Diet For Arthritis

Arthritis Diet

The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis but there are over 200 different forms of this disease.

As always contact your GP before making radical changes to your diet and exercise regime.

There are many rumours and thoughts on whether changing your diet can help your arthritis.

The main points about your diet should be that you eat a healthy balanced diet which includes all the nutrients you need. This ensures your general health can stay good.

You may eat foods which may make your arthritis worse. Some foods can produce chemicals in your body which agravate artritic conditions.
You may also have allergic responses to some foods and this will cause you problems.

Some supplements can help you - for instance there are oils and essentials acids which you might need additional of if your diet is low in them.

It is beneficial if you are not carrying extra weight as this puts a burder on joints too which can cause pain.

Gout is a type of arthritis where the body is not able to properly absorb those foods which contain purines. This results in too much uric acid which can crystallize in the joints.
Avoid the main sources of purines in the diet – liver, heart, kidney, sweetbreads, meat extract (e.g. Oxo), anchovies, crab, fish roe, herring, mackerel, sardines, shrimps, sprats, and whitebait. Alcohol affects uric acid and people with gout should avoid alcohol.
Obviously discuss this with your GP to ensure you will still be eating a good diet.

Essential

These can help keep your body healthy.

Essential fatty acides such as omega 3 and 3 are good for you.
Omega-3 EFAs are found naturally in oily fish.
Omega 6 is evening primrose oil

These can be found in various foods eg: quinoa

Useful links for arthritis sufferers

Arthritis Care - http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk
A UK charity and voluntary organisation that provides information and support for all types of arthritis. Some useful information available online.

The Arthritis Research Campaign (arc)
PO Box 177
Chesterfield
Derbyshire S41 7TQ
Phone: 0870 850 5000
www.arc.org.uk

Free booklets

Arthritis Care
18 Stephenson Way
London
NW1 2HD
Phone: 020 7380 6500
Helplines: 020 7380 6555(10am–4pm Mon–Fri)
or freephone: 0808 800 4050 (12pm–4pm Mon–Fri)
www.arthritiscare.org.uk

Food Standards Agency
Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
Phone: 020 7276 8000
www.food.gov.uk

Produces free booklet 'Enjoy Healthy Eating'.

nras (National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society)
Unit B4 Westacott Business Centre
Westacott Way, Littlewick Green
Maidenhead SL6 3RT
Phone: 01628 823524
Helpline: 0845 458 3969
www.rheumatoid.org.uk

A national charity which focuses on rheumatoid arthritis.