If you are experiencing Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, you have an inflammatory form of arthritis that causes joint pain and swelling. Unlike a non-inflammatory disease like osteoarthritis, your lifestyle choices play a more significant role in the severity of symptoms.

The foods you consume can impact the inflammation levels in your body, which worsens Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. By being mindful of the foods you eat, you can alleviate inflammation and make Rheumatoid Arthritis more manageable.

Here are five foods to avoid with Rheumatoid Arthritis:

1.  Sugary Treats and Desserts

You may be worsening symptoms if you have a sweet tooth and eat highly processed sweets regularly. When you spike your blood sugar, your body excretes chemicals called cytokines that increase inflammation in the body.

Along with increasing inflammation, reducing your sugar consumption can help you lose weight. By losing weight, you will be putting less strain on your body’s joints and relieving the discomfort.

2.  Fried Foods

If you are struggling to manage Rheumatoid Arthritis pain, you should cut out the consumption of fried foods. Fried foods contain advanced glycation end products (AGEs), drastically increasing inflammation levels.

The best option is finding cleaner cooking methods to replace eating fried foods. Choosing to bake your meals or using an air-fryer can reduce the harmful advanced glycation end products found in fried foods.

3.  Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. The protein may cause inflammation levels to rise, but it is dependent on the person. If you notice a gluten sensitivity, you can try a gluten-free diet to see if symptoms improve.

Additionally, you should get checked for Celiac Disease if you notice an adverse reaction to gluten. Gluten should only cause a slight increase in inflammation levels so that an extreme change can signal underlying problems.

4.  Processed and Red Meats

Red meat contains high levels of saturated fats, which exacerbate inflammation in the body. If you want to reduce inflammation, you should also steer clear of consuming processed meats like:

• Hot dogs
• Bacon
• Ham
• Salami

These processed meats are full of preservatives and flavor enhancers linked to rising inflammation. Preservatives like nitrates or purines will increase inflammation and are generally harmful to your health.

5.  High-Fat Dairy Products

Dairy products such as cheese and yogurt have high amounts of saturated fats, which worsen inflammation. If you want to reduce inflammation, you should be mindful of your dairy product consumption.

Opt for skim milk or low-fat milk options if you want to eat dairy. Additionally, being lactose intolerant can worsen inflammation in the body more than someone who is not sensitive to dairy products.

Take Control of Your Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is sensitive to the food you consume, so you need to adjust your diet accordingly. Now that you’ve read our list of foods to avoid with rheumatoid arthritis, you have a better understanding of how to be mindful of what you eat. Not only will avoiding these foods improve your Rheumatoid Arthritis, but your overall health.

If you want to gain control of your RA, our team at Advanced Rheumatology of Houston will help guide you to a more comfortable life. Call us today at (281) 766-7886 to get started!