Arthritis is a general term describing different conditions that cause pain, stiffness and inflammation in one or more joints. Everyone with arthritis can benefit from eating a healthy well balanced diet. There is no special that cures arthritis, but some conditions may be helped by avoiding or including certain foods. For example, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis seem to respond to an increased dietary intake of fish oils, while gout benefits from avoidance of alcohol and offal meats. Always seek the advice of your doctor or dietitian before changing your diet in an attempt to treat arthritis.

General tips

Avoid fasting.
Eat a well balanced diet.
Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
Increase dietary calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Keep your weight within the normal range, by reducing the amount of dietary fats.

Diet for gout

Gout is a type of arthritis characterised by the build-up of uric acid in the joints (such as the big toe), which causes inflammation and pain. Uric acid is a waste product that is normally excreted from the body in urine. Some of the dietary recommendations that may help to ease the symptoms of gout are:

Avoid alcohol
Restrict offal meats, such as liver, kidneys and brains
Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids
Make sure you don't overeat on a regular basis

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Fish oils that contain omega-3 fatty acids have been found, in various studies, to help reduce the inflammation associated with some sorts of arthritis. These forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, are characterised by inflammation. There may be additional benefits to eating fish once or twice every week - researchers from around the world have discovered that the regular consumption of fish can reduce the risk of diseases ranging from childhood asthma to prostate cancer. Be guided by your doctor.

Obesity may worsen arthritis symptoms

Being overweight does affect people with arthritis. Joints affected by arthritis are already under strain. If you are overweight or obese, the extra load on your joints may be exacerbating your symptoms, especially if your affected joints include those of the hip, knee or spine. There is also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.