Diet and Juvenile Arthritis
If your child has juvenile arthritis, proper diet represents only one of the challenges you face daily. However, children with juvenile arthritis may be more likely than other children not to eat the foods they need to get and stay healthy Numerous dietary approaches claim to relieve or prevent arthritic symptoms. Such diets include fasting--periods of consuming juice or water only, vegan diets--diets free of animal-derived products, and elimination diets--diets that restrict certain foods believed to trigger symptoms
"It's critically important that kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) get proper nutrition but it can be more challenging because the kids' appetites may be suppressed by the disease itself or by the medication they take," says Daniel Lovell, MD, director, Division of Rheumatology at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Joint pain, fatigue, nausea and stomach pain all can take their toll on normal hunger cues. Kids with jaw pain or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may have difficulty chewing or swallowing food.
When kids with arthritis don't eat enough to meet their nutritional needs they can become more vulnerable to other problems. Poor growth can certainly be caused by the disease or exacerbated by medications like long-term steroid use. But growth can also be impaired if children don't get the necessary amounts of protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients required to build bone and muscle. Malnutrition, anemia, nutrient deficiencies and osteoporosis may also result.
Proper nutrition can improve anyone's overall health. A dietitian can help you to understand the basics of a healthy diet. For example, when your symptoms flare up, you might feel sick and unable to eat as much. A dietitian can help you find foods that have a higher nutritional value to make up for having a poor appetite.
Fruits, vegetables and whole grains provide an assortment of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants--disease-fighting nutrients, and dietary fiber, which support children's overall health. The Mayo Clinic recommends sufficient intake of calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat dairy products, since children with JRA may develop reduced bone density and, therefore, weakened bones.
