Diet for rheumatoid arthritis | Network of clinics “Hello!”

Dietary principles for RA

The goal of choosing food for rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce inflammation, strengthen the connective tissue of the joints, and speed up metabolism. It is important to take into account three important indicators:

1. In what phase does the disease occur: active or inactive.
2. What is the degree of damage to the bone and cartilage structures of the joints.
3. Are there any complications? For example, deterioration of blood circulation, disturbance of protein metabolism (amyloidosis).

The general principles of developing a nutritional protocol for rheumatoid arthritis are to create a balance between the physiological needs of the body and the diet. At the same time, the consumption of certain fats and easily digestible carbohydrates is limited, food allergens are excluded, and salt intake is sharply reduced.

Many prescribed medications worsen the condition of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Small meals are required, at least five, preferably six times a day. Heat treatment comes down to baking, steaming and boiling.

When it comes to what you shouldn’t eat and drink if you have rheumatoid arthritis, doctors recommend using table No. 10 according to Pevzner. The Mediterranean and gluten-free diets follow the same principles. Types of products that contain preservatives, flavoring additives, improvers, and dyes are limited or completely prohibited. Restrictions apply to red meat, dairy products and citrus fruits.

An important aspect is caloric content. With normal weight, it should not be below 2400 kcal. If you are overweight, caloric intake is reduced by 20–25%, depending on your body mass index. Liquid intake - from 800 to 1000 ml, salt - less than 5 g. Complete refusal of salt is not recommended, as this can disrupt nerve conduction.

For clarity, let’s consider how much you need to consume the main ingredients, salt and water in the acute phase, when there is swelling, severe pain, signs of water-salt imbalance, shown:

• 1700–1800 kcal;
• fats 70–75 g, primarily vegetable;
• protein 70 g (animal - at least 60%);
• water up to one liter;
• salt 3 g.

A decrease in energy indicator is achieved by reducing the amount of easily digestible carbohydrates (sugar, sweets, cereals) in favor of slow ones (fruits, vegetables, certain types of cereals). Pure sugar - no more than four teaspoons per day.

Any canned food, pickles, or pickled foods are prohibited. When the acute stage passes, the amount of protein returns to 90–100 g. It is necessary to remember: in 100 g of meat (beef) there is only 29 g of protein, and in 100 g of cow's milk there is only 3.3 g of protein. Based on these indicators, it is necessary to draw up prescriptions for rheumatoid arthritis.

Fully or partially limited products

The diet for rheumatism excludes:

• Meat/fish broths and first courses based on them.
• Fatty varieties of red meat (pork), offal (liver, tongue, brains), fatty fish, waterfowl meat (goose, duck), sausages, fast food products, semi-finished meat products, smoked meats.
• Solid fats of animal origin, pickled/salted foods, canned cooking oil, hydrogenated foods (mayonnaise, margarine), potato chips.
• Fresh wheat bread, confectionery, starch/yeast containing chocolate products, cocoa, premium flour products, baked goods, dough, strong tea/coffee, cocoa, chocolate, ice cream.
• Full-fat whole milk and dairy products, fatty, salty cheeses.
• Products of the nightshade family - tomatoes/tomato products, eggplants, sweet peppers, potatoes.
• Herbs/spices, sauces, hot seasonings, legumes, red fish caviar, anchovies, honey, preserves, jam.
• Alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

Table of prohibited products

Products that can worsen or improve your general condition

The list of what not to eat with rheumatoid arthritis opens with dishes that can negatively affect the condition of the stomach and intestines. This includes fried, smoked meats, spicy seasonings, any type of broth: meat, mushroom, fish and even vegetable.

Fruits and vegetables rich in acids should be consumed with caution. But they cannot be excluded, since the body needs antioxidants and especially vitamin C, flavonoids, and niacin. Therefore, rose hips, sweet peppers, oranges and various berries are included in the menu. You can drink green tea. Bran (wheat, rice) will bring benefits. Bread - in small quantities.

Sources of complete protein, chondroprotectors, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals are required. These include the following range of products:

• chicken and quail eggs;
• fruits;
• vegetables;
• greenery;
• nuts;
• sea ​​fish and seafood;
• jellied dishes, jelly;
• cartilaginous by-products (ears, legs, snouts);
• linseed oil.

During remission, you are allowed to eat sweets, honey, jam or preserves. But only weak coffee and black tea are allowed. The diet for rheumatoid arthritis, both seropositive and seronegative, completely excludes carbonated drinks and alcohol.

Authorized Products

The diet for rheumatism includes the following in the diet:

• Soups in vegetable broth without frying with the addition of thoroughly boiled cereals/vegetables.
• Dietary varieties of meat, mainly poultry (turkey/chicken), boiled/baked rabbit.
• Low-fat sea/river fish, seafood (mussels, squid, shrimp), seaweed.
• Porridge (buckwheat, oat flakes, rice, wheat) both as a side dish and as an independent dish.
• Dried (yesterday's) white bread, crackers, dry cookies.
• Unsalted butter/cold-pressed vegetable oils (linseed, olive, sunflower).
• Chicken eggs in the form of a protein steamed omelet.
• Vegetables/fruits raw (vinaigrette/salads), seasoned with vegetable oil, stewed/boiled.
• As a dessert - marshmallows, jam, marmalade, marshmallows.
• Drinks include weak green tea, freshly squeezed vegetable/fruit juices, bran/rosehip decoctions, compotes, fruit drinks, chicory, non-carbonated, slightly mineralized alkaline waters.

Table of permitted products

How a proper diet can help

Alleviating the condition, stimulating the body to restore cartilage tissue is the main goal of nutritionists in developing the question of what can and cannot be eaten with rheumatoid arthritis. If you eat right, follow your doctor's instructions and take the necessary medications, the results will be:

• increasing the elasticity of tissues around joints;
• reduction of inflammation;
• stimulation of metabolic processes;
• improvement of general condition;
• prolongation of remission.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely get rid of rheumatoid arthritis. But the quality of life largely depends on a competent approach to food. Maintaining a balance, including all the necessary substances in the diet, especially protein, vitamins and mineral components, significantly improves well-being and allows you to move more actively. Diet is not a panacea, but a useful aid in the fight against illness.

Reviews and results

Reviews from the overwhelming number of patients with rheumatism indicate that diet is the most important component of complex therapy and can reduce the symptoms of the disease and accelerate the attenuation of the acute process.

• “... For the last 4 years I began to worry about pain in the joints, but I kept putting off going to the hospital. But then my relatives insisted, and I underwent examination: seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, early stage, activity II, FC I, ACCP (+). They prescribed various medications, antibiotics, and dietary Table No. 10. I followed the diet quite strictly. It’s good that I have good cooking skills, so the taste of my food was not particularly affected. Of course, limiting salt has an effect, but I use garden greens, which to some extent compensate for the lack of salt. My health has improved”;
• “... I have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for more than 6 years. During periods of exacerbation, I immediately switch to a strict diet, which, I believe, is very effective, and I practice traditional methods of treatment”;
• “...I had a sore throat, and after 2 weeks I developed a fever, weakness, palpitations, and my knee joints began to hurt. On the doctor’s recommendation, we underwent a rheumate test: antistreptolysin - 256. EchoCG also revealed mitral valve insufficiency. They prescribed Artracol, Bactamide and other drugs. I switched to dietary table No. 10. I bought a steamer and cook all my dishes on it. I have a hard time with limiting salt and the lack of salty, pickled foods. But I understand that you need to adapt to greater or lesser restrictions. In a month there will be repeated rheumatic tests, I hope that they will be normal.”

Sample diet menu No. 13.

• First breakfast: oatmeal porridge with milk, tea with lemon.
• Second breakfast: steam omelette, rosehip decoction.
• Lunch: pureed vegetable soup with meat broth (1/2 serving), steamed meat balls, rice porridge (1/2 serving), compote.
• Afternoon snack: baked apple.
• Dinner: fried fish with potatoes, cucumber, buckwheat or barley porridge with butter, vegetable casseroles, cottage cheese, vinaigrette, fruit, brown bread with butter, salad, kefir, weak tea with sugar, jam.
• At night: kefir or other fermented milk drinks.

A medical diet is prescribed only by the attending physician , who has full knowledge of the medical history of a particular patient.