I have been off of sugar for a week and my knees feel so much better. I have not lost enough weight in a week to make a difference. In the past, I have also noticed that when I go on a sweets binge, my knees start hurting.

Has anyone heard of a connection with sugar and joint pain? Has anyone else experienced this?

There's some articles that link that with inflammation. Try googling "sugar joint pain."

It wasn't til you mentioned it that I remembered my own joint pain has been a lot less. Still sometimes, but a lot less -- but it's been years since I went low sugar.

There's also a shift in my tastebuds. Things I thought were ok before are now TOO sweet. It's like "Ack!" if I have it again. So I keep clear.

A.

I definitely notice it anytime I eat something with sugar or, even worse, sugar and white flour. My finger joints start aching within hours. Overall my arthritis is much more tolerable now that I've cut sugar, wheat, and processed grains out. I always woke up stiff and achy but that almost never happens anymore. Wish I'd known this years ago

hmmm interesting! I'm embarking on a promise to give up sugar for a month, starting on the 15th.... A guy in our office was just diagnosed with diabetes and out of solidarity we're all giving up the white stuff!

how awesome if some hip pain disappeared in the process ~ I'll keep you posted!!

I have osteoarthritis in my knee, and when I'm not eating sugar or grains the pain is much, much less. Most days I don't have any pain at all, and when I was eating sugar and wheat I had to walk down stairs sideways, it was so bad. I think there's definitely something to it.

Tracy, it is wonderful that you all are supporting him that way! We read so much here how our coworkers make staying on plan more difficult. What a refreshing change!

I am coming to believe that there is a correlation between sugar and my joint pain. Maybe that will help me resist. Overall, it is amazing how much better I feel after just a week of healthy eating.

Just the other day.. on a health show.... they talked about how sugar intensifies inflamation in our body. It makes sense that we would feel better without it. Good for you, Cheryl. Feeling better is GREAT.

Wow, I never even thought about a correlation between sugar and joint pain but thinking back to my last sugar bender I do remember that my hands and fingers were so stiff...I could barely get a lid off of a jar. I've not had any processed sugar inseveral weeks, but if I happen to fall off the wagon again (lol) I'll take note if it happens again. I remember I used to get hand stiffness all the time but never really noticed when it quit happening so often.

I have Lupus with an RA component. If I eat sugar I might as well stay in bed all day... serious pain. There is definitely a connection, for me at least.

"Researchers at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis tested pain tolerance in eight healthy young men. They placed an electrical clip on the web of skin between the first and second fingers on each volunteer. As one of the researchers gradually turned up the voltage to the clip, they asked each subject to say when he could feel any pain and when it became unbearable. They found that when they gave the subjects an intravenous infusion of sugar (glucose), their pain sensitivity increased markedly. They were aware of the pain sooner and experienced it more intensely.

"They then tested people with diabetes, who, of course, generally have higher than normal blood sugars. They found the same thing. Their pain sensitivity was much higher than that of people without diabetes." (Foods That Fight Pain, by Neal Bernard, M.D.)

My dad has 4 different kinds of arthritis and bad, bad joints. When he eats a little too much sugar, his pain is much worse. He uses sugar substitute as much as possible now and it definitely helps.

More reason to stay away from sugar!

Thanks for this! Looking back I think sugar effects me too.

I also wonder about other illnesses/immune system being affected by sugar.
I suffered with bronchial infections for years and years in the winter, never leaving home without two inhalers.

Since eating low carb/sugar, etc. I haven't had so much as a sniffle this winter and can't remember the last time I used an inhaler.

I get terrible joint pain when I overindulge in sugar. To the point where I wake up in the middle of the night. I used to attribute it to aging, but I noticed a definite correlation to sugar consumption! When I stay sugar free or very low sugar, I am magically ache-free. You're not alone!