Arthritis is a condition of joint inflammation that causes pain and stiffness and that worsens with age. Some arthritis is the result of normal use and wear on the joints, where as rheumatoid arthritis is an actual autoimmune disorder. Infection and disease can also cause this painful condition and treatments vary depending on type. While available arthritis treatments can reduce symptoms and help improve quality of life, avoiding certain foods that trigger arthritis symptoms to begin with is a practice that can help control arthritis successfully as well.

Extensive research has been performed over the years that have examined dairy products, oil, poultry and meat to see which foods most frequently contribute to arthritis pain. Six foods that cause major arthritis triggers include:

• All meat, especially fried meats
• Pasteurized dairy containing advanced glycation end product, or AGE’s
• Animal Products
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Corn oil

Arthritis patients also need to supplement their diets with essential fatty acids such as flax seed and blackcurrant oil for maximum joint health.

Arthritis symptoms specific to food triggers
Diet plays a large role in overall health. Research shows that dietary changes can help alleviate arthritis symptoms, altogether, in many instances. Understanding certain foods that can trigger pain and modifying a daily diet around them will improve the symptoms associated with arthritis tremendously. Even the acidic content in citrus fruits can worsen arthritis symptoms yet; the major reason to avoid these fruits is because of their high sugar content. Oranges for example are high on the glycemic index and spike blood sugar too aggressively to be nutrient beneficial.

Avoiding meat, especially fried meats
Fried meats, in particular are high in calories because of their saturated fat content which leads to osteoarthritis and obesity, especially in the knees. All meats should be avoided in general, because they are an inflammatory food chalk full of AGE’s or advanced glycation end product, which is a toxin that appears when foods are heated, grilled, fried or pasteurized. These AGE’s damage proteins in the body and affect inflammatory messengers that result in arthritis.

Never consume pasteurized dairy containing advanced glycation end product
In addition to AGE’s present in pasteurized dairy, these products are also high in protein and can be an irritant to joint tissue. Consuming the bulk of protein from other sources like vegetables, nut butters, tofu and beans can be a great alternative to routine dairy consumption. Switching to a vegan diet is also a great idea because it contains no animal products whatsoever.

See More: 5 Best Fruits And Vegetables For Arthritis

Avoiding animal products
We know that food affects arthritis because specific food groups increase inflammation. Avoiding animal products will contribute to a diet low in solid fats and going meat-free, for example will improve overall health like weight issues, blood pressure and especially cholesterol levels. With regard to arthritis, enjoying a vegan diet will alleviate if not prevent joint symptoms altogether.

Stop consuming alcohol
Sugar is a major contributor to arthritis pain because it increases joint inflammation and leads to a number of additional health problems. Alcohol consumption also results in a higher risk of developing gout. Since healthy joints require physical activity, adequate rest and a balanced diet, compromising this balance with alcohol is highly invaluable to remedying joint pain.

Do not use tobacco
Additionally, smokers are proven to be more at risk for developing conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Even moderate to light tobacco use more than doubles the risk factor for chronic arthritis and progressive, disabling autoimmune disease.

Adverse effects of corn oil related to arthritis
Baked goods containing corn oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and again, trigger joint inflammation. Replacing these foods with alternative selections that are made with olive oil, nuts, flax seeds and such will allow the body to absorb healthier omega-3 compounds.

Alternatively, incorporating and emphasizing pain-safe foods like brown rice, green, yellow, and orange vegetables and cooked or dried fruits considerably improves arthritis symptoms when consumed regularly. Establishing a base diet of arthritis-friendly cuisine will allow you to slowly add new foods, one at a time to determine whether joints will flare up or if they will tolerate each new item successfully. Continuing to avoid dairy, eggs and meat is advisable because these foods can also encourage hormone imbalance, which is another factor that contributes highly to severe joint pain in the body.