Mediterranean diet may benefit arthritis sufferers

Learning how to eat Mediterranean-style may help people with rheumatoid arthritis improve their symptoms, a study suggests.

The traditional diets of people in the Mediterranean region tend to be high in fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil, and comparatively low in red meat. Some research has suggested these components, such as the healthy fats in olive oil, have anti-inflammatory effects. The diet is also typically rich in antioxidants, which help shield body cells from damage.

In the new study, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, UK researchers split 130 women with RA into two groups. One group attended classes on Mediterranean-style eating, which included hands-on cooking instruction. The other group was given written dietary information only. The researchers found that women who attended the classes bumped up their intake of fruits, vegetables, beans and monounsaturated fat -- the type found in olive oil. What's more, over the next six months they reported improvements in pain, morning stiffness and overall health. In contrast, women who received only written information made no significant diet changes, as a group. Nor were there any overall symptom improvements, the study found.