Regular joint pain or swelling can be really frustrating and can really affect your quality of life. As for why this happens, there can be many different reasons, but the most common is arthritis.
After all, this “disease” is not actually one affliction but rather an umbrella term that refers to more than 100 types of health problems, all of which share joint pain as the main symptom.
Thankfully, there are ways you can manage swelling and pain whenever you experience flare-ups, one of the most accessible being your diet.
With that being said, registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, Trista Best, Trista Best, talked to EatThis and shared the foods you should avoid if you’re suffering from joint pain and swelling.
- Added Sugars
It’s no secret that added sugar is bad for you in general but if you experience joint pain, it’s especially helpful to stay away from it.
Best explains that “Refined carbs and added sugars should be avoided or reduced in the arthritis patient’s diet, because these are highly inflammatory and can both trigger an arthritis flare or exacerbate the pain of a current flare up.”
- Processed Food
Another damaging diet choice, processed food, may be yummy and cheap but it also comes with a lot of really bad side effects, including the worsening of joint pain and inflammation.
As per Autoimmunity Reviews, processed foods make arthritis symptoms worse due to the fact that it contributes to increased inflammation as well as weight gain.
- Gluten
Gluten can contribute to inflammation getting worse over time, hence worsening your arthritis.
According to a Open Rheumatology Journal report, gluten-free and plant-based diets have positive effects when it comes to joint pain.
- Red Meat
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has determined that higher red meat consumption is linked to an increase in inflammation so it would be a good idea to cut on that as well if you experience joint pain.
Frontiers in Nutrition also found that dropping red meat and replacing it with a plant-based diet can also relieve symptoms.
