Thursday, January 7, 2010

How to Eat a Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

By David Nettles

With a direct connection between the foods that we take in and the severity of symptoms experienced by arthritis sufferers proven beyond a doubt, it follows that you ought to be paying a lot of attention to your rheumatoid arthritis diet.

Although you may be taking prescription medications, an arthritis diet can help the drugs work better.

What Triggers Your Arthritis Pain

First thing you really should do is keep a log of any foods that seem to trigger your symptoms. These culprit foods will differ from person to person, which is why a log or diary is useful to trace the ones that effect you. Once you have your list, you can then remove these foods out of your meals, avoiding needless arthritis pain.

Next up: some foods that ought to be part of a healthy diet for rheumatoid arthritis.

Good For You Foods

As with any diet, the 'take in plenty of fluid' rule applies. Remember to keep your liquid levels up, like water (best), soups, unsweetened juices and herbal or green teas. You might not even realize you are dehydrated, and just wonder why you don't feel well. Here's a hint; if you're thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Get into the habit of drinking whether or not you're thirsty.

Most fruit and vegetables are packed with healthy anti oxidants which have a wonderful healing effect, but there are a few to be wary of. Just keep away from the ones known to exacerbate arthritic symptoms, and focus on the better foods like apples and avocados. Don't peel your apples as the peel contains five times the anti oxidants than the rest of the apple. And finally, dark green leafy vegetables are best.

What is in Your Cupboard?

You need to add to your rheumatoid arthritis diet foods which have an anti-inflammatory effect. This will reduce puffiness in your joints and decrease pain. Two of the best anti-inflammatory foods are probably already in your kitchen cabinet. These wonder foods are:

Garlic: Increase your intake of this humble bulb, try to eat it raw whenever you can; as with most foods, cooking destroys some nutrients. It's delicious in healthy dips and guacamole. If you truly detest the taste, take garlic supplements.

Ginger: Add fresh, ground or powdered ginger to your food items or infuse it in a liquid to make a fragrant tea. It is a little on the zesty side, and adds a warming effect to meals.

Foods to Watch Out For

There are food items that have been linked with flare-ups of arthritis symptoms; some of these foods are:

Fruit and Vegetables: You may want to pass up citrus (lemons, oranges, grapefruits), and also tomatoes. These foods are very acidic, which seems to cause more frequent flare-ups.

Meat: The meats to steer clear of are pork, lamb, beef and bacon. Basically, stay away from meats containing saturated fats. If you simply can;t do without the occasional steak or chop, be sure to trim away all visible fat before consuming.

But remember that various people will have various responses to all types of foods. This is why your list of foods to get rid of from your rheumatoid arthritis diet will be invaluable.

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