Rheumatoid Arthritis: Treatment, Diet and Home Remedies

Food and Nutrition

Foods to be taken

• Consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, legumes, and fish.
• Drink lots of purified water
• Foods like ginger, turmeric, green tea have anti-inflammatory properties
• Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout, walnuts, tofu, and other soybean products; flaxseed and flaxseed oil; and canola oil.
• Iron-rich foods like lean red meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, pulses (peas, beans, and lentils), and fortified breakfast cereals.
• Foods rich in calcium include milk, yogurt cheese, and other dairy foods, green leafy vegetables, soya drinks with added calcium, almonds and fish.
• Vitamin C rich foods like  Strawberries, citrus, cherry, guava, Tang, orange juice, grapefruit juice, Sweet red or green peppers, green chilies, hot pepper, coriander, cilantro, lemon peel, sundried tomatoes
• Consuming foods rich in vitamin D such as salmon, tuna, shrimp, sunflower seeds, eggs, and vitamin D-fortified milk products, provides protection against developing rheumatoid arthritis

Foods to be avoided

• Proteins may cause inflammation in some people and hence limit the intake of protein rich foods
• Avoid refined foods such as white bread, pasta, and sugar.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce the intake of baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco

Yoga and Exercise

Regular exercise consisting of aerobic exercise, strengthening exercises, and flexibility or range-of-motion exercises can help to maintain joint motion and strength

• Exercises like walking, swimming, warm-water exercise, or biking can be done by people with RA.
• Weight-bearing exercises such as lifting weights, push-ups can be done

Exercises like jogging, running, heavy weight lifting which put too much of stress on the joints should be avoided.

Music and Meditation

A regular practice of pranayama (breathing exercises –  watch video ) and meditation (  watch video ) balances the immune system

Home Remedies

• A healthy weight should be maintained
• Regular exercises should be done regardless of the age
• Avoid activities that cause too much strain to the joints
• Heat and cold therapy such as hot compresses, cold packs, ice massage can relieve the pain and inflammation
• Rest or reduce the stress on the painful joint