Arthritis is a common condition affecting close to 60 million Americans. It simply means joint inflammation; therefore, it is a term that refers to more than 100 conditions affecting your joints. Some common forms of East Village arthritis include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. For instance, fibromyalgia is a condition that often causes musculoskeletal pain throughout your body. Other signs and symptoms may include trouble sleeping and tiredness. On the other hand, osteoarthritis, referred to as wear and tear arthritis, occurs due to excessive stress on the joint cartilage, leading to its breaking down.
When you have any form of arthritis in your shoulders, neck, hands, or knees, it is vital to understand that some diets may reduce or increase your condition. Consequently, below are the different types of food you need to avoid so that your symptoms of arthritis may not get worse.
Sugar and sugary drinks
Avoid using a lot of sugar and soft drinks with a lot of sugar, such as soda, tea, and fruit juices. Also, do not eat high amounts of foods with added sugars, like ice cream and candy.
Several studies show that consuming plenty of sugar daily can worsen your symptoms of arthritis or put you at a higher risk of the condition. High sugar content in your body often triggers inflammation. Moreover, you may also have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, or other chronic diseases.
Alcohol
According to the Arthritis Foundation, excessive drinking of alcoholic drinks can damage the body in different ways, including damaging your heart and the immune system. For instance, an impaired immune system is highly susceptible to diseases and inflammations that may lead to joint pains.
Drink alcohol moderately, which can also help reduce joint inflammation symptoms. Other alcoholic beverages, such as red wine, have antioxidants to safeguard your body against swelling.
Salty foods
Moderate levels of salt in the body help maintain fluid levels. A balance in the salt (sodium) and fluids in your body assists in regulating blood fluids, preventing low blood pressure, and ensuring healthy organs like the heart and kidneys.
However, when you regularly consume processed foods, which often come with too much salt, you risk offsetting the fluid balance. As a result, you may have infections and autoimmune illnesses such as inflammatory arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis refers to diseases triggered by an immune system that overreacts.
Lower your intake of processed foods like pizza and processed meats. Instead of eating foods flavored with salt, prefer foods flavored with other anti-inflammatory spices, including ground pepper and powdered onion or garlic.
Fried foods
Popular fried foods, especially from fast food chains and restaurants, include french fries, fish, and chicken. The issue is that frying the foods is always done using saturated fat, which, like trans fats, are unhealthy and unsafe. You can also get unhealthy fats from red meat and butter.
Unhealthy fats increase your risk of inflammation and worsen the symptoms of arthritis.
Some other types of fried and baked foods also may have unhealthy levels of salt and added sugars that promote inflammation in your joints.
Contact Matt Pabis, MD, today to schedule an appointment for your arthritis diagnosis and treatment.