Rheumatoid Arthritis have been a serious health issue for a long time. It can bring an unbearable pain to it victims. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.
Arthritis on it own means inflammation in the joint area, which eventually causes redness, swelling, warmth and pain within the joint. It is then called Rheumatoid Arthritis when it affects joints on both side of the body such as both hands, both wrists and both hands. This is what separate it from other types of Arthritis.
While the cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is not yet known, something seems to cause the immune system to attack the joints or other organs. Being obese or overweight can not cause Rheumatoid Arthritis. Some experts believe that virus or bacterial maybe the main cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Other possible factors for developing Rheumatoid Arthritis includes genetic background, weak immune system, silica inhalation, exposure to certain radiations or periodontal disease.
Can weight contributes to Rheumatoid Arthritis? The answer is neither Yes or No
Rheumatoid Arthritis affects everyone differently. For some, the symptoms are different. Gaining extra weight might increase the pain but not the side effects. Weight gain can lead to unbearable pain and difficulty since Rheumatoid Arthritis has to do with inflammation of the joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis can begin at any age and even affects children known as juvenile idiopathic Arthritis, so weight gain is not a factor here. Also, Rheumatoid Arthritis most often starts after 40 years of age and before 60 years of age (some people also experience this in their 20's). This is when weight can truly contribute to the symptoms.
People suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis often experience periods where the symptoms are worse. This can be difficult to predict. Experts have suggested diet could play a major role. Eating unhealthy foods like junk and processed foods were shown to increase the risk of developing other worse symptoms. However, foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids and gamma-linolenic acid shows to be effective in reducing pain, tender joint count, fatigue, swollen and stiffness.
Note: As of the time of this article, there was no evidence that weight gain, physical and emotional effects or stress could be a trigger for developing Rheumatoid Arthritis.
It is very necessary you keep your weight in check and avoid unhealthy foods. Since you can't do much exercises because of the inflammation, diet high in Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish, grains, and vegetables can help a long way. In fact, a study has shown that some people with Rheumatoid Arthritis also experiences tiredness and weight-loss. Sometimes your diet could play an impact such as increasing the pain and inflammation.
There are foods you should avoid if you are going through Rheumatoid Arthritis hard times.
RED MEAT
Red meats contain relatively high levels of Omega-6 fatty acid called arachnidonic acid, which can convert to pro-inflammatory substances in the body and may exacerbate pain and inflammation. It's best to replace red meat with only fish for the Omega-3 fatty acids which is best food for combating Rheumatoid Arthritis.
FRIED FOODS
Try to avoid fried foods, particularly those fried with high cholesterol oils. Some vegetable oil especially, are high in Omega-3 fatty acids which also can cause inflammation. Don't fry or roast food in oil occasionally. You can boil some of your food stuff. Also, an alternative is coconut oil because it contains unsaturated fats, healthier alternative to butter and other animal fats.
COFFEE
Coffee can contribute to increase acidity of the blood which can exacerbate inflammation. It's recommended to option in for green tea and herbal tea.
SODA/CARBONATED DRINKS OR SUGARY FOODS
These drinks and sugary foods can increase pain and insulin levels. The best drinks to have includes green tea, non-sugar and drinks made from from ginger and garlic.
HIGH LEVELS OF WHEAT AND DAIRY FOODS
Dairy products also contains arachnidonic acid, which as mentioned above, can convert to pro-inflammatory substances. Many alternatives to dairy milk are now available including oat, milk, coconut base milk and but milks such as almond and hazelnut. Soya beans milk is also a good alternative.
Food allergies or intolerance maybe a common contributor to inflammation, as they occur when the individual immune system reacts abnormally to a substance in a food. Symptoms can include joints pain and other symptoms.
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