Foods That Tend to Inflame Arthritis

There is an interesting family story about a problem food, involving a relative and red food dye. She was fairly young, probably seven or eight. She was asked if she wanted hot dogs for lunch. She said, “No, I don’t want to feel funny like that today.” Upon being questioned, it turned out she is allergic to red food dye.

That’s not an uncommon allergy, and it probably has to do with how that dye is formulated. It’s made up of a certain insect, and may people don’t tolerate it well. It’s just one example that food can cause us more pain than the nutrition value is worth. Here are a few more:

Aspirin: Technically not a food, though it can be found in minute quantities in a few vegetables. However, as herbs are dealt with like food and willow bark is a somewhat popular pain killing remedy, it fits here. Aspirin can cause serious allergic reactions in people. If you’re allergic, avoid willow and anything that may contain it. Technically, you should also avoid feverfew, but it doesn’t contain quite as much.

Beer: Got gout? Avoid beer. It has two strikes against it. First of all, it contains yeast which is high in purine. Second, as a form of alcohol, it causes dehydration.

Hot Dogs: Besides being loaded with red food dye, many brands are highly processed. This can cause gout flare ups. If they are also high in fat, it can cause heart problems down the road if they are consumed too frequently.

Organ Meat: Most of us don’t need a reason to avoid liver and other organ meats found in various animals, though a few think of them as a treat. If you have gout, you now have an excuse that will mollify any hostess or chef when you explain that you aren’t going to partake.

Pepperoni: High in fat, highly processed and may have dye. It’s also extremely salty, so you can add high blood pressure to the problems this favorite pizza topper can cause.

Processed Foods: All purpose white flour, granulates sugar, high fructose corn syrup and of course, processed meats all have a bevy of problems associated with them. Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and gout are a few of the medical conditions overindulging in these food types can bring on.

Choosing what you eat is something that should require care and a great deal of thought. This is even more true if you already have a medical condition that could be made worse by your food choices. If you are having difficulties finding a type of meal plan that’s good for you, consult a nutritionist. He or she can help you design a diet that meets all your requirements but is also fun and easy to deal with.