Like many diseases, rheumatoid arthritis is the subject of some confusion. Sufferers of this condition commonly experience their symptoms in very different ways, and even one person's symptoms can vary from one day to the next. It's not surprising, then, that patients with rheumatoid arthritis aren't sure how to treat their condition effectively.

A Folk Remedy? Or Good, Solid Science?

One often-discussed treatment is the rheumatoid arthritis diet. Although this isn't a diet in the traditional sense, the rheumatoid arthritis diet is a list of foods that you should and should not eat if you have rheumatoid arthritis. The link between diet and RA has never been proven, so most doctors don't recommend the rheumatoid arthritis diet as a method for controlling RA symptoms.

In general, the recommendations for the rheumatoid arthritis diet include fresh fruits and vegetables and increasing your daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish oil, avocado oil, walnuts, soybean oil, and canola oil. The concept of downing massive quantities of oil is unappetizing, but the oils can be used in a variety of ways, such as on top of a salad.

Many incarnations of the rheumatoid arthritis diet call for the avoidance of alcohol, coffee, processed foods, and fried foods. The idea behind the rheumatoid arthritis diet is that these foods on the "avoid" list do not nourish your body and may only exacerbate the autoimmune symptoms that cause RA symptoms.

One of the most accepted forms of the rheumatoid arthritis diet is not a list of foods that you can and can not have. It is simply a recommendation to stay at a healthy weight. The healthy weight rheumatoid arthritis diet doesn't provide any tips or magic pills; it simply states that staying at a healthy weight can have a markedly positive effect on the sufferer's symptoms.

Studies have shown that even a moderate amount of extra weight can have a dramatic effect on RA symptoms. Doctors suggest that all rheumatoid arthritis patients maintain a healthy and appropriate weight in order to reduce the negative effects that high body weight can cause.

Although eating any particular rheumatoid arthritis diet won't cure your rheumatoid arthritis, some people find that just taking positive steps toward keeping themselves healthy can help. By adhering to a rheumatoid arthritis diet that is well-balanced, you can take a step toward better overall health. You may even find that you experience less pain and stiffness in your affected joints.