Avoid these foods if you have arthritis

Arthritis is a health problem characterized by inflammation, pain, and stiffness of joints. Many types of arthritis may be caused due to genetic factors, ageing, or any other health condition leading to these symptoms.

Eating healthy is always good to preserve your health and avoid health problems. This article will talk about certain foods that can worsen this health condition.

Foods to avoid

Here is a list of foods that act as a risk factor to trigger the symptoms and effects of arthritis. You can cut back on these or at least consume them in controlled quantities if you seek to avoid their side effects.

Food and beverages with added sugars

Foods high in sugar and other forms of carbohydrates trigger many health issues, including obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and other health problems, including arthritis. Studies have shown that individuals who regularly consume foods with refined sugars such as desserts and candies are at higher risk of developing arthritis. Intake of sweetened juices and beverages also enhances inflammation. To prevent these issues, you may want to check the food labels before buying foods.

Red meat

Many forms of meat, primarily red meat, increase inflammatory symptoms that worsen arthritis. Red meat contains specific proteins and fatty acids, including saturated fats associated with an increase in inflammation. White meat contains comparatively less amount of saturated fatty acids. Therefore, you can replace red meat with chicken and fish meat as a source of fats. For protein, you can opt for plant-based foods like legumes or nuts.

Processed foods

To prevent the worsening of arthritis, you must avoid processed food for plenty of reasons. These foods contain preservatives, chemicals, and substances like trans fats, refined grains, and added sugars. These substances are meant to keep these foods fresh inside the packaging and retain their flavour and freshness. These components increase risk factors for obesity and inflammation.

Refined carbohydrates

Refined grains are a source of refined carbohydrates in foods made of white flour, such as white bread, pasta, and crackers. White rice is also included in this category. Refined grains lose much of their fibre and nutrients and only carbohydrates. That is why these foods can cause an increase in levels of blood glucose that may, in turn, spike inflammation.

Salty foods

Salty foods include certain canned foods or foods with added salts for seasoning. Studies have shown high salt concentration to trigger an inflammatory response and bone destruction. Moreover, high amounts of sodium have known to be a risk factor to induce autoimmune response and increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Cutting back on salt may help avoid the severity of arthritis. You can replace salt with other herbs and spices for seasoning.

Alcohol

Moderate consumption of alcohol may not be a problem for patients with arthritis. However, regular and excessive consumption may lead to issues including swelling and lack of sleep that may trigger arthritis. Some types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, especially gout, may worsen due to unchecked alcohol consumption. Vegetable oils with omega-6 fats

Omega-6 fatty acids are beneficial for health but only when consumed in small quantities. A high amount of these fats and low omega-3 fats may trigger symptoms of significant types of arthritis. Many vegetable oils having corn, safflower, soy, sunflower, and canola are high in omega-6 fatty acids. To decrease this ratio and improve the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids, you can replace vegetable oils with olive oil or increase the intake of fatty fish.

Foods containing gluten

Gluten is a substance in grains such as wheat, rice, and barley. This substance, according to studies, is known to trigger symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. So patients with arthritis should purchase foods labelled as gluten-free to avoid these harmful effects.

High-fat dairy products and cheese

Dairy products consist of various items and may vary in fat and sugar contents. Arthritis patients should avoid high-fat dairy products like cheese, butter, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and margarine. These foods contain a high amount of many types of fatty acids that are harmful and induce swelling. Added sugar in many dairy products like ice cream may also produce a similar effect. Not all dairy products, however, cause inflammation. Fermented dairy products like Greek yoghurt act as an anti-inflammatory substance and are beneficial.

Summing it up

It may seem like you have to cut back on many of your favourite foods to prevent your health problem, but you can always use healthy alternatives. Keeping a healthy lifestyle is not just good for arthritis but may also prevent the onset of other chronic health problems. If you are struggling with adopting a healthy diet plan for your condition, this article will guide you to overcome the issue.