Arthritis: Diet

One thing is true for everyone suffering from arthritis: Being overweight is a strain both on weight-bearing joints and on the immune system. Because fasting and crash diets should be avoided, it's better to modify your eating habits in order to get permanent effects. This means that if you carry excess weight, decrease your calorie intake and adopt a balanced diet containing all the necessary food groups, vitamins and minerals that keep you healthy.

Another important step is to decrease your intake of sugar and fat and eat more vegetables. You don't have to cut down on all fats, though: Monounsaturated fats (like those found in olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats (those in flaxseed and sunflower oil) are actually good for you. Saturated fats, mainly contained in meat and dairy products, should not be eaten in excess. Omega-3 fats, part of the polyunsaturated fat groups, may help curb inflammation. They can be found in oily fish, flaxseed, canola oil and leafy green vegetables.

Before you drastically change your diet, check with your doctor to see whether your medication is interacting with your diet and what else you can do to help your body deal with arthritis.