Are These Foods Causing Inflammation and Contributing to Your Arthritis?

There’s something particularly problematic about arthritis that affects the joints of your feet and ankles. No joint pain is welcome, but when your feet hurt, it can make doing even small tasks — such as walking to the sink for a glass of water — an uncomfortable activity. 

At Arizona Foot and Ankle Medical Center in Laveen, Chandler, and Mesa, Arizona, our team offers a variety of arthritis treatment options to help our patients get relief. But, we want you to know that there are things you can do at home, too, that can minimize inflammation in your affected joints. 

For example, you can adjust your diet to avoid foods that can cause inflammation in your body. And by reducing inflammation, you may be able to help keep arthritis-related pain at bay. 

Top inflammatory foods

When it comes to things that cause inflammation in the body, sugar — including high-fructose corn syrup — leads the pack. 

That means you should also steer clear of refined carbohydrates. While all carbs are sugar, refined carbs have had the beneficial fiber removed, which means that what you’re left with is something that could make your arthritis worse. 

According to the Arthritis Foundation, other foods that can cause inflammation and worsen joint pain include:

• Alcohol
• Aspartame
• Casein
• Gluten
• Omega-6 fatty acids
• Saturated fats
• Trans fats

The Arthritis Foundation notes that gluten and casein only cause inflammation in people with a sensitivity to them. That means that a big part in eliminating or reducing foods that cause inflammation comes down to finding which specific foods affect your body.

Identifying food-related inflammation triggers

While we listed the foods above because they’re common triggers for inflammation, we also noted that everyone is different. So, how can you pinpoint foods that could be affecting you? A food diary.

While it can be helpful to keep in mind the foods listed above, a food diary can help you find which specific foods might be affecting you. With a food diary, you keep track of what you eat, and when you experience symptoms, you see what you ate and make a note of it.

Then, over time, you can look for patterns. If patterns develop, you can eliminate those foods and see if you get relief. For example, if you notice that you have more discomfort after eating a particular dessert, eliminating that dessert could be the ticket to getting much-needed relief.

Knowing what could be triggering inflammation can go a long way toward helping you keep your symptoms under control. But, don’t forget that you’re not alone. We can give you a thorough evaluation and discuss treatment options, such as physical therapy, orthotics, stem cell therapy, or cortisone injections, to help you get relief. 

To learn more about finding inflammation triggers, to get treatment, or both, book an appointment online or over the phone with Arizona Foot and Ankle Medical Center today.