Reduce arthritis pain with good dietary habit

| credits: arthritistoday.org

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the conditions that ageing people of over 50 years of age sometimes have to contend with. Of course, physicians and scientists say old age does not necessarily mean that you must suffer from any disease or disability; however, things happen and people develop all sorts of health issues as they ascend the age ladder.

Being the commonest form of arthritis, experts say rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the joints in the hands and feet initially and also affects both sides of the body. Physicians say as the condition progresses, any joint may become affected, with patients developing stiff joints and feeling generally unwell and tired.

That is why the condition is regarded as the main cause of disability among people aged 55 and over.

Suffice to say though, there’s what’s called juvenile arthritis, meaning that young people can also develop the disease, with symptoms that include limping, irritability, crying and poor appetite.

Our focus, however, is the type that affects adults.

Causes

General Practitioner, Dr. Lekan Ahmed, says many things could cause this debilitating condition. He notes that for one, an individual may inherit rheumatoid arthritis from either of the parents (genetic cause); while being engaged in a physically demanding job, suffering a previous injury, infection or allergies, eating certain foods, being obese or suffering from any autoimmune disease could lead to having the condition.

Ahmed laments that the painful swelling that comes with arthritis can also lead to bone erosion and joint deformity.

“Eventually, the affected joints may become permanently damaged,” he submits.

Symptoms

Scientists at the online portal, medicinenet.com, state that “When the disease is active, symptoms can include fatigue, loss of energy, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and stiffness.”

It warns that muscle and joint stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. The scientists say whenever a patient of arthritis has the crisis, it is common for the joints to become warm, swollen, painful and tender.

“This occurs because the lining tissue of the joint becomes inflamed, resulting in the production of excessive joint fluid. The tissue also thickens with inflammation,” they warn.

Worse still, apart from the fact that the sufferer may be unable to engage in routine tasks such as opening the door or opening a food jar, walking may also become an arduous task, especially in the early waking hours when the body may have gone into a recess.

The medicinenet.com experts also note that sometimes, rheumatoid arthritis can affect the cricoarytenoid joint that is responsible for the tightening of our vocal cords, changing the tone of the voice as a result.

“When this joint is inflamed, it can cause hoarseness of the voice,” the portal laments.

Beat arthritis with food

Researchers and nutritionists say one can beat the pains of this crushing condition by adopting healthy dietary habits that will reduce inflammation and set the body on a course of genuine recovery and life of ease from pains.

Since arthritis is caused by inflammation of certain cells in the body, nutritionists recommend the consumption of foods that tame inflammation such as fish, olives and olive oil, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Again, they suggest cooking with plenty of food seasoning agents such as turmeric and ginger which have been proved to be useful in soothing inflammation. The good news is that these ingredients are readily available in open market all the year round.

Again, eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as found in some fish has been known to reduce the pains of rheumatoid arthritis, experts say, as this soothes inflammation throughout the body.

Of course, cooked green vegetables also come handy, as they possess a lot of anti-oxidants that not only support the immune system but also fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals contribute to the ageing process and they are responsible for the diseases that ravage the body.

You are also advised to eat beans in many forms — cooked plain beans or moin-moin, etc., but probably not akara, because it is fried.

“Smoking has never been known to have any positive effects, so stop smoking; and if you don’t smoke, don’t start. This is because smokers are more at risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. The same thing goes for alcohol consumption,” Ahmed counsels.

Nutritionists also advise a reduction in salt intake, as too much salt may also result in the inflammation of the already sore joints.

Again, experts say, maintaining healthy body weight is a must in rheumatoid arthritis management. This is because the heavier you are, the more likely the inflammation will be.

Know your food allergies

Different people react to different foods, but the snag is that many people just eat without watching the effects of the foods they take on their health. You can only monitor your health by eating one food at a time.

“That way, it’s easy to know what you are sensitive or allergic to, and that will help you to eliminate it from your diet totally,” Ahmed adds.

Foods to avoid

It goes without saying that just as there are foods to eat, so also are there foods to avoid in order to beat arthritis. Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine advise against fried and processed foods, all of which are very likely to trigger a crisis.

Cut down on sugar and other foods that are high in carbohydrates, including white rice, soft drinks, white bread, sweets, etc.

The experts also advise against red meat. They say if you can’t eliminate red meat altogether from your diet, you should reduce the quantity and frequency of its consumption.