Lifestyle and Rheumatic Diseases

Can Plants for Health Help with Other Rheumatic Conditions?

Living with a rheumatic disease can have a major impact on daily life. Many people experience ongoing pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Medication is often necessary, but it does not always relieve all symptoms.

Do you live with a rheumatic disease and wonder whether Plants for Health could support you? Perhaps you have gout, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, or Sjögren’s syndrome. If so, this is a very logical question.

More and more people with rheumatic diseases are looking for ways to improve their health themselves. They want to feel better, regain energy, and reduce inflammation where possible. This is exactly where lifestyle becomes important.

In this article, we explain what scientific research shows about lifestyle, plant-based nutrition, and different rheumatic diseases. We also describe what this knowledge can mean for you in everyday life.

Why Lifestyle Is So Important in Rheumatic Diseases

Many rheumatic diseases share an important underlying factor: chronic low-grade inflammation. This type of inflammation can be aggravated by unhealthy nutrition, too little physical activity, long-term stress, and poor sleep quality.

These lifestyle factors influence not only how you feel on a daily basis, but also how active the disease is. The positive aspect is that lifestyle choices are something you can influence yourself.

For this reason, a healthy lifestyle is considered an essential part of the overall treatment of rheumatic diseases. Improving lifestyle habits can lead to less inflammation, better quality of life, and more energy. In addition, it lowers the risk of developing other chronic conditions.

What Does the Plants for Joints Study Show?

The Plants for Joints study investigated a lifestyle intervention consisting of plant-based nutrition, increased physical activity, and attention to sleep and stress management. This study was conducted among people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The results were clear and encouraging. In people with rheumatoid arthritis, disease activity decreased significantly. In people with osteoarthritis, pain and stiffness were reduced, and physical functioning improved.

Beyond joint-related outcomes, the study also showed improvements in body weight, waist circumference, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and inflammatory markers. Because inflammation plays a central role in many rheumatic diseases, it is logical to explore whether this lifestyle approach may also benefit other conditions.

Gout and a Plant-Based Diet

What Does Research Say About Gout?

Scientific research shows that an unprocessed, plant-based dietary pattern can lower the risk of gout. People who primarily consume whole plant foods have approximately a twenty-one percent lower risk of developing gout compared to those who follow less healthy dietary patterns.

In contrast, a plant-based diet that is high in processed foods appears to increase the risk of gout. A higher intake of red meat, fish, and shellfish is associated with an increased risk of gout, while foods such as lentils and soy are linked to a lower risk of gout.

Purines and Gout Explained

In people with gout, reducing purine intake is often recommended. Purines are broken down in the body into uric acid. When uric acid levels become too high, crystals can accumulate in the joints and trigger painful gout attacks.

A plant-based diet is generally low in purines. Purines are mainly found in red meat, alcohol, particularly beer, certain types of fish and shellfish, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Although some plant foods contain purines, research shows that purines from plant sources do not increase gout risk in the same way as purines from animal products.

What Did Plants for Health Find in Gout?

In a study conducted by the Plants for Health team, a whole-food plant-based diet led to lower uric acid levels. Participants also reported less pain and a reduction in the severity of their gout symptoms.

In addition, improvements were seen in body weight, waist circumference, and cholesterol levels. These changes are important, as they also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is higher in people with gout.

Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

For systemic lupus erythematosus, less research is available compared to other rheumatic diseases. Nevertheless, existing studies suggest that people who follow a more plant-based or Mediterranean-style diet often experience lower disease activity.

A higher intake of dietary fiber also appears to have a beneficial effect on disease progression. Small case studies even describe individuals with lupus who remained symptom-free for long periods after switching to a plant-based diet. Regular physical activity further supports energy levels, mood, and overall quality of life.

Psoriatic Arthritis

In psoriatic arthritis, adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern has been associated with lower disease activity. In addition, several case reports describe people who became symptom-free after adopting a plant-based diet, sometimes even without the need for medication.

Physical activity also plays a crucial role in psoriatic arthritis. Regular movement helps reduce pain and supports daily functioning.

Axial Spondyloarthritis

Research in axial spondyloarthritis shows that people who adopt a more Mediterranean dietary pattern often report improvements in disease activity. Both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activities have a positive effect on pain, stiffness, and physical function.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

For Sjögren’s syndrome, research on nutrition and lifestyle is still limited. However, early findings suggest that a more plant-based or anti-inflammatory dietary pattern may help reduce symptoms such as dry eyes and dry mouth.

Results remain mixed, which means that further research is needed. Even so, lifestyle interventions are considered safe and may offer meaningful benefits.

What Does This Mean for You?

Although more research is needed, one conclusion stands out clearly. A healthy lifestyle has only positive side effects

For people living with rheumatic diseases, lifestyle changes can contribute to lower inflammation, more energy, better physical fitness, and an improved quality of life. At the same time, they reduce the risk of developing other chronic diseases.

For this reason, Plants for Health may be a valuable addition to standard medical treatment for a wide range of rheumatic diseases. Read more about the Plants for Health lifestyle program here and discover how a plant-based lifestyle can support your health.