Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation, so you should avoid foods that increase inflammation. The five foods to eat if you have arthritis are:
- Gluten-containing foods. There is a strong correlation between celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis, so gluten-rich foods should not be on your shopping list if you have arthritis.
- Trans Fats. You should avoid food with a high concentration of trans fats as they can aggravate inflammation in your joints and aggravate rheumatoid arthritis. Trans fats are found in most processed food like fast food, cookies, crackers, and similar.
- Fried and Processed Foods. Frying destroys most of the nutrients in fried foods, and it can contribute to inflammation and arthritis risk factors such as obesity. Besides, heavily processed and fried foods also pose a high risk of heart disease and diabetes and contain many carcinogens.
- White Sugar and Refined Carbs. Added sugars in soda, candies, sauces, and many other foods may significantly risk getting arthritis or worsen the symptoms as they exacerbate inflammation.
- Red and Processed Meats. Research shows that red and heavily processed meats increase inflammation, which may worsen rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Conversely, foods rich in proteins, vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals such as nuts, beans, citrus fruits, and green tea are foods to pursue if you struggle with arthritis.
