Are you familiar with that sharp joint pain that hits you right before you put your feet down in the morning? Joint pain can ruin your whole day. What’s worse, you really don’t need it spelt out that you are going to have a long, pain-filled day. So, why do you experience joint pain even after all the research and effort you have put into stopping it? You may have even started an exercise routine coupled with a healthy diet, but the pain won’t go away. In other terms, you are everything in your knowledge right, but you just can’t seem to get rid of joint pain.
Surprisingly, the answer is in what you are eating rather than what you are doing. The diets we think are healthy could contain certain foods that trigger joint pain. Some are perfectly healthy; hence it may come as a shock. Some of them are foods we eat every day without knowing that they are the enemy. It does not matter how much you exercise and research if you throw it all away with the wrong foods. So, which foods cause joint pain?
Joint pain due to foodstuffs is caused by high uric acid in the foods. These uric acids, when ingested crystallize and level the deposits on the joints and tissues of the body, which leads to inflammation. Inflammation on the joints and tissues, therefore, is what causes the pain and stiffness you experience. According to research, one out of five people have experienced chronic pain, which affects their ability to function at full capacity.
After carrying out extensive research, here are some of the foods you have been enjoying that are contributing to your painful joints. While doing away with them will not eliminate the joint pain completely, it can result in pain management.
Sugar- a bowl of ice-cream may sound appealing to your taste buds, but your joints will be screaming from pain. Sugar is not only extremely dangerous to your health; it also has zero nutritional value. High amounts of sugar expose us to health problems such as diabetes and obesity. Moreover, sugar has been proven by experts to contribute to inflammation.
Refined sugars found in foods trigger the innate immune system because they stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Once the body produces these cytokines, the anti-inflammatory ones are subsequently lowered. The inflammation of joints and tissues follows. We, therefore, recommend limiting the intake of sweets, pastries, and other drinks and foods with high sugar content. You can opt for fresh fruits if you are craving sugar. So, when you get invited for freshly baked pie next time, listen to your joints! https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326386
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18508964
Dairy products– dairy products such as milk are also on the radar when we talk about foods that cause joint pain. Dairy products contain a protein called casein. Some people are sensitive to this protein, while some are not. Therefore, if you are in a sensitive category, dairy products can cause severe inflammation. Dairy products are somewhat controversial as some people who suffer from painful joints find them useful in reducing pain. Yoghurt, for instance, contains anti-inflammatory properties which reduce inflammation in some people. However, for some, it’s a pain nightmare. You need to experiment by reducing or eliminating milk intake to find out the effect it has on you. There are healthy alternatives to milk, such as almond milk. https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/healthy-eating/dairy-and-inflammation
Grilled foods– some foods that cause joint pain really come as a surprise. What could be healthier than tossing your chicken inside the grill instead of deep-frying it? Advanced glycation end (AGE) is a toxin that is found in grilled, heated or even pasteurized foods. AGE can result in not only inflammation but also damage to certain proteins in your body. When this damage happens, the body, in turn, tries to break down the AGE’s, and the process results in inflammation and joint pains.
Alcohol– most people like to come home and unwind with a glass of wine or a beer. Studies have shown that moderate alcohol is healthy for your body (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-drinks/drinks-to-consume-in-moderation/alcohol-full-story/), but your joints do not agree. Beer, for instance, is made from yeast, which contains high purine levels. These purines lead to the formation of recessive uric, which causes inflammation. Alcohol is also associated with gout, which results in inflammation and joint pain, especially in your big toe. If you have underlying conditions such as arthritis, you may want to lay back on alcohol consumption or eliminate it.
Tomatoes– Tomatoes can move from healthy to painful very fast. Tomatoes are one of those veggies you just don’t know how to give up, especially because of the magic they work on soups and other dishes. These veggies are a healthy source of nutrients needed by your body. However, tomatoes and other nightshade vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, and paprika contain an element known as solanine. Solanine is an alkaloid, and as a result, it deposits in the tissues and joints in the body. The deposits are, therefore, responsible for the painful joints and inflammation.
Some schools of thought believe that tomatoes contain anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce joint pain. It’s advisable to abstain from nightshade veggies for a while to access whether it reduces the pain. If that’s not the case, you can, therefore, replace these vegetables with healthier alternatives. If you are finding it difficult to give tomatoes up, you can scale down consumption as long as its paired with a uric-acid reducing drug. https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/healthy-eating/best-vegetables-for-arthritis
Pork– pork is very inviting, and even before you get it completely ready, you will already be salivating. According to Nutrition Advance, pork may be the most affordable cut of meat, but it’s not all good for your joints. Pork contains an omega-3 to 6 ratios of 1:24. A good balance between omega 3 and 6 fatty acids is required to avoid inflammation. In such a case, pork is far from ideal, especially if you are suffering from any condition that may be aggravated by inflammation. Also, cuts of pork contain significant amounts of unsaturated fats which contribute to inflammation.
https://www.nutritionadvance.com/is-pork-good-or-bad-for-you/
Omega-6 fatty acids– omega fatty acids have been praised for reducing inflammation. In fact, they are highly recommended because of their vicious fight against joint pain. What everyone forgets to mention, however, is that too much omega-6 fatty acids are a great contributor to pain in the joints. Moreover, too much of everything is poison, right? Instead of using sunflower oil, which is loaded with omega-6, you should consider walnut or olive oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
A good balance of omega-3 and omega-6 is what you need to focus on instead of eliminating the compound from your diet completely. Omega-3 fatty acids are potent in reducing inflammation of joints and tissues. Therefore, increase the intake of omega-3 as you reduce that of omega-6 in your diet.
Diet soda– diet soda preach that you can quench your thirst and do away with those cravings without any consequences at all. Therefore, most of us have switched from regular soda to sugar-free or diet soda to avoid these consequences. Well, this could not be further away from the truth!
Diet soda is one of the foods that cause inflammation and joint pains. Although there are other reasons you should completely ban diet soda from your diet, this should be the first. Diet soda contains an ingredient called aspartame that triggers joint pain. In other words, although you are eliminating the creepy chemicals and high fructose in regular soda, you are introducing a dangerous sweetener in your body.
The solution, of course, is not to switch back to regular soda. That would not be wise. You can, however, drop diet soda for a healthier alternative recommended by your doctor.
Saturated and trans fats– saturated fats are commonly found in fried foods and other whole dairy products such as ghee and butter. Baked goods that contain corn oil and fatty cuts of beef also contain saturated fats. If you are the number one fan of pizza and you always insist on extra cheese, now you know what causing your inflammation.
Trans fats, on the other hand, are majorly man-made. The primary source of trans fats in hydrogenated oils. They can cause several health risks such as heart disease and diabetes, apart from causing severe joint pains. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15735094
Refined carbs– white flours are quite common with most people. How many do you choose a white bead, a bag of chips, white rice, crackers, or even white flour? Like sugar, these carbs are associated with several health problems. They can cause diabetes, heart disease, and even lead to excessive weight gain, which takes a toll on your muscles. Refined carbs are the leading cause of inflammation, which results in joint pain. Whole grains are a healthier and safer alternative. For instance, you can go with brown rice or brown bread for breakfast as they contain fibres. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18469238
Conclusion
Countless foods are causing you joint pain without your knowledge. However, the good news is there are healthier and painless replacements. It’s about time you take your health into your hands and stop living with the pain. The first step is to boot all these foods we have talked about and replace them with healthier alternatives. What are you waiting for? We cannot wait to celebrate your painless journey with you!
https://www.emedihealth.com/foods-joint-inflammation.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2868080/