Diet and nutrition

Healthy eating is an important part of healthy living and of taking control of your life. There are no studies to prove that certain foods cure ankylosing spondylitis, but eating healthy can improve your overall health.

Appropriate diet and nutrition can reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, increase your energy, and build muscle and bone strength. A healthy diet can also help you maintain a healthy weight, which is important because excess weight can put stress on joints.

Here are some tips on healthy eating:

• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.
• Limit the amount of salt, fats, and sugars in your diet.
• Learn portion control. Fill half the plate with vegetables and fruit, fill one quarter of the plate with meat or alternatives, and fill the last quarter of the plate with grain products.
• Choose dark green or orange vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.
• Limit alcohol intake to:
• no more than 2 drinks per day (or no more than 3 drinks on special occasions), to a maximum of 10 drinks per week for women
• no more than 3 drinks per day (or no more than 4 drinks on special occasions), to a maximum of 15 drinks per week for men