Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis might cause flare-ups or worsen your psoriasis symptoms. Psoriatic arthritis combines the swollen, sore joints of arthritis with psoriasis. Psoriasis typically causes itchy, scaly, or discolored patches to appear on the skin and scalp. About 8 million Americans have psoriasis—up to 30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis can be mild or severe, and it may involve one or many of your joints. Adjusting your diet could help keep your symptoms under control.
Many people claim that avoiding certain foods help psoriatic symptoms from flaring up. Keeping a log of your eating habits and symptoms might help you identify what causes your flare-ups.
Consider consulting your doctor before making drastic changes to your diet, especially if you take medications to control psoriatic arthritis inflammation and stiffness.
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Cutting back on the sugar in your diet might ease your psoriatic arthritis symptoms while improving your overall health. Sugar can potentially increase inflammation in your body. Sugar is high in calories and can contribute to weight gain, putting more pressure on your joints.
Replace your sugar cravings with fresh fruit. Try eating fruit instead of baked goods, candy, or soda. Fiber-rich fruits contain compounds that help your body ward off inflammation. Berries have been shown to reduce inflammatory stress.
Fatty red meats can trigger inflammation in your body. Red meat may make your symptoms worse.
Consider embracing a more plant-based diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. You can meet your protein needs by eating whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. When you eat meat, consider choosing lean options, such as fish and poultry. Try to stick to portions that measure about 3-4 ounces or the size of your palm.
Dairy products like milk and cheese are rich sources of protein, calcium, and nutrients. However, dairy products can also cause inflammation in your body. You might benefit from limiting or avoiding dairy products. Consult with your doctor about the potential benefits and downsides of avoiding the dairy food group.
Eating too many saturated fats can lead to weight gain, putting pressure on your joints. Saturated fats can also increase your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. People with arthritis are at a higher risk of heart problems. It’s important that you manage your cholesterol.
Limit saturated fats in your diet by saving fast foods, baked goods, and other fattening snacks as an occasional pleasure. Use unsaturated fats, such as olive, safflower, grapeseed, avocado, or walnut oil to cook. Unsaturated fats have anti-inflammatory properties.
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Load up on colorful fruits and vegetables to boost your antioxidant intake. Fruits and vegetables give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Colorful fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce inflammation. They’re also rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and other important nutrients.
Other nutritious sources of antioxidants include carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, strawberries, figs, and mangoes.
Eating right is key to staying healthy. It is especially important to monitor your health when you live with a chronic condition like psoriatic arthritis. There are many things you can do to manage your psoriatic arthritis and overall health.
For example, adjust your posture to help reduce the strains on your joints. Practice simple daily stretches and exercises to help prevent stiffness. Regular exercise fosters physical and emotional well-being.
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