RA or rheumatoid arthritis is a serious illness with unknown causes. Because the specific cause of this autoimmune disease continues to be a mystery, there are several speculations as to what actually triggers this disease and the elements that may aggravate the symptoms.
Diet as a possible factor behind RA
Although this claim will still need further scientific research, some experts have suggested that the diet may have an effect on the onset of RA in two ways. According to Richard S. Panush (professor and chairman of the Saint Barnabas Medical Center ‘s Department of Medicine):
- Certain types of food may trigger an allergic response, thereby making the RA symptoms worse.
- Certain dietary factors may trigger your autoimmune system to react and alter the swelling or inflammatory process.
Today, scientists are still exploring these two possibilities, hoping that someday, this disease will be better understood and that more effective and safer medications are developed. Aside from these two possible explanations, a more logical idea as to why diet or the food you eat is associated with the onset of RA is that food has the greatest effect on your immune system. Many people may not know that food contains the most amount of allergens to which your body tries to continuously adapt to. These food-based allergens are either natural or are found in additives.
Food allergies that can worsen RA symptoms
Among the foods that can possibly cause allergic reactions and can worsen RA symptoms are dairy products such as milk, beef, corn, and wheat. If you have a history of allergy or if you have had food allergies as a kid, these allergies may be making your RA symptoms worse. One way of determining which foods are making your RA symptoms worse is to keep a food journal.
Because diet is strongly associated with RA symptoms despite the lack of enough scientific evidence, many people with RA have started to make use of “arthritis diets.” Although the effectiveness of these diet programs has not yet been scientifically or medically proven, many still believe in these diet programs because some of them are based on the assumption that RA cases are more common in places wherein the western diet is more predominant. The following are some of the foods that are suggested to make RA symptoms worse:
- - Milk and other dairy products
- wheat
- corn
- beef
- pork
- nightshade family of foods (tobacco, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes)
- fried foods or salty foods
- foods that are rich in additives such as sulphites, benzoates, and artificial food colors with prefixes FD&C.
- foods that contain certain types of fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid
Arachidonic acid is actually a fatty acid that is mostly acquired from animal sources. When consumed, this actually is converted to leukotrienes and prostaglandins, substances that contribute to inflammation.
If certain fatty acids should be avoided, there are also good fatty acids that actually help in lessening the symptoms of RA. EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid competes with the production of leukotrienes and prostaglandins, thereby reducing the inflammatory effects. Foods that are rich in EPA are coldwater fish such as herring, salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Another good source of EPA is cod liver oil.
Studies on fatty acid manipulation as treatment for RA
Because eating certain types of fatty acids can either have a good or bad effect on people with RA, fatty acid manipulation has been the subject of several studies about the possible link between RA and certain types of food. One intensive study was done in Norway, wherein the test subjects were given a diet based on vegetable juice for 7 to 10 days. This was followed by a vegan diet that didn’t include refined sugar, tea, coffee, salt, preservatives, strong spices, alcohol, and citrus fruits. After several months, the group moved on to a lacto-vegan diet for the remainder of the study, which lasted for a year. The changes in the test subjects’ RA conditions were observed by both the participants and a physician. After four weeks, there were considerable improvements on the affected areas and on the overall health of the test subjects. These results were actually consistent throughout the duration of the study. These results suggest that a vegan diet had a positive influence on the progress of the disease, especially in terms of inflammation activity.
Despite the presence of other studies such as these, more medical and scientific proofs are still needed to support the claim that certain foods actually trigger or worsen RA symptoms.
Eating habits that can help you deal with RA symptoms
Even though the link between diet and RA is still inconclusive, many medical experts suggest that you avoid foods that you know will trigger allergic reactions. In general, healthy eating habits should be maintained by anyone suffering from RA since being obese or overweight can cause unnecessary pressure on your bones, leading to more painful joints. The best way of knowing which food to avoid is to consult your doctor regarding a diet plan that can help alleviate RA symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation. Increasing your water intake is also beneficial since water is the best source of lubrication that can improve how your joints function.