Psoriatic arthritis is an auto-immune disorder that causes stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joints. In addition to this, extra pounds also worsen the situation as it puts pressure on your knee joints.

So physicians recommend the patients to lose weight and maintain a healthy diet that decreases inflammation. Your diet should focus on balancing a good weight by intake of right nutrient content which will help in reducing the effects of the disease. However, most people take to eating natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet and avoid processed ones to start with.

Contrary to the popular belief that natural foodstuff is by far the healthiest food to have, here’s to busting some of the myths:

Foods to eat
Here is a list of foods that you need to have to decrease the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

• Apples and avocado

Fruits like avocado and apples have a higher content of omega 3 fatty acids that severely reduce the symptoms like flare-ups. So, opt for these dark-colored fruits in your daily diet.

• Fatty fish

Fatty fish like salmon and tuna can have a high content of mercury, so you should have them occasionally for your intake of healthy fats. Natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet like these fish reduce the chances of high blood sugar, cholesterol and heart diseases too. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for this disease.

• Garlic

Loaded with phytonutrients that can fight inflammation, you should include garlic in your diet more often. In that case, prefer to have fresh garlic and avoid bottled ones.

• Peppers

Peppers are full of phytochemicals called capsaicin that reduces the occurrence of inflammation. It decreases the pain impulses that originate from the CNS or central nervous system.

Foods to avoid

Here are several natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet that you need to avoid if you suffer from psoriatic arthritis:

• Nightshades

Nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants that exacerbate the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. They belong to the Solanaceae family that contain chemicals known as solanine increasing the symptoms, so a strict no.

• Dairy products

People suffering from psoriatic arthritis are usually lactose intolerant. In that case, you need to avoid milk and other dairy products to reduce inflammation. Apart from causing normal symptoms of food allergies, they also aggravate chronic symptoms.

• Legumes
  If you are facing symptoms of leaky guts, avoid the food that has high sugar levels. Avoid high FODMAP foods like legumes for a while. Meanwhile, opt for low FODMAP diets and gradually bring back legumes in your diet after at least 6 weeks.

These facts about natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet give you reasons to follow or avoid them. Thus, it proves that not all the naturally available foods are good for patients of psoriatic arthritis. Natural foods are healthier options compared to processed food but in this case, the natural foods need to be anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants to receive the best results.

Thus, keep in mind what to eat and what not to eat if you suffer from psoriatic arthritis.