What Foods Cause Joint Pain?

When you think about diets and what they can do to a body, you would naturally guess that a person with a bad diet might have a lot of illness. While that is true, other types of food that you put in your body can also create problems for you, such as soreness and joint pain. Additives and other ingredients that are man-made in food can do more harm than good, actually.

Foods to stay away from are ones that have high levels of purines are digested differently in the body. When they are processed, there are crystals that they leave behind which leads to uric acid. High levels of uric acid in the body lead to joint pain. Food that contain high levels of purines and should be avoided include liver, mincemeat and small game animals. For seafood, avoid herring, salmon, anchovies, scallops and mussels. There are even a few vegetables and grains to avoid, even though you might think they would qualify as a healthy food. They include peas, asparagus, spinach, oatmeal, cauliflower and wheat bran. And another thing to avoid – drinking beer.

Allergies

Foods that cause joint paint might not necessarily be because it is unhealthy. Some people have food allergies that they don’t know about. The food allergy might not make them have the traditional reaction such as hives, breathing disorders or swollen lips. Some allergies can manifest in the joints, which is what causes the repeat pain. There might not be any injury causing the pain. The only way to see if a food allergy is causing the joint pain is by having a food allergy test and waiting for the results.

Foods to Improve Joints

There are foods that can improve your health and the health of your joints. An osteoarthritis diet will eliminate foods that tend to produce swelling in the joints, which then results in more pain. Foods that are good for a person who thinks they might be suffering from arthritis include ones rich in vitamin C. Some of the foods include bell peppers, broccoli, cantaloupe, strawberries, oranges, raspberries, kiwi and kale. Foods with vitamin D in them are also good for patients with arthritis as it slows the progression of the disease down. When you have any questions about the food you are eating and if it contributes to your joint pain, consult your doctor.