More and more research is being published on the effects of different foods and an overall diet has on arthritis sufferers. However, most experts recommend that people suffering from arthritis pain should eat a healthy diet and balance diet. In addition, having a healthy body weight is also important to help reduce undue and excess pressure on the joints.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicates that individuals should incorporate the following recommendations in their lifestyle.
- Enjoy a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol
- Eat a wide variety of foods from all food groups
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Exercise on a regular basis
- Enjoy outdoor activities
- Add plenty of fruit and vegetables to your diet
In addition, you’ll want to avoid, as much as possible, prepacked and processed food. Try to enjoy meals that are made from scratch. Avoid foods that have highs amounts of saturated fats, sugar and preservatives.
In addition to experiencing pain, those suffering from arthritis also have another risk to worry about. That is possible nutritional deficiencies. The reason is when the body suffers from inflammatory arthritis the results are the production of cytokines. Cytokines are released when there is chronic inflammation.
In addition, medication taken for arthritis can also have an effect on nutrition. For example, many arthritis patients take methotrexate and this prescription drug may lead to a folate deficiency. It is not uncommon for arthritis pain sufferers to be deficient in the following:
- Folate
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- And more…
All of those nutrients on the list above are vital to enjoying a healthy lifestyle. It is vital to have those nutrients in your daily diet.
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Unfortunately, a complete list of foods that go to make an anti-inflammatory diet has not been established. However, food researchers and scientists have conducted countless hours of research on which foods help to reduce inflammation in the body and those that may actually increase inflammation after consumption.
Foods in an anti-inflammatory diet are similar to foods found in the Mediterranean Diet. While there are many different versions of this diet, the common threads among all of the variations of the diet are outlined below:
- Eat foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids
- Decrease intake of white rice and pasta
- Add whole grain foods including brown rice
- Avoid highly processed foods
- Enjoy lean meats including chicken, turkey, while avoiding red meats and dairy.
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While adding to these foods to your diet may help with reducing inflammation, it may also assist with weight loss. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lose weight, but any reduction in weight would also reduce pressure on your joints.
So to help answer all of these questions and provide some researched information about anti-inflammatory foods, we’ve provided a complete book you can download for free. This unique book is called The Best Food Choices for Arthritis Sufferers.
In addition, check out the quick check list below to learn about the Foods At-a-Glance below:
