There are hundreds of possible contributing factors to inflammation and joint pain. Normally, people tend to focus primarily on age, strenuous exercise or work related issues as the cause. But clinical findings have revealed that there are as many different types of foods that can cause joint pain. Joint pain makes living really tough. Anyone who suffers of it knows that it is almost impossible for someone to do his daily chores comfortably.
Chronically inflamed joints lack stability, strength and motion leading to weakness and disability. Therefore, determining and successfully eliminating foods that cause joint pain can help prevent this disturbing illness. It is also important to understand, not everyone’s body will have the same reaction to certain things. The biggest concern today about health in general is our processed and sugary foods. Many of these foods are full of preservatives, high glycemic starches which can add to inflammation and joint pain.
Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners
Among the foods that cause inflammation and joint pain are sugars and artificial sweeteners, as well as refined carbs. High amounts of sugar in your diet will result in an increased amount of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs.) An AGE is a toxin that often appears when food gets grilled, heated, pasteurized, or fried. When AGEs concentration in the body exceeds a high level, then this will break down certain proteins. The body eventually reacts to this by trying to break down the AGEs using cytokines, the inflammatory messengers, what then results in joint pain. Avoiding sugar is a difficult task because it is in most processed foods we don’t know about. However, avoid the ones we do know about containing sugar as much as possible; any little bit will help to lower some of the pain caused from sugar.
Meat
Red meat, in particular, is one of the foods that can cause joint pain. It is also important to ask: Which meat? Not all red meats are equal; there are some that benefit our health. The difference lays in consuming meat from animals fed on antibiotics, corn diet and/or hormones. Instead, look into organically raised alternatives. It is also advisable not to include in the food you eat organ meats such as kidney, brain, heart, liver, tongue and testicles. These foods are high in purines and can lead to very high levels of uric acid in the body. Other non-traditional meats such as mince-meat, broth, bouillon and meat extracts also contain high levels of purines and better be avoided.
Dairy
Some dairy is very rich in unnatural hormones and lacks good digestive enzymes. When it comes to joint pain, the many steroids and antibodies given to cows become the trigger. You should avoid any packaged foods that contain milk. Too much lactic acid in margarine, Whey, cheese, just to mention a few, is not good for joint health as the toxins they carry can build up in the body, creating in part joint problems.
Soft Drinks
Soft drinks and sodas are rich in sugars and artificial sweeteners. The body cannot properly digest these artificial sweeteners. With time, they accumulate and become toxic making them one of the notorious foods that cause joint pain. New studies show that drinking too much soda increases osteoarthritis, especially in men. It is also known that the chemicals in soft drinks leach calcium, a nutrient which is very essential for joint health of the body.
Vegetables
Nightshade vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, paprika, potatoes, egg-plant, and ingredients of some hot sauces are among the foods that cause joint pain. This is because these vegetables contain an alkaloid known as Solanine that has the potential to build up calcium in body tissues, thereby, causing arthritic pain and joint stiffness. Although, it’s important to understand, these same vegetables under different circumstances are very healthy. It also should be understood, that in some people it can have the opposite effect, therefore it is important to listen to your body. Your body will decide what’s best for it.
Inflammation is a part of the body’s immune system response which we need for healing. When this gets out of control it can damage the body as in joint pain and arthritis.
It depends on the food we choose to eat – or not to eat. This makes the difference to our health in general.
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