If you are living with arthritis, you should know that in addition to medical treatment, you can also influence your condition with your diet. Dorottya Szarka, dietitian at the Élétmód Medical Center, listed the types of food that those affected should avoid.
What are the three types of food to avoid the most?
In the case of arthritis, the first and most important thing to do is to visit a specialist, establish an accurate diagnosis and follow the therapy prescribed accordingly. At the same time, patients can do a lot to help reduce symptoms with their diet. For this purpose, it is worthwhile foods with a high antioxidant content, broadly follow the Mediterranean diet, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. In other words, it is recommended to eat fruits and vegetables several times a day, prioritize low-fat dairy products, whole grain bakery products, healthy oils and nuts, eat fish at least once a week and keep meat consumption to a minimum. On the other hand, there are foods that should be avoided.
1. Sugar
Refined sugar can cause the release of cytokines, which are mediators of inflammation in the body. Therefore, in addition to the classic sugary foods, it is also worth limiting the consumption of sugary soft drinks, sweet tea and coffee. Many foods contain “hidden sugar”, read the food labels carefully!
2. Saturated fats
Foods rich in saturated fatty acids, such as fatty meats, parts of meat, fatty salami, bacon and sausages, cheese, cream, butter and biscuits and puff pastry made with it, as well as coconut and palm oil maintain the inflammatory state in the in adipose tissue, and can also contribute to obesity, which is also an inflammatory factor.
3. Refined carbohydrates
The refined carbohydrates found in white bread, white rice, chips, and salty crackers should be reduced in a healthy lifestyle and in the case of osteoarthritis.
Not all nutrition myths are true
From time to time, there are nutritional ideas about arthritis, but they are not proven. Here are some of the common misconceptions.
Citrus fruits increase inflammation
Many people believe they should avoid citrus fruits because their acidity promotes inflammation. The opposite is true: citrus fruits reduce inflammation due to their high antioxidant and vitamin C content. At the same time, grapefruit can interact with some medications used for arthritis, so the nutritional rules should also be discussed with the doctor.
Dairy products should be avoided
Dairy products themselves can be problematic for some people, but this has nothing to do with arthritis, as skimmed milk and dairy products are essential elements of a healthy, balanced diet. If their consumption still causes problems, food intolerance or food allergy should be investigated.
Patients are prohibited from eating certain vegetables
Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant contain a certain substance called solanine, which is widely blamed for the development of joint pain. However, according to the Arthritis Foundation, there is no scientific evidence for this.
We can heal with a personalized diet
In addition to the general nutritional recommendations, the patient’s current illnesses and family predisposition to certain diseases must be considered in all cases. With this knowledge, it is possible to put together a diet that takes into account not only taste and goals, but also possible sensitivities and intolerances, and can significantly contribute to recovery, of course, in addition to complex lifestyle medicine and the necessary medical therapy – emphasizes Dorottya Szarka, the Dietitian at the Lifestyle Medical Center.
Source: www.eletmodorvosikozpont.hu
Source: www.patikamagazin.hu
