Food and rheumatic disease: what really has an effect?
You hear a lot about food and rheumatism. No diet treats these diseases, but food plays a part in gout and in your general health. Here is what the evidence says.
From friends and relatives to social media, everyone has an opinion on what a rheumatic patient should eat: “No tomatoes”, “Drink this herbal tea”, “That food is cold-natured”. Which of these has anything behind it?
The main point
No food or diet replaces medical treatment. The evidence on diet and rheumatoid arthritis is limited and mixed. Dropping your medicine in the hope of a diet raises the risk of joint damage.
The Mediterranean diet
This way of eating, with fruit, vegetables, pulses, fish and olive oil, has good support for heart health, and that matters, because inflammatory diseases raise heart risk. A few small studies have seen less pain, but results are not consistent and part of the effect may have come from weight loss.
Fish and omega-3
Some studies suggest fish oil, on top of main treatment, eases pain and stiffness a little, but results differ. Oily fish is fine as part of ordinary eating. Do not start a supplement without asking, though.
Gout is different
Here food really does matter, although it does not replace medicine. These raise uric acid or set off attacks:
- Alcohol
- Sugary drinks such as soda
- Purine-rich foods, mostly from animal sources
- Very large meals and dehydration
Losing weight helps too.
Steroids and bones
If you take steroids or have lupus, a balanced diet with calcium and vitamin D matters. Ask your doctor about supplements.
Herbal remedies and supplements
“Natural” does not mean safe. Herbal remedies may interact with your medicines. Tell your doctor about everything you take.
In short
- Eat balanced meals with vegetables, fruit and fish.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Do not smoke.
- If a particular food seems to make you worse, note it and mention it, but do not cut out large food groups without advice.