With a direct link between the food that we take in and the severity of symptoms experienced by arthritis sufferers proven, it mean you ought to be paying a lot of attention to your rheumatoid arthritis diet.

Although you might be taking prescription medications, an arthritis diet can help them work better.

Discover What Triggers Your Symptoms

The first thing you really should do is keep a log of any foods that seem to trigger your symptoms. These problem foods will vary from person to person, which is why a log or diary is useful to trace the ones that effect you. Once you have your record, you can then remove these foods out of your meals, avoiding needless pain.

Now let's explore some of the foods that are good for a healthy rheumatoid arthritis diet.

Foods Good for Rheumatoid Arthritis

As with any condition, the 'take in plenty of fluid' rule applies here. Remember to keep your liquid levels up, like water (best), soups, unsweetened juices and herbal or green teas. You could be dehydrated and not know it, except that you feel below par. Here's a hint; if you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Get into the habit of drinking whether you are thirsty or not.

Most fruit and vegetables are chock full of healthy anti oxidants that have a wonderful healing effect, but there are some to be wary of. You can steer clear of the ones known to worsen arthritic symptoms, and concentrate on the good foods like apples and avocados. Don't peel your apples as the skin contains five times the anti oxidants than the rest. And of course, dark green leafy vegetables are best.

What is in Your Cupboard?

You need to include in your rheumatoid arthritis diet foods which have an anti-inflammatory effect. This will reduce the swelling in your joints and decrease your pain. Two of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods are possibly already in your kitchen cupboard. These two are:

Garlic: Increase your intake of this humble bulb, try to eat it raw whenever you can; as with most foods, cooking destroys some nutrients. It is delicious in healthy dips and guacamole. If you genuinely have an aversion to the taste, take garlic supplements.

Ginger: Add fresh, ground or powdered ginger to your meals or infuse it in a liquid to make a aromatic tea. It's a little on the peppery side, and adds a warming effect to meals.

Foods to Avoid

Some of the foods that are most commonly linked with agitating rheumatoid arthritis are things like:

Fruit and Vegetables: You may wish to pass up citrus (lemons, oranges, grapefruits), and also tomatoes. These foods are quite acidic, which seems to cause more frequent flare-ups.

Meat: The meats to steer clear of are beef, pork, bacon and lamb. Essentially, keep away from meats containing saturated fats. If you can't do without the special steak or chop, be sure to cut away any visible fat before consuming.

Remember this, though -- people have various reactions to foods. This is why your list of foods to remove from your rheumatoid arthritis diet will be invaluable.

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