Osteoarthritis foods to avoid: the reasons?
Before shedding light on which foods to avoid, it's worth giving a few reasons to avoid them. Here are two reasons to put certain foods aside.
To avoid accentuating inflammation or pain
Osteoarthritis is a disease that cannot be cured at this time. However, the pain of osteoarthritis can be relieved and the patient's quality of life improved.Food can contribute to this in its own way.
In addition, certain foods should be avoided because they are accused of promoting inflammation in the joints. Hence the need to avoid them if you want to limit the pain of osteoarthritis. Foods that can induce inflammation are those rich in sugars and saturated or trans fatty acids.
To avoid weight gain
Weight loss, if overweight, helps reduce joint pain. On the other hand, extra pounds can be responsible for the accentuation of pain. Being overweight is thus a factor that aggravates osteoarthritis. In case of osteoarthritis, you must deprive yourself of all foods likely to promote unnecessary weight gain.
Seek to lose weight in order to suffer less. Excess fat exerts a biological action on the joints. Weight loss reduces pain in patients with hand osteoarthritis or knee osteoarthritis. It is imperative to carefully select your foods in each group.
In the meat category
Meats have an essential nutritional contribution. Not all types of meat are welcome in the sick. Find out which ones you should no longer swallow.
Avoid red meats
Meats provide the body with essential nutrients such as protein. This is why, we should not deprive ourselves of it. Red meat provides iron. It is an essential element for the formation of blood. However, when suffering from osteoarthritis, the consumption of red meat tends to increase metabolic waste.
Excessive consumption of red meat is therefore prohibited. In fact, metabolic waste amplifies joint pain. Red meats come from the muscle tissue of beef, lamb, goat, etc.
Do not eat fatty meats
Fatty meats are sources of saturated fat. They are not recommended in case of osteoarthritis. In addition, these fats cause weight gain. However, excess weight damages the joints. You can replace this meat with oily fish or white meat.
Or eat lean meats from the white parts of poultry instead. We think for example of chicken breast. Combine these foods with foods that fight joint inflammation.
In the category of lipids
It is necessary to consume them in moderate quantities and to abstain from certain vegetable oils.
Two types of oil to avoid
Oils have their place in a healthy and balanced diet. In addition, they are ideal for cooking food. In subjects affected by osteoarthritis, the consumption of sunflower and peanut oil is especially discouraged. For what ?
In fact, these vegetable oils contain pro-inflammatory elements. This means that they are likely to promote inflammation. These are omega-6 and omega-9. However, these oils contain a low proportion of omega-3. It effectively fights inflammation. All these reasons work against sunflower oil and peanut oil.
On the other hand, the consumption of other vegetable oils is encouraged. These are rapeseed, olive, linseed, etc. oils. It is also advisable to vary the sources, to respect their use and to avoid going overboard.
Butter and margarine
Butter contains vitamins A, B, D and E. Margarines are lower in calories than butter and oils. However, these fats should be avoided because of their saturated fatty acid content.
Butters (sweet, semi-salted, light) and margarines are among the richest foods. It is better to avoid them in case of osteoarthritis. Finally, eat while taking care to avoid high-calorie foods such as fried foods, mayonnaise, cold cuts, etc.
In the group of sweet foods
Avoid fast sugars, foods with a high glycemic index and sugary soft drinks.
Quick sugars
Specialists refer to white sugar, refined sugars, pastries, ice cream and others. Know that these sugars are not essential for nutritional balance. You can therefore do without it without having any negative repercussions on your health.
On the contrary, you will improve your situation if you abandon these foods which weaken the immune defenses and disrupt the energy cycles. Beware of processed foods containing high doses of simple sugars. An example is glucose syrup.
Foods with a high glycemic index
The glycemic index measures the influence of a food on the level of insulin produced. The sweeter a food, the higher its glycemic index. Such foods promote blood sugar spikes. So be aware of the glycemic indices of foods before ingesting them. Banish fruits that are too sweet from your diet.
Fizzy drinks
Drinking carbonated drinks like sodas can make osteoarthritis pain worse. Not to mention that the soda provides enough calories (110 kcal per 100 g). Stay away from sugary carbonated drinks. Soda is especially harmful in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Also, alcoholic beverages do not have a good reputation for osteoarthritis. There is also the fact that they contain sugar. However, this leads to the formation of fat. Drink a good amount of water daily. The daily water consumption should vary between 1.5 to 2.5 liters.
And dairy products in all that!
They can fuel latent inflammation, but that doesn't mean you should ban them from your diet. Consume dairy products in moderation and caution. Opt for yoghurts and fresh cheeses made from animals that eat grass.
