Studies indicate that diet plays an important role in the risk of RA and disease progression. And just as many different types of foods offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, others—like trans fats, red meat, and sodium—can worsen RA symptoms and increase disease activity.
Sources of trans fats include margarine, shortening, non-dairy creamer that’s made with partially hydrogenated oils, anything that is fried in partially hydrogenated oils, and many shelf-stable pastries, donuts, and pies.
Refined sugars can be found in soft drinks and baked goods. You can identify refined sugars by reading food labels and looking for anything ending in “ose,” like dextrose, glucose, and fructose. Refined grains have been linked to higher levels of inflammatory markers in the blood. Some examples of refined grains are white flour, white bread, and white rice.
A study reported in 2018 in the journal Arthritis Care & Research involved diet surveys sent to 300 people in a single-center RA registry at a large academic center. The study participants were asked if they consumed each of 20 foods, and if those made symptoms better, worse, or didn’t affect them at all.
What the researchers found was sugary drinks and desserts were the most frequently associated with worsening RA symptoms.
Red meat includes beef, lamb, mutton, pork, venison, veal, and goat. Processed meats are those which have been preserved through smoking, curing, salting, or adding preservatives. Examples include sausage, bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, and ham.
Some people who have RA have reported improved symptoms after removing red meats and processed meats from their diets.
Symptoms of gluten sensitivity include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, smelly feces, abdominal pain, headaches, and fatigue. If you experience the signs of gluten sensitivity, your healthcare provider may advise you to remove gluten-containing foods from your diet. Additionally, if you have celiac disease, an autoimmune condition, you can experience intestinal inflammation and damage from consuming gluten.
Gluten-containing foods include wheat, rye, barley, or malt in various forms (malted milk for milkshakes, malt syrup, etc.), wheat starches, and more.
One 2019 report in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that most animal foods, including milk, eggs, and dairy can be a problem for people with RA. Interestingly, other studies find that dairy generally has anti-inflammatory effects. Milk products may also contain saturated fats, which can contribute to inflammation.
If you don’t experience negative effects from dairy products, try to select low-fat options rather than full-fat.
A 62-day mouse study reported in 2015 by the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found low salt diets can reduce the severity of RA in comparison to high salt diets. The researchers determined this because the mice on the low sodium diet were experiencing low cartilage breakdown and bone destruction, in addition to lower inflammatory markers.
High protein and high-fat foods—especially fried foods—have the highest amounts of AGEs. French fries, mayonnaise, American cheese, and processed meats are also loaded with AGEs.
Research shows people who have inflammatory arthritis, like RA, tend to have higher levels of AGEs than people who don’t have arthritis.
You also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease if you have RA, and AGEs are also an early indicator of cardiovascular disease.
You will also need to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, weight management, and not smoking, possibly with guidance from a nutritionist or dietitian.
