There is no special "rheumatoid arthritis diet" to help slow the progression of, or cure, the disease. However, it is important that people who have rheumatoid arthritis eat a well-balanced diet and control their weight. Eating a well-balanced diet can improve the way you feel and be a positive step toward dealing with rheumatoid arthritis; while controlling your weight can help minimize stress on the weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, hips, and joints of the feet. A well-balanced diet contains heart-healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains, among other things.

 

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis wonder if there is a special "diet for rheumatoid arthritis" to help slow the progression of, or even cure, the disease. The short answer to this question is no. While some research has shown that certain oils (usually taken as supplements) may decrease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, there are no foods or combination of foods that have been shown in clinical studies to improve rheumatoid arthritis. This includes unproven, but popular, rheumatoid arthritis diets like a vegetarian diet, acid reducing diets, and diets high in whole milk and butter. (Some people try diets high in whole milk and butter because they think these fats help lubricate the joints.) There are also no foods that have been shown in clinical studies to make rheumatoid arthritis worse.

 

Oils and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet -- What Does Research Say?

Recently, rheumatoid arthritis research has shown that certain oils may help decrease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. This includes fish oils and oils with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).