More than 100 types of arthritis affect the American population, according to Harvard Health Publications, and many arthritis patients find their symptoms may be aggravated by what they eat. Certain foods can create an intolerance, and some foods may create allergies, autoimmune responses and other types of arthritic conditions. Consult your doctor first if you intend to make major changes to your diet in order to treat your condition.
Food Intolerance Explained
A food intolerance is not an allergy or autoimmune response, but it can create a constellation of unpleasant symptoms that may include gas, bloating and diarrhea, according to the University of Michigan Health System. In addition, some food intolerances can cause headaches, joint and muscle pain, and cognitive dysfunction. Several food groups and food additives are known culprits and may create inflammation and pain, flaring your arthritis symptoms.
Nightshade Vegetables
The nightshade family consists of peppers, tomatoes, white potatoes and eggplants. Also included is tobacco, though not a food. The compound solanine is found in all the nightshades, and when ingested, it may cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms in sensitive people. These symptoms include but are not limited to joint and muscle pain, severe headaches, vision problems, insomnia, and difficulty breathing, according to Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. Symptoms may appear up to a week after eating foods in the nightshade family. If you think any of these foods may be causing you undue discomfort, eliminate them from your diet for at least one month. Reintroduce them one at a time and experiment to see how you feel after eating each food. Some people find they can eat infrequent, small amounts of certain nightshades without reacting. If you smoke tobacco products, you may choose to quit and be pleasantly surprised to find your arthritis symptoms greatly improved.
Wheat Gluten
Many people suffer from sensitivities and intolerance to wheat products and wheat gluten. Certain types of arthritis, such as sprue, which is also known as celiac disease, are directly related to eating wheat. This form of arthritis not only causes painful, inflamed joints, but also causes digestive upsets, acid reflux, ulcers, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, according to the University of Washington Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. One solution to reducing your pain levels and arthritic inflammation is to eliminate wheat products from your diet. Start by eliminating all white flour products, processed wheat and packaged foods containing wheat. This may be enough to offer you relief from symptoms. Other types of wheat including whole wheat, sprouted wheat, kamut, spelt and triticale may or may not bother you. These are all whole grains and reactions affect each individual differently.
Monosodium Glutamate
A common food additive used as a preservative and flavor enhancer, MSG can create massive problems for people who are sensitive to it. According to Manfred Mueller, president of the North American Society of Homeopaths, ingesting even small amounts of MSG can produce severe joint and muscle pain and inflammation accompanied with headaches, dizziness, cognitive difficulties, hot flashes, weakness and eye pain. Mueller points out that MSG is used in one form or another in almost all commercially processed foods. Many people have an intolerance to MSG, Mueller adds, and complain that their arthritis is made worse after eating foods high in the preservative. The only way to avoid it is to read labels carefully. Certain restaurants, especially those serving Chinese and other Asian foods use MSG regularly to season their foods. Either avoid eating in those restaurants or request that they do not add MSG to your order.
References
- Harvard Medical School: Arthritis: Keeping Your Joints Healthy
- University of Washington Orthopedics and Sports Medicine: About Diet and Arthritis
- Manfred Mueller RSHom(NA), CHC; North American Society of Homeopaths; Asheville, North Carolina
- University of Michigan Health System: Food Allergies and Intolerance
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Eating Right With Arthritis: Arthritis Nutrition FAQs
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