Autoimmune Disease

Foods that Help Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Plus Medications That Can Help

Arthritis is a disabling autoimmune disease that can affect people of all ages, races, and sexes. This disease causes inflammation in one or multiple joints that can cause excessive pain, stiffness, and difficulty in using the affected joints. There are many different types of arthritis and one of them is called rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints.

People with rheumatoid arthritis often feel pain in the joints, back and muscles along with fatigue in the whole body. Moreover, some rheumatoid arthritis patients often experience bumps or swelling on the finger and lumps and redness on their skin. While doctors prescribe several different kinds of medications, such as Rinvoq, Advil, Xeljanz, Humira, and Voltaren to the patients of rheumatoid arthritis, they also advise patients to follow a diet. Such a diet should help them manage their arthritis better and decrease the frequency of attacks that rheumatoid arthritis causes. There have been several types of research conducted by medical professionals on specific nutrition that can help the patients of rheumatoid arthritis to control their symptoms in order to manage the condition better. To manage or achieve relief from painful and disabling symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis, most people look for superfoods that can help them with the same. Here are some superfoods that one can add in their diet for positive results:

1. Spices

Ginger and turmeric/curcumin both are known for their therapeutic properties and can help people with rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Fresh fruits

Grapes, grapefruits, bananas, blueberries, mango, pomegranate, peaches, and apples.

3. Cereals

Whole oatmeal, whole rice, rye, barley, millets, sorghum, canary seed, and whole-wheat bread.

4. Herbs

Boswellia serrata (or Indian frankincense) and withania somnifera (or Indian ginseng) are a few herbs that are known for reducing inflammation and stiffness caused by the disease.

5. Adopting a vegan diet

This diet includes intake of only vegetables and fruits with elimination of animal product or by-products. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system starts attacking its own healthy cells and tissues upon fighting antigens present in certain foods. A vegan diet can help in eliminating antigens in certain non-vegan foods in orders to cease auto-immune reactivity. This, in turn, helps in the reduction of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

6. Mediterranean diet

Olive oil, which has antioxidant properties and is rich in oleic acid that has anti-inflammatory effects, is an important component of a Mediterranean diet. Therefore, following a Mediterranean diet can help one reduce their risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, following this diet can also help patients minimize their chances of joint destruction.

7. Elemental diet

This is a simple diet that consists of intake of glucose, essential amino acids, and trace elements, which is less immunogenic thereby becoming a healthier option for people with Rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, this diet helps in decreasing early morning stiffness. However, it is also important to know that even though the elemental diet does help in decreasing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, discontinuation of this diet might result in a relapse of symptoms.  

8. Elimination diet

As everyone has a different reaction to different diets and foods, elimination diet focuses on understanding what foods can trigger the symptoms and which foods are good for reducing them. A doctor can help the patient with an elimination diet plan.  

Although these diets are beneficial in decreasing the symptoms and complications of rheumatoid arthritis, it is advised to the patients to start any of these diets upon consulting their doctor for healthy results.