Suffering from Joint Pain and Inflammation? Avoid These Foods

Joint pain and inflammation is the most known symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause discomfort. Even though this progressive disease has no cure yet, there are medications meant to ease the symptoms associated with this chronic illness. For instance, many patients are given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to handle the pain. To slow down the progression of the disease, corticosteroids are the most effective.

But did you know that you can actually improve or worsen your symptoms by eating certain foods? Even though no one can say for sure what you should eat if you are bugged by this chronic disease, patients all over the world noticed that several foods make their pain even more unbearable.

In recent years, numerous studies revealed that rheumatoid arthritis patients can benefit a lot from eliminating pro-inflammatory foods from their diet. In other words, if you avoid foods that trigger inflammation, you will experience easier symptoms, or prevent them from getting worse. Let’s see what are these foods that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers should consume in smaller amounts or avoid them entirely:

• Milk

Unfortunately, this popular food is one of those factors that may trigger crucial pains and swollen joints. Many patients noticed that after consuming milk, their symptoms got worse. Researchers say that milk contains certain proteins, which can cause such symptoms. It is better for you to avoid this food completely or opt for soy, rice, or almond milk.

• Meat

We have bad news for meat lovers, too. It seems that meat is directly linked to the inflammation and swelling of the joints, which obviously leads to pain. According to researchers, the type of fat contained in meat is transformed into pro-inflammatory elements by our body, and this worsens the symptoms of patients suffering from this disease. It is no wonder why so many rheumatoid arthritis patients opt for a vegan diet.

• Dairy Products

According to experts, dairy products should also be avoided by people experiencing joint pain and inflammation. Still, there is no reason to worry about your calcium levels, as long as you consume other foods rich in this mineral. For instance, if you want to benefit from high levels of calcium without worsening your pain, consume bok choi, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, and beans. Calcium-fortified orange juice also helps.

• Sugars

Even though no doctor will ever recommend sugar consumption, many of us have a sweet tooth and crave for this sort of treats. But if you are suffering from joint pain and inflammation, it is important to know that sugars increase the level of a particular toxin in your body, which causes joint inflammation. To avoid painful and swollen joints, limit or avoid as much as possible sugar consumption.

• Coffee

There are many opinions about the link between coffee consumption and rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies consider this beverage a factor that exacerbates the disease, while others don’t agree with this idea. So, you should limit its consumption. One thing is clear, coffee can lower your calcium levels considerably, and this is not what you wish when suffering from this chronic illness.