In this week's post I will be talking about the best and worst things to eat when having Rheumatoid Arthritis.
What you put into your body is very important. Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial not only for your overall health, but also energy levels, mental health, and boosting your immune system. A diet alone won’t get rid of RA symptoms completely, but it can go a long way in helping you feel better overall.
The best foods for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Fish
Fruits and Veggies
Nuts
Whole grains
Olive oil
Diets break downs:
If you’re looking for a certain diet to follow, there are a few that are suggested.
Foods consumed: lean meat, fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds
Foods not consumed: any type of processed foods, grains, most dairy products
Pros? The Paleo Diet consists of a high amount of fruits and veggies, which are proven to be extremely beneficial for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is high in fiber, potassium and antioxidants. It’s low in carbs, sodium, and sugar.
Cons? It does include red meat which can possibly cause inflammation. The diet is high in saturated fats due to the increase of protein intake from animal food sources.
Foods consumed: mainly fruits and veggies, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil. It also opts for fish rather than red meat.
Foods not consumed: processed foods, sugar, soft drinks, grains, most dairy products.
Pros? It is shown to help lower inflammation in your body. It also helps blood vessel function and risk of diabetes.
Cons? It may cause a slight increase in weight gain due to eating more fat (olive oil and nuts)
Foods consumed: buckwheat, corn, flax, quinoa, arrowroot
Foods not consumed: gluten filled breads, beer, pasta food made with wheat, barely, rye, and malt.
Pros? Gluten is a protein found in certain grains. Gluten can increase inflammation. By cutting out gluten entirely, it can help reduce inflammation and other symptoms of RA.
Cons? There are nutritional deficiencies that go along with a gluten free diet. These deficiencies may include: low iron, calcium, and fiber.
Other things to consider
Many RA medications can cause deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals. RA patients may need to take vitamin supplements to properly nourish their bodies.
Vitamins RA patients may experience deficiencies in may include:
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Calcium
Folic acid
Magnesium
*Always speak to your doctor or Rheumatologist before making any dietary changes and before taking vitamins and supplements. This is important to discuss because some may interact with your current medications.
Personally, what i've experienced…
Each person's personal RA journey is different, but throughout my journey I’ve learned a little bit about what food helps and what hurts when it comes to my RA. I’ve noticed that eating a surplus of sugar makes my joints ache more and doesn’t help with joint mobility. I’ve also learned that alcohol makes joint pain and stiffness significantly worse. The next day, my joints always ache more and have more swelling. This subdues after a day or two, but it definitely makes them feel worse.
Next week I will talk about the struggles with playing competitive sports and having RA. Being active is difficult and not ideal whilst having RA, but it helps and makes it easier to manage. #RaEverday #RheumToGrow
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