Foods & Drinks Causing Achy Joints, According to Doctors

All three doctors say the best diet for people with inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout) is an anti-inflammatory diet.

“This (way of eating) includes foods that we generally know are good for us anyway, including leafy green vegetables, nuts, oily fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines which contain omega-3 fatty acids and are anti-inflammatory, and fruits, especially berries and oranges, which are rich in antioxidants,” Mehta said.

Both Mehta and Wright cited the Mediterranean diet as another eating plan that naturally includes foods that are anti-inflammatory and therefore good for people with joint pain.

“The Mediterranean diet prioritizes whole grains, vegetables, fish and other unprocessed foods while minimizing meat and processed foods. This way of eating seems to work universally for people with joint pain,” Wright said. Research supports the link between the Mediterranean diet and improvement in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Mehta emphasized that a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods is not only good for managing joint pain; it benefits overall health and prevents other chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain types of cancer.

“An anti-inflammatory diet is a good idea to follow for everyone, not just patients with inflammatory arthritis,” she said. This means that if you eat the majority of your meals with other people, eating this way will benefit everyone at the table, not just you.

If you have questions about managing your joint pain, talk to your healthcare provider. Treating your pain may require more than just diet changes. But revamping your diet is a great place to start. Your whole body will be better for it.

This article was originally published on HuffPost.