What Foods Are Bad for Arthritis?

Arthritis can be managed easier if you alter your diet to avoid foods that are bad for it. These foods aggravate the symptoms and make pain management more difficult. Avoid fried foods, sodium, Omega 6 foods, sodas and white flour products to help your arthritis.

Effects of Foods on Arthritis

Eating the wrong foods can cause your arthritis to flare up and cause inflammation of the joints and surrounding area. This can result in more pain. Avoiding foods that are bad for you will have positive effects on your arthritis.

Fried Foods

Fried foods are heavy in saturated fats and should be removed entirely from your diet if you suffer from arthritis. These foods also are usually higher in sodium, causing water retention and inflammation. Avoid foods such as French fries, fried chicken, stir-fry vegetables and fried seafood.

Sodium

Foods that contain a great deal of sodium can cause water retention, and the extra fluid around the joints can increase arthritis pain. Inflammation is often seen with diets that have too much salt. Never add salt to your food, and rinse all canned vegetables or canned items before cooking and eating them. Use salt substitutes to season foods.

Omega 6 Foods

Omega 6 is a type of polyunsaturated fat used in many snack food items and sweet items. Omega 6 fat hardens at room temperature or lower. You find Omega 6 in foods such as chips, cookies, bakery cake icing and crackers. These foods increase weight gain and chances of heart-related illnesses, and cutting from your diet is important for your arthritis.

Sodas

Take sodas out of your diet entirely. You should even avoid diet, clear and decaffeinated sodas--there is absolutely nothing in sodas that is good for you. Substitute natural teas, sweetened with honey or natural sugar, or simply drink water with a freshly squeezed lemon.

White Flour Products

White flour is made through a bleaching process that significantly increases the chance of developing neurological diseases. Eliminating white flour from your diet will help you stay healthier and reduce your difficulty with arthritis management. Add whole wheat flour products to your diet instead.