Dealing with arthritis can be tough, especially when certain foods make symptoms worse. Did you know that what you eat can impact your joint pain and inflammation? This article will guide you on which foods to avoid for better arthritis relief. Keep reading to learn how to protect your joints and feel better daily!
1. Added Sugars
Sugary foods make arthritis worse. Candy, soda, ice cream, barbecue sauce, salad dressings, and ketchup all have added sugars. People with rheumatoid arthritis often see their symptoms flare when they eat foods high in sugar.
A study involving 217 people found that sugary beverages like sodas can increase the risk of developing arthritis significantly. Another study on adults aged 20-30 showed that those who drank fructose-sweetened drinks five times per week or more were three times more likely to have arthritis than those who rarely drank them.
2. Processed and Red Meats
Sugary foods can hurt arthritis, but processed and red meats are even worse. These meats cause inflammation. Inflammation makes arthritis pain bad. Red meat and bacon increase IL-6, CRP, and homocysteine levels in the body. These chemicals make joints swell and hurt more.
Eating lots of burgers or sausages raises your risk of inflammatory polyarthritis. This is a type of arthritis with swelling in many joints at once. People who eat a lot of red meat may also gain weight, which puts extra stress on their joints. Try eating more fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins like fish instead to help keep joint pain in check.
3. Gluten-Containing Foods
Foods like wheat, barley, and rye contain gluten. These foods can increase inflammation in your joints. For people with celiac disease, eating gluten makes arthritis symptoms worse. Going on a gluten-free diet may help ease joint pain.
About 0.6% to 13% of the population has non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). This means even without celiac disease, some people feel better without gluten. Between 2009 and 2014, more than three times as many people started avoiding gluten.
4. Highly Processed Foods
Highly processed foods include fast food, breakfast cereals, and baked goods. These items often contain refined grains and added sugar. Eating these foods can make arthritis symptoms worse and raise the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies show that consuming ultra-processed food is linked to higher cardiovascular risk in RA patients.
Fast food like burgers and fries are full of unhealthy fats. They can cause inflammation in your joints. Breakfast cereals might seem healthy but many have lots of sugar. Baked goods such as cookies and donuts also contain high levels of sugar. This kind of diet does more harm than good for people with arthritis.
5. Certain Vegetable Oils
Switching from highly processed foods, let’s look at some vegetable oils. Vegetable oils like corn oil and sunflower oil are high in omega-6 fatty acids. Consuming too many omega-6 fats can cause inflammation in the body. This inflammation may worsen symptoms for people with arthritis.
Most Americans eat over 40 grams of these oils every day, which is a lot! Balancing your diet with more omega-3 rich foods might help. Omega-3s are found in oily fish like salmon, seeds, and leafy green vegetables.
Reducing intake of vegetable oils high in linoleic acid (LA) could make a big difference for joint health.
6. Foods High in Salt
Certain vegetable oils are bad for arthritis, but foods high in salt can be just as harmful. High sodium intake makes arthritis worse by increasing joint inflammation. Eating a lot of salty foods like chips, pretzels, and canned soups can make your symptoms even more severe. High levels of dietary sodium raise the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies show that too much salt causes Th17 polarization—a process that worsens arthritis. Cutting back on salted snacks and fast food dishes could help reduce pain in your joints.
A low-salt diet has shown to ease collagen-induced arthritis and improve overall health. Choose fresh foods over processed ones to keep your sodium low and protect your joints from further damage.
7. Foods High in Advanced Glycation End (AGE) Products
Some foods can make arthritis worse due to Advanced Glycation End (AGE) products. These harmful substances form in fried, roasted, grilled, seared, or broiled high-protein and high-fat animal foods. AGEs cause oxidative stress and inflammation in your joints.
Dry heat cooking methods significantly increase AGEs formation in meats like steak and chicken. Consuming these foods often may worsen joint pain for people with arthritis. Cooking with moist heat, shorter times, lower temperatures, or using acidic ingredients can help reduce new AGEs in food.
8. Beverages to Avoid with Arthritis
Some drinks can make arthritis pain worse. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks to help manage your symptoms better.
Alcohol
Alcohol can make your arthritis worse. It increases inflammation and joint pain. Drinking alcohol often raises uric acid levels, which is harmful for gout. A 2019 study shows that drinking alcohol might damage the spine in people with axial spondyloarthritis. Another study from 2021 found a link between alcohol and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women. This connection was not seen in men.
Sugar-Sweetened Drinks
Sugar-sweetened drinks, like sodas, can harm people with arthritis. These beverages are packed with added sugars that can make joint pain worse. Those who drank fructose-sweetened drinks five or more times a week were three times likelier to have arthritis than those who had fewer sweet drinks.
Fructose in these drinks raises uric acid levels, which makes gout symptoms worse. This is especially true for women. Regular sugar-sweetened soda intake is linked to a higher risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cutting out sugary beverages can help reduce inflammation and ease arthritis symptoms.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Assistance
Doctors can help manage arthritis symptoms. They know the right treatments and advice to make life better. Doctors like rheumatologists focus on arthritis and other joint problems. Medical assistance is key to living well with arthritis. Doctors can suggest a healthy diet full of anti-inflammatory foods, like fruits and veggies, which help reduce pain. Seeking help early on prevents problems from getting worse.
Conclusion
Eating the right foods can help with arthritis pain. Avoid added sugars, processed and red meats, and gluten-containing foods. Stay away from highly processed items and certain vegetable oils.
Limit salt intake and food high in AGEs. Be careful with alcohol and sugary drinks too. Seek medical advice for a personalized plan on managing arthritis through diet.
Contact Woodlands Primary Healthcare Today
Are your joints aching? Speak with us today. Our doctors treat arthritis and are here to help you find relief. Contact us now to set up an appointment!
FAQs
What are the worst foods for arthritis relief?
Foods like trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and partially hydrogenated oils can worsen arthritis symptoms. Avoiding these can help reduce joint pain.
Can drinking alcohol cause joint pain?
Yes, joint pain after drinking alcohol is common in some people with arthritis. Alcohol may trigger inflammation and discomfort.
Are tomatoes bad for arthritis?
Some believe that tomatoes can worsen arthritis due to their solanine content. However, there’s no solid proof linking them directly to increased joint pain.
How does sugar affect arthritis?
Sugar can increase inflammation in the body, making arthritis symptoms worse. Limiting sweets and desserts helps manage this condition better.
Should I avoid dairy products if I have arthritis?
Dairy products might cause inflammation in some individuals with arthritis but not everyone experiences this effect equally.
What type of diet is best for managing arthritis symptoms?
A balanced diet rich in whole grains, leafy vegetables such as spinach and omega-3 fatty acids from fish such as salmon or sardines, together with an anti-inflammatory diet, can help to effectively control symptoms.
