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Arthritis and Diet

 There are two common types of Arthritis: Osteoarthritis which can be described as "wear and tear", and Rheumatoid arthritis which is a disease process that can effect the whole body.

 Diet can greatly help arthritis. No single prescriptive diet can help everyone but below is a list of good foods and foods to avoid that have been found to help ease arthritis.

 

 

Foods to avoid

  • Citrus fruits, and juices
  • Tomatoes and tomato puree
  • Sugar and artificial sweeteners
  • MSG (monosodium glutamate) often used in chinese restaurants and as a flavour enhanser - eg crisps)
  • Artificial preservatives (ie. Sodium benzoate)
  • Pork, Ham Bacon
  • Peanuts, hazelnuts
  • Chocolate
  • Commercial breakfast cereals
  • Vinegar, pickles, chutneys
  • Beetroots
  • Shellfish
  • Flatfish (plaice, dabs, sole, flounder)
  • Smoked food
  • hydrogenated margarine
  • a lot of fried food
  • coffee, tea, diet drinks
  • alcohol  

 

Grains: - particularly wheat and corn. For some people our most common food for some people causes joitn inflammation. Try eating no wheat, corn or rye for ten days to see if your joints feel any easier. No beard, cakes, pasta, biscuits, sauces etc.

 The night shade family. This includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Try avoiding these for ten days to see if your joints improve. A small percentage of the population have an intolerance to this family and if avoided eases the joist significantly.

 Cows milk. Cows milk intolerance is common and for some people this can result in joint inflammation. Try avoid milk butter cheese, yogurt to see if this eases your joints.

 Soya products. Soya is found in around half of all commercially produced foods. Try ten days of eating no commercially produced foods.

 

 

Good foods

  • Most fruits not on the avoid list
  • Nuts except peanuts or hazelnuts
  • Lamb, chicken, beef, turkey
  • Fish (except flat fish)
  • Flax seed oil for salads
  • Olive oil for shallow frying
  • Plain crisps
  • Lots of water
  • Beans and pulses
  • Rice
  • Seeds Sunflower pumpkin, sesame and flaxseed
  • Eggs
  • Oats

 

Really good foods

  • Turmeric powder
  • Ginger
  • Oily fish - salmon, sardines, unsmoked herring,

 

Specially for rheumatoid arthritis
The foods listed below should be completely avoided for one month to see if your condition improves:

Tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, rhubarb, strawberries, beetroot, spinach, gooseberries, wheat, radish corn and maize

 

This advice is not meant to replace medical advice. It is intended to provide general information only.