The most important single link between your diet and arthritis is certainly your weight.

• Eat a balanced and varied diet to maximize your intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients you need which will help to keep your weight within the recommended range.
• Change the type of fats and oils you eat and include oily fish.
• Eat a more Mediterranean-style diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Current evidence suggests that oily fish is likely to be beneficial if you have an inflammatory type of arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis). Oily fish helps protect against heart disease and is good for your health in general, but the strongest evidence that it can help arthritis relates to inflammatory arthritis.

It is healthy to eat starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta. They have no more calories than protein. Wholemeal versions of these starchy foods are better as they are more filling because they are high in fibre, and often supply more vitamins and minerals - for example, wholemeal bread, brown rice, whole grain breakfast cereals.