A diet rich in plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans, as well as fish, is not only great for overall health but can also help manage arthritis symptoms. Things as simple as cherries and almonds or tuna and broccoli can be helpful.
Food as Treatment for Arthritis
Arthritis symptoms can include joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Some forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, are inflammatory diseases—caused by inflammation in the body that affects the joints and other systems. Others, like osteoarthritis, are the causes of inflammation, particularly in the joints.
Either way, managing and reducing inflammation is essential to reducing pain, stiffness, and swelling for both types of conditions. Inflammation associated with arthritis is often targeted by medications with the aim to help improve symptoms and decrease pain. Certain foods also have inflammatory properties, making them a powerful complementary treatment for arthritis.
Researchers have found that the Mediterranean diet may provide benefits in reducing pain and swollen and tender joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients. One study looked at adherence to the Mediterranean diet and pain associated with osteoarthritis. It concluded that, within the study group of 4330 subjects, a lower risk of osteoarthritis symptoms and pain was associated with those who followed a Mediterranean diet pattern.
Other studies have looked at a general anti-inflammatory diet and its impact on arthritis. One research trial saw a positive effect of an anti-inflammatory diet on disease activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Fruit
Many fruits are rich in compounds called flavonoids and polyphenols. Polyphenolic flavonoids are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Berries and pomegranates are rich sources of a variety of dietary polyphenolic flavonoids. Recent research shows a protective role of fruits and their polyphenols in studies of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In particular, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates have shown promising results in reducing pain and inflammation in human clinical studies of arthritis. Other fruit polyphenols, such as quercetin, anthocyanins, and citrus flavonoids have also been studied in easing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Shop for colorful fruits like cherries, berries, apples, pomegranates, grapes, oranges, and grapefruit. These all contain beneficial polyphenolic compounds that can help fight inflammation associated with arthritis. The 2020-2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend eating 1.5 to 2.5 cups of fruit each day, depending on your calorie needs. Whole fruits and juices have been most commonly studied, but other forms of fruit such as dried and frozen may also be beneficial.
The antioxidant activity of nutrients in vegetables is associated with immune function and anti-inflammatory processes. Vitamin A and carotenoids play a role in immune function, which may benefit people with arthritis. Carotenoids are abundant in red and orange-hued vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, and red bell peppers.
Vitamin K deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. Dark leafy green vegetables are often rich in vitamin K, which has a role in bone and cartilage mineralization. This is important, especially for people with osteoarthritis. Collard and turnip greens, spinach, kale, and broccoli are all good sources of vitamin K.
Lightly cook your vegetables or eat them raw to avoid breaking down nutrients. Try lightly steaming or sautéing vegetables, rather than using high heat cooking techniques, such as boiling or roasting. Further, the carotenoid compounds and vitamin K in vegetables are better absorbed with some fat, like olive oil, so drizzle some onto your skillet before sautéing your spinach or dip your carrot sticks into some hummus.
Stock your arthritis-friendly pantry with dark leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cauliflower, carrots, beets, onions, peas, winter squash, red bell peppers, corn, and sweet potatoes. The average adult needs about two and a half cups of vegetables each day.
Anasazi, adzuki, black, chickpeas (garbanzo), black-eyed peas, soybeans, and lentils are all good choices. Canned or dried, they all confer nutritional benefits. If choosing canned, opt for low- or no-sodium added varieties, and be sure to rinse with water.
Legumes make great pantry staples, as they are inexpensive, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare. Legumes are considered as part of both the protein food group and the vegetable group. Adding one to two servings per day of legumes to your diet is recommended.
Add more beans to your diet by topping your salad with black beans, tossing peas or lentils into soups and casseroles, making homemade hummus with chickpeas, or stuffing beans into your tacos.
Antioxidants and other phytochemicals in whole grains, such as vitamin E, B vitamins, selenium, and magnesium, and also offer inflammation-fighting power for people with arthritis.
Load your grocery cart with whole grains like oats, brown rice, quinoa, whole grain cereals, bulgur, farro, barley, and whole cornmeal. Three to six servings per day of whole grains are recommended.
Enjoy a small handful of nuts or seeds daily, including walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds. Choose raw, lightly roasted, and unsalted varieties of nuts.
Mix flaxseeds into batters for baked goods, sprinkle chia seeds into smoothies, top your salads with sliced almonds, or add some crushed pistachios onto your pasta.
Vitamin D and calcium work together in the body to build and preserve bone health, which is important for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Probiotics are healthy bacteria commonly found in dairy foods like yogurt and kefir. Several randomized controlled trials have shown a relationship between probiotics and improvements in inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
Low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, and kefir are all good dairy foods to keep handy in your fridge. Serve up three servings of dairy each day to help get in your daily calcium, vitamin D, and probiotic needs.
A 2018 study of 176 people found that those who consumed fish at least two times per week had a significantly lower disease activity compared with people who ate fish less than 1 time per month or never ate it. Disease activity significantly reduced even further for each additional serving of fish consumed per week.
The amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in fish varies. Herring, salmon, scallops, sardines, anchovies, and trout usually contain higher amounts.
Mackerel is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, king mackerel is high in mercury and the FDA recommends that people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as young children to avoid king mackerel. Pacific chub mackerel and Spanish mackerel are both lower mercury alternatives. Other good seafood sources of omega-3’s include tuna, crab, mussels, and sea bass.
In addition to the omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood, vitamin D is also found in fatty fish including salmon, sardines, trout, and tuna. Vitamin D has been shown to affect autoimmunity and decrease disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
In general, it is recommended to consume 3 to 4 ounces of fish, twice a week. However, more might be better for people with arthritis. If you do not like fish or don’t consume it, try taking a fish oil supplement. Studies show that taking fish oil daily can help ease joint stiffness, tenderness, pain, and swelling.
Swap out saturated fats, such as butter, in cooking and baking with healthier plant-derived oils including olive, avocado, canola, safflower, sesame, and walnut oils. Besides oils, other sources of healthy fats in the diet include nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.
Keeping your cupboard stocked with a few staple herbs and spices will not only make your food flavorful but can help fight against inflammation related to arthritis. Turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, cinnamon and chili powder all contain powerful plant compounds that can reduce inflammation and ease symptoms of arthritis.
Sprinkle some cinnamon in your oatmeal, add chili powder to marinades, stir crushed garlic into sauces and soups, or blend together a fruit, ginger & turmeric smoothie.
Eating a square of dark chocolate each day may help satisfy your sweet tooth while providing some health benefits, too. Other sweet options include eating arthritis-friendly fruits as a treat. Enjoy a berry and yogurt parfait, dark chocolate covered blueberries, or a fruit salad with pomegranate and citrus fruits drizzled with a bit of honey.
A 2015 review found that processed soy food compounds play a role in immune system response, as well as in overcoming inflammation. A 2014 randomized controlled trial looked at probiotic use in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers concluded that probiotics improved disease activity and inflammatory status.
Common fermented foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, kefir, kombucha, and pickles. Top your sandwiches with sauerkraut and pickles, sip on kombucha in the morning, or add kimchi into a stew for dinner.
Instead of sipping on soda, drink green or oolong teas, which are both made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Additionally, if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. If you do choose to have an alcoholic drink, opt for red wine, which may have anti-inflammatory effects.
An arthritis-friendly diet offers much in the way of flexibility and variety. In addition, you probably already have many staples of an arthritis diet in your kitchen already. The main points are to build your meals and snacks around a wide variety of colorful, whole foods while limiting highly processed foods.
Before changing your diet, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider first to ensure it is the right choice for you.
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