5 Foods to Limit or Avoid With Psoriatic Arthritis
Certain foods may worsen psoriatic arthritis-related inflammation.
While there’s no cure for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), your prescribed treatment plan can help control inflammation and alleviate your symptoms. As a complementary approach, diet is an important element. “A healthy diet is always a good idea, regardless of your disease,” says Martin Bergman, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
For people with PsA, an inflammatory condition, sticking with an anti-inflammatory diet, like the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to offer benefits. While choosing the right balance of nutritious foods to eat is important, steering clear of certain foods that promote inflammation, poor gut health, and weight gain is equally essential.
Being overweight may reduce the effectiveness of certain PsA medications and can compound your risk of heart disease. “Weight loss in conjunction with a healthy diet has been shown to have a positive effect on reducing disease activity,” says Dr. Bergman. Here are five foods to limit when you have PsA — just remember to discuss any major modifications to your diet with your doctor.
Red meat and processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, and sausages are high in saturated fat, which raises cholesterol levels and contributes to weight gain, neither of which are good for people with psoriatic arthritis, who are already at an increased risk of heart disease.
Researchers have found that diets high in animal-based proteins are correlated with increased levels of inflammatory markers in the body, possibly due to the presence of pro-inflammatory compounds. And processed meats, which are high in omega-6 and saturated fatty acids, may “tip the balance towards a more pro-inflammatory state.”
Start reversing the trend by choosing lean meats and plant-based sources of protein. In fact, case studies suggest that a plant-based diet may help control immune-mediated diseases like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by targeting pro-inflammatory markers in the body.
Excessive sugar intake is closely associated with the development of low-grade chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, according to research. It also contributes to weight gain and obesity.
And a high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to inflammation, type 2 diabetes, and excess body fat.
Too much sugar leads to weight gain, which can further tax your joints and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, cautions John M. Davis III, MD, a consultant in the division of rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
While cakes and pastries and sweets are hard to resist, consuming high amounts of added sugar, as noted above, is linked to inflammation and weight gain.
When your sweet tooth strikes, snack on fresh fruits instead to satisfy your craving. While fruits naturally contain sugar, they also provide a good dose of fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients, unlike processed baked goods.
Refined carbs, like white bread, white rice, white pasta, and some cereals, are simple carbohydrates that have been processed to remove their fiber along with many of their nutrients. These simple carbs are broken down into sugars in the body.
Consumption of refined carbs is thought to promote chronic, low-grade inflammation in a few ways. It leads to oxidative stress and activation of proteins that trigger or heighten inflammation. And high-sugar diets, heavy on refined carbs, also lead to gut inflammation that can trigger systemic inflammation.
It’s better to opt for whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread.
Certain otherwise beneficial vegetables in the nightshade family — including eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes — may aggravate symptoms for some people who have psoriatic arthritis, according to Dr. Davis. The culprit could be a chemical called solanine, which is often found in these foods. On the other hand, there’s no definitive proof that these vegetables aggravate arthritis, adds Bergman. Diets are often very individualized, he says. What works for one person may not work for another.
If you find that nightshade vegetables cause problems for you, avoid them in favor of other vegetables that will offer anti-inflammatory benefits without triggering your symptoms, such as kale and other leafy greens.
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory condition, and avoiding or limiting foods that promote inflammation might help control your symptoms. When you have PsA, it’s important to limit foods that lead to weight gain and poor gut health.
Red and processed meats can exacerbate inflammation, as can sugary beverages, baked goods, and refined carbs.
There’s no definitive evidence that nightshade vegetables aggravate PsA symptoms, but they may, depending on the individual. If you notice discomfort, consider focusing on a variety of other anti-inflammatory vegetables like leafy greens.
Dietary modifications aren’t a substitute for medical treatment of PsA. Talk with your doctor about which dietary changes could benefit your psoriatic arthritis treatment.
