What I Eat During a Flare as a Dietitian with Psoriatic Arthritis – Healthline
When I had a terrible psoriatic arthritis flare during a week that my husband was traveling for work, I found myself worried and alone.
With pain in my feet and hands, cooking meals from scratch presented a bit of a problem. I couldn’t stand on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time, …….
When I had a terrible psoriatic arthritis flare during a week that my husband was traveling for work, I found myself worried and alone.
With pain in my feet and hands, cooking meals from scratch presented a bit of a problem. I couldn’t stand on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time, and it was excruciating to use my hands to grip, pinch, pull, or try to open anything like a jar.
I started looking for healthy foods that would help tamp down inflammation and that were also easy to cook and prepare.
When you’re in pain and fatigued, nourishing foods that are easy to prepare become especially essential. With that in mind, here are the foods that I always have on hand in my fridge, freezer, and pantry for when a PsA flare strikes.
When you live with arthritis, your body experiences chronic inflammation, which can lead to long-term damage. Antioxidants work to reduce oxidative stress in your body that an often accompany chronic inflammation.
Studies have shown that people with arthritis have a lower antioxidant status than others without arthritis. Beyond this, those with low antioxidant status also reported higher disease activity and longer flare-ups.
Fruits and vegetables are a great source of antioxidants, but it can be difficult to eat enough produce. These are some of my go-to options for making sure I am getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet, even during a flare:
- Frozen vegetables: I always have frozen veggies on hand. Frozen vegetables now come in steamable bags so you can just toss the whole thing in the microwave and cut it open (carefully) with scissors. I try to avoid those that come with pre-added sauces. These can add fats, sodium, sugar, or use ingredients that can be a trigger.
- Frozen fruit: Along with veggies, I also make sure my freezer is stocked with frozen fruit. Frozen fruit can be thawed and used to top plain Greek yogurt or whipped up into an anti-inflammatory smoothie.
- Fresh produce that is pre-cut and pre-washed: Having pre-washed and pre-cut fruits and vegetables during a flare can make it much easier to prepare salads or healthy snacks. Pre-prepared options can often be found in trays or bags at your grocery store.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential healthy fats that have a well-known reputation for their anti-inflammatory properties.
In a recent study, participants with obesity who took flaxseed flour saw a decrease in the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A. Similarly, participants with overweight …….
