Patient/caregiver was educated on foods to be included in diet by individuals with arthritis as follows:
Fluid intake
- Observe compliance with intake of your recommended fluid volume. In general, the daily requirement of an average adult could be around 3 – 3.5 liters of fluid.
- Compliance with fluid intake recommendations helps with not only with synthesis of synovial fluid needed to maintain joint mobility, but also contributes to regular excretion of inflammatory mediators through urine.
- This results in preventing exacerbation of joint pains in individuals with arthritis.
Non-gluten foods
- Consumption of gluten containing foods, such as, wheat, barley, rye, triticale, and malt could contribute to exacerbation of arthritis in individuals with history.
- Choosing gluten-free foods made of polenta, quinoa, and brown rice against the above mentioned gluten containing foods can aid prevent exacerbation of arthritis.
Fruits
- Deeply colored fruits, such as, strawberries, cranberries, blueberry, raspberry, cherries, red grapes, mango, watermelon, peach, and papaya are rich sources of antioxidants.
- Antioxidants contribute towards lowering inflammation in the joints, thus providing pain relief for individuals with arthritis. Fresh fruits can also be a rich source of vitamins and sugars.
Limit added sugars
- Individuals with arthritis should scan through the food labels closely, to avoid picking items listed rich in added sugars.
- Picking low-carb versions and diet versions of favorite foods and minimizing consumption of desserts, such as, cookies, candies, and ice cream, can be of significant help in preventing exacerbation of joint pains in individuals with arthritis.
