Foods to Avoid with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause unpleasant symptoms such as decreased range of motion, joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness. The symptoms of RA can make it difficult to get around and complete daily activities and enjoyable hobbies. However, in addition to doctor-prescribed medications and therapies, certain dietary changes can actually help symptoms improve or worsen. Here are a few foods to avoid with RA: 1. Refined sugar Sugary foods are among the worst that you can eat if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Cookies, white bread, cake and brownies are some of the foods that you will need to avoid. You should also avoid sugary beverages, such as fruit juice and sodas. Advanced glycation end products are toxins that are created when foods are heated. Sugary foods increase the amount of AGEs that are in your body. If you have too many AGEs, then you are more likely to develop inflammation. 2. Fried foods It is important for you to limit the amount of fried food that you eat with RA. You should opt to eat baked, broiled or grilled food instead of fried food. A 2009 study that was done by Mount Sinai School of Medicine showed that people who limited their intake of fried food were able to reduce the amount of inflammation in their body.