What Foods Make Arthritis Worse?

What Foods Make Arthritis Worse?

Arthritis is a chronic disease that causes joint pain and inflammation in the knees, hips, spine and finger areas, reports the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. Arthritis symptoms can affect your ability to work and everyday activities such as cooking, exercising and house cleaning. While physicians normally prescribe different types of medications to treat arthritis, adjusting your diet to include healthy foods may also help manage the condition.

Beef

Foods high in saturated fat such as beef products, can worsen pain and inflammation from arthritis, notes the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. Although an exact cause is currently unknown, the organization maintains that a correlation exists between all meat products and the worsening of inflammation, pain and other arthritic symptoms. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health recommends that arthritis patients choose plant sources of protein such as soy foods and tofu rather than beef and other meat products.

Eggplant

Though vegetables are low in fat and healthy, a health survey conducted by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine concluded that eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes and other nightshade plants tend to trigger inflammation and pain in arthritis patients upon consumption. Nightshade plants contain alkaloids, a substance which can worsen joint diseases and damage joints. Eggplants and other nightshade plants promote inflammation, which is a problem in arthritis patients.

Milk

The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine states that milk is one of the worst drinks for a arthritis sufferer to consume. Experts at the organization explains that dairy protein leads to increased swelling and joint pain in arthritis patients. Therefore, whether it is low-fat, skim milk or whole milk, the effects are the same when it comes to worsening arthritis symptoms. According to Arthritis Today, physicians often recommend soy or goat milk to ease arthritis inflammation and pain.

source : livestrong.com