Your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms could correlate with your current diet, potentially meaning that a number of vital nutritional changes would ease your discomfort. In this blog post, we look at the role diet and nutrition often plays in the severity of this condition and how dietary changes can bring you relief.
Calcium prevents osteoporosis
Your general health could impact how your body responds to certain conditions; for example, your rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups may hurt less if you consume enough calcium and vitamin D. This helps prevent osteoporosis which up to 80% of RA sufferers also have, lessening the complications that emerge with any type of arthritis.
Osteoporosis progressively weakens your bones. This condition has many causes and risk factors, though a key contributor is a person’s activity level. As rheumatoid arthritis can limit mobility and make exercise painful, increasing your calcium intake could be the best way for you to combat osteoporosis.
Listen to your body
Many people report that they have flare-ups or symptoms around the time that they eat certain foods, if this is true for you, consider cutting out that food or reducing how much you have. If this improves your symptoms, it might be worth making this a permanent dietary change.
Healthy eating helps your body in a number of ways, such as by helping you lose weight. This could lessen the pressure on your joints and relieve pain while making medication more effective. Change your diet in small but effective ways by reducing your salt and fat intake.
Supplements or food sources?
If a dietary change is impractical for any reason (such as allergies or intolerances), a supplement may be a good alternative. For example, somebody with lactose intolerance might rely on calcium supplements. Evidence also suggests that fish oil supplements can reduce the stiffness and joint pain that rheumatoid arthritis causes.
Though supplements are an effective and easy way of ensuring you have enough nutrition, the effects could be more prominent in genuine food sources. When you eat food rich in vitamins, it often comes alongside a range of other nutrients such as anti-oxidants and carotenoids that aren’t present in supplements.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex condition, but you can still manage it in various ways. Changing your diet can significantly lessen the pain you feel from the illness whilst helping you respond to medication better. Visit our London clinic to learn more about rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment options.
