Arthritis is an age-related ailment characterized by swelling and stiffening in your joints, often causing ongoing discomfort as well as damage to other body parts depending on the form it takes. It often results in discomfort for sufferers as well as potentially damaging ones as it continues to progress over time.
Osteoarthritis, which is noninflammatory, is the most well-known form. There are over one hundred types of this condition that could impact up to 40% of men and 47% of women during their lifetimes.
At present, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis are both considered autoimmune conditions that present as inflammation-based forms of arthritis. Gout is another prominent type of inflamed joint.
Studies indicate that diet changes, including eliminating certain food varieties or refreshments, may help reduce symptoms in those suffering from inflammatory arthritis or osteoarthritis, while increasing overall personal satisfaction.
Here are 8 food and drinks you should avoid if you suffer from arthritis.
1. Added SugarsYou Should Limit Your Sugar
consumption regardless, but particularly so if you suffer from arthritis. Sugar can be found in sweets, pop, frozen yogurt and many other sources – even more subtly in things like grill sauce!
A study involving 217 individuals living with rheumatoid arthritis showed that out of 20 food sources studied, sugary soda and pastries were most often selected to reduce symptoms associated with their disease.
Soft drink beverages may significantly increase your risk for arthritis.
Studies on 1,209 adults between the ages of 20-30 conducted by researchers showed that those who consumed fructose-sweetened beverages at least five times every week were two to three times more likely to have arthritis than individuals who consumed none or few fructose-enriched drinks.
An extensive report involving almost 200,000 women linked the consumption of sugar-enhanced soft drinks regularly with an increased risk for RA.
2. Red And Handled Meats
Some research links red and handled meat to irritation, which could worsen arthritis symptoms.
Consumption of red and processed meats contains calories with high inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-receptive protein (CRP), and homocysteine, all known for being associated with an increase in inflammation markers.
The previous review in 217 individuals with RA noted that red meat regularly improved symptoms. Furthermore, this analysis did not establish that high red meat intake may be risk factors for inflammatory arthritis.
However, plant-based diets which exclude red meat have been demonstrated to further aggravate arthritis symptoms.
3. Gluten-Containing Food Sources
Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat, grain, rye and triticale (a hybrid wheat/rye hybrid). Studies link gluten to increased inflammation; for this reason some research indicates that eliminating it might ease arthritis symptoms.
Individuals living with celiac illness have a significantly increased risk of RA. Furthermore, those diagnosed with an autoimmune disease like RA tend to have an overall higher prevalence of celiac illness compared with everyone else.
An extensive 1-year study involving 66 individuals living with RA showed that adhering to a vegetarian diet significantly decreased sickness activity and further irritation.
Even though these findings are encouraging, more studies will need to be conducted in order to establish whether switching entirely away from gluten benefits individuals living with arthritis.
4. Poorly Handled Food Sources
Overly processed products such as cheap food, breakfast oats and prepared products tend to contain refined grains, added sugars, additives and potentially inflammatory components which could worsen arthritis symptoms.
Research suggests that Western diets featuring intensively handled food varieties could increase your risk of RA by increasing inflammation and risk factors like stoutness.
As part of an analysis with 56 individuals with RA, those who consumed higher amounts of processed food had increased coronary illness risk factors – specifically higher levels of Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), an indicator of glucose control.
As such, processed food varieties may damage your overall wellbeing and increase the risk of various diseases.
5. Liquor
Since alcohol can ease symptoms associated with arthritis, anyone living with inflammatory arthritis should limit or avoid its consumption.
An analysis conducted among 278 patients suffering from pivotal spondyloarthritis — an inflammatory arthritis which predominantly affects the spinal column and sacroiliac (SI) joints — linked alcohol consumption with increased spine-based injury.
Studies have also demonstrated that drinking liquor may increase both the frequency and severity of gout attacks.
Long-term alcohol consumption has also been associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis; however, not all studies have conclusively established this correlation.
6. Consuming Certain Vegetable Oils
high in omega-6 fats but low in omega-3 fats could worsen osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
These fats are integral for optimal health; however, in most Western diets an imbalanced ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s may increase inflammation.
Reducing intake of foods that are high in omega-6 fats such as vegetable oils while increasing intake of omega-3-rich food such as fish could further exacerbate arthritis symptoms.
