On my own quest to live a healthier life, I started to change the way I eat and live my life.  I found that it made a huge difference in the approach I took towards other things in my life and it made me a better “me”  After a couple of kids and “10 lbs” with each pregnancy that I couldn’t get off, I found myself in a place that was not a “healthy” me.  My joints hurt with little exertion and I felt fatigue more often than not. I knew I had to change. I decided to change my lifestyle and eat healthier.  Due to the changes made, I am now at a “healthier” me. <3

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term used for joint disorders. It is a common condition which features stiffness and joint pain which is sometimes coupled with inflammation.

There are several types of arthritis, the most common are Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and Osteoarthritis. The symptoms of arthritis are swelling, tenderness, redness, stiffness or weakness of the joint and this could lead to pain and disability.

There are several treatment options available depending on the type of arthritis you have. Some of the available treatments are;

• Physical therapy.
• Medication (pain reliefs, anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-altering medication, hyaluronic injections).
• Home remedies.

Diet

Diet simply means the totality of food consumed by you which provides your body with the nutrients it needs for a healthy and happy living.

A complete diet includes carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and so on. The choices we make daily on what to eat is a very important one which has great impact on our health or present medical condition. How much of these essential sources of nutrition you take is dependent on several factors like your age, size or gender.

Diet and Arthritis

Monitoring your diet is very important when it comes to staying healthy. For a condition like arthritis, although diet is not a form of treatment it can have great impacts on your road to recovery.

When it comes to matching your diet with Arthritis there are certain rules you should set such as types of food to increase and types of food to avoid.

Foods to Avoid

These are some of the things to avoid;

• Alcohol – lots of arguments have developed over alcohol intake and its effect on arthritis, however, reducing your alcohol intake overall helps to reduce the possibility of other health conditions, it also reduces your chances or rheumatic arthritis.
• Processed food – consuming lots of processed food has a high chance of increasing inflammation. A major cut-back would help increase the natural defenses in your body and reduce inflammation.
• Salt – too much salt intake leads to inflammation of the joint. There are several meals or snacks with a very high amount of salt content or preservatives which in turn is very bad for your arthritis.
• Weight – if watching your diet does not have a direct link to healing your arthritis, watching your weight is definitely a way to help ease the pain and this can be achieved through a healthy diet.

Food to Increase

Here is a list of food to add to your diet or increase its consumption.

• Certain “healthy” oils that have anti-inflammatory properties
• Cold water fish and or protein sources
• Fruits
• Green tea
• Nuts
• Vegetables
• Whole grains

Popular diets that patients often ask me about are Paleo and Gluten free diets.  Ask me!!

Remember to watch out for any allergies.  Always consult your doctor to guide you with a list of foods that is specific to you and your condition.  Make a strict rule to follow your diet plan as much as possible. If you fall off, don’t worry we all do, just get back on and continue the lifestyle changes.