Diet Mail Diet Mantra Wellness Magazine- February 2014 | Page 8
FOOD FACTS BY NAMITA JAIN
I am 50 yr old and a patient of chronic arthritis for last 15
years. Winters are really troublesome for me as
generally the pain in my join increases with decrease in
temperature. Some of my friends suggest me to avoid
some particular foods like rice, curd etc in winters as a
precautionary measure for reducing pain but I am not
sure whether it really helps or not. Pls guide ………..
Dear Reader,
Arthritis is a condition of inflammation and pain in joints
and bones. There are more than 100 types of arthritis osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, Gout
etc. There is no established arthritis diet plan except in case
of Gout where specific restrictions and recommendations
are required to control the uric acid levels responsible for
Gout. In other cases of arthritis, what works for one person
may not work for someone else. Trial and error will
determine which foods you need to eliminate.
Find out individual allergies and susceptibility: Some
people with arthritis have been found to be susceptible
to dairy products resulting in increased pain after their
consumption. Although a lot of studies have been done to
know the role of dairy products but no concrete results
have been seen so far. So, if you feel that you are relieved
of your pain by reducing dairy products, then go
ahead and eliminate it from your diet.
Include foods rich in natural anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and joint-supporting nutrients. These
include fruits such as cherries, cranberries, blueberries,
blackberries, pears and prunes (cooked or dried).
Cooked green, yellow and orange vegetables such as
broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, lettuce,
spinach, chard, collards, string beans, carrot, pumpkin,
sweet potatoes and squash.
Include legumes such as black beans, chickpeas, kidney
beans, peas and soybean. Avoid them if have doubt
about gout.
Include sources of Vitamin E in your diet as some
studies showed that vitamin E supplements reduce RA
joint destruction and pain. Rich sources include flax
seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds etc.
Brown rice is good for individuals having arthritis.
Eat sources of omega 3 fatty acids as they have been
found to reduce inflammation in arthritis.
Watch your weight: If you're overweight, losing those
excess pounds may take some of the pressure off of
your joints.
Monitor the salt intake: Many foods contain excessive
salt and other preservatives to promote longer shelf
lives. For some people, excess consumption of salt
may result in inflammation of the joints.
Cutting back on the consumption of fried and
processed foods, such as fried meats and prepared
frozen meals, can reduce inflammation and actually
help restore the body's natural defences.
More importantly, regular active exercise is important
in any type of arthritis. Focus on stretching, range of
motion exercises and gradual progressive str