If you are a non vegetarian food lover, then that's a pleasing palate that you see. But meat is not a great food for arthritics. See why!Being an arthritic, painful joints and stiffness is probably a part of your life. Apart from regular medication and exercise, you also need to take care of your diet to manage symptoms of arthritis. While some foods help relieve symptoms of arthritis, some foods end up worsening the pain and discomfort.
Let us check out the list of foods that trigger and aggravate the symptoms of arthritis. Eliminate such food items from your diet to manage arthritis condition in a better way. The list goes like this: - Sodium and Preservatives:
Salt and preservatives are very commonly consumed in our daily diet. But do you know that salt alone can lead to painful joints? Canned, packaged and ready to eat food items have loads of sodium and preservatives that result in water retention.
Preservatives also block your body's ability to absorb Vitamin D through sunlight. Pre cooked meals and the dishes served in restaurants are high in sodium content. Microwaveable foods like pizza and pasta are also high in salt content that should be avoided in your diet plan. Monosodium Glutamate or MSG is another ingredient that is used to enhance flavor but ends up triggering pain in joints.
To avoid this, prepare your own food and minimize the intake of salt. Avoid packaged items and eat lots of fresh fruits and salads.
Check the label before your buy food.
- Dairy products:
Certain proteins found in milk and other dairy items result in inflammation of the joints. You may also experience intolerance to dairy products.
Opt for vegetarian sources of protein like beans, seeds, lentils, soy, tofu. spinach etc.
- Sugar and refined carbohydrates:
Consuming sugary foods like cookies and colas and refined carbs like white rice and white potato trigger inflammation in the joints. This causes pain and restricts joint movement.
So, skip soda, bakery items, fried stuff, fast food, chocolates, sweets, sugary beverages etc. to lessen pain from arthritis.
Even artificial sweeteners like aspartame can trigger inflammation. This happens because it is a neurotoxin that forces your immune system to react, thereby causing inflammation.
- Meat:
Eating meat increases your intake of fat and excess calories. It contains animal protein that gets metabolized into certain chemicals. These chemicals lead to inflammation and swelling in your joints.
It is a good idea to switch to vegetarian food for some time and see if that helps!
- Fried and processed items:
Food items that are fried, microwaved and processed are greatly responsible for triggering inflammatory reactions in your body. To prevent inflammation, remove foods that are cooked in saturated oil and are processed. Fried meats, ready to eat meals etc. are examples of such foods.
Processed foods also contain trans fats. Cookies, crackers, donuts are some of the foods that contain trans fats. They can easily trigger joint pain in arthritis.
- Caffeine:
Although there is less medical evidence to prove that caffeine triggers arthritis inflammation, it is best to avoid it. Cut down on your tea and coffee breaks to minimize the intake of caffeine.
- Gluten:
Gluten is a protein that is found in grains. Some people have intolerance towards gluten that results in celiac disease. In celiac disease the gluten in wheat or other grains causes diarrhea, cramps or bloating.
It can potentially trigger inflammations in your joints resulting in extreme pain and swelling. So, if you are sensitive to gluten, avoid it altogether in your diet.
- Foods high in purine:
Foods with high purine content lead to build up of uric acid. This condition can trigger arthritic inflammation. Peas, asparagus, dried beans, scallops, anchovies etc. are high in purine and should be avoided in arthritis condition.
- Omega 6 fatty acids:
Omega 6 fatty acids are normally found in corn oil, sunflower oil, grape seed oil, soy oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, peanut oil etc. Even salad dressings like mayonnaise are full of omega 6 fatty acids. Foods cooked in such oils make your taste buds happy but they also trigger inflammation in your joints.
Use oils rich in omega 3 fatty acids instead. Olive oil, flax seeds, nuts are good examples of such foods.
It is imperative that you take care of what you are putting on your platter. Try to eat anti inflammatory foods. Ask your doctor for best advice suited to your specific symptoms of arthritis. Eat wisely to manage your arthritis smartly!
