Rheumatoid arthritis is a very painful disease that causes severe and persistent joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes the result of increased levels of uric acids in the body. Some people suffer from arthritis after a certain age and some have arthritis right from birth. Few foods can help relieve arthritis pain to a greater extent.
For example, olive oil and onions are foods that soothe arthritis pain. Carotene rich foods are good for curing arthritis. However there are also some foods that aggravate arthritis pain. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, uric acid rich foods like tomatoes can increase join pain. Red meat is like poison for arthritis patients whereas fatty fish like salmon can be very helpful.
The bottom line is that a person suffering from arthritis must pick his/her foods very carefully. To help you eat right, here are some of the best and worst arthritis foods.
Pumpkins have loads of carotenes that are actually anti-inflammatory nutrients. So have pumpkin pies and reduce the inflammation in your joints.
The seeds of tomatoes are very high in uric acid. And it is uric acid that gets accumulated in your joints when you have arthritis.
Omega-3-fatty acids present in the body reduces inflammation of the joint muscles. They also stop the production of enzymes that eat away the cartilage tissues of the body.
When you have arthritis, you must have less of phosphorous containing food like red meat. This because the more phosphorus you have in the body, the more calcium you lose from your bones.
Green tea has many healthy antioxidants that can lessen the amount of pain that occurs due to arthritis. Moreover, nicotine present in tea is a pain suppressant.
Milk too has a high dose of purine that contributes to the amount of uric acid in the body.
The antioxidants present in olive oil along with the rich omega-3-fatty acids helps get rid of inflammation in the joints.
Purine present in shell fish turns into uric acid when you eat it. The more uric acid crystals you have in your body, the worse will be your pain.
Brazil nuts are famous for their high content of omega-3-fatty acids and selenium. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and selenium is a soothing nutrient that helps relieve pain.
Vegetable oil like soyabean oil, sunflower oil etc have lots of omega-6-fatty acids. These fats increase inflammation.
Vitamin C present in citrus fruits like oranges are very good as it has healthy collagen. Vitamin C also helps you have healthy bones.
The sweetness of sugar is bad for joint pain. Moreover it makes you put on weight and that adds pressure on your joints.
Onions both bulbs and greens have a rare chemical called quercetin. Quercetin has pain-relieving properties almost equal to aspirin, a commonly used pain killer.
Caffeine dehydrates the body and thus aggravates the pain caused due to arthritis. Caffeine also drains vital nutrients from the body making it all the more susceptible to pain.
Turmeric is a spice with immense healing powers. The anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric help in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
Gluten grains are those cereals that have simple carbohydrates. These gluten grains like wheat, barley and oats can increase the symptoms of arthritis.
Anthocyanins present in cherries help in strengthening cartilage and collagen. This means stronger joints and lesser pain for arthritis patients.
Alcohol does not allow calcium to be absorbed into the bones and thus makes you bones brittle. This is really bad for people who have osteoarthritis that caused due lack of calcium.
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that are very similar to turmeric. So add lots of ginger in your dishes if you are suffering from arthritis.
Vegetables like brinjal, red peppers and potatoes are very high on alkaloids that can cause inflammation. So, avoid them to cure joint pain.