6 Foods to Avoid If You

Have Osteoarthritis
Diet and osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cushion of cartilage between your
joints breaks down and wears away. It can cause severe joint pain and
swelling. Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory condition, so its symptoms can
be aggravated by eating foods that contribute to inflammation in the body.
Avoiding certain foods could help you to avoid triggering OA flare-ups.

1. Sugar
Sugar-rich carbohydrates, such as processed cakes, cookies, and bakery items,
may actually change your body’s immune-response to disease according to
one study. This reaction can worsen inflammation and leave your strained
joints feeling even weaker. Natural substitutes such as pure maple syrup and
honey may appease your sweet tooth without contributing to arthritis
symptoms.

2. Salt
Eating too much salt causes your cells to retain water. This means that they
swell up. Your body does need sodium to function, but eating too much leads
to an inflammatory reaction. This can contribute to joint damage. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),most
Americans consume an excess of sodium daily. To cut back on sodium, try
swapping out your salt for other spices, like lemon zest, or flavored peppers,
like garlic pepper, to enhance your food.

3. Fried food
The Arthritis Foundation points out that foods that are high in saturated fats,
such as french fries and donuts, can increase inflammation in the body and
make arthritis pain worse. The chemical reaction in your body caused by the
oils used to fry food can raise your cholesterol, too. Stick with foods that are
baked without any oil additives. When you need to use oil to cook with, opt
for a small amount of olive or avocado oil, instead.

4. White flour
Refined wheat products, like white bread, stimulate your body’s inflammatory
response. That’s why eating a lot of refined pastas, cereals, and grain products
might make your arthritis pain flare up. To avoid this, try to choose whole
grains whenever possible. Avoid bread products that have been heavily
processed. Gluten-containing whole grains and yeast additives may also
impact arthritis pain.

5. Omega-6 fatty acids

According to the Harvard Medical School, you should limit your intake of
foods containing omega-6 fatty acids, such as egg yolks and red meat.
Saturated fats may increase levels of inflammation in the body, making
arthritis pain worse. Eating foods rich in omega-3s, such as salmon, almonds,
and beans, will give you the protein you need without worsening your
symptoms.

6. Dairy
Dairy products are believed to cause inflammation in some people, and that
triggers arthritis pain. A study found that people with arthritis that avoided
animal milks experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms.
Substitute dairy with a healthy source of fats, like almond milk, or an anti-
inflammatory, like flax milk. Make sure to avoid carrageenan in these milks,
which is an additive derived from seaweed that can cause gastrointestinal
symptoms and weaken intestinal permeability.

Takeaway
The foods that people with osteoarthritis should avoid also happen to be
foods that interfere with a healthy diet. That means that limiting these foods
could benefit your arthritis in two ways. It will reduce levels of inflammation in
the body, and it will also probably help you to lose a bit of weight. Even small
incremental weight loss can make a difference in arthritis symptom severity.
Speak to your doctor about how your diet might be affecting your arthritis
symptoms.

Osteoarthritis treatment
OA treatment is centered upon symptom management. The type of treatment
that will help you the most will largely be determined by the severity of your
symptoms and their location. Often, lifestyle changes, over-the-counter (OTC)
medication, and home remedies will be enough to provide you with relief
from pain, stiffness, and swelling.

At-home treatments and lifestyle changes for OA include:

Exercise

Physical activity strengthens the muscles around your joints and may help
relieve stiffness. Aim for at least 20 to 30 minutes of physical movement, at
least every other day. Choose gentle, low-impact activities, such as walking or
swimming. Tai chi and yoga can also improve joint flexibility and help with
pain management.

Weight loss

Being overweight can put strain on your joints and cause pain. Shedding
excess pounds helps relieve this pressure and reduces pain. A healthy weight
can also lower your risk of other health problems, such as diabetes and heart
disease.

Adequate sleep

Resting your muscles can reduce swelling and inflammation. Be kind to

yourself and don’t overdo it. Getting enough sleep at night can also help you
to manage pain more effectively.
Heat and cold therapy

You can experiment with heat or cold therapy to relieve muscle pain and
stiffness. Apply a cold or hot compress to sore joints for 15 to 20 minutes
several times a day.

These practices can help take the edge off of your symptoms and improve
your quality of life.For a full list of OA treatments, learn more here.

Exercises for osteoarthritis

Gentle stretching exercises can be very helpful for people with OA, especially if
you have stiffness or pain in your knees, hips, or back. Stretching can help
improve mobility and range of motion.

As with any exercise plan, check with your doctor before beginning, to make
sure it’s the right course of action for you. If stretching exercises get the green
light, try these four osteoarthritis exercises.

Osteoarthritis medications
There are a number of different types of OA medications that can help provide
relief from pain or swelling. They include:

 Oral analgesics. Tylenol (acetaminophen) and other pain relievers reduce

pain but not swelling.

 Topical analgesics. These OTC products are available as creams, gels, and
patches. They help to numb the joint area and can provide pain relief,
especially for mild arthritis pain.
 NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). NSAIDs such as Advil
(ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) reduce swelling as well as pain.

 Cymbalta. Your doctor may prescribe the antidepressant Cymbalta

(duloxetine) for youoff-label to help provide OA pain relief.

 Corticosteroids. These prescription medications are available in oral form.

They may also be given by injection directly into a joint.

Your doctor may recommend you try OTC solutions as a first line of
defense. Learn more about the OTC and prescription options for osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis natural treatments

Alternative treatments and supplements may help to relieve symptoms such
as inflammation and joint pain. Some supplements or herbs that may help
include:

 fish oil
 green tea
 ginger
 glucosamine

Other alternative treatment options include:

 acupuncture
 physical therapy
 massage therapy

Other remedies can range from taking Epsom salt baths to using hot or cold
compresses.
You should discuss with your doctor any herbs or supplements you’re
considering before you use them. This will help ensure that they’re safe and
effective, and won’t interfere with other medications you’re taking. Interested
in more natural home remedies for OA? Here’s what works.

Osteoarthritis diet
There’s no downside to eating healthy, but if you have OA, diet and nutrition
are especially important.

First off, you’ll want to keep your weight in a normal range to reduce
unnecessary pressure on your joints.

There’s also research suggesting that some types of OA, such as osteoarthritis
of the knee, respond positively to a diet high in flavonoids, which are nutrients
found in fruits and vegetables. Also, the antioxidants found in many fruits and
vegetables may also help combat the free radicals produced by inflammation.
Free radicals are molecules that can cause cell damage.

A high-quality diet may help provide relief from OA symptoms by reducing

inflammation and swelling. Eating foods high in the following can be highly
beneficial:

 vitamin C
 vitamin D
 beta-carotene
 omega-3 fatty acids

Increasing your intake of foods with anti-inflammatory properties will help,

too. Check out more reasons and ways to eat well while living with OA.
Osteoarthritis in your hips
OA can occur in one or both hips. In this way it differs from RA, which usually
occurs in both hips at the same time.

Hip OA is a slowly degenerative condition. Many people find that they’re able
to combat their symptoms for many years by using medication, exercise, and
physical therapy. Supports, such as canes, can also help.

If the condition worsens, steroid injections, other medications, or surgery can

help provide relief. Alternative therapies can also help, and new technologies
are on the horizon. Here’s what you need to know about the many treatment
options for hip OA.

Osteoarthritis in your knees

Like hip OA, knee OA can occur in one or both knees. Age, genetics, and knee
injury may all play a role in knee OA.

Athletes who concentrate solely on one sport that creates extensive, repetitive
motion, such as running or tennis, may be at increased risk of OA. Likewise, if
you pursue only one type of physical activity, this may overuse some muscles
and underuse others, causing weakness and instability in the knee joint.
Varying your activities helps to work different muscle groups, allowing all the
muscles around your knee to be strengthened.

Treatment for knee OA depends on the stage of the condition. Learn about
the stages of OA in the knee and how each one is treated.
Osteoarthritis knee brace
Wearing a brace around your knee can be an excellent nonsurgical treatment
for knee OA. Braces can reduce swelling and pressure. They can also increase
stability in your knee by shifting your weight away from the damaged part of
your knee. This allows for greater mobility.

There are several types of knee braces. Some may be custom fitted for you,
and others are available OTC. Your doctor may recommend that you try
different kinds of braces for different activities. Find out what the best type of
brace for your OA is.

Cervical osteoarthritis
Cervical OA is also referred to as neck OA or as cervical spondylosis. It’s an
age-related condition that affects more than 85 percent of people over the
age of 60. It occurs in both men and women.

The cervical spine is located in the neck and contains facet joints. These joints
help to maintain flexibility in the spine, allowing for a full range of motion.
When the cartilage around the facet joints starts to wear away, cervical OA
results.

Cervical OA doesn’t always cause symptoms. If it does, symptoms can range

from mild to severe and include:

 pain in your shoulder blade, down your arm, or in your fingers

 muscle weakness
 stiffness in your neck
 headache, mostly in the back of your head
 tingling or numbness down your arms or legs

Occasionally, more serious symptoms can occur, such as loss of bladder or

bowel control, or loss of balance. Check out the risk factors and treatment
options for cervical OA.

Spinal osteoarthritis
If you have back pain, you may have spinal osteoarthritis. This condition
affects the facet joints located in the lower back and buttocks. Age and spine
trauma are both potential factors in spinal OA. Women are more likely than
men to get this condition. People who are overweight, or whose jobs require
squatting and sitting, may also be at increased risk.

Spinal OA’s symptoms can vary in severity. They include:

 stiffness or tenderness in the joints in your back

 weakness, numbness, or tingling in your arms or legs
 reduced range of motion

It’s important to pay attention to these symptoms. If left untreated, spinal OA

can worsen, causing more severe symptoms and disability. Read more about
OA of the spine.
Osteoarthritis prevention
You may have risk factors for OA that you can’t control, such as heredity, age,
and gender. But other risk factors can be controlled, and managing them can
help reduce your risk of OA.

The following tips can help you manage the risk factors under your control:

 Support your body. If you’re an athlete or an avid exerciser, make sure you
care for your body. Wear athletic supports and shoes that reduce impact on
your knees. Also make sure to vary your sports, so that all of your muscles
get a workout, not just the same muscles every time.

 Watch your weight. Keep your body mass index (BMI) in the appropriate
range for your height and gender.

 Keep a healthy diet. Eat a range of healthy foods, with a focus on fresh
vegetables and fruits.

 Get enough rest. Give your body ample opportunities to rest and to sleep.

If you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar can also help manage your
risk of OA. See how else you can manage your risk and help prevent OA.

Osteoarthritis outlook
OA is a chronic condition that doesn’t have a cure, but with treatment, the
outlook is positive. Don’t ignore symptoms of chronic joint pain and stiffness.
The sooner you speak with your doctor, the sooner you can receive a
diagnosis, begin treatment, and improve your quality of life. Here’s why you
may need to see a rheumatologist.