Arthritis: Doctor gives advice on best foods to help ease pain
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Arthritis makes day to day life difficult and everyday tasks can be painful, so it’s important to manage the condition as much as you can. Eating a healthy, balanced diet will help you to maintain a healthy weight and give you all the nutrients you need, in turn helping you cope with arthritis. Rumour has it that tomatoes are bad for arthritis, but is it true? Express.co.uk reveals the 18 worst foods for inflammation, according to The Arthritis Foundation.
Are tomatoes bad for arthritis?
Eating certain foods can lead to inflammation and make arthritis symptoms worse.
Eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes are all members of the nightshade family.
These vegetables contain the chemical solanine, which some people claim aggravates arthritis pain and inflammation.
According to Dignity Health, tomatoes raise levels of uric acid.
The experts said: “Elevated uric acid can trigger gout, a form of arthritis that targets the joints of the toes, fingers, wrists, knees, and elbows.”
This theory is why lots of arthritis patients think nightshade vegetables cause flare-ups.
However, The Arthritis Foundation points out most reports of this are anecdotal.
The site says: “While it certainly might be true for some people, there are no scientific studies done to prove that they actually cause inflammation or make symptoms worse.
“Nightshade vegetables are rich in nutrients, making them a worthy addition to your diet.
“Simply test it – eliminate nightshades from your diet for a couple of weeks and slowly reintroduce them back into your diet.
“If you find that adding nightshades triggers arthritis pain, don’t eat them.”
Instead of focussing on what to cut out, start thinking about which foods you could incorporate into your diet to fight arthritis symptoms.
The Arthritis Foundation explains: “When you have arthritis, the produce section is one of the most important stops you can make in the grocery store.
“Vegetables are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients that protect against cell damage and lower inflammation throughout the body, including in your joints.
“When choosing vegetables, remember the more colour the better, and variety is key.”
The best 18 vegetables for arthritis
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Brussels sprouts
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Cabbage
- Bok choy
- Cauliflower
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Red peppers
- Green peppers
- Squash
- Onions
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Shallots
- Olives
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