Top 6 Fruits to Reduce Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms

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When you live with an autoimmune disease such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), you are always looking for ways to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress (an overabundance of free radicals that can damage fatty tissue, DNA, and proteins in your body). Part of the solution may be no farther than your backyard, farmers market, or supermarket: juicy, refreshing fruits.

“Just keep in mind that fruits are in no way a replacement for medical treatment. But they can be a delicious part of your overall therapy,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, a dietitian with offices on Long Island and in New York City.

If you’re buying canned, dried, or frozen fruits, read the labels to make sure there aren’t added sugars or sodium. “These can exacerbate your symptoms and make comorbidities like diabetes and cardiovascular disease worse,” warns Taub-Dix.

6 Fruits That May Help You Stay Healthy

1. Avocado

Avocado is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin E — the latter is not found in a lot of other fruits. These vitamins have an anti-inflammatory effect, which means eating avocados may help decrease joint pain.

Try It Make guacamole, of course, or use avocado as a veggie burger topping. Taub-Dix also substitutes mashed ripe avocados for butter or oil in muffins, using a 1:1 ratio. “That can help decrease saturated fat intake, which is great for some PsA comorbidities such as heart disease,” she explains.

2. Cherries

Cherries — both sweet and tart — have polyphenols (plant-based compounds) and vitamin C, both of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

?“Studies have also shown that cherries may help improve the quality of your sleep. If you have PsA, you may be uncomfortable or in pain that can disrupt restorative sleep. Cherries can perhaps help with that,” says Taub-Dix.

?Tart cherry juice can lower uric acid levels, which may be high in many people with psoriasis.

Lower levels of uric acid may help prevent gout in people with PsA, who are at increased risk of developing it.

Try It Summer is the season for juicy, sweet cherries like the Bing and Rainier varieties you’ll want to eat straight out of the bowl. Tart cherries, on the other hand, are great for baking (think fresh cherry cobbler), and dried cherries make a flavorful addition to trail mix.

3. Berries

Berries are loaded with polyphenols such as anthocyanins, which produce their red, blue and purple colors; quercetin; and various types of phenolic acids that reduce inflammation.

“They are also high in vitamin C, which is important for collagen building in skin and bones,” says Taub-Dix, adding that just eight strawberries have as much vitamin C as an entire orange.

Try It Add berries to oatmeal or cold cereal, yogurt, fruit or green salads, or just eat them as a snack on their own.

4. Pineapple

A traditional symbol of welcome, this hydrating fruit is loaded with vitamin C, as well as manganese, which helps maintain bone health. Pineapples are also a good source of the enzyme bromelain, which helps reduce inflammation and pain while also boosting the immune system. An added bonus: Pineapples may aid in digestion.

Try It Cut up fresh pineapple and eat it raw, or toss it into cottage cheese or yogurt. You can also grill it with a little olive oil.

5. Mango

Mango contains vitamin C, polyphenols, and carotenoids, which can help reduce inflammation and protect against bone destruction, says Taub-Dix.

Try It This is another fruit that’s yummy when grilled. It’s also a tasty add-in to yogurt. Or make a fresh salsa with it.

6. Kiwi

This fuzzy fruit is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which stimulate the immune system. It also contains a healthy dose of dietary fiber, which may reduce the risk of heart disease, a common comorbidity of PsA.

Try It Peel it, slice it, and eat it raw. Kiwi is delicious in fruit salad, or add it to a green salad for a hint of sweetness. Like mango, it’s good when grilled or in a salsa.

The Takeaway

Boost your psoriatic arthritis management with delicious fruits that pack an anti-inflammatory punch. Enjoy avocados, cherries, berries, pineapples, mangos, and kiwis, which may help reduce joint swelling and pain. Remember to choose fresh or frozen fruits without added sugars or salt for the most health benefits.

Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer

Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at?Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.

Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. Teamed with Synergy, she provides in-person lifestyle medicine and holistic consults, and contributes to employee workplace wellness programs. She has over 20 years of experience in rheumatology and holds board certifications in rheumatology and integrative and lifestyle medicine.?Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Dr. Biggee graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated magna cum laude and as valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Dr. Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University). She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "introduction to clinical medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for the Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health?Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

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Beth Levine

Author

Beth Levine is an award-winning health writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Woman's Day, Good Housekeeping, Reader's Digest, AARP Bulletin, AARP The Magazine, Considerable.com, and NextTribe.com. She has also written custom content for the Yale New Haven Hospital and the March of Dimes.

Levine's work has won awards from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Connecticut Press Club, and the Public Relations Society of America. She is the author of Playgroups: From 18 Months to Kindergarten a Complete Guide for Parents and Divorce: Young People Caught in the Middle. She is also a humor writer and in addition to her editorial work, she coaches high school students on their college application essays.

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Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Resources

Kelley DS et al. A Review of the Health Benefits of Cherries. Nutrients. March 2018.
Yeom JW et al. Herbal and Natural Supplements for Improving Sleep: A Literature Review. Psychiatry Investigation. August 2024.
Gui X et al. Serum Uric Acid Levels and Hyperuricemia in Patients With Psoriasis: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. 2018.
Avula B et al. Advances in the Chemistry, Analysis and Adulteration of Anthocyanin Rich-Berries and Fruits: 2000–2022. Molecules. January 5, 2023.