Brendan Cerk, MD, & Richard S. Panush, MD | Issue: April 2021 |
In a small study, an anti-inflammatory diet helped reduce pain and swelling in a subset of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Diet changes are complementary to standard treatment. Diet-related research can be challenging, but many patients with RA are motivated to try healthy changes.
With no clear-cut, evidence-based dietary guidelines for RA, rheumatologists should advocate for a balanced diet to help patients reduce their risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis
Certain nutrients or dietary patterns may affect inflammation and rheumatic disease risk in certain populations. Recommended nutrients include omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, poultry or nuts. Following a Mediterranean or standard Western diet may affect RA risk too.
The study of rheumatology (and medicine) in art, history, literature and music is engaging and informative.1-12 In this article, we present some instances when rheumatic and autoimmune diseases in certain individuals may have affected the course of history in Western civilization. Physicians are usually concerned, appropriately, with the effects of illness on the lives of…