Arthritis Food Myths
Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation about certain foods that are believed to help relieve arthritis symptoms, when there is actually no evidence of any benefit. Here are some of the most popular arthritis food myths:
- Cider Vinegar – Some people believe that drinking cider vinegar will help alleviate RA pain, but there is no known benefit.
- Gin Soaked Raisins – This is a popular folk remedy due to the sulfur dioxide that raisins are often treated with, and the juniper berries used to make gin. While both have been explored for their potential to improve joint health and alleviate inflammation, there is no study that shows any benefit for people with RA.
- Red Wine – It is true that red wine contains resveratrol, which has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect. One study found that resveratrol stops the formation of inflammatory factors associated with cancer, heart disease and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, that doesn’t mean more red wine is better. There is evidence that excessive drinking, even red wine, increases the production of inflammatory proteins in the body called cytokines. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, women should have no more than one drink per day and men no more than two drinks per day.
- The Raw Food Diet – While it is beneficial to eat more fruits and vegetables, it is not clear that eating more raw fruits and vegetables brings RA relief. It’s important to go slowly if you plan to increase your consumption of raw foods so that the additional fiber will not cause nausea or diarrhea.
