Pain in the knees and joints could be due to several reasons. It could be due to a medical condition, or it could be only due to weakness and lack of proper nutrition. While medical conditions require proper medical treatment, minor pain can be managed with changes in the diet.
Generally, knee and joint pain are due to inflammation. Some foods can increase inflammation, and consumption of such foods can worsen your pain.
If you've been suffering from joint and knee pain and are looking for natural, non-medical treatments, you should start by evaluating what foods you're eating. The pain could be due to some bad foods in your diet, and eliminating them can improve your condition.
Let's look at some bad foods you must eliminate from your diet if you're suffering from knee and joint pain.
Sugary Foods
If you consume many sugary foods like donuts, cakes, chocolates, etc., you need to stop. Consuming excessive sugary foods result in a hike in blood glucose levels which promotes the release of inflammatory cells. High blood sugar levels stimulate the immune cells, which release inflammation-causing molecules that irritate the joints and tissues.
Not only do sugary foods cause inflammation, but they also increase the risk of other health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Red Meat
Red meat sure tastes divine. If your diet is mostly based on red meat like beef, lamb, and pork, you need a complete diet overhaul. The excessive consumption of red meat might be the reason you're suffering from knee and joint pain. Red meats are rich in inflammatory markers. Consuming too much red meat can lead to inflammation around the knees and joints, which can cause pain that can become unbearable if you don't do something about it.
Salty Foods and Foods Containing MSG
Consuming salty foods is also bad for your joints and knees. Too much salt in the body results in a hypertonic condition that attracts water to the cells. When this happens, the inflammation in the joints and knees can get aggravated.
Foods containing Monosodium glutamate (MSG) are also known to worsen knee and joint pain. It's a common food additive that can result in chronic inflammation. If pizza, canned soups, and fast foods are a regular part of your diet, you really need to change your diet and look for healthier and safer alternatives.
Vegetable Oils
Some vegetable oils are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can worsen the symptoms of osteoarthritis, an inflammatory disease of the knees. Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for health but only in certain quantities, and any imbalance will have consequences.
Sometimes, we don't realise that many health problems result from our negligence. Not knowing how the foods we eat affect our body is one of the biggest mistakes. If you're suffering from joint and knee pain, you should start by changing your diet and see if it helps you. Of course, you'll also need to consult a doctor for proper medical treatment.