The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Eat to Fight Inflammation & Promote Weight Loss

Eat to Fight Inflammation & Promote Weight Loss

November 11, 2017 • By Karen Appold

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Many rheumatic conditions cause inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, lupus, bursitis and scleroderma. “Being overweight or obese can worsen these conditions, as individuals who are overweight have higher amounts of inflammation because adipose tissue is inflammatory,” says Kim Larson, RDN, CHC, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified health coach, Nutrition & Health Coaching Business Total, Seattle. “So it’s important that these patients lose weight.” Here, two nutritionists provide insight into weight loss methods that they have had success with in this patient population.

You Might Also Like
  • Larger Weight Loss Tied to Greater Improvements in Arthritic Knees
  • Is More Better? Weight Loss Analysis in Older Patients with Knee OA
  • Weight Loss May Predict Early Death in RA Patients
Also By This Author
  • Full Circle: How Becoming an Educator Reenergized a Rheumatologist’s Career

Strategy No. 1: Mediterranean Eating Pattern
Patients can reduce inflammation by eating whole grains; cold deep water fish and other seafood that supply omega-3 fatty acids; and extra virgin olive oil, which contains polyphenols and oleocanthal, both of which reduce inflammation.1

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“This nutrient-rich diet also requires eating a lot of vegetables, which are high in water and fiber and low in calories, providing fullness and satisfaction,” says Ms. Larson. Vegetables, particularly ones that are bright-colored, such as tomatoes, carrots and dark, leafy greens, are high in phytochemicals and can lower inflammation and limit cell damage.

“[According to my clients] who follow this diet, [they] seem to have better appetite control and enjoy the wonderful variety of whole, fresh foods allowed,” Ms. Larson says. “Part of that is due to the higher healthy fat content from nuts, fish, extra virgin olive oil, avocados and seeds.”

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Because this diet is not restrictive, patients don’t feel deprived. “I’ve actually had them say to me, ‘This doesn’t even feel like a diet,’” Ms. Larson says. “[Patients] enjoy this slower weight-loss approach and feel more in control and confident in their eating habits. The diet leaves little room for highly processed and refined foods, which can be pro-inflammatory.”

Strategy No. 2: Plant-Centered Eating
Some patients with arthritis conditions report that eating red meat may trigger pain and swelling for them. Although not all people react to meat as a trigger for pain, those who do may get relief by limiting fatty meats. “A plant-centered diet that uses lean meat in small amounts lowers intake of saturated fats,” Ms. Larson says. “Whole grains provide more fiber to stabilize blood sugars and maintain energy levels—both of which promote weight loss.”2

For this diet, Ms. Larson emphasizes eating vegetables and fruits, which are rich in phytochemicals and also fight inflammation. Encouraging soy foods (e.g., tofu, tempeh, edamame) provides isoflavones (a type of flavonoid), which also protects against inflammation.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes Tagged With: Diet, eating, food, Mediterranean diet, weight loss

You Might Also Like:
  • Larger Weight Loss Tied to Greater Improvements in Arthritic Knees
  • Is More Better? Weight Loss Analysis in Older Patients with Knee OA
  • Weight Loss May Predict Early Death in RA Patients
  • Weight Loss Surgery May Reduce Risk of Developing Gout

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)