Diet BUSTS Rheumatoid Arthritis
Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by the wear and tear on your joints, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. That means your body’s immune system literally attacks your own joints.
Many factors can contribute to the development of RA.
But without a doubt, diet is one of the biggest.
You can think of RA like a light switch in your body. That switch starts in the “off” position.
But recent research reveals that certain foods can flip the switch “on”. While others could help it stay off for good.
For this study, researchers focused on volunteers who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis within the last year.
The researchers used dietary questionnaires, and two factors jumped out:
- Eating processed meat significantly increased the risk of RA.
- Eating more fish lowered the risk of RA.
So, what’s the connection here? It all comes back to inflammation.
Chronic inflammation in synovial tissue leads to bone erosion, cartilage destruction, and (ultimately) permanent joint damage.
Processed meat has been proven to enhance inflammatory mediators like C-reactive protein (CRP) in the body.
While oily fish—with its large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients—does the exact opposite.
But don’t get confused. Processed meats were linked to RA in the study. However, eating other types of meat—like red meat, poultry, or organ meats—was NOT associated with an increased risk of RA.
So while you definitely want to skip the processed meat products, don’t be afraid to have a nice, juicy steak (preferably medium rare and from grass-fed beef).
Of course, diet isn’t the only factor that contributes to the RA switch. But it does play a big part.
If you have inflammatory issues or a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, consider cutting processed meats from your menu and serving more fish instead.
P.S. Already battling painful joints? New research revealed THIS common vitamin can help erase joint swelling and stiffness, sending your quality of life soaring.
SOURCE:
“The relationship between animal flesh foods consumption and rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study,” Nutritional Journal 21 (51), 2022, doi:10.1186/s12937-022-00800-1
