Arthritis is a painful condition which causes swelling, stiffness and tenderness of the joints. Several different types of arthritis exist, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and reactive arthritis. According to the consumer advocacy group, the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, millions of Americans suffer from at least one of the types of arthritis. Though strong painkillers can treat arthritis symptoms, a proper diet can also help. People with all types of arthritis should avoid certain foods, which can trigger arthritis symptoms.
Pork
Arthritis sufferers should avoid pork. According to Arthritis Today, people with arthritis usually have a higher level of antibodies against pork in their bloodstreams. This implies that many people with arthritis may have allergies to pork or have a hard time tolerating pork. This can cause an increase of arthritic symptoms such as pain and inflammation. The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine also states that low fat diets prove best for arthritis and pork contains high amounts of fat so that aspect is also problematic.
Tomatoes
Even though tomatoes contain vitamins and minerals, they can trigger painful symptoms in those who have arthritis. For this reason arthritis sufferers should remove tomatoes from their diets. The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine explains that tomatoes are classified as a nightshade plant and nightshade plants have chemical components that cause pain and inflammation. Other fruits and vegetables like berries, broccoli and spinach are encouraged instead of tomatoes for people with arthritis.
Milk
According to the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, dairy products like milk tend to worsen arthritic symptoms. For this reason, the committee recommends that people with arthritis choose a vegan diet which contains no meat or dairy. Even low fat milk can cause pain, as the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine states that the milk protein proves the problem for people with arthritis. The magazine Arthritis Today also states that many people with arthritis have high levels of antibodies to milk, suggesting they may have an allergy to milk.
Oranges
The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine states that many people with arthritis experience fewer arthritic symptoms when they eliminate citrus fruits like oranges from their diet. In fact, citrus fruits are listed on the top ten worst foods for people with arthritis, according to the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. Though the cause of why citrus fruits like oranges can trigger arthritis remains unknown, arthritis sufferers will benefit by eating fruits like apples and berries.
