6 Foods to Avoid with Arthritis to Reduce Pain

If you have arthritis, this list of foods to avoid with arthritis can make you feel better, or at the very least, help you develop a healthier diet. A diet, especially for arthritic people, should not only include foods to combat arthritis, but steer clear of ones that will aggravate your symptoms and therefore should be avoided.

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Worst Foods For Arthritis: Six Foods To Avoid With Arthritis

Certain foods can trigger inflammation in the body, worsening arthritis symptoms. By avoiding these foods, arthritis patients can reduce pain and improve their overall quality of life. Here are six foods to avoid with arthritis to reduce pain.

1) Dairy

Dairy is a trigger for some people, but others are just allergic or intolerant to it. The body reacts to dairy in different ways--some people have trouble digesting it, while others experience inflammation and pain after eating dairy products.

For example, if you notice that your joints feel stiffer or more swollen after consuming milk or cheese (or any other type of dairy), then this may be a sign that your body has an adverse reaction to this food group.

Dairy products can cause inflammation. (Image via Unsplash / Towfiqu Barbhuiya)

If you have arthritis symptoms--especially joint pain--you might want to avoid eating foods like ice cream and yogurt until they go away completely so that they don't flare up again later down the road.

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2) Sugar

Sugar is a tricky food to avoid because it's in so many of our favorite things. But if you're suffering from arthritis and want to reduce your pain, then you need to cut down on as much sugar as possible.

Foods to avoid with arthritis: Sugar products can lead to weight gain. (Image via Unsplash / Myriam Zilles)

Sugar causes inflammation in the body which can lead to weight gain--and weight gain can worsen arthritis symptoms. Studies show that people who eat more sugar are at higher risk for developing osteoarthritis than those who consume less of the sweet stuff.

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3) Alcohol

Alcohol can be a major source of inflammation in the body. Alcohol is also high in calories, which can cause you to gain weight and make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients.

Drinking alcohol can disturb your sleep pattern. (Image via Pexels / Maria Pop)

Drinking alcohol before bed can interfere with your sleep cycle and lead to dehydration when paired with caffeine or other stimulants.

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4) Trans fats and processed foods

Trans fats are a type of fat found in margarine and vegetable shortening. They're also found in processed foods, such as cookies, cakes, and pastries. Trans fats can raise your "bad" cholesterol levels and lower your "good" cholesterol levels. This increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke -- two conditions that are common among people with arthritis.

Processed food increases the chances of heart diseases. (Image via Pexels / Robin Stickel)

For this reason, it's best to avoid trans fats altogether if you have arthritis or any other condition that causes joint pain or stiffness.

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5) Gluten

Gluten is found in many grains, including wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten sensitivity is a condition that causes inflammation in the body. Inflammation can cause pain and fatigue in people with arthritis.

Gluten is one of the foods to avoid with arthritis. (Image via Unsplash / Wesual Click)

Gluten can also cause headaches, which are very common among people with arthritis (and other conditions).

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6) Red Meat

Red meat is a significant source of saturated fats, which can trigger inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that people who consume red meat regularly have a higher risk of developing arthritis than those who don't.

Foods to avoid with arthritis: Red meat develops a higher risk of developing arthritis. (Image via Unsplash / Sven Brandsma)

Instead of red meat, arthritis patients should opt for lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, fish, and legumes.

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If you have arthritis, it's important to know which foods to avoid with arthritis and which ones to eat that can help reduce pain. By making small changes to what we eat, we can make a big difference in how our bodies feel.