“The health benefits of juicing for people with RA come down to the ingredients being used,” says Neal Malik, MPH, RDN, the chair of the department of nutrition and basic sciences at Bastyr University California in San Diego. “If the ingredients aren’t nutritious to begin with, the final product won’t be, either.”
Essential Facts About Diet, RA, and Weight Gain Risks
While an RA diagnosis doesn’t directly cause people to gain weight, RA symptoms like joint pain and fatigue may make it difficult to exercise to burn calories. As a result, many people with RA look for a dietary approach to weight loss. “People with RA should adhere to the recommendations issued in the 2015–2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines,” says Christine Palumbo, a registered dietary nutritionist in Naperville, Illinois. “Amounts vary by calorie levels. People eating 1,400 calories should consume 1½ cups of vegetables daily. Those eating 1,600 calories should consume 2 cups, and people eating 1,800 to 2,000 calories should consume 2½ cups of veggies.”
Pros and Cons of Juice Diets for People With RA
Before you get started with juicing, be sure to check with your doctor — especially if juicing is a major change to your diet. Once you have your doctor’s approval, it’s important to understand these six facts about juicing:
1. Juicing Will Increase Your Produce Intake
“Juicing can be a time-saver in that there is less prepping, cutting, and chopping,” says Malik. Which is also a wrist- and back-saver for people who suffer from RA joint pain. “Bottled vegetable juices like V-8 are acceptable substitutes provided they are used occasionally," he says. The sodium content is a bit on the higher side, so if high blood pressure is a concern, then it may be best to stay away from pre-packaged juices.
3. It’s Unnecessary to Juice as a Cleanse
“There isn’t anything inherently wrong with juicing, but I would beware of claims that juicing will ‘cleanse’ the body,” says Malik. “The human body has a number of checks and balances to detoxify and cleanse itself."
4. Juice Has Less Fiber Than Whole Fruits and Vegetables
“Vegetable juices retain many of the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals present in the whole food, but are missing the dietary fiber that is sorely lacking most people’s diets,” says Palumbo. The Arthritis Foundation suggests that eating a diet high in fiber can lower inflammation, which has been linked to RA.
5. Juicing Is Not a Useful Tool for Long-Term Weight Loss
Juicing can be part of a healthy weight loss program, provided that it is not relied upon too heavily. “But I do not recommend juicing as a means for long-term weight loss,” says Malik. “Maintaining weight loss requires regular exercise, portion control, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors.
6. Add Real-Food Protein to Juices Rather Than Protein Powders
“In general, the body metabolizes natural proteins better than those consumed from synthetic sources,” says Malik. “Nut butters and seeds can be a nice complement to most juices.” And think twice before adding any spices. Turmeric and ginger have an anti-inflammatory effect, but some spices can interfere with medications, warns Malik. “It is always best to consult a physician before incorporating them into your diet.” Once you get started with juicing, be sure to clean your juicer regularly and thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to help prevent illness, since people with RA and other autoimmune disorders are more susceptible to infection, according to a study published in January 2013 in the journal Rheumatology.
