7 Foods to Avoid for Rheumatoid Arthritis

7 Foods to Avoid for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that is known to get worse with age. It is of two types namely osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis pain can be acute or chronic. Arthritis patients could suffer from pain, which could disallow them from using their joints effectively. Along with medications and exercise, intake of proper food items will assist to control the arthritis pain. Listed below are some foods that should be avoided by rheumatoid arthritis patients.

1. Gluten
Gluten is said to trigger the symptoms of arthritis pain. Hence, gluten-containing foods should be avoided. Examples of food items constituting gluten are cereals, bread, pasta, and noodles. Gluten can be present anywhere in the blood. It could eventually lead to severe complications.

2. Sugar
A person suffering from arthritis should reduce the intake of sugar and sugar-containing products to avoid the pain associated with the condition. Excess sugar intake also increases the risk of being diagnosed with other medical conditions. It is advisable to check the labels of the food products that you are purchasing to check the sugar content.

3. Purines
The ingredients in the food that convert into uric acid by the body are called purines. Gout is a type of arthritis and people suffering from gout should adhere to a low purine diet. The food containing high amounts of purines are red meat and seafood like scallops. The number of alcoholic drinks should also be reduced by people suffering from arthritis as it has purines.

4. Processed Foods
Processed foods are among the foods to avoid for rheumatoid arthritis. Examples are prepackaged food meals, baked goods. The reason for this is that processed foods contain trans fat, which has the ability to trigger inflammation.

5. Polyunsaturated Cooking Oils
Polyunsaturated cooking oils need to be avoided by an arthritis patient as they are high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega 3s. This is an imbalance that leads to inflammation, which could in turn increase the intensity of arthritis pain.

6. Red Meat
Red meat should be avoided by an arthritis patient as it contains saturated fats. This can increase the inflammation that an arthritis patient suffers from. It also contains nitrites and purines, which further escalate the pain.

7. Eggs
If you are suffering from this disease and consume eggs regularly, the pain could escalate. Yolks in the egg constitute arachidonic acid, which leads to the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins set off inflammation in the body. Eggs contain saturated fat that is also responsible for increasing inflammation and pain.