5. Eliminate foods that cause inflammation
Some foods, particularly in western diets, tend to cause inflammation which can make your arthritis worse. These foods include:
Processed, packaged, or fast foods
Hydrogenated fats (margarine, shortening, lard or products made with them such as cookies, pies, packaged foods, buns, etc.)
Fried foods (French fries, onion rings, potato chips, nachos, hamburgers, etc.)
White sugar and sweets, including soft drinks and sweetened juices
Synthetic sweeteners (Nutrasweet, Splenda, Equal, saccharin, aspartame, sucralose etc.)
Salt
Food additives: colous, flavor enhancers, stabilizers, preservatives, etc. Some of the main ones include sulfites, sulfates, benzoates, and colors named FD&C #”X.” For example, FD&C #5
Alcohol