Eating well with arthritis
How can my diet affect my condition?
Eating a balanced diet and having a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, not smoking, not drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can have a huge impact on arthritis and our health in general.
Although there are no diets or supplements that will cure your arthritis, some people do find that their condition is affected by what they eat, how much they weigh and their physical activity levels.
There are many types of arthritis, and there are differences between people, so what works for one person may not work for another.
When it comes to what we eat, the two things that can have the biggest impact on arthritis are:
1. Your weight
Being overweight can increase the strain on your joints, so keeping to a healthy weight can help. Being overweight can also increase your risk of developing certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
2. Eating a balanced diet
Eating a diet with all the vitamins and minerals you need is important for everyone, but for people with arthritis, it could help reduce the side effects of some drugs and protect you from conditions affecting the heart and blood, which can be a complication of some forms of arthritis.
Changing your diet probably won’t have as great an impact on your arthritis as medical treatments, and it’s not recommended that you stop any of your treatments.
You should always speak to a healthcare professional before you make any major changes to your diet and lifestyle.
What is a balanced diet?
A balanced diet is important for your general health. This involves eating a range of foods in the right amounts, to stay healthy and maintain a good weight. Find out more about what makes up a balanced diet including food groups and daily recommended allowances.
Are there any foods that help with arthritis?
Many foods have been said to help with arthritis or have anti-inflammatory effects. Research has shown that following a Mediterranean style diet is helpful for people with some types of arthritis.
Do any foods make arthritis worse?
There isn’t a specific list of foods to avoid if you have arthritis, but some foods are thought to increase inflammation in the body, so you might find your symptoms improve if you avoid or eat less of them. We explore the reasons why.
Can food and drink affect my medication?
Some drugs prescribed for arthritis do interact with certain foods and drink. Find out about some of the common interactions and what foods or drink you should avoid if you are taking medications.
Cooking with arthritis: Mr Cookfulness Green Bean Stew
Cooking can be a challenge when you live with a long-term condition or disability. In this video, Ian Taverner, a cooking coach who lives with arthritis, shares his green bean stew recipe.
Research: the link between diet and arthritis
The gut microbiome
The microbiome refers to all the healthy bacteria and microbes in a particular area of the body, such as our digestive system – also known as the gut. The types of food we eat can affect our gut microbiome and how they behave. Research has shown that the gut microbiome and the immune system are linked, so what we eat may affect our health in a variety of ways due to this.
However, there’s no evidence that making changes to the gut microbiome – either by diet or in other ways – will affect autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Using probiotics also hasn’t been shown to help.
More research is needed in this area to better understand the role of the gut microbiome.
Fish oils
Arthritis UK is currently funding research at Queen Mary University of London to find out more about why long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect, and whether they could form a basis for new treatments for inflammatory types of arthritis.
Sulforaphane in broccoli
Research funded by Arthritis UK has shown that sulforaphane – found in vegetables such as broccoli – can reduce inflammation and slow down the progress of osteoarthritis.
We’re now funding a trial based at the University of East Anglia to test if eating broccoli helps people with osteoarthritis reduce their pain and stay mobile. It’s hoped that if this trial is successful, it could lead to development of a new, low cost treatment for the condition.
The positive impact of a healthy diet on your arthritis
Following thousands of patients over the course of many years, Arthritis UK researchers have investigated lifestyle and genetic risk factors for developing inflammatory arthritis. Explore their key discoveries.
Vitamin D during pregnancy
Arthritis UK funded a trial that showed that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy improved the bone mass of babies born during the winter – the time of year when vitamin D levels are naturally lower.
As a follow up to this, we’re funding another study to find out whether this increased bone mass continues into childhood. If successful, this could lead to further discoveries in how diet and physical activity affect bone mass in children and could help make a case for taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy.
Healthy living
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What is a balanced diet?
Important for your general health, a balanced diet involves eating a range of foods in the right amounts to stay healthy and maintain a good weight.
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Managing your weight
Eating a balanced diet and being physically active can help you maintain a healthy weight and put less stress on your joints.
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Dietitians and nutritionists
Dietitians and nutritionists provide personalised dietary advice around weight management and healthy eating habits but how do you choose who to see?
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Diet and nutritional supplements
Diet changes and additional nutrients from food supplements can help people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn their uses and side-effects.