Arthritis Diet – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Arthritis Diet – Food Triggers You May Unknowingly Have

Arthritis is sometimes referred to as the ‘cooked food disease.’ A high combined intake of cooked, sweet, processed and fatty food can be characteristic in the development of arthritis.

Arthritis along with certain other serious diseases is more prevalent in western society. Research shows that diseases such as arthritis, cancer, heart conditions are far less common in remote or more primitive areas of the world, the reason for this is not hard to see, our industrialised, modern environment is slowly killing us all.

Also Read:- Arthritis in Knee – Reasons and Treatment

Arthritis DietI have included this arthritis diet post as it may help you identify any food triggers you may unknowingly have, or for those of you who do have the inclination to change your diet. Bad foods for arthritis tend to contain chemicals called inflammatory prostaglandins, which can be directly responsible for triggering some arthritis conditions.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in particular is closely linked to food allergy & intolerances. Most sufferers have been shown to greatly improve when they cut out certain foods or restrict their diet, which eliminates the foods to which they are allergic.

The food we put in our bodies can be described quite easily as either ‘Good’ or ‘Bad.’ So where do we start and what do we eat? We shall define ‘Bad’ as every kind of food that is packaged, frozen, refined, processed, or otherwise changed from its natural form.

This will also include all food and produce with a long shelf life, all canned / tinned foods, all dried fruits and vegetables, all sterilized and otherwise cooked foods that are then cooled and sold in food stores, all irradiated foods, any and all junk food, etc. Candy, cakes, pies, sweets, and other such combinations are considered ‘Bad.’

The following lists of foods may be of interest to those of you wishing to address their diet

Foods Which Are Considered Bad for Arthritis (RA sufferers)

• Avoid anything containing ‘Trans fatty acids’ or ‘Hydrogenated fat’
  
  This is definitely a No-no kind of arthritis diet. Also known as trans fats, research has shown that trans fatty acids have many adverse effects on health, & could be responsible for increasing the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, as well as compromising the body’s immune system.
• MSG ‘Mono sodium glutamate’
  Is often used as a flavouring.
• All processed foods, including all junk / fast food, reformed etc.
• Alcohol
• Tinned foods
  Citrus fruits many arthritics have found that the acidity of citrus fruits can aggravate & trigger symptoms. Whilst in general fruits are known to have a healing potential for arthritis sufferers, experience has indicated that citrus fruits such as oranges lemons, limes and grapefruit etc., should be avoided.
• Sugar
  White, brown & all foods containing added sugar.
• Sweeteners
• Rhubarb
  Arthritics should be aware that rhubarb contains a substance called oxalic acid, which can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium and iron from other foods.
• Salt
  Except if you have low blood pressure.
• All fizzy soft drinks
  Carbonated, colas, fizzy even the diet variety.
• Coffee and tea
  And all caffeine containing beverages.
  Try using green tea as an alternative, green tea contains excellent anti-oxidant properties.
• White rice
  Use brown as an alternative.
• Shellfish
• Fat & all fatty foods
• Fried food
• Additives and preservatives
• Mayonnaise
• Tobacco
• White flour and all foods containing white flour
  Use whole grain, and products containing whole grain as an alternative.
• All gluten containing foods,
  Gluten can damage the intestinal wall by having an irritating and inflammatory effect on the intestinal lining. Use gluten free, as an alternative.
• All foods with a long shelf life / use by date
• Dairy products
• Margarine
  Contains trans-fats or Trans fatty acids.
• Eggs
• Red meat
  Especially beef and pork, Its best to remove all red meat from your diet to begin with, as many arthritics have an allergy to certain meats which may trigger an attack. You can start adding the meat back into your diet slowly and only one type of meat at a time; this will allow you to ascertain whether you have intolerance.
• Commercial breakfast cereals
• Tabasco sauce

Foods Which RA Sufferers Should Treat with Caution

The foods which cause the most confusion amongst nutritionists and arthritis professionals are those referred to as from the ‘nightshade family,’

The group of foods known as nightshade contain a substance called alkaloid which is known to have an impact on nerve and digestive function in humans and animals.

• Potatoes (especially when green and sprouting),
• Tomatoes (especially when green),
• Hot peppers,
• Sweet peppers,
• Paprika,
• Eggplant,
• Cayenne,
• Tobacco.

The amount of alkaloids contained in these foods is minimal; health problems arising from nightshade foods are rare and tend to only occur in individuals who are especially sensitive to these alkaloid substances, highly sensitive people are very likely to include arthritics.

Good and Beneficial Foods

Anything is are not on the bad or caution foods list list is consider good as a form of Arthritis Diet.

• All root vegetables, not on the bad or caution foods list
• All vegetables that grow above ground, not on the bad or caution foods list
• Brown rice
• Sweet potatoes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Celery
• Oily fish. Salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring. (not tinned or smoked) Cold water fish contain lots of Omega-3 anti inflammatory oil.
• Beans and pulses
• Lamb
• Chicken & turkey (preferably organic)
• Nuts – Except hazelnuts and peanuts
• Seeds – Flaxseed, sunflower, pumpkins, sesame, hemp Seeds
• Green Tea – As a substitute for tea and coffee.
• Tofu and soy bean products – As an alternative to meat.
• Berries – All fresh berries, Especially fresh cherries, which should be eaten in abundance daily as they are known to help arthritics, most notably gout sufferers
• Fresh (real) fruit and vegetable juices – Home-made juices are the best kind, if you have the time.
• Ginger and Turmeric (in their natural form) – Both have been used for centuries for their powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
• Olive oil (extra virgin) – Use as an alternative to your normal cooking oil, if you do have to fry anything.
• Sea salt
• Filtered water