Medication can help you achieve remission in some cases, but you may not know what to do while you’re waiting for your symptoms to recede. Eating healthy and maintaining an appropriate weight is a good start. Your joints are only equipped to handle a certain amount of weight. When you overload your joints with extra weight—especially your back, hips, and knees—they aren’t able to function as efficiently. If you have AS or another form of arthritis, your joints are already damaged. Without proper self-care, your symptoms can become worse.
Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins are all part of a healthy diet. Managing inflammation and autoimmune conditions, however, can be tricky when it comes to dietary choices. You might start to notice a pattern of increased symptoms after eating certain foods. If this is the case, speak to your doctor about starting an elimination diet to figure out which foods seem to affect your joints.