Arthritis Pain | Do You Have Painful Arthritis? A Guide To Eating Out

March 10th, 2010 by Zandra Jones, RN BBA

I’m sure you will agree that it’s very challenging to get a healthful meal when you go out to eat or are travelling. This is especially true for those who have painful arthritis who need to make changes in their lifestyle or diet to manage their condition. This is mainly the reason why millions of people are now looking into healthier, alternative forms of treatment, primarily Ayurveda. Ayurveda encourages holistic nutrition and an arthritis-friendly diet to help alleviate pain and slow down the disease’s progression. Natural and holistic remedies include the use of herbs, homeopathic remedies, supplements and exercises like yoga.

If you are suffering from painful arthritis but would love to eat out, don’t get anxious. You have many options out there; you just have to know what to look for and where to look! Here’s an outline that will serve as a useful guide when eating out:

1. Steer clear of fast food restaurants as they all use a lot of unnecessary salt, sugar (think French fries), hydrogenated oils and fats.

2. Ethnic restaurants featuring Eastern cuisine are often great choices, especially the lunch buffet you find at many Indian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese entries. They tend to use smaller portions of meat and fish; more vegetables and anti-inflammatory herbs like ginger, turmeric and garlic; and as shorter cooking times.

3. Be sure to ask if the restaurant uses MSG (monosodium glutamate), a taste-enhancing chemical that can lead to headaches and other allergic reactions.

4. Keep in mind that some Chinese dishes made with extra sugar and other Indian and Thai specialties made with cream and/or coconut sauces can be highly caloric.

5. Look for menu items featuring steamed vegetables, saut

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