No magic diet is going to make your arthritis disappear — whether it’s osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or another form. But, there’s good news: If you’re realistic about your goals, paying attention to your diet can help ease your symptoms.
According to scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, America, the beverages you pick could have a bad effect on your arthritis.
The researchers noted:
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Past work has shown that greater consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis specialist Scott Burg, DO gives some examples of what you can put on your plate (and keep off of it) to help manage your condition.
Foods that have anti-inflammatory properties include:
- Cherries and berries.
- Mushrooms.
- Citrus fruits.
- Dairy products.
At the same time, some other foods seem to actually boost inflammation rather than reduce it. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, try to limit:
- Omega-6 fatty acids (found in red meat and vegetable oils such as corn and sunflower oil).
- Plant seeds containing lectins (including beans, lentils, peanuts, tomatoes and potatoes).
- Sweets and sugary drinks (including soft drinks and fruit drinks).
When it comes to sweets, you should be extra careful if you have another kind of inflammatory arthritis: gout. Studies show that high fructose corn syrup — an inexpensive sweetener that’s found in many processed foods — is associated with an increased risk of gout.
Several scientific studies have also highlighted that alcohol intake may increase the frequency and severity of gout attacks.
Drinks that may make your arthritis symptoms worse:
- Sugary drinks
- Alcohol
Experts recommend having “some alcohol-free days each week” to help make the condition more manageable.
This is because drinking too much alcohol is recognized as a “trigger” for a gout attack.
Drinking alcohol also increases your risk of developing gout in the first place.
To be specific, drinking beer is more likely to lead to gout than drinking wine or spirits.
“Alcohol can raise the level of uric acid in the blood,” warned experts from the UK Gout Society.
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This means frequently drinking more than 14 units of alcohol weekly might lead to more painful symptoms of arthritis.