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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Anti-Inflammatory Diets for Arthritis

Anti-Inflammatory Diets for Arthritis
Anti-Inflammatory Diets for Arthritis

Overview

The pain of arthritis can be debilitating for many people. Arthritis is a condition where the joints are inflamed and swollen. The two major types of arthritis include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which result in joint pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Over time, arthritis can damage joints and lead to permanent mobility problems, according to the National Library of Medicine. Many forms of treatment exist for arthritis including medications, physical therapy and surgery. For many arthritis sufferers, the foods that they eat may cause more inflammation in the body, and therefore arthritis sufferers should consider eating foods that are anti-inflammatory.

Significance of Diet

According to the University of Washington School of Medicine, some research suggests that diet may serve as a risk factor for arthritis. This is thought to occur because some foods change the way the body's immune system functions. This may lead to inflammation and cause swelling, redness, warmth and tenderness that is associated with some kinds of arthritis. Another significant factor related to diet and inflammation is with the over abundance of omega-6 fatty acids in the human diet. Omega-6 fats are essential to the body, but if they are not properly balanced with omega-3 fats from fish oil, the body can increase inflammation, which may cause an increase in symptoms. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the typical American diet tends to contain 14 to 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids.

What to Eat

The University of Washington School of Medicine states that a good diet is important for everyone and it is especially helpful for people with arthritis. They state that seven basic dietary guidelines exist for people with arthritis. These guidelines include eating a variety of foods, maintaining an ideal weight and avoiding foods high in fat, sodium, cholesterol and sugar. The guidelines also encourage eating foods high in fiber and drinking alcohol in moderation. These guidelines leave out an import healthy lifestyle choice, which is to eat omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that omega-3 fish oil are anti-inflammatory foods that can help with pain levels.

Foods to Avoid

The University of Washington School of Medicine states that no foods have been definitively shown to cause or exacerbate arthritis in most individuals. They go on to state that if specific foods aggravate symptoms in someone then those foods should be avoided.

Considerations

The experts at the Mayo Clinic website state that for some forms of arthritis like gout some foods should be avoided. These foods include alcohol, organ meats, sardines, anchovies and gravy.

Expert Insight

It appears that diet may not have a direct impact on arthritis symptoms. Diet does affect body weight and along with exercise these two lifestyle choices may be the best way to prevent and manage the symptoms of arthritis. Diet recommendations include the same for any healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, water and foods like fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Eating these natural foods will provide anti-inflammatory effects that can impact pain levels in people with arthritis.

source : livestrong.com

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