Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Foods Can Help With ArthritisFruitVegetablesLegumesWhole GrainsNuts and SeedsLow-Fat DairyFish and SeafoodHealthy FatsSpices and HerbsSweetsFermented FoodsGreen Tea and Other Beverages
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Foods Can Help With Arthritis
Fruit
Vegetables
Legumes
Whole Grains
Nuts and Seeds
Low-Fat Dairy
Fish and Seafood
Healthy Fats
Spices and Herbs
Sweets
Fermented Foods
Green Tea and Other Beverages
Researchers think dietary factors might affect certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.Thus, changing the foods you eat could provide arthritis symptom relief.
This article explores 12 types of foods to include in your diet for managing arthritis symptoms and providing overall health benefits.
13 Foods to Avoid With Arthritis and What to Eat Instead
Verywell | Nusha Ashjaee
Managing and reducing inflammation is essential to reducing pain, stiffness, and swelling for both types of arthritis. Medications are often used to reduce inflammation associated with arthritis to improve symptoms and decrease pain. Certain foods also have anti-inflammatory properties, making them a powerful complementary treatment for arthritis.
The Mediterranean diet, in particular, may provide benefits in reducing pain and swollen and tender joints in people with rheumatoid arthritis.And researchers in more than one study have concluded there was a lower risk of osteoarthritis symptoms and pain in participants who followed a Mediterranean diet pattern.
Other studies have looked at ageneral anti-inflammatory dietand its impact on arthritis. One study found an anti-inflammatory diet had positive effects on disease activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
The key is to include foods with anti-inflammatory properties in your diet regularly.
Foods That Definitely Cause Inflammation
Many fruits are rich in compounds calledflavonoidsandpolyphenols. Polyphenolic flavonoids are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.Berries and pomegranates are rich sources of a variety of dietary polyphenolic flavonoids. Recent research shows a protective role of fruits and their polyphenols in studies of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Fruits that have shown promising results in reducing pain and inflammation in human clinical studies of arthritis include:
The role of other fruit polyphenols, such asquercetin,anthocyanins, and citrus flavonoids, have also been studied for their benefits in improving rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
These fruits all contain beneficial polyphenolic compounds that can help fight inflammation associated with arthritis.
The 2020-2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend eating 1.5 to 2.5 cups of fruit daily, depending on your calorie needs.Whole fruits and juices have been most commonly studied, but dried and frozen fruits may also be beneficial.
Vegetables are an excellent addition to any diet, but colorful vegetables, such as dark leafy greens, broccoli,beets, sweet potatoes, andcabbageare especially good for people with arthritis. They are good sources ofantioxidants, polyphenols, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
The antioxidant activity of nutrients in vegetables is associated with immune function and anti-inflammatory processes. Vitamin A andcarotenoidsplay a role in immune function, which may benefit people with arthritis.Carotenoids are abundant in red and orange-hued vegetables, such as:
Vitamin K deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.Dark leafy green vegetables are often rich in vitamin K, which has a role in bone and cartilage mineralization and could be beneficial for people with osteoarthritis.Good sources of vitamin K include:
Cooking TipsLightly cook your vegetables or eat them raw to avoid breaking down nutrients.Lightly steam or sauté vegetables, instead of using high-heat techniques, such as boiling or roasting.Carotenoid compounds and vitamin K are better absorbed with some fat, so sauté spinach in a drizzle of olive oil or dip your carrot sticks in hummus.
Cooking Tips
Lightly cook your vegetables or eat them raw to avoid breaking down nutrients.Lightly steam or sauté vegetables, instead of using high-heat techniques, such as boiling or roasting.Carotenoid compounds and vitamin K are better absorbed with some fat, so sauté spinach in a drizzle of olive oil or dip your carrot sticks in hummus.
Stock your pantry with these arthritis-friendly vegetables:
The average adult needs about 2.5 cups of vegetables each day.
Legumesare plentiful in the Mediterranean diet and a great source of fiber and plant-based protein.Beans, peas, and lentils make excellent alternatives when trying to decrease meat consumption. Legumes are also good sources of iron, folate, potassium, andmagnesium.
Canned and dried beans offer nutritional benefits. If choosing canned, opt for low- or no-sodium-added varieties, and be sure to rinse them with water to reduce the gas-producing effect of beans.
Legumes are considered part of both the protein food group and the vegetable group.The 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend eating about 3 cups of legumes per week, or about ½ cup of beans every day.
Legumes are considered part of both the protein food group and the vegetable group.
The 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend eating about 3 cups of legumes per week, or about ½ cup of beans every day.
Whole grains contain more antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients compared to refined grains.A 2017 review found that results from two longitudinal studies showed that higher total fiber intake was related to a lower risk of osteoarthritis symptoms.
Antioxidants and other phytochemicals in whole grains, such as vitamin E, B vitamins, selenium, and magnesium offer inflammation-fighting benefits for people with arthritis and are important for overall health.
Load your grocery cart with these whole grains:
Three to six servings per day of whole grains are recommended daily.
Nuts and seeds are a foundational part of the Mediterranean diet. Many varieties of nuts and seeds are great sources of healthy fats, like anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts are part of the protein food group, making them a good source of plant-based protein and fiber.
Enjoy a small handful of nuts or seeds daily, including a variety of these:
Choose raw, lightly roasted, and unsalted varieties of nuts and seeds.
Try these tips to incorporate nuts into your diet regularly:
Dairy products are one of the best sources of calcium in our diet. In addition, thanks to fortification, milk and some yogurts are also good sources of vitamins A and D. A 2015 review found there is no benefit to avoiding dairy consumption for people with arthritis and dairy intake may be beneficial for bone health.
Vitamin Dandcalciumwork together in the body to build and preserve bone mass, which is important for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Probioticsare healthy bacteria commonly found in dairy foods like yogurt and kefir. Several randomized controlled trials have shown a relationship between probiotics and improvements in inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
Aim for three servings of dairy each day to meet your daily calcium, vitamin D, and probiotic needs.
Some types of fish are rich inomega-3 fatty acids, which inhibit inflammation.EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are two important omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.
A 2018 study of 176 people found those who consumed fish at least two times per week had significantly lower disease activity compared with people who ate fish less than one time per month or never ate fish.For each additional serving of fish consumed per week, there was a significant further reduction in disease activity.
The amount of omega-3 fatty acids varies. Fish containing high amounts of omega-3s include:
Mackerel is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, king mackerel ishigh in mercuryand the FDA recommends people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and young children avoid king mackerel.Pacific chub mackerel and Spanish mackerel are both lower mercury alternatives.
Other seafood sources with small amounts of omega-3s include:
In addition to the omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood, vitamin D is also found in fatty fish including salmon, sardines, trout, and tuna. Vitamin D has been shown to positively affect autoimmunity and decrease disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
In general, it is recommended to consume 3 to 4 ounces of fish, twice a week.However, more might be better for people with arthritis.
If you do not like fish or don’t consume it, try taking afish oil supplement. Studies show that taking fish oil daily may help ease joint stiffness, tenderness, pain, and swelling.
Olive oil is a staple in the Mediterranean diet, being one of the main sources of fats consumed. It is mostly made up of healthymonounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. A 2019 review of studies concluded that higher polyunsaturated fatty acid intake was beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Swap outsaturated fats, such as butter, in cooking and baking with plant-derived oils. Limit foods high in saturated fat, such as beef, sausage, bacon, fast foods, ice creams, pastries, and other baked goods.
Instead of adding salt to your meals, flavor your food with other spices and herbs. Many herbs and spices contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric, ginger,garlic, onion, cinnamon, and chili powder contain powerful plant compounds that can reduce inflammation and ease symptoms of arthritis.
A little of these herbs and spices goes a long way. They will not only make your food flavorful but can help fight against inflammation related to arthritis.
Try these tips to incorporate more herbs and spices daily:
Benefits of Cinnamon and Honey for Arthritis
You might think sweets are off-limits on a healthy, anti-inflammatory diet, however, there are certain sweets that can be included in moderation. Cocoa anddark chocolatehave been studied extensively for their role as an antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory properties. Cocoa contains flavonoids that can protect against inflammation and oxidative damage.
Eating a square of dark chocolate each day may help satisfy your sweet tooth while providing some health benefits too.
Along with arthritis-friendly fruits, other sweet options could include:
Fermented foodscontain beneficial probiotics, which help maintain a healthy balance between the “good” and “bad” bacteria in your body. They also reduce bad bacteria that often cause infections and illnesses and impact inflammation.
A 2015 review found that processed soy food compounds play a role in immune system response, as well as in overcoming inflammation.In a 2014 randomized controlled trial, researchers concluded that probiotics improved disease activity and inflammatory status in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Incorporate more of these fermented foods into your diet regularly:
Top your sandwiches with sauerkraut and pickles, sip onkombuchain the morning, or add kimchi into a stew for dinner.
Many teas contain bioactive polyphenolic compounds that contribute significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, which may benefit people with arthritis.A 2016 study found that green tea supplementation improved disease activity in people with arthritis.Another 2018 study found thatgreen teaextract might control pain and improve knee joint physical function in adults with osteoarthritis.
Instead of sipping on soda, drink green or oolong teas, which are both made from the leaves of the plantCamellia sinensis. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Additionally, if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation—two drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less per day for women.If you do choose to have an alcoholic drink, opt for red wine, which may have anti-inflammatory effects.
A Word From VerywellThere are a variety of foods that can help with arthritis. Aim to eat from all the food groups to get those antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits to support your body. Try to vary your vegetables and fruits weekly and choose whole grains and legumes more often.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
There are a variety of foods that can help with arthritis. Aim to eat from all the food groups to get those antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits to support your body. Try to vary your vegetables and fruits weekly and choose whole grains and legumes more often.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
There are a variety of foods that can help with arthritis. Aim to eat from all the food groups to get those antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits to support your body. Try to vary your vegetables and fruits weekly and choose whole grains and legumes more often.
—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
Before changing your diet, talk with your healthcare provider first to ensure it is the right choice for you.
30 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Philippou E, Nikiphorou E.Are we really what we eat? Nutrition and its role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1074-1077. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.05.009Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, Lazariu V, McNutt LA, Carpenter DO.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Prev Med Rep. 2020 Nov 5;20:101242. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242Petersson S, Philippou E, Rodomar C, Nikiphorou E.The Mediterranean diet, fish oil supplements and rheumatoid arthritis outcomes: evidence from clinical trials.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1105-1114. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.06.007Veronese N, Koyanagi A, Stubbs B, et al.Mediterranean diet and knee osteoarthritis outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(6):2735-2739. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.032Vadell AKE, Bärebring L, Hulander E, Gjertsson I, Lindqvist HM, Winkvist A.Anti-inflammatory diet In rheumatoid arthritis (ADIRA)—a randomized, controlled crossover trial indicating effects on disease activity.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(6):1203-1213. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa019González R, Ballester I, López-Posadas R, et al.Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on inflammation.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011;51(4):331-362. doi:10.1080/10408390903584094Basu A, Schell J, Scofield RH.Dietary fruits and arthritis.Food Funct. 2018;9(1):70-77. doi:10.1039/c7fo01435jU.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A.Misra D, Booth SL, Tolstykh I, et al.Vitamin K deficiency is associated with incident knee osteoarthritis.Am J Med. 2013;126(3):243-248. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2012.10.011Findlay DM, Atkins GJ.Osteoblast-chondrocyte interactions in osteoarthritis.Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2014;12(1):127-134. doi:10.1007/s11914-014-0192-5National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K.ChooseMyPlate.Beans and peas are unique foods.Wang J, Chatzidimitriou E, Wood L, et al.Effect of wheat species (Triticum aestivumvsT. spelta), farming system (organic vs conventional) and flour type (wholegrain vs white) on composition of wheat flour - Results of a retail survey in the UK and Germany - 2. Antioxidant activity, and phenolic and mineral content.Food Chem X. 2020;6:100091. Published 2020 May 4. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2020.100091Dai Z, Niu J, Zhang Y, Jacques P, Felson DT.Dietary intake of fibre and risk of knee osteoarthritis in two US prospective cohorts[published correction appears in Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Dec;76(12 ):2103].Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(8):1411-1419. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210810Rozenberg S, Body JJ, Bruyère O, et al.Effects of dairy products consumption on health: benefits and beliefs–a commentary from the Belgian bone club and the European society for clinical and economic aspects of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal diseases.Calcif Tissue Int. 2016;98(1):1-17. doi:10.1007/s00223-015-0062-xVaghef-Mehrabany E, Alipour B, Homayouni-Rad A, Sharif SK, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Zavvari S.Probiotic supplementation improves inflammatory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Nutrition. 2014;30(4):430-435. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2013.09.007Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans. 2017;45(5):1105-1115. doi:10.1042/BST20160474Tedeschi SK, Bathon JM, Giles JT, Lin TC, Yoshida K, Solomon DH.Relationship between fish consumption and Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(3):327-332. doi:10.1002/acr.23295National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Advice about eating fish.Badsha H.Role of diet in influencing rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.Open Rheumatol J. 2018;12:19-28. doi:10.2174/1874312901812010019Radzikowska U, Rinaldi AO, Çelebi Sözener Z, et al.The influence of dietary fatty acids on immune responses.Nutrients. 2019;11(12):2990. doi:10.3390/nu11122990Dragos D, Gilca M, Gaman L, et al.Phytomedicine in joint disorders.Nutrients. 2017;9(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu9010070Arthritis Foundation.Best spices for arthritis.Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A.Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;15(10):2779-2811. doi:10.1089/ars.2010.3697Tezuka H, Imai S.Immunomodulatory effects of soybeans and processed soy food compounds.Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric. 2015;7(2):92-99. doi:10.2174/2212798407666150629123957Hayat K, Iqbal H, Malik U, Bilal U, Mushtaq S.Tea and its consumption: benefits and risks.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015;55(7):939-954. doi:10.1080/10408398.2012.678949Alghadir AH, Gabr SA, Al-Eisa ES.Green tea and exercise interventions as nondrug remedies in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(10):2820-2829. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2820Hashempur MH, Sadrneshin S, Mosavat SH, Ashraf A.Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized open-label active-controlled clinical trial.Clin Nutr. 2018;37(1):85-90. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.12.004Additional ReadingArreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, López-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res. 2015;2015:401630. doi:10.1155/2015/401630Daily JW, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717-729. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Liu Y, Alookaran JJ, Rhoads JM.Probiotics in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1537. doi:10.3390/nu10101537Serafini M, Peluso I.Functional foods for health: the interrelated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and cocoa in humans.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(44):6701-6715. doi:10.2174/1381612823666161123094235U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
30 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Philippou E, Nikiphorou E.Are we really what we eat? Nutrition and its role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1074-1077. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.05.009Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, Lazariu V, McNutt LA, Carpenter DO.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Prev Med Rep. 2020 Nov 5;20:101242. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242Petersson S, Philippou E, Rodomar C, Nikiphorou E.The Mediterranean diet, fish oil supplements and rheumatoid arthritis outcomes: evidence from clinical trials.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1105-1114. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.06.007Veronese N, Koyanagi A, Stubbs B, et al.Mediterranean diet and knee osteoarthritis outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(6):2735-2739. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.032Vadell AKE, Bärebring L, Hulander E, Gjertsson I, Lindqvist HM, Winkvist A.Anti-inflammatory diet In rheumatoid arthritis (ADIRA)—a randomized, controlled crossover trial indicating effects on disease activity.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(6):1203-1213. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa019González R, Ballester I, López-Posadas R, et al.Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on inflammation.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011;51(4):331-362. doi:10.1080/10408390903584094Basu A, Schell J, Scofield RH.Dietary fruits and arthritis.Food Funct. 2018;9(1):70-77. doi:10.1039/c7fo01435jU.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A.Misra D, Booth SL, Tolstykh I, et al.Vitamin K deficiency is associated with incident knee osteoarthritis.Am J Med. 2013;126(3):243-248. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2012.10.011Findlay DM, Atkins GJ.Osteoblast-chondrocyte interactions in osteoarthritis.Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2014;12(1):127-134. doi:10.1007/s11914-014-0192-5National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K.ChooseMyPlate.Beans and peas are unique foods.Wang J, Chatzidimitriou E, Wood L, et al.Effect of wheat species (Triticum aestivumvsT. spelta), farming system (organic vs conventional) and flour type (wholegrain vs white) on composition of wheat flour - Results of a retail survey in the UK and Germany - 2. Antioxidant activity, and phenolic and mineral content.Food Chem X. 2020;6:100091. Published 2020 May 4. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2020.100091Dai Z, Niu J, Zhang Y, Jacques P, Felson DT.Dietary intake of fibre and risk of knee osteoarthritis in two US prospective cohorts[published correction appears in Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Dec;76(12 ):2103].Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(8):1411-1419. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210810Rozenberg S, Body JJ, Bruyère O, et al.Effects of dairy products consumption on health: benefits and beliefs–a commentary from the Belgian bone club and the European society for clinical and economic aspects of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal diseases.Calcif Tissue Int. 2016;98(1):1-17. doi:10.1007/s00223-015-0062-xVaghef-Mehrabany E, Alipour B, Homayouni-Rad A, Sharif SK, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Zavvari S.Probiotic supplementation improves inflammatory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Nutrition. 2014;30(4):430-435. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2013.09.007Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans. 2017;45(5):1105-1115. doi:10.1042/BST20160474Tedeschi SK, Bathon JM, Giles JT, Lin TC, Yoshida K, Solomon DH.Relationship between fish consumption and Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(3):327-332. doi:10.1002/acr.23295National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Advice about eating fish.Badsha H.Role of diet in influencing rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.Open Rheumatol J. 2018;12:19-28. doi:10.2174/1874312901812010019Radzikowska U, Rinaldi AO, Çelebi Sözener Z, et al.The influence of dietary fatty acids on immune responses.Nutrients. 2019;11(12):2990. doi:10.3390/nu11122990Dragos D, Gilca M, Gaman L, et al.Phytomedicine in joint disorders.Nutrients. 2017;9(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu9010070Arthritis Foundation.Best spices for arthritis.Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A.Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;15(10):2779-2811. doi:10.1089/ars.2010.3697Tezuka H, Imai S.Immunomodulatory effects of soybeans and processed soy food compounds.Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric. 2015;7(2):92-99. doi:10.2174/2212798407666150629123957Hayat K, Iqbal H, Malik U, Bilal U, Mushtaq S.Tea and its consumption: benefits and risks.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015;55(7):939-954. doi:10.1080/10408398.2012.678949Alghadir AH, Gabr SA, Al-Eisa ES.Green tea and exercise interventions as nondrug remedies in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(10):2820-2829. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2820Hashempur MH, Sadrneshin S, Mosavat SH, Ashraf A.Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized open-label active-controlled clinical trial.Clin Nutr. 2018;37(1):85-90. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.12.004Additional ReadingArreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, López-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res. 2015;2015:401630. doi:10.1155/2015/401630Daily JW, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717-729. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Liu Y, Alookaran JJ, Rhoads JM.Probiotics in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1537. doi:10.3390/nu10101537Serafini M, Peluso I.Functional foods for health: the interrelated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and cocoa in humans.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(44):6701-6715. doi:10.2174/1381612823666161123094235U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Philippou E, Nikiphorou E.Are we really what we eat? Nutrition and its role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1074-1077. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.05.009Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, Lazariu V, McNutt LA, Carpenter DO.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Prev Med Rep. 2020 Nov 5;20:101242. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242Petersson S, Philippou E, Rodomar C, Nikiphorou E.The Mediterranean diet, fish oil supplements and rheumatoid arthritis outcomes: evidence from clinical trials.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1105-1114. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.06.007Veronese N, Koyanagi A, Stubbs B, et al.Mediterranean diet and knee osteoarthritis outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(6):2735-2739. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.032Vadell AKE, Bärebring L, Hulander E, Gjertsson I, Lindqvist HM, Winkvist A.Anti-inflammatory diet In rheumatoid arthritis (ADIRA)—a randomized, controlled crossover trial indicating effects on disease activity.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(6):1203-1213. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa019González R, Ballester I, López-Posadas R, et al.Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on inflammation.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011;51(4):331-362. doi:10.1080/10408390903584094Basu A, Schell J, Scofield RH.Dietary fruits and arthritis.Food Funct. 2018;9(1):70-77. doi:10.1039/c7fo01435jU.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A.Misra D, Booth SL, Tolstykh I, et al.Vitamin K deficiency is associated with incident knee osteoarthritis.Am J Med. 2013;126(3):243-248. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2012.10.011Findlay DM, Atkins GJ.Osteoblast-chondrocyte interactions in osteoarthritis.Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2014;12(1):127-134. doi:10.1007/s11914-014-0192-5National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K.ChooseMyPlate.Beans and peas are unique foods.Wang J, Chatzidimitriou E, Wood L, et al.Effect of wheat species (Triticum aestivumvsT. spelta), farming system (organic vs conventional) and flour type (wholegrain vs white) on composition of wheat flour - Results of a retail survey in the UK and Germany - 2. Antioxidant activity, and phenolic and mineral content.Food Chem X. 2020;6:100091. Published 2020 May 4. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2020.100091Dai Z, Niu J, Zhang Y, Jacques P, Felson DT.Dietary intake of fibre and risk of knee osteoarthritis in two US prospective cohorts[published correction appears in Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Dec;76(12 ):2103].Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(8):1411-1419. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210810Rozenberg S, Body JJ, Bruyère O, et al.Effects of dairy products consumption on health: benefits and beliefs–a commentary from the Belgian bone club and the European society for clinical and economic aspects of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal diseases.Calcif Tissue Int. 2016;98(1):1-17. doi:10.1007/s00223-015-0062-xVaghef-Mehrabany E, Alipour B, Homayouni-Rad A, Sharif SK, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Zavvari S.Probiotic supplementation improves inflammatory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Nutrition. 2014;30(4):430-435. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2013.09.007Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans. 2017;45(5):1105-1115. doi:10.1042/BST20160474Tedeschi SK, Bathon JM, Giles JT, Lin TC, Yoshida K, Solomon DH.Relationship between fish consumption and Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(3):327-332. doi:10.1002/acr.23295National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Advice about eating fish.Badsha H.Role of diet in influencing rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.Open Rheumatol J. 2018;12:19-28. doi:10.2174/1874312901812010019Radzikowska U, Rinaldi AO, Çelebi Sözener Z, et al.The influence of dietary fatty acids on immune responses.Nutrients. 2019;11(12):2990. doi:10.3390/nu11122990Dragos D, Gilca M, Gaman L, et al.Phytomedicine in joint disorders.Nutrients. 2017;9(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu9010070Arthritis Foundation.Best spices for arthritis.Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A.Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;15(10):2779-2811. doi:10.1089/ars.2010.3697Tezuka H, Imai S.Immunomodulatory effects of soybeans and processed soy food compounds.Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric. 2015;7(2):92-99. doi:10.2174/2212798407666150629123957Hayat K, Iqbal H, Malik U, Bilal U, Mushtaq S.Tea and its consumption: benefits and risks.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015;55(7):939-954. doi:10.1080/10408398.2012.678949Alghadir AH, Gabr SA, Al-Eisa ES.Green tea and exercise interventions as nondrug remedies in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(10):2820-2829. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2820Hashempur MH, Sadrneshin S, Mosavat SH, Ashraf A.Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized open-label active-controlled clinical trial.Clin Nutr. 2018;37(1):85-90. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.12.004
Philippou E, Nikiphorou E.Are we really what we eat? Nutrition and its role in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1074-1077. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.05.009
Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, Lazariu V, McNutt LA, Carpenter DO.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Prev Med Rep. 2020 Nov 5;20:101242. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242
Petersson S, Philippou E, Rodomar C, Nikiphorou E.The Mediterranean diet, fish oil supplements and rheumatoid arthritis outcomes: evidence from clinical trials.Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(11):1105-1114. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.06.007
Veronese N, Koyanagi A, Stubbs B, et al.Mediterranean diet and knee osteoarthritis outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study.Clin Nutr. 2019;38(6):2735-2739. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.032
Vadell AKE, Bärebring L, Hulander E, Gjertsson I, Lindqvist HM, Winkvist A.Anti-inflammatory diet In rheumatoid arthritis (ADIRA)—a randomized, controlled crossover trial indicating effects on disease activity.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(6):1203-1213. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa019
González R, Ballester I, López-Posadas R, et al.Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on inflammation.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011;51(4):331-362. doi:10.1080/10408390903584094
Basu A, Schell J, Scofield RH.Dietary fruits and arthritis.Food Funct. 2018;9(1):70-77. doi:10.1039/c7fo01435j
U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A.
Misra D, Booth SL, Tolstykh I, et al.Vitamin K deficiency is associated with incident knee osteoarthritis.Am J Med. 2013;126(3):243-248. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2012.10.011
Findlay DM, Atkins GJ.Osteoblast-chondrocyte interactions in osteoarthritis.Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2014;12(1):127-134. doi:10.1007/s11914-014-0192-5
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K.
ChooseMyPlate.Beans and peas are unique foods.
Wang J, Chatzidimitriou E, Wood L, et al.Effect of wheat species (Triticum aestivumvsT. spelta), farming system (organic vs conventional) and flour type (wholegrain vs white) on composition of wheat flour - Results of a retail survey in the UK and Germany - 2. Antioxidant activity, and phenolic and mineral content.Food Chem X. 2020;6:100091. Published 2020 May 4. doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2020.100091
Dai Z, Niu J, Zhang Y, Jacques P, Felson DT.Dietary intake of fibre and risk of knee osteoarthritis in two US prospective cohorts[published correction appears in Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Dec;76(12 ):2103].Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(8):1411-1419. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210810
Rozenberg S, Body JJ, Bruyère O, et al.Effects of dairy products consumption on health: benefits and beliefs–a commentary from the Belgian bone club and the European society for clinical and economic aspects of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal diseases.Calcif Tissue Int. 2016;98(1):1-17. doi:10.1007/s00223-015-0062-x
Vaghef-Mehrabany E, Alipour B, Homayouni-Rad A, Sharif SK, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Zavvari S.Probiotic supplementation improves inflammatory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Nutrition. 2014;30(4):430-435. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2013.09.007
Calder PC.Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man.Biochem Soc Trans. 2017;45(5):1105-1115. doi:10.1042/BST20160474
Tedeschi SK, Bathon JM, Giles JT, Lin TC, Yoshida K, Solomon DH.Relationship between fish consumption and Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(3):327-332. doi:10.1002/acr.23295
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Advice about eating fish.
Badsha H.Role of diet in influencing rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.Open Rheumatol J. 2018;12:19-28. doi:10.2174/1874312901812010019
Radzikowska U, Rinaldi AO, Çelebi Sözener Z, et al.The influence of dietary fatty acids on immune responses.Nutrients. 2019;11(12):2990. doi:10.3390/nu11122990
Dragos D, Gilca M, Gaman L, et al.Phytomedicine in joint disorders.Nutrients. 2017;9(1):70. doi:10.3390/nu9010070
Arthritis Foundation.Best spices for arthritis.
Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A.Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease.Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;15(10):2779-2811. doi:10.1089/ars.2010.3697
Tezuka H, Imai S.Immunomodulatory effects of soybeans and processed soy food compounds.Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric. 2015;7(2):92-99. doi:10.2174/2212798407666150629123957
Hayat K, Iqbal H, Malik U, Bilal U, Mushtaq S.Tea and its consumption: benefits and risks.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015;55(7):939-954. doi:10.1080/10408398.2012.678949
Alghadir AH, Gabr SA, Al-Eisa ES.Green tea and exercise interventions as nondrug remedies in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(10):2820-2829. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2820
Hashempur MH, Sadrneshin S, Mosavat SH, Ashraf A.Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized open-label active-controlled clinical trial.Clin Nutr. 2018;37(1):85-90. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.12.004
Arreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, López-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res. 2015;2015:401630. doi:10.1155/2015/401630Daily JW, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717-729. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Liu Y, Alookaran JJ, Rhoads JM.Probiotics in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1537. doi:10.3390/nu10101537Serafini M, Peluso I.Functional foods for health: the interrelated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and cocoa in humans.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(44):6701-6715. doi:10.2174/1381612823666161123094235U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Arreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, López-Roa RI, et al.Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds.J Immunol Res. 2015;2015:401630. doi:10.1155/2015/401630
Daily JW, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717-729. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.3705
Liu Y, Alookaran JJ, Rhoads JM.Probiotics in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1537. doi:10.3390/nu10101537
Serafini M, Peluso I.Functional foods for health: the interrelated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and cocoa in humans.Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(44):6701-6715. doi:10.2174/1381612823666161123094235
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
