Often accompanied by inflammation or pain in body joints, arthritis is one such condition that can’t be cured completely. Over the years though, the world has seen various treatments for this condition, including prescription Xeljanz, Tremfya, Actemra, Rinvoq, Skyrizi, Simponi aria, and Apremilast, as well as over the counter pain relievers like Voltaren and Advil, and they’ve show positive results and make life easier in most cases. However, there are certain foods that can trigger your arthritis and can definitely worsen the pain. Here are some of the worst foods for arthritis pain that should have no place in your diet.

• Fried and processed foods
  Mouth-watering food items like pizza, sausages, donuts, French fries, full-fat cheese, margarine, and pastries are high in saturated fat content. These fatty acids get stored in the joints and weaken cartilages. As a result, metabolism is delayed, which causes severe pain in the joints. This is the reason why they are considered among the worst foods for arthritis pain. Instead, you can focus on eating a balanced diet comprising of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains.
• White rice or refined flour
  These food items might taste great but they have a high amount of refined carbohydrates that will spike the existing joint pain. Listed among the worst foods for arthritis pain, white rice and refined flour also increase blood sugar level and lead to other chronic conditions. Instead of these, you can include whole grains in your diet.
• Salt and preservatives
  Packaged foods contain high amounts of salt and other preservatives to increase their shelf life. Too much of sodium intake can be bad for joint pain and hence it should be avoided at large. To manage arthritis pain, read the nutrition label on the packed food before buying. A maximum of 2300 mg sodium in a day is acceptable.
• Milk
  This healthy beverage can be helpful for children and others who can digest the protein found in it, but in case of existing joint pain, this protein can be harmful. For some people, milk can be considered as one of the worst foods for arthritis pain that should be avoided. The protein found in milk is hard to digest, and hence, it causes inflammation in some parts of the body, results in severe pain. However, one can choose dairy products that are rich in probiotics instead.
• Alcohol and tobacco
  These can cause serious health issues and they even trigger certain inflammatory pains as well. Tobacco found in cigarettes can result in rheumatoid arthritis, while alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing gout. So, these are also some of the worst foods for arthritis pain that should be avoided right away.

Though arthritis pain has no permanent cure, with the help of a balanced diet, regular exercise and by following a healthy lifestyle, you can ease the pain and reduce the frequency of flare-ups. The above mentioned worst foods for arthritis pain must be eliminated from your food chart if you wish to see positive results.