Arthritis: Diet Plan to Help Relieve Pain

A well balanced diet is considered to be very good for all.  But it is very much important for people who are suffering from arthritis.  A well balanced diet should include all the five basic food groups say cereals and breads, vegetables, nuts and fruits, meat or fish or dried beans, diary products like low fat milk, yogurt, cheese etc.  Since those with arthritis find it difficult to consume a good variety as they suffer with swollen joints, loss of movement making them to avoid foods, which require more time to cook and they likely feel to take an effort to consume good foods. 

Combination of food and medicine for arthritis patients:

The medications taken by the arthritis patient might sometimes affect certain nutrients in certain amounts in the diet.  Like the corticosteroids consumed for arthritis can cause the body to lose potassium while retaining sodium, antacids consumed might also have high levels of magnesium and sodium content it them.  Colchicines affect the absorption of vitamin B- 12 while penicillamine consumed for rheumatoid arthritis decreases the level of copper.  This is the reason why people suffering from arthritis should consume variety of foods, should eat a well balanced and proper diet to keep the symptoms of arthritis at bay.

Foods that aggravate arthritis

There are certain foods which are said to aggravate arthritis or the symptoms caused by it and it has been proved scientifically.  People suffering from arthritis reported that when they consumed caffeine, tea or coffee aggravated the symptoms, excess sodium content in the diet too contributed to the increase of the symptoms.  There is a particular variety of arthritis which is called as ‘sprue’ which is due to the wheat allergy, when such wheat products were eliminated form the diet made the arthritis symptoms vanish.

Increased sugar consumption and use of soda pop is linked with the incidence of arthritis.  It has been found that if the above foods are avoided the symptoms are reduced in the patients.  The other food items contributing to the allergy are caffeine, citrus fruits, salt, read meat, food additives, dairy products, corn, soft drinks, flour etc.