The people who follow an anti-arthritis diet are strictly prohibited from going beyond a consumption of 2,000 calories in a day. Although, it is not only about the intake of calories, as there are several other things to consider.
Arthritis, as most of us are aware, is a painful condition characterized by inflammation of joints. Its treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, in order to relieve the painful symptoms and slow down the progress of the disease. Apart from medications, people also benefit from alternative choices such as yoga, herbal treatment, and an anti-arthritis diet that helps reduce the inflammation.
Before I begin, it should be known that medical science does not have full proof evidence that eating the right kinds of foods does help in slowing down arthritis. However, unlike before, experts have been able to find more evidence for the link between diet and the improvement of arthritis symptoms.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Several studies have revealed the fact that people who fall in the category of being overweight are more susceptible to arthritis. Overweight people also run the risk of aggravating the existing symptoms of the condition. Due to obvious reasons, if weight increases, pressure on the damaged joints heightens too. So, an ideal anti-arthritis diet should be one that promotes weight loss. This means that the diet must contain good amounts of fiber rich foods without high calories or fat content. For this, you must include lots of fruits and vegetables in your regular diet. Another effective way to check on your weight and lose some extra pounds would be to follow a regular schedule of exercises as simple as walking or jogging. Be cautious not to over exert, as it may intensify the arthritis pain.
Foods to Include
An anti-arthritis diet must include fruits rich in vitamin C. Common examples are apples, papaya, mango, peaches, kiwi fruit, and strawberries. Then come vegetables which help in managing the symptoms of the condition, which include collards, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and bell pepper. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have been known to provide a great deal of relief for many arthritis patients. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna, and trout are the ones which are potent sources of these kinds of fatty acids. The diet also includes different varieties of nuts and seeds such as walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, linseeds, and pumpkin seeds. An anti-inflammatory diet includes food such as turmeric, garlic, ginger, and pulses and grains such as all lentils, brown rice, chickpeas, and whole wheat bread.
Foods to Avoid
Simply including the right kind of food in the diet is not enough. An anti-inflammatory mainly involves the exclusion of foods which are known to worsen the inflammation. Foods which you must keep away from your table include fast food items, red meats, fatty meats, foods high in saturated fats, soda, salt, dairy products, starchy foods, sugar, caffeine, additives, corn, flour, and soft drinks.
An anti-arthritis diet is meant to relieve painful symptoms of the condition to a wide degree. Apart from this, following the entire course of medication, doing regular exercise, maintaining a stress free lifestyle, and most importantly, bearing a positive attitude towards life will definitely make things better! Take care.
