Arthritis is never fun. With so many versions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, anyone can become a victim to the symptoms. For example, the symptoms of osteoarthritis specifically include pain, swelling in the joints, reduced range of motion, and joints becoming deformed. Measures can be taken to help relieve the symptoms so one can better manage the condition. One place to start is with diet and eliminating snack foods that can actually make you feel worse. Here are a few foods to avoid:

1. Candy
While candy is a sweet for the sweet, the simple sugars that make up jelly beans and other similar snacks hide refined carbohydrates. These carbs can make blood sugar spike and set up the body to produce cytokines, a protein that is to blame for inflammatory responses. These responses will in turn make your joints swell up and ache.

2. Fried foods
Food that was once alive but is now battered and fried may delight the taste buds but wreak havoc on your body. Gorging on items like donuts, french fries, and the majority of the foods sold at county fairs can result in packing on pounds. A heavier body results in more wear and tear on the joints as they become stressed due to excess weight. Body fat can also cause higher levels of hormones and other inflammatory hormones that will affect your joints.

3. Alcohol
A pint or glass of your favorite alcoholic beverage can sound like a lovely way to kick off the weekend or evening activities. However, you may regret indulging later. Commercial alcoholic products contain high purine levels that can be blamed for flare-ups of symptoms later on. Also, if you’re on any medications for your condition, drinking alcohol can impact their effectiveness or even result in a dangerous combination that could be lethal.

4. Cheese
This one is a bit of a trickster. While it contains calcium and protein which can help, it can also be loaded with saturated fats and advanced glycation end products. Both can set off inflammation so it’s best to go for low fat options. Fermented dairy products, such as Greek yogurt, can help combat inflammation so try some of that instead.

5. Salty snacks
Salty foods, such as chips, can be your greatest enemies. Salt causes cells to retain water. Retaining water causes the cells to swell. Swelling in the joints causes pain. Thus, salt is not your friend! The body needs sodium, but going overboard on salt consumption is not a good idea. Pick up lower sodium options or other snack choices to satisfy your salt cravings.

The foods we eat can cause pain or pleasure. Restricting the amounts of trigger foods we consume on the regular can cause symptoms to lessen and quality of life to increase. Go for green tea and leafy greens. Add a handful of nuts to a salad or enjoy them as a snack. Salmon and broccoli make for a tasty meal full of anti-inflammatory properties. Many turn to the Mediterranean diet to manage their symptoms. Making good food choices can be the difference between hurting joints and a painless night. Relief from your afflictions can be reached. Talk to your doctor about other options that you can use to help your arthritis symptoms.