A healthy diet is an indispensable part of any rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Consuming foods that are anti-inflammatory in nature, which means an intake of vitamins and antioxidants with minimal calories and unhealthy fats, is ideal. This does not only apply for your meals but also for your snacks. Ideally, whatever you choose to eat should be nutritious.
Now, you might think healthy and tasty are a difficult combination when it comes to snacks. Fortunately, it’s not! We have listed down some great snack options for rheumatoid arthritis that are wholesome and also appeal to your taste buds.
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a homemade salmon spread can be enjoyed with whole-wheat crackers. The healthy fats in salmon fight inflammation in the body, keeping pain in the joints from worsening. Moreover, it mitigates the risk of cardiovascular diseases by controlling bad cholesterol.
To ensure that your salmon spread has maximum nutritional value, use low-fat cream cheese and an olive oil-based vinaigrette. Olive oil contains additional compounds that restrict the inflammation levels from rising.
Including this delicious Middle Eastern snack in your daily RA diet plan can help keep numerous symptoms at bay. Its high protein content strengthens muscles and keeps blood sugar in check. Likewise, the healthy fats in this recipe inhibit inflammation levels, which are known to trigger RA flare-ups. Similarly, the low-fat and calorie content keeps your heart healthy and even promotes weight loss that can be instrumental in lowering any pressure on the joints and the immune system.
Typically, a classic hummus recipe comprises chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. However, you can make it more interesting by adding jalapenos, basil, parsley, carrots, scallions, beet, bell peppers, edamame, or avocadoes.
If you are craving something sweet but aren’t in the mood to only have fruits, yogurt parfait is your best bet. While you can experiment with a variety of fruits in this recipe, we suggest you go for tart cherries. Primarily because these are known for being abundant in anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant and phytonutrient that’s anti-inflammatory. Some studies found that tart cherries alleviate muscle pain and even reduce the risk of gout. While making the parfait, ensure you only use the plain or Greek yogurt that has no sugar.
A simple recipe, avocado toast is incredibly nutritious. It is packed with monounsaturated fatty acids that cut down inflammation and any risks of heart-related conditions. Moreover, they are rich in vitamin C, E, K, and B-6 along with magnesium and potassium. Regular consumption of avocados can even help prevent osteoarthritis due to its high vitamin K content. In addition, it improves digestion and prevents depression.
Ideally, you should use multigrain or whole wheat bread for this recipe. If you wish you can use cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, eggs, basil, or turkey slices as toppings on your avocado toast.
Fruit smoothies are nutritious, delicious, and fun. Usually, they are made with milk which could possibly trigger or aggravate your RA symptoms. Luckily, you can substitute that with coconut or almond milk or plain/Greek yogurt.
You can choose one or a combination of fruits such as apples, cherries, strawberries, oranges, pineapples, bananas, and mangoes. If you’re looking for greener options, you can blend greens like kale or spinach with the fruits.
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