Is there a diet for rheumatoid arthritis?

There is no specific diet known to reliably improve rheumatoid arthritis.

However, preliminary studies suggest that an “anti-inflammatory diet” (such as the Mediterranean Diet) might be helpful. This diet includes:

• fruits and vegetables

• foods with high fiber and whole grains

• beans, lentils, nuts and seeds

• fish, poultry

• olive oil

Anti-inflammatory diets typically discourage consumption of:

• highly processed foods such as prepackaged chicken nuggets, hot dogs, processed and cured meats, instant soups, and many baked goods

• foods or drinks with sweeteners, such as candy, sodas, juices, cookies

• white bread, cereals

• white pasta, white rice or foods made with refined flour

While this is an active area of research, there is no current evidence suggesting that diet alone can replace medications in controlling rheumatoid arthritis.