6 Best Fruits for Psoriatic Arthritis

Add these delicious, fresh treats to your PsA-friendly diet. They may help reduce joint swelling and pain.

When you live with an autoimmune disease such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), you are always looking for ways to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress (an overabundance of free radicals that can damage fatty tissue, DNA, and proteins in your body). Part of the solution may be no farther than your backyard, farmers market, or supermarket: juicy, refreshing fruits.

“Just keep in mind that fruits are in no way a replacement for medical treatment. But they can be a delicious part of your overall therapy,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, a dietitian with offices on Long Island and in New York City.

If you’re buying canned, dried, or frozen fruits, read the labels to make sure there aren’t added sugars or sodium. “These can exacerbate your symptoms and make comorbidities like diabetes and cardiovascular disease worse,” warns Taub-Dix.

6 Fruits That May Help You Stay Healthy

1. Avocado

Avocado is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin E — the latter is not found in a lot of other fruits. These vitamins have an anti-inflammatory effect, which means eating avocados may help decrease joint pain.

Try It Make guacamole, of course, or use avocado as a veggie burger topping. Taub-Dix also substitutes mashed ripe avocados for butter or oil in muffins, using a 1:1 ratio. “That can help decrease saturated fat intake, which is great for some PsA comorbidities such as heart disease,” she explains.

2. Cherries

Cherries — both sweet and tart — have polyphenols (plant-based compounds) and vitamin C, both of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

“Studies have also shown that cherries may help improve the quality of your sleep. If you have PsA, you may be uncomfortable or in pain that can disrupt restorative sleep. Cherries can perhaps help with that,” says Taub-Dix.

Tart cherry juice can lower uric acid levels, which may be high in many people with psoriasis.

Lower levels of uric acid may help prevent gout in people with PsA, who are at increased risk of developing it.

Try It Summer is the season for juicy, sweet cherries like the Bing and Rainier varieties you’ll want to eat straight out of the bowl. Tart cherries, on the other hand, are great for baking (think fresh cherry cobbler), and dried cherries make a flavorful addition to trail mix.

3. Berries

Berries are loaded with polyphenols such as anthocyanins, which produce their red, blue and purple colors; quercetin; and various types of phenolic acids that reduce inflammation.

“They are also high in vitamin C, which is important for collagen building in skin and bones,” says Taub-Dix, adding that just eight strawberries have as much vitamin C as an entire orange.

Try It Add berries to oatmeal or cold cereal, yogurt, fruit or green salads, or just eat them as a snack on their own.

4. Pineapple

A traditional symbol of welcome, this hydrating fruit is loaded with vitamin C, as well as manganese, which helps maintain bone health. Pineapples are also a good source of the enzyme bromelain, which helps reduce inflammation and pain while also boosting the immune system. An added bonus: Pineapples may aid in digestion.

Try It Cut up fresh pineapple and eat it raw, or toss it into cottage cheese or yogurt. You can also grill it with a little olive oil.

5. Mango

Mango contains vitamin C, polyphenols, and carotenoids, which can help reduce inflammation and protect against bone destruction, says Taub-Dix.

Try It This is another fruit that’s yummy when grilled. It’s also a tasty add-in to yogurt. Or make a fresh salsa with it.

6. Kiwi

This fuzzy fruit is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which stimulate the immune system. It also contains a healthy dose of dietary fiber, which may reduce the risk of heart disease, a common comorbidity of PsA.

Try It Peel it, slice it, and eat it raw. Kiwi is delicious in fruit salad, or add it to a green salad for a hint of sweetness. Like mango, it’s good when grilled or in a salsa.

The Takeaway

Boost your psoriatic arthritis management with delicious fruits that pack an anti-inflammatory punch. Enjoy avocados, cherries, berries, pineapples, mangos, and kiwis, which may help reduce joint swelling and pain. Remember to choose fresh or frozen fruits without added sugars or salt for the most health benefits.

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6 Fruits That May Help You Stay Healthy

1. Avocado