has a list of 5 of the best food for rheumatoid arthritis there is no one diet that will cure arthritis of any kind. Changing your diet may help your symptoms but it will not cure you. Unfortunately, arthritis is a lifelong condition.
If you are looking to change your diet to help with your arthritis here are some tips.
- Eat whole foods. Highly processed items like hot dogs and candy are a major cause of inflammation. Get most of your calories from foods rich in nutrients and fiber, including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- Limit sugar. The added sugar in foods can trigger inflammation too. Check labels and drink water instead of sweetened beverages.
- Choose healthy fats. The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than 6% of your daily calories from saturated fats. Cut back on red meat, and enjoy more olive oil, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds.
- Drink tea. The polyphenols in tea can reduce inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis. Smart choices include ginger, chamomile, and green teas.
- Lose weight. I know this is easier said than done. Losing weight has benefits for many different medical conditions, however. Being overweight stresses your joints. Losing just 10 pounds can take 30 or more pounds of pressure off your knees with each step you take. Adopt sensible eating habits you can stick with, like watching portion sizes and preparing meals at home rather than dining out.
Aside from changing your diet to include the best food for rheumatoid arthritis, there are other things you can do to help with your arthritis pain.
- Work out. Exercise tones your body, building up muscle and reducing fat. Design a balanced fitness program with strength training, cardio activities, full-body stretches, and balance exercises. Check with your doctor if you’ve been sedentary or have safety concerns.
- Apply heat. Both heat and cold can relieve pain, so experiment to see what works for you. Buy heat packs and other items at your local drugstore or make your own versions at home, like microwaving a damp towel in an open zip-lock plastic bag.
- Wear a patch. Look for pain-relieving patches and creams with natural ingredients. For example, many brands use capsaicin, the same ingredient that makes chili peppers hot.
- Reduce stress. Relaxation activities have helped many patients dealing with arthritis or other forms of chronic pain. Changing the way you think about physical sensations can make you more comfortable too.
5 of the Best Food For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fatty fish
The omega-3 fatty acid in some fish is what helps reduce inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis. A study was conducted before wherein a group of people was given a daily diet of seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids, some lean meat, and lean fish. The group that was given seafood showed a substantial decrease in compounds that caused inflammation.
Eat a lot of salmon, mackerel, trout, and sardines for your daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids. But if you are not into fish or there is no available salmon around, buy some omega-3 fatty acid supplements, which are available in any drug store.
Also, omega-3 fatty acids are also rich in vitamin D, which is essential to bone growth. According to experts, vitamin D promotes bone density and people with rheumatoid arthritis often have poor bone density. In effect, eating a lot of food rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help them develop the density of their bones and alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
Broccoli
Sulforaphane is an abundant compound in broccoli, and this compound is capable of preventing the development of a cell responsible for the development of rheumatoid arthritis. If you eat a lot of broccoli, you are essentially preventing the buildup of those bad cells. Therefore, you’ll minimize the inflammation in your joints.
Berries
These have an abundant amount of quercetin, which is a compound capable of blocking inflammation in the body. A lab experiment was conducted wherein rats were given abundant amounts of quercetin and rutin, compounds that are found in berries, and they were able to prevent the development of inflammation in the rats’ bodies. They might be able to prevent inflammation in your body as well.
Spinach
Although further research is needed to confirm spinach’s anti-inflammation properties, there is already an antioxidant found in this leafy vegetable that is capable of alleviating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Kaempferol is an antioxidant said to be abundant in spinach. It can weaken inflammatory agents in the body.
Walnuts
Just like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, walnuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which make it a viable candidate as a remedy for arthritis. In addition to that, walnuts are rich in compounds that are effective in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis.
The kinds of food mentioned above are capable of minimizing inflammation in the body, which is what happens when your rheumatoid arthritis kicks in. Include them in your daily diet, but, of course, consult your physician first.
Which of these 5 best food for rheumatoid arthritis are your favorites?
Follow Me On Social Media:
