answersLogoWhite

0

Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis With Dietary Changes?

Updated: 9/16/2019
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Best Answer

Those suffering from rheumatoid Arthritis may find relief in dietary changes. It is important to analyze which foods cause personal flare-ups, as each person is triggered by different things. Some must learn to avoid milk and gluten, while others avoid foods associated with acid, such as bell peppers and tomatoes. The best way to improve rheumatoid arthritis with food is to experiment, especially by incorporating more vegetables and whole-grains while cutting out sugar and vegetable oils. Taking a fish oil supplement may improve arthritis as well.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis With Dietary Changes?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Does anyone take arava?

Arava (leflunomide), is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). It helps improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms such as joint swelling and tenderness. Arava reportedly helps slow the progression of joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Arava claims to be the only oral DMARD indicated to improve physical function.


What kinds of vitamins prevent arthritis?

Vitamin D is a good vitamin to take. Vitamin D has shown to improve arthritis symptoms and may help prevent arthirtis. More information can be found from WebMD at: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news/20040109/vitamin-d-may-prevent-arthritis


What dietary changes can be most beneficial to men?

The dietary change most likely to improve the health of males is reduced intake of fats, particularly cholesterol and saturated fats.


Where can I find Rheumatoid Arthritis diet and treatment information?

Treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis is normally specific to the individual. It is helpful to remain as active as possible to maintain muscle strength and to keep to a healthy diet is recommended with calcium and vitamin D supplements. Information relating to this can be found on many websites. Blogs by other sufferers can be helpful in finding helpful tips to improve the quality of life.


Constant pain all over body mostly joints?

Constant pain all over the body, especially in the joints, could be a sign of a chronic condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or lupus. It is essential to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. They may recommend medication, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or other interventions to help manage the pain and improve quality of life.


Understanding the Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a particular form of arthritis. It happens in the joints on both sides of the body, for instance both wrists or both knees. Symptoms include joint pain and swelling, stiffness and fatigue. Its onset doesn’t follow one strict pattern. Some people will have rheumatoid arthritis come along rapidly and for others it will be a very slow progression. Rheumatoid arthritis can also go into spontaneous remission. Approximately one percent of the U.S. population has rheumatoid arthritis. It usually occurs in middle age, but can occur in children and the elderly also. Women are twice as likely to get it as men. However, when men do get this disease, they usually will have more severe symptoms. No one knows the exact cause of this type of arthritis, but some research suggests a combination of genetic, environmental and hormonal factors. It seems that something triggers the immune system to attack the joints and even in some cases the organs, such as the lungs or the heart. Here’s what happens when you have rheumatoid arthritis. Immune cells move through the blood to the joints and produce inflammatory substances. This causes inflammation, irritation and wearing down of the cartilage. Since the cartilage fills the space between the bones, as it disappears, the space shrinks and the bones can actually rub against each other. All of this causes the joints to become very painful and swollen. There are a few different ways to detect rheumatoid arthritis, but the most deciding factor is a blood test that shows the rheumatoid factor antibody. This, combined with the presence of bumps and nodules under the skin and swollen, painful joints will lead to a positive diagnosis. The treatment for rheumatoid arthritis depends upon the person’s age, overall health, medical history and the severity of the arthritis. There are many different treatments including medication, rest and exercise. Usually, a patient will be treated with medicine, but will also need to rest when the joint is inflamed and exercise to improve the condition of the joint. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to restore function to the damaged joint. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but the above treatments can prevent it from becoming debilitating.


Why do arthritis attack people?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic joint disease that damages the joints of the body. It is also a systemic disease that potentially affects internal organs of the body and leads to disability. The joint damage is caused by inflammation of the joint lining tissue. Inflammation is normally a response by the body's immune system to "assaults" such as infections, wounds, and foreign objects. In rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation is misdirected to attack the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is often referred to as RA.The inflammation in the joints causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function.The inflammation often affects other organs and systems of the body, including the lungs, heart, and kidneys.If the inflammation is not slowed or stopped, it can permanently damage the affected joints and other tissues.Rheumatoid arthritis should not be confused with other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis or arthritis associated with infections. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues it is supposed to protect.The immune system produces specialized cells and chemicals, which are released into the bloodstream and begin to attack body tissues.This abnormal immune response causes inflammation and thickening of the membrane (synovium) that lines the joint. Inflammation of the synovium is called synovitis and is the hallmark of an inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.As the synovitis expands inside and outside of the joint, it can damage the bone and cartilage of the joint and the surrounding tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels.Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the smaller joints, such as those of the hands and/or feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and/or ankles, but any joint can be affected. The symptoms often lead to significant discomfort and disability.Many people with rheumatoid arthritis have difficulty carrying out normal activities of daily living, such as standing, walking, dressing, washing, using the toilet, preparing food, and carrying out household chores.The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis interfere with work for many people. As many as half of those with rheumatoid arthritis are no longer able to work 10-20 years after their condition is diagnosed.On average, life expectancy is somewhat shorter for people with rheumatoid arthritis than for the general population. This does not mean that everyone with rheumatoid arthritis has a shortened life span. Rheumatoid arthritis itself is not a fatal disease. However, it can be associated with many complications and treatment-related side effects that can contribute to premature death.Although rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the joints, it is a disease of the entire body. It can affect many organs and body systems besides the joints. Therefore, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic disease.Musculoskeletal structures: Damage to muscles surrounding joints may cause atrophy (shrinking) that results in weakening. This is most common in the hands. Atrophy also may result from not using a muscle, usually because of pain or swelling. Damage to bones and tendons can cause deformities, especially of the hands and feet. Osteoporosis and carpal tunnel syndrome are other common complications of rheumatoid arthritis.Skin: Many people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small nodules on or near the joint that are visible under the skin. These rheumatoid nodules are most noticeable under the skin on the bony areas that stick out when a joint is flexed. Dark purplish areas on the skin (purpura) are caused by bleeding into the skin from blood vessels damaged by rheumatoid arthritis. Purpura is particularly common in those patients who have taken cortisone medication. This damage to the blood vessels is called vasculitis, and these vasculitic lesions also may cause skin ulcers.Heart: A collection of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) from inflammation is not uncommon in rheumatoid arthritis. This usually causes only mild symptoms, if any, but it can be very severe. Rheumatoid arthritis-related inflammation can affect the heart muscle, the heart valves, or the blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries). Heart attacks are more frequent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than those without it.Lungs: Rheumatoid arthritis' effects on the lungs may take several forms. Fluid may collect around one or both lungs and is referred to as a pleural effusion. Inflammation of the lining tissues of the lungs is known as pleuritis. Less frequently, lung tissues may become stiff or scarred, referred to as pulmonary fibrosis. Any of these effects can have a negative effect on breathing. Lung infections become more common.Digestive tract: The digestive tract is usually not affected directly by rheumatoid arthritis. Dry mouth, related to Sjögren's syndrome, is the most common symptom of gastrointestinal involvement. Digestive complications are much more likely to be caused by medications used to treat the condition, such as gastritis (stomach inflammation) or stomach ulcer caused by NSAID therapy. Any part of the digestive tract may become inflamed if the patient develops vasculitis, but this is uncommon. If the liver is involved, it may become enlarged and cause discomfort in the abdomen.Kidneys: The kidneys are not usually affected directly by rheumatoid arthritis. Kidney problems in rheumatoid arthritis are much more likely to be caused by medications used to treat the condition. Nevertheless, severe, long-standing disease can uncommonly lead to a form of protein deposition and damage to the kidney, referred to as amyloidosis.Blood vessels: Inflammation of the blood vessels can cause problems in any organ but is most common in the skin, where it appears as purple patches (purpura) or skin ulcers.Blood: Anemia or "low blood" is a common complication of rheumatoid arthritis. Anemia means that you have an abnormally low number of red blood cells and that these cells are low in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen through the body. (Anemia has many different causes and is by no means unique to rheumatoid arthritis.) A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) can occur from Felty's syndrome, a complication of rheumatoid arthritis that is also characterized by enlargement of the spleen.Nervous system: The deformity and damage to joints in rheumatoid arthritis often lead to entrapment of nerves. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one example of this. Entrapment can damage nerves and may lead to serious consequences.Eyes: The eyes commonly become dry and/or inflamed in rheumatoid arthritis. This is a result of inflammation of the tear glands and is called Sjögren's syndrome. The severity of this condition depends on which parts of the eye are affected. There are many other eye complications of rheumatoid arthritis, including inflammation of the whites of the eyes (scleritis), that often require the attention of an ophthalmologist.Like many autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis typically waxes and wanes. Most people with rheumatoid arthritis experience periods when their symptoms worsen (known as flares or active disease) separated by periods in which the symptoms improve. With successful treatment, symptoms may even go away completely (remission, or inactive disease).About 1.3 million people in the United States are believed to have rheumatoid arthritis.About 75% of these are women. Women are two to three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men.Rheumatoid arthritis affects all ages, races, and social and ethnic groups.It is most likely to strike people 35-50 years of age, but it can occur in children, teenagers, and elderly people. (A similar disease affecting young people is known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.)Worldwide, about 1% of people are believed to have rheumatoid arthritis, but the rate varies among different groups of people. For example, rheumatoid arthritis affects about 5%-6% of some Native-American groups, while the rate is very low in some Caribbean peoples of African descent.The rate is about 2%-3% in people who have a close relative with rheumatoid arthritis, such as a parent, brother or sister, or child.Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, the disease can be controlled in most people. Early, aggressive therapy, soon after the initial diagnosis, is optimally targeted to stop or slow down inflammation in the joints can prevent or reduce symptoms, prevent or reduce joint destruction and deformity, and prevent or lessen disability and other complications.


What should people on a rheumatoid arthritis diet consume?

you can eat anything you like there may be some foods that cause you to feel more discomfort then normal , however this generally depends on the individual If you are under treatment there may be drugs that don't agree with the consumption of alcohol


What is the mission of the Arthritis Foundation?

As the name implies, the Arthritis Foundation is dedicated to the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases. In doing so, they hope to improve lives.


What is Rheumatoid factor?

Rheumatoid Factor Results are usually reported in one of two ways:Less than 40-60 u/mLLess than 1:80 (1 to 80) titerA low number usually means you don't have rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren syndrome. However, some people who do have these conditions still have a "normal" or low rheumatoid factor (RF).Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.


What job changes would improve your effectiveness?

To improve effectiveness in your job, what changes would be necessary? To improve effectiveness in your job, what changes would be necessary?


Is There an Arthritis Diet?

When considering following a particular diet for people with arthritis, the evidence is mixed as to the effectiveness of an arthritis diet. While there remains the possibility that certain foods can aggravate or improve the symptoms associated with arthritis, the best option for anyone with arthritis would be to maintain a food journal and keep track of the foods that may worsen or improve arthritis. While the results for an arthritis diet are mixed, some research has indicated that following a vegetarian diet and consuming foods rich in vitamin C and E may be helpful in reducing the painful symptoms of arthritis. Foods that may worsen arthritis include dairy products and foods that are high in saturated fat.