Food to Avoid With Arthritis

Those of us who suffer from arthritis experience days when the pain is much worse than other days. Sometimes we can attribute it to the weather. Other times it is just a mystery but we know that we hurt more than we did yesterday.

It is possible that these episodes are caused by the food we eat. It is possible that we would feel better every day if we eliminated some foods from our diet. It is highly unlikely that anyone would have to give up all the foods mentioned here. One group of foods might trigger one person but not another. You need to experiment to see if giving up any of these foods give you some relief.

Eliminate Foods From the Nightshade Family

It has long been thought that foods from the nightshade family make arthritis worse. This is probably true for some people but not for others. The only way to find out is to eliminate nightshade foods. The problem here is that you won't know within a day. A reaction to eating a green pepper may not happen for two days or more. The only way to test for reactions to foods from the nightshade family is to completly eliminate them from your diet for at least six months.

This is easier said than done. Processed foods such as frozen dinners, canned foods, and mixes may contain potato starch, tomato paste, or dried pepper and you wouldn't even know it even if you read the label. The only way you can be sure that you are not getting any food from the nightshade family is to cook everything from scratch.

Foods in the nightshade family are:

• Tomatoes
  
• Potatoes
  
• Peppers
  
• Eggplant
  
• Also included is Tobacco but I don't consider it a food. I suppose chewing tobacco could be the same as eating it.

Eliminate Red Meat and Fish

Red meat and red fish is high in phosphorus. Many arthritis sufferers feel better if they give up completely or at the very least cut down on the amount of red meat they eat. This includes the organ meats such as liver and kidney. Red meat is also a cause of uric acid crystals forming which is the cause of gout, a form of arthritis.

Soft drinks are also high in phosphorous and should be eliminated from the diet.

Eliminate Gluten From the Diet

Gluten aggravates arthritis in some people. Eliminating wheat, oats, and barley can make a big difference. This is another reason to give up processed food. Most manufactured food will contain some form of one or more of these grains.

Eliminate Foods High In Oxalic Acid

Foods that are high in oxalic acid are:

• Rhubarb
  
• Cranberries
  
• Plums
  
• Chard
  
• Spinach

Other Foods to Avoid With Arthritis

Sugar does not supply the body with any nutrients and some people feel relief from arthritic pain after giving up sugar. It may take a few days or weeks before improvement is felt but if it works for you, it is well worth it.

Caffeine is often included on the list of food to avoid with arthritis. Give it a try by switching from coffee or tea to herbal teas for a while.

Some people show improvement when giving up dairy products such as milk, yoghurt, cheese, and sour cream.

If you are wondering after reading this list what is left to eat, remember it would be silly to just give up all of these foods. Just try to figure out if any of these foods act as a trigger for arthritic pain for you. Remember reactions to any of these foods may take days before they appear. Therefore, give each elimination time before you decide if it is a food you should give up permanently.