Arthritis Fighting Food

Arthritis is defined as the disease entity that involves the joints, which develop inflammatory or degenerative changes in the them over time. Arthritis can be broadly classified into two types-Inflammatory and Non-inflammatory. Inflammatory type includes Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter’s syndrome (in which arthritis is part of a triad of disease conditions), gout, and ankylosing spondylitis. Non-inflammatory arthritis includes those types in which there is no inflammation, but degenerative changes in the involved joints that result due to constant wear and tear over time. This includes the more commonly seen arthritis in elderly-that is osteoarthritis. Arthritis developing due to torn ligaments and scoliosis is also included in the non-inflammatory category. There is one more category of arthritis that is less commonly encountered as compared to the above two types-it includes arthritis developing due to connective tissue disorders-such as Sjogren’s syndrome, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosis), and Systemic Sclerosis (also known as Progressive Systemic Sclerosis).

While most of these arthritis types are dealt with various drug and pharmacy options, there are certain food options too that work well in some of these arthritis types. Until recently, doctors generally dismissed dietary treatments for arthritis as quackery; new research shows, however, that for some patients, diet can make a difference. Below are the food options that have been proposed by various studies conducted on arthritis patients.

1. Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can experience a marked reduction in swelling, pain, and redness of joints by addition of omega-3 fatty acids to their diet. Salmon, mackerel, and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, whereas the more common omega-6 fatty acids found in soy, corn, safflower, and sunflower oils, and are proinflammatory.

2. Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) is a type of fat that is proven to have anti-inflammatory properties. The best sources of GLA are borage oil (24 percent of GLA), evening primrose oil (8-10 percent of GLA), and black currant oil (15-17 percent). Benefits in rheumatoid arthritis can be seen with a dose of 500 mg of GLA per day, but recent studies have shown that a dose of 1-1.5 g per day can prove to be more beneficial. However, these need to be taken for months before improvement occurs. GLA causes no harm as such but excessive fish oil consumption can result in increased bleeding problems.

3. Vitamin C rich food help to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis, as vitamin C helps in the formation of collagen. Best sources are citrus fruits, kiwis, berries, melons, broccoli, peppers, cabbage and potatoes.

4. Antioxidants have also been shown to improve arthritis symptoms by destroying free radicals that are generated by various inflammatory processes. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene help in fighting with free radicals due to their antioxidant properties. Green tea is another natural source of antioxidants.