My mother has been suffering from osteoarthritis for years, all the more reason to know where to look when a reader of my blog asked me if there was a diet for osteoarthritis. First of all, let’s start by defining what osteoarthritis is: it is a degenerative disease of the joints, which is also chronic (in the sense that it lasts over time). Being degenerative, osteoarthritis is progressive. The most correct definition is osteoarthritis, and it presents itself as an inflammatory disease, of genetic origin only in some cases, with lesions of the cartilages and part of the tendons or bones, in some specific points or in several points. The main symptom is severe pain, so those with osteoarthritis often take painkillers.
Given this generic picture, the answer to the question:there is a specific diet for osteoarthritis, it is: no.

There are theories, which have led some doctors to formulate diets against degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, but the studies carried out on the validity of these theories have cataloged them as unreliable. An example is the hypotoxic diet of Dr. Jean Seignalet, a doctor who, assuming a common inflammatory origin for osteoarticular diseases and other diseases, originating from an intestinal flora problem, had developed an “ancestral” diet very similar to Paleodiet. Diet considered unreliable by the scientific community, as you can read in this article. Other theories have points in common with Dr. Seignalet’s hypotoxic diet, but many are so discordant that it is doubted that there are common considerations such as to have a real dietary protocol.

However, don’t despair. Let’s see what are the points in common to many of the dietary theories about osteoarthritis, and what are those essential and reliable nutrients for, I don’t say cure, but if possible limit the symptoms and slow down the evolution of the problem.

The theory of gluten and lactose allergy
This is one of the most accredited theories, also due to Seignalet’s diet.
People suffering from osteoarthritis can try to eliminate wheat, corn and cereals that contain gluten, and eat rice, peeled potatoes and fake cereals in their place except millet (i.e. quinoa, buckwheat, etc.). This is because gluten is hypothesized to be linked to an intestinal inflammatory process. Same thing for lactose. Those suffering from osteoarthritis should eliminate cow’s milk, and eat only aged cheeses, for example goat or sheep, or choose lactose-free products. According to Seignalet’s hypotoxic diet, any dairy products should be eliminated.
Meat, eggs and fish can be eaten with these limitations: little meat, slow or medium cooking (for example a stew), fish and shellfish do not present problems, nor eggs. Fruits and vegetables should be consumed in quantity. Using a daily probiotic could alleviate intestinal symptoms by improving bacterial flora.

The theory of proteins
Not complementary to this theory, is that of proteins, which are part of this famous “intestinal inflammatory origin” which would trigger osteoarthritis like other degenerative diseases. Unlike the hypotoxic diet, it would involve eating whole grains, legumes, fish and soy.

If we didn’t want to trust theories, and we wanted to change something, which direction should we go? Are there any dietary advice to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis and cartilage and joint degeneration? Here’s what to look out for. Continued on page two.