While there’s no cure for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), your prescribed treatment plan can help control inflammation and alleviate your symptoms. As a complementary approach, diet is an important element. “A healthy diet is always a good idea, regardless of your disease,” says Martin Bergman, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Red and Processed Meats
Sugary Drinks
Too much sugar leads to weight gain, which can further tax your joints and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, cautions John M. Davis III, MD, a consultant in the division of rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Sweets and Baked Goods
While cakes and pastries and sweets are hard to resist, consuming high amounts of added sugar, as noted above, is linked to inflammation and weight gain.
When your sweet tooth strikes, snack on fresh fruits instead to satisfy your craving. While fruits naturally contain sugar, they also provide a good dose of fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients, unlike processed baked goods.
Refined Carbohydrates
It’s better to opt for whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread.
Eggplant and Other Nightshade Vegetables
Certain otherwise beneficial vegetables in the nightshade family — including eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes — may aggravate symptoms for some people who have psoriatic arthritis, according to Dr. Davis. The culprit could be a chemical called solanine, which is often found in these foods. On the other hand, there’s no definitive proof that these vegetables aggravate arthritis, adds Bergman. Diets are often very individualized, he says. What works for one person may not work for another.
If you find that nightshade vegetables cause problems for you, avoid them in favor of other vegetables that will offer anti-inflammatory benefits without triggering your symptoms, such as kale and other leafy greens.
The Takeaway
- Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory condition, and avoiding or limiting foods that promote inflammation might help control your symptoms. When you have PsA, it’s important to limit foods that lead to weight gain and poor gut health.
- Red and processed meats can exacerbate inflammation, as can sugary beverages, baked goods, and refined carbs.
- There’s no definitive evidence that nightshade vegetables aggravate PsA symptoms, but they may, depending on the individual. If you notice discomfort, consider focusing on a variety of other anti-inflammatory vegetables like leafy greens.
- Dietary modifications aren’t a substitute for medical treatment of PsA. Talk with your doctor about which dietary changes could benefit your psoriatic arthritis treatment.
Samir Dalvi, MD
Medical Reviewer
Samir Dalvi, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He has over 14 years of experience in caring for patients with rheumatologic diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, and gout.
Denise Mann
Author
Denise Mann is an award-winning health journalist in New York. Her articles regularly appear in Healthday, Wall Street Journal, Health.com, Newsday, American Profile, and other consumer health portals. She is the chief editor of Plastic Surgery Practice and a feature writer for WebMD. She writes about women's health, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, diet and fitness.
Her first foray into health reporting was with the Medical Tribune News Service where her articles appeared regularly in such newspapers as the Detroit Free Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Dallas Morning News, and the Los Angeles Daily News. She received the Journalistic Achievement Award from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2004 and 2011.
She lives with her husband, their miniature schnauzer, and their two sons. An avid indoor cycler, Mann is always up for a Soul Cycle class. In her spare time, Mann is working on a fiction novel loosely based on her extended family.