Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a disease where the immune system attacks the fluid sacs around the joints causing them to be inflamed. It is a long-term condition that typically begins in the smaller joints of the hands and feet, and can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.
RA is triggered by the body’s inflammatory system overreacting. Compared to other types of arthritis, in RA, symptoms tend to come and go, be worse after rest, and occur on both sides of the body simultaneously.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women and in adults over 65. Dietary factors play a meaningful role in the management of RA. People with RA may be deficient in one or more of ten key nutrients: folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. If these ingredients can’t be met through diet, many supplements such as GentleBelly are available to ensure adequate intake.
Those with RA may follow a diet that eliminates foods known to trigger inflammation: one of the most popular diets for RA is called Anti-Inflammatory (AI) diet. However, the common AI diet still contains foods that are correlated with flare-ups and inflammation – especially wheat, meat, and dairy products.
GentleBelly meets the requirements of the AI diet and avoids other potential triggers such as gluten, dairy, and meat. Our product is 100% vegan and tested by a third party lab to be gluten free