Arthritis Diet

Now- a- days, we are getting tremendous information regarding diet and nutritional supplements in different types of books, magazines and especially in the internet. The most important message they want to convey is that arthritis can be cured by taking their product, ‘Arthritis diet’, as the call it. All these are generally confusing.

The suggestions, which are mostly on the web, are mainly published by the companies who are manufacturing food supplements. There is no doubt that they will have a vested interest to sell their product. In fact, some of the patients are purchasing these exorbitantly priced commodities. But the fact is that, the same effect can be achieved by eating our normal daily meals. As for example, it is more rational to take the required amount of vitamins and minerals from the regular food than going for these food supplements.

Osteoarthritis (OA), the main type of Arthritic conditions is aggravated due to increase in the weight. Therefore, we need to reduce weight. We should substantially decrease or try to avoid the foods that give us extra calorie. These include foodstuffs that are rich in saturated fatty acid like butter, ghee (clarified butter), dry calorie- like alcohol, animal protein (red meat), foods that are rich in simple carbohydrates – like the cakes, pastries with heavy toppings, chocolate, junk foods etc.

Gouty arthritis is caused by the deposition of needle like crystals of Uric acid inside the joint spaces. Alcohol, after degradation in our body produces uric acid. Therefore, patients who are suffering from gout must avoid alcohol intake.

According to the recommendation of American Medical Association, the following combination of foods is good for the arthritic patients. The diet must be full of complex carbohydrates (which contain high amount of fiber). These are green leafy vegetables, whole grains and fruits.

Diet should be low in protein, that too it is better to get the bulk of the protein from the plant source- lentils; soya bean etc. 15% of the daily calorie should come from protein. It is also recommended that not more than 30% of calorie should come from fat and ~10% from the animal fats.