What foods can I eat if I have arthritis?

What foods can I eat if I have arthritis?

The link between food and arthritis has been difficult to prove because of the difficulty inherent in the study design. However, observations over the last few decades point to potentially important trends. Several studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis symptoms could be reproduced by reintroducing certain foods and alleviated by excluding these foods from the diet.

More recently, rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to be worsened when excessive amounts of omega-3 fatty acids are included in the diet. Excessive intake of feedlot beef, refined cooking oils and margarines leads to an increase in inflammatory symptoms. Some evidence has linked consumption of saturated fats found in whole milk, cheese, as well as other animal products such as red meat and poultry, to worsening RA symptoms. (O'Banion DR. J Holistic Med 1982; 4: 49-57)

An interesting connection has been suggested by some researchers that food allergy to high saturated fat, meat, dairy, omega-6 fatty acids, and refined vegetable oils may be responsible for some flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis (Hicklin JA, et al. Clin Allergy 1980; 10: 463-470.)

It has been claimed for centuries that nightshades such as potatoes, eggplant and pepper worsen arthritis. However, fixed dates here are not mandatory. The study design was a disadvantage. Conducting a randomized, double-blind food trial is extremely difficult.

Small studies examining the effects of food in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have continued to establish food as a significant trigger of disease. Studies conducted by researchers have shown that partial fasting while avoiding animal fats, refined sugars, citrus fruits, preservatives, coffee, tea, alcohol, salt and strong spices that were associated with symptoms resulted in a reduction in symptoms.

Another by Beri et al. Published study showed that an elimination and re-challenge diet produced significant improvement in 71% of patients tested. (Beri, D, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 1988; 47: 69–72)

In another study, Darlington examined 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. By eliminating foods thought to cause symptoms, he was able to eliminate symptoms as well as the need for medication in 19% of patients. Darlington also identified foods such as grapefruit, cheese, malt, coffee, beef, eggs, rye, oats, milk, oranges, bacon, tomatoes, peanuts, cane sugar, butter, lamb, lemon and soy as causal factors. (Darlington LG. Rheum Dis North Am 1991; 127: 273-285)

A recent study suggested that a diet rich in vitamin D, such as salmon, tuna, shrimp, sunflower seeds, eggs and milk fortified with vitamin D, can prevent rheumatoid arthritis. (Merlino, LA et al. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 72-77)

The outcome of these studies suggests that dietary manipulation may need to be considered as a possible therapeutic intervention. Eliminating all foods thought to be causing symptoms, followed by reintroducing individual foods to determine which foods might be the culprits, seems like a reasonable course of action. Foods such as corn, wheat, cow's milk, pork, oranges, oats, rye, eggs, beef, coffee, malt, cheese, grapefruit, lemon, tomato, peanuts and soy appear to be the most common culprits.

In our practice, we have found the Immunolab test (Fort Lauderdale, FL) to be useful in ruling out food allergies as a potentially important factor in arthritis symptoms.

Inspired by Nathan Wei