contributing to your joint pain. Inflammation in a joint can present with swelling, redness, heat, and
pain. While there is a vast array of medications that can help calm the symptoms of inflammation, diet
is another important component that should be considered.
The foods we choose to consume can either increase inflammation in the body, or aid in decreasing
inflammation, thus relieving pain. Therefore, choices in nutrition become a very important decision in
how we will influence inflammation and pain in the body. Diet guidelines for decreasing inflammation
may be general, such as avoiding gluten and dairy, since these have been shown to be pro-inflammatory
in the general population. Alternatively, nutrition guidelines can also be looked at from a more
individualized approach. A blood test can determine exactly which foods are causing a response from
your immune system. This is referred to as a food sensitivity test, and it can be a valuable tool in
controlling arthritis symptoms with diet.
Changes in diet and lifestyle are not easy to commit to. With all the nutrition information available, it
can be overwhelming to determine what will be best to control your symptoms. Here at GCSP we take
an integrated approach to incorporate nutritional counseling with the care from your Rheumatologist to
provide the maximum relief from your arthritis symptoms.