Health experts have long agreed that food plays an important role in the management of arthritis symptoms. Therefore, it is important to be wary of certain foods that can cause the arthritis to flare up, resulting in inflammation of joints and its adjacent parts.
Arthritis is a medical condition that causes pain and inflammation within a joint besides tenderness and stiffness. Arthritis patients can make a number of lifestyle changes to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, including dietary changes. Knowing the foods that cause arthritis flare-ups can help patients fight their condition better.
Non-alkaline Diet
According to Medicinenet.com, alkaline diet is best to manage arthritis. The diet excludes acids and doesn't allow sugar, coffee, red meat or acidic fruits that may trigger arthritis symptoms.
Fried Foods
Any food heavy in saturated fats can up complications for an arthritis patient. These include foods such as French fries, fried chicken, stir-fry vegetables and fried seafood. High in sodium, these may cause water retention and inflammation.
Salty Foods
Inflammation occurs when foods that have too much salt are consumed. Foods with more salt may contain sodium in large quantity which can cause water retention and the accumulation of extra fluid around the joints can increase arthritis pain. Patients are advised to use salt substitutes to season foods and avoid adding salt in their food as much as possible.
Sugar and Refined Carbs
High amounts of sugar and carbohydrates in the diet may aggravate arthritis symptoms. Patients are advised to cut out candies, processed foods, white flour baked goods, and sodas to reduce arthritis pain.
Omega 6 Foods
Omega 6 foods such as chips, cookies, bakery cake icing and crackers may trigger arthritis flare-ups. Also, these foods increase risk of weight gain and chances of heart-related illnesses. If you gain weight, the extra load on your joints can elevate arthritis symptoms, particularly the joints of the hip, knee or spine. Moreover, there is also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. If you have arthritis, take omega 6 foods out of your diet entirely.
Sodas
There is nothing in carbonated drinks and sodas for arthritis patients. These drinks can be substituted with natural teas, a freshly squeezed lemon, sweetened natural sugar drinks and water.
White Flour Foods
Elimination of white flour is important for arthritis management. Prefer whole wheat flour products in your diet instead. Moreover, white flour increases the chance of developing neurological diseases.
If you make slight modifications to your diet and avoid foods that are bad, managing arthritis becomes easier. Moreover, be watchful of foods that aggravate the symptoms and make pain management more difficult. You should not cut food groups from your diet without talking to your doctor as you may miss out on important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
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