Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, inflammation, stiffness, loss of function in joints, and in severe cases, even deformity. It is known to occur between the age of 25 and 55 and affects women more than men. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the tissue around the joints, and other organs in the body. As it is an autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body's tissues. Researchers haven't been able to point out the exact reason as to why the immune system attacks itself, however, genes, environment, and hormones are known to play some role in it.

Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis include medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes including foods good for rheumatoid arthritis. The following rheumatoid arthritis diet is known to slow joint damage, and aid in reducing pain and swelling.

Although fat is an essential requirement of the body, the type of fat can make a lot of difference in the effective managing of this disorder. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in controlling inflammation of the joints. Some of the foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are listed below:

• Fatty fishes such as salmon, mackerel, and herring
• Fish oil, such as cod liver, etc
• Soybeans and soybean oil
• Walnuts and walnut oil
• Fresh avocado and avocado oil

One must also increase the daily intake of raw or steamed foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and rice. The medium of cooking should be unsaturated and should contain minimum amount of harmful fats. A high intake of soups, broth, herbal tea, fresh vegetable juices, water, etc should also be incorporated in the diet. Eating light and healthy food will ensure adequate vital nutrients.

Foods to Avoid with Rheumatoid Arthritis
While some foods provide relief from pain and reduce inflammation, there are foods that do exactly the opposite. Finding such foods and eliminating them is the first step towards pain relief.

Food allergies can put a strain on the already weakened immune system and worsen symptoms. Therefore, it is important to eliminate foods that cause allergy or one is intolerant to. Common foods that cause intolerance or allergies are mostly wheat, milk and dairy products, and synthetic additives and preservatives.

Avoidance of nightshade foods such as tomatoes, capsicums, potatoes and eggplants is highly controversial as a diet for rheumatoid arthritis pain relief, but some people have reported less symptomatic pain and inflammation after avoiding these foods. Many of the following foods that contain acids are also known to aggravate and precipitate painful inflammatory flare-ups. It would be best if their intake is kept to the bare minimum, or preferably eliminated from the diet.

• Fried and grilled foods
• Processed foods
• Tea and coffee
• Dairy products
• Refined wheat
• Berries and other citrus fruits
• Excessive salt
• Alcohol
• Saturated fats and cooking mediums

Although a specific rheumatoid arthritis diet will not cure one of this disorder, it will help in providing relief from the early symptoms of pain and inflammation. It is important to have a diet plan chalked out by a professional dietitian, as every case ranges in its symptoms and severity.