Tag: holiday foods and knee pain

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Knee Osteoarthritis

Ham, Bacon, and Inflammation

For those of us with knee osteoarthritis, consuming processed foods can cause increased inflammation and as a result, increased knee pain.

For those of us with knee osteoarthritis, the momentary enjoyment of consuming processed foods can be followed by increased inflammation and as a result, increased knee pain.

Cutting back on the many desserts available during holiday parties, and the many sugary beverages or artificially sweetened sodas that accompany them can certainly help keep inflammation at bay. However, it isn’t just sugar that’s the problem.

So what’s another type of food that contributes to increased inflammation?

PROCESSED MEATS

Yes, that’s right.

We are talking about that honey-baked ham, pan-fried bacon, and saturated fat’s good old friend, sausage.

All of which are holiday and winter favorites. And, all of these are processed meats that can contribute to inflammation.

Processed meats contribute to inflammation by producing nitrous compounds which are associated with an increased risk of inflammation-related pain, but also of chronic diseases such as cancer.

Though sometimes it can be challenging to avoid these foods entirely, especially in the case of a dinner party or get-together where you have little control over the food- it is always possible to reduce your intake of them.

One way to do so is to add more salad and vegetables to your plate.

In fact, studies have shown that eating a salad before a meal can result in fewer calories consumed during the meal while providing extra nutrients that can decrease the body’s response to any inflammatory foods that are consumed.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a food spread at a dinner party or event to contain everything but vegetables. However, there is a solution:

Offer to bring the salad yourself.

It’s that simple.

By offering to bring a salad, you can not only contribute to the event, but you can also contribute to having a healthier diet for yourself and others.

In fact, anytime you bring a salad to a party or event, you may be surprised by how many people appreciate your healthy and delicious contribution.

In our next article, we will take a look at another group of foods that can contribute to inflammation and that can be found everywhere, especially during the colder months: Refined Carbohydrates.

 

Categories
Knee Osteoarthritis

Holiday Foods and Holiday…Knee Pain?

Holiday foods can be lovely and enjoyable, but for those of us suffering from osteoarthritis, some of these holiday foods can be problematic.

Holiday foods can be lovely and enjoyable, but for those of us suffering from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, some of these holiday foods can be problematic.

In fact, many of these foods contain ingredients that can actually wreak havoc on our bodies, leading to increased inflammation, and as a result, increased stiffness and pain.

Though in a perfect world, the best thing to do would be to cut out these foods entirely, in reality, that usually doesn’t work.

In fact, not only does a restrictive diet create feelings of deprivation, but more often than not, this approach just leads to an episode of overeating.

But who wants to go to a holiday party and avoid all the sweet treats and seasonal foods?

Not only is it not enjoyable to do this, but being too restrictive can also cause moodiness and irritability, which isn’t quite the holiday spirit.

So let’s take a look at one of the biggest culprits for increased inflammation and pain, which is in abundance during the holidays. And, let’s look at a few solutions and suggestions on how to enjoy some of these foods while keeping inflammation at bay.


SUGAR

For many people, the worst food for inflammation is sugar- which is available in spades during the holiday season.

Sugar causes the body to release cytokines, which are chemicals that send messages to the body that trigger an inflammatory response.

But it’s not just the sugar in cookies and cakes that’s the problem,  it’s also the sugar that is jam-packed in soda and certain alcoholic beverages.

Overindulgence in sugary foods and beverages can leave the joints feeling stiffer, and the body feeling weaker and more fatigued the next day.

In fact, many people report that they experience something akin to a hangover after consuming sugary foods, even when no alcoholic beverages were consumed.

So what’s the solution then? Should we avoid sugar completely, or consume only artificial sweeteners?

Avoiding or limiting the number of sugary foods is the best solution, and so is- avoiding artificial sweeteners.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

When it comes to reducing inflammation cutting out or reducing our sugar intake is necessary, as is cutting out artificial sweeteners.

The problem with artificial sweeteners is that the chemicals they contain confuse the body and cause it to respond to this foreign substance by attacking it. As a result, this leads the body to have an inflammatory response, which results in the emergence of the painful symptoms that go along with that.

One of the biggest culprits when it comes to consuming artificial sweeteners is drinking diet soda.

Aspartame, which is made up of three chemicals- aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol is found in many diet sodas, and is a recipe for disaster when it comes to increasing inflammation and knee pain.

In fact, most research shows that if you’re going to eat something sweet, you’re better off with something that contains actual sugar- although a natural sugar such as that found in fruit, would be a whole lot better- and believe it or not, it too can actually satisfy your sweet tooth.

But it’s not just sweet treats that need to be consumed in moderation. It’s also processed meats and refined carbohydrates– Yes, we’re talking about you ham, bacon, and sausage. And we’re talking about you- white bread, pasta, cakes, and pies.

In our next article, we will take a look at the impact that processed meats can have on knee osteoarthritis pain by way of increased inflammation. And, we will offer some suggestions to help you maintain that holiday spirit, without rigid restrictions and deprivation.