Understanding The Foods That Cause Joint Pain

Arthritis refers to almost 200 debilitating joint and bone conditions. It affects millions worldwide and all kinds of arthritis have similar symptoms such as inflammation of joints, swelling, stiffness and limited movement.

Many people neglect their joints until they begin to act up, by which time severe damage may have happened. It's advisable to always take care of your joints. Thankfully, many cases of joint pain can be prevented, relieved or postponed with proper joint care, which includes avoiding foods that cause joint pain.

The following foods that cause joint pain could be potentially bad for you:

Fish

Many fish and shellfish species increase levels of purines which can cause or worsen gout-related joint pain. According to Drugs.com, these include sardines, mackerel, anchovies, mussels and scallops. Fish eggs also contain high amounts of purine. And according to Quickcare.org, salmon and haddock are moderately rich sources of purines.

Meats

Stay off organ meats, for example livers, brains, testicles, hearts and kidneys, which are very high in purines and may increase uric acid levels in your body, Drug.com states. Other nontraditional meats, like tongue, also have plenty of purines, as do broths, bouillons, meat extracts and mincemeat. Game meats, like duck, goose, turkey, pheasant and partridge are thought to have high purine levels. And according to Drugs.com, pork, beef and lamb have fair amounts of purines.

Nightshade Foods

Some people are especially sensitive to nightshade foods. Regularly consumed nightshade foods that cause joint pain include tomatoes, potatoes, sweet peppers, aubergine, cayenne, paprika and other peppers (except black pepper).

Grain And Grain Foods

Many grains and grain foods that cause joint pain have either high or average levels of purines. According to Drugs.com, beer, hard liquor and wine are particular high in purines. Yeast (used for baking and brewing alcohol) also contains high levels of purines. Wheat bran, wheat germ, oatmeal, breads and whole grain cereals contain moderate amounts of purines. More importantly, these foods are generally beneficial, so if you suffer from gout, see your doctor to determine if you should avoid them.

Gluten

People who have celiac disease, or severe gluten intolerance, may develop arthritis, so many people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis avoid gluten. Gluten is found in barley, wheat, rye and other grain foods that cause joint pain like breads, cereal and pasta. Vitamins, lip balms and other medicines may also have gluten. Instead, choose nuts, legumes, rice and quinoa.

But remember that consuming an entirely gluten-free diet may be difficult and expensive, so you don't need to avoid gluten if it doesn't cause you any trouble.

Sugary Drinks

There is actually no sufficient evidence to show that sugary beverages are beneficial or harmful for joint pain. That said, they are generally high in calories and low in nutrients, so they might contribute to obesity.

Generally, being obese or overweight can raise your risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 24 percent, this is according to a study done recently. So it may be best to keep off sugary drinks and foods that cause joint pain for the sake of your long-term health.

Butter, Cream And Bacon

Butter, cream, bacon as well as other animal products have arachidonic acid, which can aggravate inflammation and related swelling and pain. So avoid prime rib, a type of meat that's extremely high in calories and fat, and opt for lean proteins instead.