Arthritis — Healthy Diet Management Tips

Things to remember

No special diet or ‘miracle food’ can cure arthritis, but some conditions may be helped by making changes to your diet

Arthritis is a general term that refers to over 150 different conditions. The accurate term for this group of conditions is musculoskeletal conditions, as they affect the muscles, bones and/or joints.

While there is no special diet or ‘miracle food’ that can cure arthritis, everyone can benefit from eating a healthy, well-balanced diet to maintain general good health.

Some conditions may be helped by making changes to your diet. For example, people with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis seem to benefit from an increased intake of omega-3 fats, found in oily fish such as sardines and salmon, while people with gout may benefit from avoiding foods high in purines, including offal, shellfish and beer and drinking plenty of water.

Healthy eating

Your body works best when you eat a wide range of healthy foods. Most people find that they feel better if they eat a balanced diet full of cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables and choose foods that are low in fats, salt and sugar.

Eating a balanced diet and having an adequate fluid intake can also help provide you with better energy levels, help to maintain your weight, and give you a greater sense of wellbeing which may improve your symptoms.

Always seek the advice of your doctor or dietitian before changing your diet. You may be restricting your food intake unnecessarily or taking too much of certain products (such as mineral supplements) that may have no impact on your condition at all. Some supplements may also interact with your medication.

Maintain a healthy weight

If you‘re overweight or obese, the extra load on your joints may be making your arthritis symptoms worse, especially if your affected joints include those of the hip, knee, feet or spine. There’s also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

To lose excess weight you must be active, but this can be difficult for people with arthritis due to pain or stiffness. See your doctor, dietitian or health professional for information and advice.

Omega-3 fats and inflammation

Foods that contain omega-3 fats have been found to help reduce the inflammation associated with some forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

These effects are modest compared with medication, however they don’t have side effects, and may also have other health benefits, such as reduced heart disease.

Foods rich in omega-3 fats include:

fish – oily fish such as salmon and sardines
linseeds and linseed (flaxseed) oil
canola (rapeseed) oil
walnuts
foods fortified with omega-3, e.g. margarines and eggs
some fish oil supplements.

It’s important that you don’t confuse fish oils with fish liver oils (such as cod liver oil and halibut liver oil). Fish liver oils also contain vitamin A. Large amounts of vitamin A can cause serious side effects. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements, to make sure you’re taking the correct dosage.

Gout and diet

Gout occurs when uric acid, a normal waste product, builds up in your bloodstream and forms crystals in a joint, such as the big toe, causing inflammation and pain

It’s believed that lowering uric acid levels through small changes in your diet may help reduce the chance of future gout attacks. These changes include:

restrict or avoid alcohol
avoid binge drinking
restrict or avoid offal meats, e.g. liver, kidneys, brains
restrict or avoid shellfish, such as prawns and scallops
restrict or avoid some seafood, including sardines, herrings, mackerel and anchovies
restrict or avoid products containing yeast—e.g. beer and Vegemite
drink plenty of water
avoid fasting or crash dieting
make sure you don’t overeat on a regular basis.

Your doctor or dietitian can help guide you in making healthy changes to your diet.

It’s important to note that dietary changes alone aren’t enough to address the underlying cause of gout – too much uric acid in your blood. You also need to continue to take any medication your doctor has prescribed to manage your gout.

Evidence about diet and arthritis

People with gout may find that avoiding certain foods, in combination with gout medication, may prevent a gout attack.

However, there‘s no substantial scientific evidence that other forms of arthritis or musculoskeletal conditions can be improved or alleviated by avoiding particular foods.

There is no evidence that:

acidic foods – e.g. lemons, oranges, tomatoes
nightshade foods – e.g. tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplants
dairy foods

trigger or aggravate the symptoms associated with muscle, bone and joint conditions.

These foods all contain important nutrients and avoiding them may cause other health problems.

People who have an intolerance to certain foods have found that excluding it from their diet can make them feel better overall. However it’s unclear how this affects arthritis symptoms. If you’re thinking of excluding foods from your diet, speak with a dietitian to make sure you’re not eliminating important nutrients.

Tips for managing your diet

eat a well-balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables, protein foods, dairy, cereals and grains. This will help to maintain general good health and a healthy weight.
ensure you have adequate dietary calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later life.
drink plenty of water.
include more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.
keep your weight within the normal range – excess bodyweight increases stress on joints, especially weight-bearing joints like knees and hips
keep a food diary – if you think a particular food may aggravate your condition, it can help to keep a diary of your food intake and symptoms. After a month, you may have some idea about which food could be provoking symptoms. Discuss these results with your doctor or a dietitian
don’t cut whole food groups from your diet – for example, all dairy products – without talking to your doctor, as you may miss out on important vitamins and minerals.
be aware – the symptoms of arthritis, particularly the inflammatory types, can change for no apparent reason. Don’t assume any improvement in your symptoms is due to what you eat or changes in your diet. Be guided by your health professional.
seek advice – if you need help, talk with your doctor or a dietitian. There’s a lot of conflicting information online and in the media about arthritis and diet. If you need some guidance, talk with a professional.

Check out our recipes

These recipes have been created by qualified volunteers who share their expertise and knowledge to help us bring healthy and nutritious recipes to people with musculoskeletal conditions.

Where to get help

Your doctor
Dietitian
Musculoskeletal Health Australia

How we can help

Call our Helpline and speak to our team.Phone 1800 263 265 or email helpline@muscha.org

More to explore

Download this information sheet (PDF).

Translated information

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The whole or part of this material is copyright to the State of Victoria and the Better Health Channel. Reproduced with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Users are permitted to print copies for research, study or educational purposes.

This information has been produced in consultation with and approved by: Musculoskeletal Health Australia.