Top Tips About Diet

10/04/2002: NRAS

• Put a tablespoon of vinegar in the water when washing fruit.
• If you wish to sweeten something, add a little honey, concentrated apple juice or jam made with fruit only and no added sugar.
• If you can't give up caffeine completely, try and reduce it to one or two cups daily only. You can get a variety of alternatives to coffee from Health Food Stores.
• Use foods which you may like very much but which you know are not good for you, as 'treats' once or twice a week rather than as part of your daily diet.
• The composition of an optimum diet should include a substantial proportion of fruits and vegetables.
• Keep your alchohol intake to a moderate level, if possible.
• Avoid stress, too many late nights and over-doing it on a regular basis. All these things affect your immune strength, your body's ability to absorb and use nutrients and your blood sugar levels.
• If you find the above list a little daunting, don't get too wound up about it. Do what you can and develop new good eating habits. This can be done relatively easily by simply repeating the same thing every day until it becomes automatic, i.e. instead of eating the chocolate biscuit every day, eat an extra piece of fruit every day and save the chocky biscuit for the weekend as a treat.
• Make it easy for yourself by shopping at the weekend for the fruit and veg, etc. which you will use during the week. If it's in the fruit bowl on your table, if it's in the car and desk at work, you will eat it. Get into the habit of carrying a bottle of water in the car and taking it to work.
• If you don't have an alternative handy, you will drink the coffee and tea because it's there. If I can provide any further information, please let me know.

Good Luck!

Ailsa Bosworth

For more information on diet, visit: www.eatwell.gov.uk (please note, this site gives general dietary advice, not specific to people with rheumatoid arthritis).