Arthritis is a category term, made up of more than 100 different types of inflammatory joint illnesses that plague millions across the globe. Arthritis can be agreed as one of the most severe complex disease conditions which are distinguished by joint pain, stiffness and swelling in body that affect joints. Medicine, physical therapy and lifestyle changes are commonly offered as successful treatments for arthritis.
However, diet is an essential component of the disease that frequently goes overlooked. Our diet greatly influences how bad or good our arthritis symptoms become. Immunologically, arthritis is when joints get inflamed and our diet can either promote or reduce inflammation. Food high in certain fats, carbs & additives can cause an inflammation response you exacerbating arthritis symptoms.
 The opposite is true of a diet that includes nutrients to reduce inflammation which can alleviate these effects and help maintain joint health. We will focus on the ten foods that are most problematic for arthritis sufferers. In this article we’ll uncover the mechanisms behind these foods that’s the sources that fuel the inflammatory processes that exacerbate arthritic symptoms. You can cultivate healthier joints and better overall health by smarter food decisions through understanding these causes and their effects.
1. Sugary Drinks
In addition, drinks such as sodas, fruit juices, and energy drinks are significantly worse for patients with arthritis, which contain high amounts of sugars. Such drinks hugely elevate systemic inflammation that constitutes one of the major causes of worst outbreak of symptoms of the disease.
Why the sweet products are harmful for patients who are suffering from arthritis?
- Increased Blood Glucose: Such high-calorie drinks that contain much sugar increase the glucose levels in blood.
- Higher Calorie Levels: Sugary drinks have a lot of calories with almost no supportive nutrients. This can lead to weight gain, thereby fueling the added strain to the joints and more so to those suffering from arthritis. Added mechanical strain due to this excess weight might worsen joint pain and inflammation.
- Adipose Deposits and Inflammation: The following represent some of the harmful chemicals that visceral fat secretes, such as adipokines. So, an association exists between obesity and visceral fat. These medicines may worsen disease symptoms for patients with arthritis and increase systemic inflammation.
- AGEs Production: When sugars bind to proteins or lipids, without the involvement of an enzyme, compounds referred to as AGEs are formed. Elevated blood glucose could initiate the formation of AGEs. These compounds can accumulate in the cartilage and in other parts of the body, causing oxidative stress and inflammation. Accumulation may also worsen symptoms of arthritic conditions and disrupt the structure of the joints.
2. Refined Carbohydrates
A person with arthritis is even more sensitive to the detrimental effects of refined carbohydrates, which are present in white bread, pastries, or sugary cereals. Such foods cause systemic inflammation due to their high glycemic index, lack of vital nutrients, and fiber content.
Refined carbohydrates are typically low in fiber, and their calorie content is high. A diet lacking in fiber will also make the consumer take more calories. This often increases the risk for more calorie intake followed by weight gain leading to obesity. Increased body mass will make weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips work harder thus increasing the pressure on them, accelerating joint degradation, and worsening the symptoms of arthritis.
3. Foods High in Sodium
Foods with a high salt content may be the greatest enemy to arthritic people because of fluids balance, inflammation and just healthy maintenance. This is why consuming food with high sodium levels is bad for people with arthritis.
Sodium is essential to maintaining fluid balances within the body. Taking too much salt causes fluid retention, thus edema and swelling, usually around the joints. Higher fluid retention can worsen the pain and stiffness of the arthritis.
High-sodium foods typically originate from fast food and processed food sources. They can be highly calorie and bad fats dense too. The frequent intake of such meals may result in weight gain. Weight is not healthy for the joints, especially load bearing ones. These are the knees and hips. This can exacerbate the arthritis condition.
4. Corn
It’s found in almost every processed food, so it can quickly cause issues for those with arthritis, given how it affects inflammation, nutrient balance, and overall health. Here’s the more detailed look on how corn might be dangerous for arthritis from the latest research:
Maize oil, which is extracted from corn, has high levels of omega-6 fatty acids. But although essential for health, the imbalance between the quantity of omega-6s and omega-3s can lead to inflammation. In a typical Western diet, the most common aspect is having a higher quantity of omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3s, which can worsen inflammatory diseases like arthritis.
Corn is less nutrient-rich compared to the variety found in other whole grains and vegetables, though it does have some nutrient value. In excessive reliance on corn-based products, patients run a risk of not getting important nutrients for joints and management of inflammation, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.
5. Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is a significant challenge to someone affected by arthritis, as it influences his/ her inflammation, possible interaction with his/ her medication, or in general, the health of his joints. Here is an in-depth look into why alcohol may become difficult for someone who suffers from arthritis based on the latest research and understanding:
Systemic inflammation associated with chronic alcohol consumption may also exacerbate arthritis.
Alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns, and bad quality of sleep will adversely affect overall health generally. It will also worsen the pain and inflammation from the arthritis. Effective restorative sleep always comes first in fighting and keeping the health of arthritic conditions and joints at their best.
6. Red meat
Recent research studies have found that red meat may be a causative agent for morbidity in patients with arthritis. Red meat has traditionally been considered to damage, more so by the adverse effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, and wellbeing generally. The following is a more detailed explanation as based on recent research findings:
This group of meat, especially processed types, is saturated with fats and other substances that cause inflammation.
High concentrations of heme iron present in red meat cause oxidative stress within the body. This kind of oxidative stress escalates arthritic conditions and damages joints further.
Red meat consumption, particularly processed forms of red meat, is known to induce a detrimental gut health outcome due to the disturbance of the gut microbiota. An abnormal functioning gut microbiome may trigger inflammation and increase susceptibility to inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis.
7. Fried Food
Generally, deep-fried foods have a variety of adverse effects on arthritis in their composition and the effects they exert on general health. The article will look deeper into why deep-fried foods are dangerous to people suffering with arthritis.
Deep frying usually involves cooking the foods in hot oils with unhealthy fats such as trans fats and omega-6 fatty acids. These have effects in the body that may elicit pro-inflammatory responses. Chronic inflammation is one of the significant reasons for progression of arthritic conditions due to increased swelling, pain, and stiffness of joints.
Deep-fried foods are mostly deficient in natural nutrient substances and rich in unhealthy fats. As a result, the lack of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in such a food might prevent the proper management of systemic inflammation and affects joint health. Nutrient deficiency may serve as an impediment to management for arthritis.
8. Milk Products
In addition to causing irritation, other side effects of dairy on arthritis include digestion and general health. Everyone experiences dairy differently, but currently there are three main areas for concern when it comes to dairy products and arthritic symptoms. Here’s a closer look at why dairy products may be bad for arthritis.
Some of the dairy products, especially the full-fat types, will tend to promote inflammation. Additionally, some of the proteins for example casein from dairy could induce the inflammatory response in sensitive people.
In some individuals, dairy proteins may become an auto-inducer; that is, they can bring about an autoimmune response. Therefore, these autoantibodies can destroy the body’s own tissues and contribute to autoimmune diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Many people are sensitive to or allergic to dairy products that will trigger digestive issues and systemic inflammation. At times, a person might not be fully lactose intolerant, but certain amounts of it could provoke a reaction or discomfort or inflammation because of dairy.
9. Synthetic Additives
Recent research now reveals that some artificial additives can exacerbate the manifestations of the disease and even participate in its pathogenesis. Here is a summary of how artificial additives are believed to exacerbate arthritis:
Some of the artificial additives include certain colorants and preservatives that are known to increase inflammatory responses in the body. An example about such additives, for instance, is artificial colors and a few preservatives, which could trigger or intensify inflammation, an essential factor in arthritis.
Some consumers will be hypersensitive or allergic to artificial additives that may lead to inflammation and aching in the joints. No one will be hypersensitive, but for those who are sensitive, arthritic symptoms will become worse.
10. Smoky Foods
The food can contribute to the generation of several toxic chemicals in smoking. The most concerning among these is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. They are formed by the dripping of the fats and oils from food to the hot surfaces, which result in smoke. It has been found that PAHs could be utilized to stimulate inflammation as well as oxidative stress inside the human body, thereby aggravating the disease manifestation of arthritis.
Other research studies show that PAHs and other by-products of smoking bring about inflammation effects. Chronic inflammation is the underlying feature of arthritis, and dietary food items with inflammatory attributes may be worsened by this chronic effect. Arthritis patients must minimize inflammation as much as possible with their diets, and smoked food products might hinder the process.
Taking a mindful approach to your nutrition can be one of the most effective treatments for arthritis and the great tool of achieving overall health. It’s a journey of what you avoid and what you embrace: every meal is a chance to fuel the body and help the joints.
Anti-inflammatory food can now be included in your daily diet. Fruit and veggies of every color should appear: whole grains and each bite will also contribute to reducing inflammation, improving health.
I’m a certified Nutritionist and have done 4 years Bachelors. Furthermore, I have completed my diploma in Clinical Nutrition.
