These 13 Foods Are Murder On Your Muscles And Joints

If you’re looking for relief for achy muscles or painful joints due to overuse, stress, tension, tightness, a minor injury or even arthritis, here are 13 foods you definitely want to AVOID.

Milk

Milk is touted as doing the body good but though it offers a plentiful source of protein and useful vitamins and minerals, it comes with very serious drawbacks. In fact, some research suggests that instead of fortifying your bones, milk can actually deplete them of calcium, lowering bone density and increasing the chance of a fracture.

Dairy Products

Actually, milk isn’t the only culprit in muscle and joint pain. ALL dairy (milk-based) products may be a bad idea. Because their acidic, over-processed nature (which makes them very hard to digest), to a host of other impacts including inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, hormonal imbalances and more, skip the dairy for muscle and joint pain relief.

Red meat

Like dairy, red meat is touted as a healthy food and it is indeed packed with protein and useful vitamins and minerals. The problem is that much of the meat we purchase is heavily processed and contains plenty of substances that are definitely NOT conducive to good health and are linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and more.

Caffeine

While caffeine isn’t exactly touted as a health food, research seems inconclusive on the issue of caffeine as a causal factor in joint pain. However, most experts would agree that excessive consumption can lead to a host of problems including pain. It’s best to limit or reduce this stimulant from your diet.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits, with their vitamin C and immune system-boosting effect on most people, will lead to higher inflammation and joint pain in people with a citrus allergy.

Salt

Everyone agrees—excess salt is bad for you. Salt makes cells attract and retain water which increases pressure on blood vessels leading to high blood pressure. This is why there is a direct link to excess salt intake and pain in muscles and joints.

Tobacco

This one is a no-brainer. The main culprits are the nicotine, tar and additives in cigarettes which, in addition to being carcinogens, rob your body of its ability to distribute enough oxygen to all parts of your body. Not only that, smoking has been directly linked to cartilage damage.

Sugar or sugary foods

Too much sugar can lead to a process called “glycation” in which sugar molecules bond to proteins or fats forming brittle structures inside the joints leading to joint pain and stiffness. These molecules can also lead to vascular damage and significantly higher risk of heart disease.

Nightshade vegetables

Vegetables like peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and white potatoes are touted as healthy foods but in some people they may cause inflammation instead of relieving it. Many people report feeling much better after removing these vegatables from their diets.

Iron supplements or multivitamins with iron

Iron is essential to your body’s functioning but its best when it comes from the foods you eat such as brocolli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, fish, lima beans and peas. The problem with supplements is that it’s easy to ingest more than your body can use, if so this leads to an iron overload and since the body has no way of excreting iron, it accumulates and can lead to severe joint pain and even organ damage and death (if levels become toxic).

Sodas

Colas and even sugar-rich fruit juices have been directly linked to fluid retention and inflammation of the joints.

White flour products

Refined carbs, white flour and all the tasty goodies made with them all trigger an inflammatory response in the body exacerbating joint pain.

Saturated and polyunsaturated fats

Saturated fats (like butter and cheese) are fats that stay solid at room temperature. If consumed in excess of 10% of your recommended daily intake of calories, they can increase your bad cholesterol levels and put you at risk for heart disease.

Similarly, polyunsaturated fats like the Omega 6 fatty acids found in safflower, corn, and sunflower oils can trigger an inflammatory response if consumed in excess quantities. Both of these fats are best consumed in moderation

There you have it, 13 foods you should reduce or eliminate from your diet if you are currently suffering from muscle and joint pain. It seems hard to believe that something as simple as an adjustment to our diet, eliminating or reducing inflammation-causing foods can help us feel better and keep our body pain-free.

If you have any other diet related questions, please let us know. Contact us at abetteryou@hidfittherapy.com.