Joint pain is something that almost every other person has. Joint pain causes pain and inflammation in any part of your joints. The result is of course, discomfort and anxiety. Who wants to feel pain? We all want a pain-free life. Any pain leads to discomfort, which leads to more stress and mood swings. And in the end, you will feel anxious when talking to people just because of your joint pain. And the worst thing you can do when you have joint pain is consume foods that cause inflammation. After all, joint pain is inflammation in the joints. So, what are the foods you should avoid? Let’s check them out.

Sugar

There is nothing worse than sugar when you have inflammation. The No.1 cause for inflammation, no matter how trivial it sounds. Yes, those desserts can look and taste great. But you will be better off without them. Processed sugars support production and release of cytokines, inflammatory messengers that will trigger pain. There is sugar in almost everything, from white flour, white pasta, white bread, candies, soda drinks, cereals, and other snacks. In addition to causing more inflammation, sugar will put pressure on the joints and cause weight gain.

Monosodium glutamate

This is a fancy name for a flavor-enhancing additive found in Asian foods and soy sauce. Your best option is to avoid it as much as possible. That means finding alternatives that are healthy. This additive can make its way into fast food meals, soup mixes, salad dressings, deli meats, and prepared soups. Monosodium glutamate worsens the joint pain, and cause inflammation in your whole body, not just the joints.

Corn oil

Snacks, baked goods, and some other fast foods contain corn oil. There are other oils like corn that contain omega-6 fatty acids. Now, while omega-6 fatty acids are beneficial for your body, they are not good when you have joint pain. That means soy, soy products, peanuts, grape seed oil, salad dressings, and similar foods should be avoided. Make sure to replace them with healthy omega-3 fatty acids found in olive oil, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and nuts.

Refined carbs

Same as sugar, refined carbs are just as awful for your inflammation. Refined carbs are found in white flour products, white potatoes, cereals, and white rice. Some studies show that white carbs are the biggest reason for obesity in children. Refined carbs and foods rich in them have high glycemic index, and they also support production of inflammation-causing compounds.

Salt

We had sugar, and we must mention salt as well. Packaged and pre-made foods are extremely rich in salt. They also contain preservatives that help promote longer shelf lives. If you want to reduce your salt intake, avoid junk food and microwaveable meals. And for your salt, make sure to replace it with healthier version like sea salt or Himalayan salt.

Processed meats

Lean meat is extremely healthy and beneficial for your body. Red and processed meat, on the other hand, is not. Red meats contain nitrate and purine, chemicals that will aggravate your pain. Some studies also show that processed foods support cancer growth.

Dairy products

Dairy products are generally considered healthy foods. That includes cheese, yogurt, and milk. However, there are people that find dairy as a highly inflammatory food. Some adults have troubles digesting milk. Now while we not suggest avoiding dairy products all together, we suggest keep them to minimum in your diet. Whether you know it or not, but dairy products might cause your inflammation in the joint.