Five common foods that aggravate rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disease, the cause of which is unknown, so there is no reliable data on the impact of diet on the disease, but according to years of clinical observation at Hubei Xia Xiaozhong Hospital, some rules can be summarized. For most rheumatoid patients, the impact of some foods is more significant and can be used as a reference for the issues that need attention in the daily diet.

Eating certain specific foods (such as sweets or drinks containing caffeine) can aggravate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. There are many medications available to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but dietary modifications can still be effective in improving the condition. Although research on the correlation between diet and rheumatoid arthritis is inconclusive, experiments have shown that patients who reduce their consumption of certain foods can help reduce their symptoms. The following are five common foods that can aggravate the discomfort of rheumatoid arthritis.

1. Eat less dairy products

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be aggravated by a specific reaction to certain proteins in dairy products by those who consume them. In clinical treatment, some patients are found to be intolerant to milk because they have formed antibodies to the proteins in milk. Their bodies synthesize antibodies to form protection, but mistakenly treat milk as a harmful substance, and these antibodies attack other parts of the body. It is appropriate for these patients to reduce their consumption of dairy products to see if the discomfort will be relieved.

2. Eat less meat products

Some patients have experienced some improvement in their symptoms after switching from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet. This is because the fat in meat is more easily converted into inflammatory chemicals in the body, which can cause pain and swelling in the joints. Of course vegetarian-based patients are appropriate to supplement their diet with plant-based sources of protein, such as lentils, soybeans, kidney beans, tofu, soybean skin and soy milk, to avoid causing malnutrition in patients.

3. Eat less gluten

Many rheumatoid arthritis patients also suffer from celiac disease, which is triggered by gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains that makes dough chewier. People with celiac disease who consume gluten cause an immune response in the small intestine, which can lead to bloating and diarrhea. For some people with rheumatoid arthritis, this inflammatory response can spread to the joints thus aggravating the symptoms.

4. Drink less caffeinated beverages

Some studies have shown that drinking caffeinated beverages can be associated with the formation of a specific type of protein in the body, which can potentially trigger rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, patients should not drink more than 2 cups of coffee per day.

5. Do not eat refined sugar and sweets

Refined sugars (such as corn syrup with high fructose content) are empty calorie foods, they do not have any nutritional value and are harmful to the human body. Hubei Xia Xiaozhong Hospital rheumatology experts believe that such foods are inherently toxic and can trigger chronic inflammation, so rheumatoid arthritis patients do not eat as well.