Did you know that there are over a hundred different types of arthritis? And did you know that the most common of them all is osteoarthritis? In this article, we will talk about certain foods that you should stay away from if you were told by your doctor that the cause of your achy and swollen joints is osteoarthritis.

Before we tackle those foods, let us first take a quick look at what osteoarthritis is.

Put simply, osteoarthritis is the wearing and tearing of cartilage situated between the joints. Because the role of cartilage is to provide cushion, significant damage to it can cause the bones of the joints to rub against one another, causing a great deal of pain. The knee, hip, lower back, neck and hand joints are the ones commonly affected.

By the way, osteoarthritis is inflammatory in nature. This is the reason why it is a wonderful idea to keep inflammation from striking or putting it under control if it’s already there in order to manage osteoarthritis.

Are you aware that there are certain foods that can cause inflammation within the body to strike? Needless to say, their consumption can spell disaster for anyone who suffers from osteoarthritis, as well as those who are at high risk of developing it because of factors like heredity, age, obesity, previous injury and overuse of the joints.

Now that you are acquainted with the fact that osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition and there are foods that can actually cause inflammation, it’s time for us to take a look at some of the foods you should turn your back to if you have osteoarthritis for you to be able to put in under control more effectively:

Sweets

Cakes, donuts, cookies, ice cream — these and other sweets may make you smile while you are nibbling on them, but eventually your achy joints will make you frown. Sweet-tasting foods are flooded with sugar, which is something that can trigger inflammation to strike.

Salty Foods

Just because you do not have high blood pressure doesn’t mean that you can feast on lots and lots of salty foods. If you have osteoarthritis, too much salt is one of your worst enemies. Salt can cause your body to retain water, and this can leave your joints swollen and your osteoarthritis aggravated.

Fast Foods

It’s also a great idea for you to stop getting your hands on your favorite fast foods because they are deep-fried in animal fat which can easily cause inflammation to come into being. Besides, fast food consumption can cause you to pack unwanted pounds, and being overweight can definitely exacerbate osteoarthritis.

Refined Grains

We all know that refined grains are not good for us because they are virtually devoid of fiber. But there is one more thing that makes them pure evil, and that’s the fact that they can cause inflammation — they can cause the levels of insulin in your body to spike, and it’s something that’s linked to inflammation.

Red Meat

You should also limit, if not entirely evade, red meat due to the fact that it contains omega-6 that can cause your body’s omega-3 levels to drop. To make sure that you are getting your supply of protein but without experiencing worsening of joint pain, opt for fish, chicken, turkey and beans.

Dairy

While it’s true that dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter are good for the bones and joints, they can actually trigger inflammation in some — and you could be one of them. Numerous studies have shown that individuals who stayed away from dairy experienced improvements in symptoms associated with osteoarthritis.

Do you have family members and friends who always complain of achy joints? Then have this article reposted on your various social media sites to let them know which foods should not be included in their diet!