Arthritis
A diet that includes a wide variety of foods to meet nutritional needs and helps to keep weight in the healthy range is best for people with arthritis.
Arthritis is a painful condition of joint inflammation and comes in over 100 different forms including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. There is no evidence to date that specific foods either aggravate or improve arthritis so it is best to try and choose a healthy diet that includes a wide variety of foods. Cutting out specific foods in an effort to improve arthritis can mean missing out on important nutrients.
Being overweight places extra stress on the joints and many people find that losing weight reduces the pain and inflammation of arthritis
Some studies have shown that omega 3 fatty acids or 'fish oils' found in deep-sea fish may help to reduce the inflammation of rheumatoid and osetoarthritis. Foods rich in Omega 3 include:
- Oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackeral
- Linseeds
- Canola oil
- Walnuts
- Fish oil supplements
It is always best to talk to your medical professional before taking any supplements.
There are a range of different dietary strategies that can be used to help ease the symtpoms of Gout. See Nutrition A-Z on Gout.
It is important to always get professional advice before making changes to your diet. An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) can provide individualised professional advice and guidance if changes to your diet are needed.
