Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint, which can lead to pain and swelling. The main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in the body to break down, while rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which one’s immune system attacks its own joints. Doctors often prescribe treatments and medications such as
kevzara, advil, excedrin, actemra, simponi, and orencia. Symptoms of arthritis include stiffness, pain and a decreased range of motion. Health experts recommend to avoid certain types of foods because they can trigger arthritis pain:

1. Chips and fried snacks
Foods that are fried can develop a toxin known as advanced glycation end product or AGE. AGEs have the ability to harm certain proteins in the human body. The body’s response is to use cytokines which help break the AGEs apart. Cytokines are inflammatory messengers and that is where the problem occurs. It can worsen symptoms of arthritis, so health experts recommend to reduce the amount of chips and fried foods in order to lower blood AGE levels.

2. Candy and refined sugars
Avoiding candy and too much sugar can decrease the amount of joint pain in a patient. Sweets can cause inflammation to the joints and increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Eating an excess of refined sugar can lead to weight gain, which puts more pressure on the joints.

3. Cheese and ice cream
Dairy foods are acidic. Eating foods such as cheese and ice cream can lead to an increase in headaches, poor exercise recovery, allergies, and joint pain. It can also promote extra mucus because some dairy products can contain an excess of bacteria, pesticides, and hormones. The main issue with dairy is that it causes calcium and mineral loss in the bones and cells of the muscles. All of this contributes to the heightened symptoms.

4. Alcohol
Beer and alcohol can increase the risk of developing gout. Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when a buildup of uric acid forms on the hand or feet of a patient. The results of the buildup creates hard, sharp crystals in the joints. The joint pain from gout happens due to a chemical found in foods and drinks known as purine. Alcohol contains a large amount of purine. Another issue with alcohol is that it is a diuretic, meaning the body loses water as it drinks. Joints require fluids to move more easily, so if a patient doesn’t have enough water in their body, they will become more aware of the symptoms.

5. Salty snacks with preservatives
Consuming too much salty foods will cause cells to soak up more water. When the body retains water it puts more pressure on blood vessels, which raises the blood pressure. By cutting down on salt, one can lower their blood pressure to a healthy level. More importantly, eating less salt reduces calcium loss from bones, which lowers the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.