Diet for rheumatoid arthritis

What is the difference between a diet for rheumatoid arthritis and a diet that is recommended by physicians for other joint diseases? The fact that it should take into account the systemic nature of the disease, in which chronic inflammation of the joint synovial membrane and destruction of cartilage and bone tissue, as well as various extra-articular manifestations of pathology, are of autoimmune origin.

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Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with diet

What kind of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis diet offers diet, if it is already known that the pathogenesis of this disease lies in the fact that T-lymphocytes of people with this diagnosis produce immune-regulating cells (cytokines) that trigger an inflammatory reaction against their own cells, taking them for antibodies?

Over the past 20 years, the level of understanding of the fundamental biology of rheumatoid arthritis has grown enormously. But modern medical therapy only relieves pain with the help of steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or it tries to influence immunity with drugs for immunomodulation and cytostatics. At the same time, the pathological process only slows down, but does not stop: autoimmune diseases are still incurable. And what kind of diet for rheumatoid arthritis here will help?

Domestic physicians - in the absence of a separately developed system of therapeutic and prophylactic nutrition in this pathology - most often prescribed diet 10 for rheumatoid arthritis. This diet was developed more than 70 years ago by M. Pevzner for patients with cardiovascular diseases. It is aimed at activating the systemic blood circulation and creating a sparing regimen of the cardiovascular and digestive systems. Its main points: a significant reduction in the consumption of NaCl (1.8 g per day) and free liquid (1.2 liters per day), as well as an increase in the intake of potassium and magnesium in the body. At a daily calorie intake of 2500 kcal, it is recommended to consume: 65 g of an animal and 25 g of vegetable protein; 40-45 g of vegetable and 25-30 g of animal fats; not more than 400 grams of carbohydrates. The effectiveness of this diet for rheumatoid arthritis, judging by the lack of public information, has not been investigated.

But the problems of increased intestinal permeability (the so-called "leaky intestine") since the early 90s of the last century are being thoroughly studied. And the association of autoimmune diseases with intestinal dysfunction, the lymphoid tissue of which inhibits the invasion of antigens (foreign proteins) has been clinically proven. Through the "leaky intestine" foreign proteins from food and living products of intestinal bacteria are absorbed into the bloodstream and recognized by the body as antigens, which causes an immune reaction. All examined patients with rheumatoid arthritis had problems with the intestines of an inflammatory or bacterial nature, and poor nutrition-too high in protein and fat in animal food-led to a decrease in the protective potential of lymphoid tissue. In 2011, Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology published a review of the effects of specific diets and foods on patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinics in North America.

Scandinavian diet for rheumatoid arthritis

The Scandinavian diet for rheumatoid arthritis, also called the new northern diet, is based on products traditionally consumed by residents of the Nordic countries. This is not a medical diet, just Danes tired of the dominance of Americanized food in supermarkets and restaurants ...

In 2003, the Danish restaurateur Klaus Meyer opened in Copenhagen a restaurant of Scandinavian cuisine Noma, which for two years was recognized as the best restaurant in the world. Perhaps this is just a coincidence, but at the University of Copenhagen in the wake of these events conducted a study of the characteristics of local cuisine, which stated that traditional Scandinavian food can help in combating obesity.

Can a Scandinavian diet help with rheumatoid arthritis? In principle, if you consider that the fundamental principles of this diet include:

• getting more calories from plant foods, and not from meat, since replacing some animal proteins with plant products leads to a reduction in saturated fat intake and increased consumption of unsaturated fats, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• increase in consumption of seafood and river fish, containing both protein, and vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.
• inclusion in the diet of wild mushrooms, berries and edible plants, since they contain more vitamins C and E and other antioxidants. And also game (meat of wild animals and birds), which contains less fat and has a lower level of saturated fats and more polyunsaturated fats than meat obtained from farmed animals.

According to the "northern diet", it is recommended to eat: fatty fish, eggs, venison and elk; rapeseed oil (this is the main vegetable oil in the countries of the region); berries (cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries, strawberries, elder, black and red currants); whole grain rye bread; and also vegetables, beans, oats, barley, nuts and seeds (flax, sunflower and plantain).

Dong Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis

First and foremost, Dong's diet for rheumatoid arthritis has placed the author of this very strict diet - the American doctor Collin H. Dong, who became disabled due to rheumatoid arthritis in the late 30s of the last century.

After several years of unsuccessful attempts to cure Dong decided to experiment with the diet and refused the standard American menu with meat, dairy products and fruits. Instead, he began to use Chinese peasant food - rice, vegetables and fish. Gradually, the doctor improved his diet, and the symptoms of the disease disappeared, after which he led medical practice for another 30 years. In 1973, Dong published The Arthritic's Cookbook, which lists diet recipes for rheumatoid arthritis. And in 1975, his second book, New Hope for the Arthritic (New Hope for Arthritis), was published, which details the principles of therapeutic nutrition, which help combat this serious illness.

Dong's diet for rheumatoid arthritis excludes the use of meat and all dairy products; fruit (except melon) and some vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants and peppers); chocolate and fried nuts; alcoholic beverages; vinegar and spices; all products with preservatives and food additives (especially sodium glutamate).

It should be noted that according to the research, about 20% of patients with this pathology help Donga diet. Many nutritionists criticize these dietary principles.

A member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, dietitian Ruth Freshman (author of The Food Is My Friend Diet) claims that oily fish (again, omega-3 fatty acids), whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds are the main products that should include a diet for rheumatoid arthritis.

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What can and can not be eaten with rheumatoid arthritis?

The question of acceptable and unacceptable foods in the diet menu for rheumatoid arthritis should be formulated as follows: what you put on your plate (and then in your mouth) may be your medicine, or it can continue to provoke your body, causing many symptoms, in including joint pain and their degeneration.

First we will answer the question, what can not be eaten with rheumatoid arthritis? Data from numerous studies conducted in various clinics and scientific medical centers around the world from 1991 to 2014 convince us that in rheumatoid arthritis, the main triggers of this disease should be avoided: animal protein (that is, meat, poultry and fish), eggs and all dairy products (skim or whole milk, sour cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.). In general, food should be based on the principles of vegetarianism.

American and Canadian nutritionists recommend eating for at least a month (until the intensity or disappearance of the symptoms of the disease decreases), and then every two days to return one product to their menu. In this case, it is necessary to accurately monitor the slightest deterioration in the state of use of a given product. Thus you can identify your personal product provocateur, but you should consider that the "food trigger" may not be one.

And what can you eat with rheumatoid arthritis? There is information that people with rheumatoid arthritis who adhere to the Mediterranean diet, note a decrease in soreness of the joints. With this diet, you should eat lean poultry meat, lean fish, legumes and many fresh vegetables with olive oil (rich in ω-3 and ω-6 essential fatty acids). It is also very useful to take a daily dessert spoonful of linseed oil.