Should people with arthritis be vegetarian?

Young people can get arthritis too

When suffering from arthritis, patients often feel that their joints (hands, feet or knees...) move very poorly. Some severe cases can cause the bones to be impacted and move to another position. Most people often have problems in the joints of the spine, hands, hips and knees.

Most of the patients are middle-aged (40 years old or older). However, young people can still get the disease, especially those who have suffered from joint injuries.

In addition to taking medication, arthritis patients should provide additional nutrients to the body to relieve pain and recover quickly.

Olive oil

Olive oil contains a lot of Polyphenol. This substance not only helps fight the growth of cancer cells but also has a very good effect in repelling inflammation in many parts of the body, including arthritis. Therefore, people with arthritis can incorporate olive oil into their daily diet.

For ease of use, you can mix 1 teaspoon of oil into a cup of warm water and drink slowly. Especially when drinking in the morning, the body will absorb more nutrients in olive oil.

Fruits rich in vitamin C

Supplementing vitamin C helps the body control and prevent the bad changes of arthritis. In addition, patients with arthritis often have cartilage loss and vitamin C is completely capable of preventing the development of this condition. Peaches, oranges, strawberries are fruits that contain quite high levels of vitamin C.

Salmon

Salmon is one of the fish that contains very high levels of omega-3 and vitamin D. At the same time, these are two nutrients that are very important in nourishing the body's joints to be healthy. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids have the effect of reducing the risk of inflammation and vitamin D often helps reduce pain and limit the risk of disability.

Dark green vegetables

In main meals, people should eat a lot of vegetables because this is a very good source of nutrition for the body. In addition, dark green vegetables often contain a lot of fiber, helping to keep joints healthy. At the same time, the nutrients in vegetables also have the effect of repelling inflammation. For example, the nutrient content in dark green vegetables (mainly vitamin K) can reduce the risk of arthritis.

Foods that people with arthritis should not eat

Red meat

Red meat is rich in protein but is not suitable for people with arthritis. Because according to some studies, eating a lot of red meat will increase uric acid levels. Meanwhile, the accumulation of this compound will cause more pressure and damage to cartilage tissue, causing painful symptoms. In addition, uric acid also makes arthritis worse.

Greasy foods

Foods that are high in fat or contain a lot of oil often cause weight gain and obesity. When body weight increases, the joints have more pressure. If this condition is not controlled or intervened, after a while the cartilage tissue will degenerate or be compressed, causing the aging process to occur more quickly. In addition, the absorption of fatty acids in the body also contributes to increasing the severity of arthritis symptoms.

Foods high in sugar and salt

Foods that contain a lot of sugar will make the pain caused by arthritis worse. In addition, when absorbing foods containing a lot of salt, the body will stimulate the kidneys to eliminate chloride, increasing the excretion of calcium. Therefore, bones will gradually weaken and become more susceptible to fractures, accompanied by pain in the joints.

Vegetarianism is good for arthritis patients

A vegetarian diet is a diet that is based solely on plants: fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains, eliminating all meat and fish. Many studies have shown that a vegetarian diet helps reduce inflammation. CRP levels (a marker of inflammation in the body) decrease when following a vegetarian diet. This is an indirect way to show the beneficial effects of a vegetarian diet.

In addition, vegetables, fruits, and nuts are sources of fiber to aid digestion, vitamins, and minerals that are good for bones and joints, rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals, prevent aging, and help slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and arthritis.

When planning to go vegetarian or vegan with arthritis, talk to your doctor and dietitian first.

With vegetarian and vegan diets, it’s not just about what not to eat (like skipping meat, eggs, and dairy), but also about what to eat. People following either diet should eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains like brown rice instead of pasta, bread, or rice. These healthy alternatives provide phytochemicals (plant chemicals) including antioxidants, flavonoids, and carotenoids, all of which help reduce inflammation and protect tissues from oxidation.

Any diet, including vegetarian or vegan, can benefit from the anti-inflammatory benefits of adding certain plant oils to the diet.

According to Health and Life