Rheumatoid arthritis: Four foods to avoid to prevent inflammation and joint pain RHEUMATOID arthritis can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, especially during a flare-up. If you suffer from the condition, you should remove these four foods from your diet

Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:02 pm

Rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling and stiffness in the joints, usually affecting the hands, feet and wrists.

Sufferers of the condition can often experience flare-ups during certain periods, which worsens the symptoms.

Although there is no specific diet for people with rheumatoid arthritis, there are certain foods you should avoid eating if you want to ease inflammation, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Processed foods such as cookies, chips and other snacks can be high in unhealthy fats, which are linked with inflammation.

Instead, you should replace these goodies with fresh fruit.

Canned foods, such as vegetables and soups, are often high in sodium, which boosts blood pressure, so you should look for low sodium options, or go with fresh or frozen vegetables.

Processed food also often contains omega-6 fatty acids, which if consumed more than omega-3, raises the risk of joint inflammation.

Omega-6 fatty acids are also found in corn, sunflower, safflower and soybean oils.

“Keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand to help you avoid processed snacks that often contain omega-6 fatty acids,” said the Arthritis Foundation.

Salt

Excess salt causes fluid retention, which can lead to high blood pressure, while corticosteroids - often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis - can cause the body to retain more sodium.

“There are conflicting reports about just how bad excess salt is for us… so play it safe and hold the salt when possible,” said the Arthritis Foundation.

Alcohol

Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, may have anti-inflammatory effects.

However, people with rheumatoid arthritis should limit alcoholic drinks, especially when they are taking medications like methotrexate, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

“Your doctor can let you know what amount of alcohol, if any, is appropriate for you,” it said.