A musculoskeletal disorder involves injuries or disorders to the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. These conditions can cause pain, stiffness, weakness, and limitations in movement. It can significantly impact people's lives, causing pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. To keep your musculoskeletal health in check, it's important to keep a check on your diet too. There are certain foods that you must refrain from consuming to avoid worsening these conditions.
Ayurveda, a relevant treatment modality, has created benchmarks in treating musculoskeletal diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis. In ayurveda, certain foods aggravate doshas and contribute to inflammation, stiffness and pain, particularly in musculoskeletal disorders. We spoke to our expert Dr Aramya AR, Senior Research Officer and Physician, AVP Research Foundation, who listed dietary tips that you must follow if you have musculoskeletal disorders.
Foods To Avoid If You Have Musculoskeletal Disorders
According to the Frontiers in Nutrition, the influence of metabolic and nutritional factors on the onset and progression of conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity is increasingly acknowledged. Balanced metabolism is crucial for maintaining the homeostasis of the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, diet and nutrients, which can have pro- or anti-inflammatory effects, play a significant role in musculoskeletal health.
Processed Food
“Combining and preserving foods is crucial in ayurveda for promoting good health. The wrong combinations and unhealthy additives in processed foods can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the body, worsening musculoskeletal issues,” said Dr AR.
Naturally Cold Food
Although salads with raw vegetables are rich in nutrients and fibre, their cold texture may prove challenging to digest, thereby aggravating the vata imbalance. “Regular consumption of naturally cold foods can have significant adverse effects on the vata dosha. This may lead to joint stiffness and potentially intensify joint disorders,” added Dr AR.
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Light and Dry Food
Overconsumption of light foods can worsen the body's dryness, causing dehydration and decreased synthesis of synovial fluids. Insufficient nourishment and lubrication to the joints may result from consuming these light foods. Consequently, there is an increase in stiffness and a deterioration of joint symptoms, such as pain.
Fermented Food
Dr AR said, “Overindulgence in fermented foods like pickles and bread can elevate the pitta dosha, leading to inflammation. This may worsen the condition of individuals who are already impacted.”
Frequent Snacks
Consuming dense and difficult-to-digest food, combined with irregular eating patterns, may result in indigestion. “This eventually leads to ama, which can accumulate within the joints, hindering the flow of nourishing substances and lubricating fluids, ultimately causing discomfort, inflammation and rigidity,” added Dr AR.
Astringent Food
Astringent foods, such as unripe bananas, pomegranates and some legumes tend to tighten the body. If consumed excessively, astringent foods can worsen vata dosha as it causes dryness in the joints and bones. This can result in stiffness, reduced mobility and an elevated risk of fractures.
Also Read: Arthritis Vs Arthralgia: Expert Explains The Difference Between These Joint Pain Conditions
Meat
“As per the principles of ayurveda, meat consumption is recommended only for individuals with robust digestive systems capable of breaking down dense proteins. In case of weak digestion, the undigested food particles can accumulate and form ama, leading to joint stiffness and inflammation,” said Dr AR.
Pungent Foods
Dr AR said, “Pungent tastes found in chilli peppers, ginger and garlic can stimulate the body and have a warming effect. However, consuming too much can worsen pitta dosha and result in inflammation. This could lead to conditions like osteoarthritis and inflammatory bone disease, which can disrupt bone metabolism balance.”
Alcohol
Alcohol is considered to be a substance that produces heat and has the potential to worsen the pitta dosha, leading to inflammation and an increase in musculoskeletal pain.
Tuberous Food and Legumes
“Consuming certain tuberous foods and legumes without caution can lead to musculoskeletal issues, especially for those with an aggravated vata dosha or joint problems. Overeating dry tubers like raw carrots and beets can worsen vata dosha, leading to dryness and stiffness in the joints,” said Dr AR. Also, Excessive consumption of legumes, which are generally dry and rough, can increase Vata dosha and cause joint dryness and stiffness.
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert before making any dietary changes, especially if you are dealing with any health issues.]