Many people are not aware that joint pain may come from their diet. A typical American diet consists of lots of meat and processed foods that can have an inflammatory effect on the body. Some of the worst offenders include sugars and… yes, red meat.
This article explains how science has come to support the fact that foods like red meat can lead to joint pain and worsen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Processed vs. Unprocessed Foods in Joint Pain
Highly processed foods and those high in fat alter the gut microbiota in humans, causing many health issues. Plant-based foods are packed with probiotics and prebiotics, which contribute to healthy gut bacteria balance and ease off inflammation.
Also, it’s becoming well known that fresh foods can reduce inflammation in the body. A plant-based diet, for example, helps alleviate joint pain symptoms, as supported by numerous studies. Many eaters of plant-based foods managed to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in only two weeks. Plus, they reported more energy and improved physical functions after six weeks.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints and other tissue. A 2017 study found that fiber has a considerable role in preventing arthritis symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints.
Those on a high fiber diet have a 61% lower chance of experiencing osteoarthritis in the knees. Even though there are plenty of risk factors, gut health could be essential in relieving the symptoms of arthritis.
Emerging research from the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine shows that the gut microbiome can predict clinical improvement of rheumatoid arthritis patients. The study showed how some traits of the gut microbiome are linked to future diagnoses of RA.
Researchers suggest that a gut microbiome analysis can show if the patient can achieve clinical improvement. In the presence of specific biomarkers, RA sufferers could make dietary changes to improve their clinical outcomes.
These predictive biomarkers could potentially identify patients who can achieve some form of clinical improvement under specific therapy. This would spare them the cost and risk of other treatment methods.
Also, similar tools can be used to detect patients who are unlikely to experience improved symptoms. This would allow healthcare providers to monitor and target those patients more closely. Overall, there’s much research to be done in the field, but clinicians are taking the right path in further understanding the inner working of RA so they can tailor treatment plans for individual patients.
As we wait for more promising studies, the rheumatoid arthritis could benefit from eating more plant-based foods. This will help support their gut microbiome and promote overall health. On the other hand, overeating foods like processed food and red meats can worsen the symptoms.
Healthy Foods Make a Healthy Gut
Emerging research demonstrates that our food intake impacts our overall health, which readily applies to sufferers of rheumatic arthritis as well. Studies show that gut microbiome biomarkers can indicate potential easing of the disease’s inflammatory symptoms. This is welcoming news for RA patients, on the one hand. But on the other, it’s a wake-up call for those not paying much attention to their diet. Red meats and processed foods should be consumed in moderation, as we should include more plant-based products to promote gut and overall health.
