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| Why Rheumatoid Arthritis May Be Made Worse By Your Diet 2016 |
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation. While this disease is commonly located in your joints, it can also damage other parts of the body, including your skin, lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. Rheumatoid Arthritis causes painful swelling in the lining of joints with long term effects like bone disintegration. While there are many medical treatments to help alleviate pain and symptoms, a well balanced diet can also help manage the pain by decreasing inflammation.
Foods to Avoid:
Dairy
Some proteins found in dairy products can cause a flare up in Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. The ingredient called casein can be found in most milk products and many people have issues digesting it. There are great alternatives to dairy such as soy and almond milk, but low-fat versions of dairy can also decrease inflammation since they have less saturated fats.
Gluten
Gluten is a protein common in wheat, rye and barley and has been known to cause inflammation in some patients. For those with celiac disease, gluten can have a severe impact on your Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. Patients who have stomach issues when processing gluten may experience the inflammation
spread to their joints, furthering their pain. If you do not have celiac disease it may still be worth trying to cut out gluten to test if it helps cut back on pain.
Sugar
Sugar causes blood sugar levels to rise dramatically, which prompts the production of inflammatory chemicals that make Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms much worse. Sugars also cause weight gain, putting increased weight and pressure on your joints. It's best to avoid consuming refined sugars that can be found in things like sodas and baked goods. This doesn't mean you need to avoid all those sweet treats, just try using natural ingredients like honey, maple syrup and dates.
Sodium
Sodium is well known for its inflammation inducing quality, which makes it an obvious choice for the top of this list. People suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis are often prescribed corticosteroids as treatment, which makes the body retain more sodium, meaning that you will feel the effects of too much sodium more than the average person. Try using a salt substitute or low-sodium versions when cooking, and opt for fresh ingredients rather than prepackaged vegetables and meats.
Fats & Oils
The top fats and oils to avoid are hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and trans fats. This means opting out of using canola and vegetable oil and avoiding processed foods. Try using olive oil, grapeseed oil or avocado oil instead to see if your symptoms improve. The rule of the thumb is to shun all the saturated fats and instead go for those contained naturally in whole grains and nuts.
Alcohol
Alcohol does not need to be cut out completely from your diet, and studies even indicate that moderate levels of drinking can actually slow down the progression of the disease according to Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. However, drinking alcohol in excess can negatively impact your joints and cause long term pain by increasing inflammation.
Red Meats
Red meats often contain dangerously high level of saturated fats. If you eat a lot of red meat the omega-6 Red meats often contain dangerously high level of saturated fats. If you eat a lot of red meat the omega-6 fatty acids can build up and once again cause increased inflammation of the joints. High consumption of red meats has also been linked to obesity, which will only exacerbate your symptoms. Try adding other forms of protein to your diet, like fish, chicken and beans to help balance out your red meat consumption.
Fried Foods
According to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, cutting down on fried food consumption is clinically proven to reduce symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Fried foods are known for causing weight gain and also produce hormones and chemicals in your body that cause increased inflammation. This means avoiding foods like donuts, fried chicken and French fries. Instead of frying your food, try grilling, baking, steaming or roasting it to pack in flavor while leaving out hydrogenated oils and fats.
It's important to find what diet works for you when managing your Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms since we all react differently. While studies remain inconclusive when determining what exactly are the best diet options for those suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis, the above information is an excellent guide to figure out what will help you feel your best while handling your symptoms.
