ar·thri·tis
[ahr-thrahy-tis]
acute or chronic inflammation of a joint, often accompanied by pain and structural changes and having diverse causes, as infection, crystal deposition, or injury (dictionary.com).
In other words, arthritis is a condition that results from inflammation of the joint. It is painful.
Did you know that food can have an inflammatory affect on the body? While everyone should strive to enjoy a healthy diet, and lifestyle (so as to not have to suffer from complications, like arthritis), there are a few otherwise “healthy” foods, that an arthritic person should NOT have. Note: these foods are “healthy” foods to avoid. An otherwise “healthy person” can enjoy the foods marked with an * on a regular basis. Mainstream foods like cookies, pretzels, refined flour, fried food, etc. WILL CAUSE INFLAMMATION in the body, regardless.
Fruits
1. Mango*
2. Banana*
3. Cranberries and Cranberry juice
The Nightshade Vegetables
1. Eggplant*
2. White potatoes
3. Tomatoes*
4. Peppers*
Other Common “health” foods to avoid
1. FARMED Salmon
2. Corn, and corn products
3. Rice, and rice products
All of these foods will create an inflammatory reaction in the body, and will worsen pain caused by arthritis. Of course, this is just a short list of “otherwise healthy foods,” to be avoided. As mentioned earlier, foods like dairy, soy, processed and refined flour, and grains, sugars, red meat, mainstream “staple” items (like cookies, soda, chips, fried food, fast food, etc.), all should be reduced, and eliminated from every diet. These foods will further aggravate arthritis and one’s overall health. Read My Philosophy to learn what foods to avoid, and how combine foods for optimal digestion, reduced inflammation, and overall health. When the body is digesting optimally, ailments, like inflammation, will not be a cause for distress.
I understand with salycylates in certain fruits and vegetables, in line with say a Feingold Diet, but What’s your take on the Rice and Rice products? Is it the Genetic Modification? I know that rice is considered to be very hypoallergenic…but I haven’t read it as being pro-inflammatory
I am always saddened when individuals with a gluten allergy seek comfort in rice based dishes. Anything that “sticks” around in the colon is going to produce an inflammatory, or aggravating, reaction in the body. How something appears on a platter, is generally how it looks and reacts in the body. For instance, peanut butter is very sticky– it does the same in the body, (not to mention all of the dense oils, sugar, protein etc. that make breaking down the peanut butter nearly impossible on the body).
Now imagine a bowl of rice. It is sticky and almost gluey. Imagine what that does in the body. It is for this very same reason that bread is actually easier on digestion than un-toasted bread.
For the woman trying to avoid foods due to a candida or bacteria/fungus problem… rice is one of the worst foods to consume.
Hope this helps!
I have a severe case of Rheumatism Arthritis (RA) and I find that I am not allergic to bananas. I am also able to eat brown rice and this doesn’t cause me bad side effects. Although wild salmon is better, my body is able to digest farmed salmon without any problems. One thing that has helped me reduce inflammation quite a lot is apple cider vinegar.
I recently discovered that certain vegetables and fruits are high in calcium oxalate which causes pain in my joints and get swollen. Any refined product causes my body bad side effects, so I stay away from sugar, salt, spices of any kind. I believe that you may have RA but you may be allergic to foods I am not allergic to and viceversa.
Martin, Orange Co. CA
Foods that create inflammation, or that harm the body, do not necessarily have to cause an immediate and noticeable reaction to be considered unbeneficial. Overtime protein particles and unfit substances (refined & processed goods) build up in the system, and create inflammation, pain, autoimmune disorders etc. Superior Digestion is more than just “not having a stomachache” or “not having indigestion”, it is a complex process. A process in which the body can breakdown, assimilate, absorb, and eliminate the food… and also the affect of the residue that is left behind when the food is digested (which affects digestion down the road, absorption, pH, etc). You may be noticeably sensitive to certain foods because they cause a more immediate reaction– that’s great that you have been able to pick this up, but if you are still suffering, then there are other aspects of your lifestyle you make wish to reflect more greatly on.