Best Tips on How to Combat Arthritis with Diet
Arthritis causes swelling as well as inflammations in the joints. You will suffer from severe pain on the affected part, stiffness and difficulty in moving that part. Arthritis may be of different types like septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and so on. Most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, where the knee is affected.
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Healthy Diet Tips for the Prevention of Arthritis:
Avoid fat:
Presence of saturated fat in your body reduces the ability of the body to eliminate uric acid. So you must try to consume food that has very little or no fat in it. Plant proteins and dairy products contain very low fat. So you can include these products in your daily diet. This limits the intake of saturated fats and therefore is good for treating arthritis. By taking low fat food products you can also prevent obesity, which is also responsible for causing arthritis.
Corn oil:
Many of the baked food items and snacks contain corn oil or other oils that are rich in omega 6 fatty acids. These make the food tastier but enhance inflammation. So, arthritic patients are advised to replace omega 6 fatty acids with omega 3 fatty acids, which are good for treating inflammation. Olive oil, pumpkin seeds, nuts and flax seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
Fluid therapy:
Fluid therapy involves taking in of fluids, particularly water. This is very beneficial in treating arthritis and also various other diseases. By drinking fluids, all the harmful toxins from the body are flushed out, which includes excess uric acid also. Hence the body is detoxified and relieved from arthritis. It also improves your general health. To have a healthy and fit body that is free from arthritis, you must consume at least 8 to 10 glasses of water or liquid daily.
Go Mediterranean:
Mediterranean diet has great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it the perfect diet for combating with arthritis. Mediterranean diet consists of vegetables, olives, fish, whole grains, olive oil and so on, which are loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E and other important nutrients that are beneficial in treating arthritis. So try to follow this diet if you are suffering from arthritis and you will soon get relief from the disease.
Healthy eating:
A balanced diet that contains fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other food items that are essential for the health is important for arthritis. This way one can treat as well as prevent arthritis.
Lower AGEs:
AGE is advanced glycation end product, which is a toxic substance that is formed when the food is grilled, heated, fried or pasteurized. The body tries to combat with these toxins and break them with the help of cytokines, which are inflammatory messengers. So, this leads to inflammation or arthritis. So, in order to prevent arthritis, try to avoid foods that are cooked in high temperatures.
Minimum meat:
You must try to avoid foods rich in purine in order to get rid of arthritis. This is because purine aids in the formation of uric acid and reduces the ability of the body to eliminate uric acid. So you must avoid foods like scallops, pork, bouillon, anchovies, lamb, sardines, other sea foods, fish, organ meats and so on. These increases the pains caused by arthritis and also enhance other symptoms of the disease. So, if you are following a diet to treat arthritis, avoid taking animal proteins.
Omega 3 fatty acid:
Omega 3 fatty acid is one of the important fatty acids and is ideal for soothing the inflammations caused by arthritis. So, patients suffering from arthritis are advised to consume food rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
Say No alcohol:
Alcohol contains uric acid in high quantities and therefore it is not good for the health of people suffering from arthritis. Due to alcohol consumption, the detoxification of various systems of the body is interrupted and the inflammation is also increased. It also affects the elimination of uric acid. As a result, the formation of uric acid in the body is increased, which is not good for the health of the arthritic patient. It leads to the development of gout in arthritis patients. Beer contains the highest amount of purine, which causes increase of uric acid in the body. So, if you are suffering from arthritis, you must try never to consume beer. Tobacco is also bad for the health of people suffering from this disease and leads to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Stop sugar:
Refined sugar contains fats which are responsible for causing obesity and diabetes. So if you suffer from arthritis, you must control the amount of refined sugar you take, as it increases the problems related with arthritis. You must limit or avoid consumption of juices, soft drinks and other beverages that contain fructose and sugar. This way you can prevent arthritic problems. Also try to avoid candies, processed food and bakery items made of white flour. Fresh fruits, even though they contain natural sugars, are recommended for arthritic patients. It is rich in essential nutrients that are good for their health and make the immunity system strong. It also reduces the problems created by this disease.
Salt and preservatives:
Many of the foods that are intended to stay in good condition for a longer period of time contain excess salt and preservatives. Some people suffer from inflammation in the joints when they consume more salt. So, people suffering from arthritis are advised to lower the intake of salt to get relief from the symptoms of the disease.
Along with proper diet, exercise is also essential for keeping away arthritis. So you must take exercise so that your joints remain healthy and there is no stiffness in the joints. The exercise that you take will reduce pain and increase the strength of the bones and the muscles. If you feel any pain in the joint while doing the exercise, stop the excise. Resting is also as important as exercise.
