One of the popularly known forms of chronic arthritis is psoriatic arthritis. In general, this occurs among the people who are prone to suffering from psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic type of skin and nail disease which is characterized by red, scaly rashes and thick, pitted fingernails.
It is to be noted that around one-third of children with the symptoms of psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. Hence, the condition is often referred to as a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is characterized by swelling, chronic joint inflammation, and asymptomatic eye inflammation, in more critical stages. According to various studies, the condition also accounts for approximately 6% of all juvenile arthritis cases.
The consumption of certain food can help children in managing the inflammatory conditions of psoriatic arthritis and naturally-grown food can help a lot, in particular. Given below is a list of suggestions of a few healthy natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet that you can give your child.
Anti-inflammatory omega-3-based foods
Children with the symptoms of the condition must include anti-inflammatory foods in their list of natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet. Such foods always help in reducing painful flare-ups. Omega-3 is composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids and is one of the most trusted nutrients for the management of the inflammatory nature of psoriatic arthritis. Some of the best food sources of omega-3s include fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, olive oil, flaxseed oil, flaxseeds, chia seeds, nuts, and avocados.
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
Typically, kids with the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis experience chronic inflammation and this can damage the body. Antioxidants play a great role in countering such developments. They can reduce the harmful oxidative stress that gets generated due to the chronic inflammation of psoriatic arthritis. Studies have also reported that people with arthritis almost always have a low antioxidant status. Due to a lack of antioxidants, disease activity and duration become prolonged. Hence, a child’s diet that has natural foods for psoriatic arthritis must include lots of antioxidants. Fill your diet planner with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices, among others. However, try avoiding foods such as coffee beans, even though they are a great source of antioxidants. Some of the other antioxidant-rich natural foods include dark berries, dark leafy greens, nuts, dried ground spices, and dark chocolate.
High-fiber whole grains
Obesity is a risk for psoriatic arthritis as well. Commonly, insulin resistance leads to obesity and according to studies, obesity and insulin resistance lead to chronic inflammation. Thus, for children with the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, weight management is crucial. Foods with unprocessed whole grains contain plenty of nutrients and fibers, ensuring it gets digested slowly. Some of the best natural food sources of whole grains include corn, oats, quinoa, and brown and wild rice, among others.
While the consumption of certain foods helps in the reduction of inflammations caused by psoriatic arthritis, some foods can cause even more damage. Hence, one needs to be careful while picking natural foods for a psoriatic arthritis diet. Always try to avoid foods such as dairy products and red meats. All in all, a healthy diet can greatly help in disease management among children with psoriatic arthritis.
