Living with arthritis can be a difficult and painful experience. In addition to managing the physical symptoms of your condition, you must also pay attention to your diet in order to keep it under control. Certain types of food can have an adverse effect on your joints and cause flare-ups, so it’s important that you know which items should be avoided. Keep reading if you want some insight into the best foods to avoid with arthritis.
What Is Arthritis And How Does It Occur?
Arthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the cartilage between bones begins to break down and can result in pain, inflammation, joint stiffness, and decreased mobility. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, each with varying causes and treatments. Osteoarthritis is the most frequent type of arthritis and occurs from wear-and-tear injuries or aging. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that triggers inflammation throughout the body, including in the joints.
Other forms are related to existing conditions like certain infections or metabolic disorders such as gout. If you think you may have arthritis, visit your doctor, who can diagnose its presence based on laboratory testing and physical examination. Regardless of its form, early treatment of arthritis can help manage symptoms while minimizing further joint damage.
Foods To Avoid With Arthritis
Believe it or not, certain foods can trigger inflammation and worsen your arthritis symptoms. To feel your best, it’s recommended to follow a healthy eating pattern and avoid the following items:
Fried And Processed Foods
If you have arthritis, it is important to be mindful of the foods that you eat, as they can impact your symptoms and overall health. Fried and processed foods are typically high in unhealthy fats such as saturated and trans fats, which can increase inflammation in the body and worsen arthritis pain.
Avoiding fried dishes like french fries, doughnuts, and croquettes can help reduce the intensity of your symptoms and offer a reprieve from chronic aches. Stocking up on nutritious fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein instead will promote long-term health and keep your arthritis pain at bay.
Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks, including soda and fruit juice, should be conscientiously reduced or eliminated as part of a diet designed to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. The sweeteners in these types of beverages can result in weight gain, which puts added stress on joints affected by arthritis and can actually increase inflammation around those joints.
In addition, drinking sugary drinks causes an increase in blood sugar levels that can cause the body’s natural anti-inflammatory responses to malfunction, making it harder for the body to naturally fight against pain related to arthritis. Avoiding sugary drinks is an essential step for individuals who have been diagnosed with arthritis in order to manage their condition effectively.
Red Meat
Eating red meat is best avoided for those prone to arthritis or gout due to its high purine content, which can build up and form uric acid in the body. Gout is a type of painful arthritis that is exacerbated by these excess levels of uric acid, which occurs naturally in certain foods.
Cutting down on red meats has been previously linked to reducing the risk of gout and providing relief from arthritis symptoms, although eating healthy amounts of fish and poultry can still provide access to vital proteins. Therefore it is best advised for those with arthritic conditions to make wise food choices when it comes to red meat.