Diet and Nutrition for Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Healthy eating is an important part in taking control not only of your health but also your life. One must be aware that whatever food you're taking inside your body can either improve or aggravate your overall health. For those suffering Ankylosing Spondylitis, having a healthy diet can help immensely not only in relieving the symptoms such as pain and stiffness but also slowing the progression of the disease. Ankylosing Spondylitis is a type of chronic arthritis that affects parts of the spine, including muscles, ligaments and bones. Symptoms may vary but most people experience back pain and stiffness; in severe cases, this could also lead to long-term disability. The condition usually develops gradually wherein there are times symptoms are not present. Chest pain can also be experienced particularly when breathing as a result of the joints connecting the ribs to the spine. Ankylosing Spondylitis has been found common in Canada, USA, Europe, and Australia since most of the people consumed meat and milk as part of their daily diet unlike in Africa and Asia that consumes more vegetables and fruits.

Diet and Nutrition
Although there is no specific diet for people suffering with Ankylosing Spondylitis, having a healthy weight is important to reduce stress on the painful joints. Healthy diet and exercise are highly recommended in maintaining a healthy weight. Proper foods keep the digestive system strong and the immune system in a healthy, fighting condition lowering your risk against other diseases, as well as slowing the progression of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Choose foods that help fight inflammation, keeps your bones strong, and your digestive and immune system healthy. It is also recommended to maintain a food diary so you ...

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Limit alcohol intake - alcoholic beverages can weaken bones thus if you can’t take it off your diet, limit your intake as much as possible.
Low in saturated fats - diet should also be low in saturated fats such as commercial pastries and chocolates since this can aggravate the inflammation.
Foods rich in silicon - Silicon is essential in collagen formation that is vital to healthy bones, cartilage and connective tissues. Sources of silica include whole grains, alfalfa, peppers, and seaweeds.
Multivitamin - multivitamins helps boost the natural immune system of the body lowering your risk of contracting other diseases.
Food rich in proteoglycans - proteoglycans helps in restoring and nourishing cartilage. These can be found in tripe, mussels, oats, and Irish moss.
Drink plenty of fluids - drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day is highly recommended.

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