Foods that aggravate arthritis

[AuntBea]

Does anyone have experiences with certain foods having an impact, good or bad, on arthritis? I've had a bad flare-up and wonder if cutting out tomatoes, tomato sauce, V8 juice will help. Thanks!

[kaplods]

They don't seem to bother me, but some people report that nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant...) worsend their joint pain.

For me, carbohydrates in general and wheat and sugar specifically seem to worsen my joint pain from osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. They also trigger flares of autoimmune/immune issues, especially skin-related.

There are some books available that talk about arthritis diets and anti-inflammatory diets, though the books don't always agree on which foods aggravate inflammation and which relieve it (for example some say that hot peppers aggravate inflammation, and others say they have anti-inflammatory properties).

Fish oil supplements have helped me alot (especially since I can't take NSAIDS).

I highly recommend food and health journaling. I would never have discovered that wheat was causing problems without keeping a journal not only of my food, but of all my health symptoms. It started with symptoms improving with low-carb dieting, and when I tried to pinpoint what specifically was triggering the symptoms, I discovered it was wheat, by adding back in one type of carb at a time. I found that sugar and carbs in large amounts trigger flares, but it takes a much smaller amount of wheat to trigger the symptoms (especially the skin issues). Trace amounts don't seem to trigger a reaction, and pasta doesn't trigger as large a reaction as breads, but I'm trying to avoid all wheats as much as I can.

[AuntBea]

Thanks for sharing, Kaplods. I'm glad you've id'd things that contribute or not to the pain in your situation. Yes, the food journal (and I've now got a pain journal) is a good tool. Right now I'm trying to cut down or even cut out tomatoes. I've read up a little about anti-inflammatory foods, but really hoped to just hear from folks here what their experiences have been. I've read that dark cherry juice is possibly a good thing to drink, but have only found cherry concentrate at health food stores.

I should not complain, but some days I just get weary of being a detective about this stuff. I can accept that I can't eat high-fat, high-caloric food. But it's annoying to play hunt-and-peck games about natural things, fruit and vegetables, because they might cause more pain. Oh, well...I hope others who are in this same boat will write in with things they have tried and found to be helpful or not.
Thanks for the fish oil tip, too. I keep forgetting to try that.

[Violet73]

Avoiding gluten has helped me. Also, limiting dairy and beef. Nightshades don't bother me but they can some people. Sugar is also something that can bother arthritis. Just sticking with fresh fruits and veggies with chicken and fish seems to work best for my joint pain. Giving up gluten changed my life!

[AuntBea]

LeslieLou, I'm glad you've figured out what works for you. That's great!

It's so hit-and-miss for me. Since "eating clean" the past 2 months, I've had the worst flare-up I've had: despite eating much less sugar, calories; and despite eating more chicken (skinless chicken breasts) than ever. I rarely eat red meat in the first place, so that's not a factor. I used to eat a LOT of soy, but cut that down recently because I've read it interferes with thyroid medication. Anyway, I'm certain that sugar isn't a factor. Neither is weather. I've had almost pain-free periods in the horrible cold winter & the humid summer. And have had painful flareups in both types of weather. So now I'm cutting out nightshades--mainly cutting out tomatoes--to see how that fares. I'm also trying glucosomine chondroitan and cherry juice, too. Right now I've moved into a less painful period. But who knows why.

[2feelbetter]

Originally Posted by kaplods

I highly recommend food and health journaling. I would never have discovered that wheat was causing problems without keeping a journal not only of my food, but of all my health symptoms. It started with symptoms improving with low-carb dieting, and when I tried to pinpoint what specifically was triggering the symptoms, I discovered it was wheat, by adding back in one type of carb at a time. I found that sugar and carbs in large amounts trigger flares, but it takes a much smaller amount of wheat to trigger the symptoms (especially the skin issues). Trace amounts don't seem to trigger a reaction, and pasta doesn't trigger as large a reaction as breads, but I'm trying to avoid all wheats as much as I can.

Wow this is very interesting. I would have never thought food could trigger pain.

[pattynelson]

Mushrooms can definitely trigger arthritis. I once sauted a small can of mushrooms and ate it all by myself. After a short while, I noticed my joints getting bigger and more painful.