What About The Mediterranean Diet
Studies have suggested that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the inflammation that contributes to the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
As well as helping to reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis, eating a Mediterranean-style diet offers many other health benefits, including weight loss.
Following a Mediterranean diet may also reduce the risk of:
When someone is living with osteoarthritis, their body is in an inflammatory state.
While foods with anti-inflammatory properties may reduce symptoms, some foods contain substances that actively contribute to this inflammation. It is best to avoid or restrict these dietary choices.
The types of food to avoid are those that include the following:
Migraines And Other Headaches
One of the most common issues of caffeine consumption is its effect on headaches, especially migraines. While it sometimes helps to alleviate the pain by stimulating the body and decreasing fatigue, it can also have long-term negative effects. Rebound headaches, caused by withdrawal, can be debilitating. Withdrawal from normal caffeine intake is rare but, for anyone consuming more than 500 milligrams a day, it can become a problem. Patients with chronic pain conditions need to be especially careful about their consumption of caffeine since many over-the-counter pain relievers contain it.
Notice That Your Joint Pain Is Worse At Night Heres Why
Many people notice that their arthritis symptomsget worse at night. When this occurs, it can be hard for people to sleep, leaving them exhausted in the morning and potentially contributing to daytime pain or fatigue.
It is common for pain to get worse at night.
It could be that levels of the anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol are naturally lower at night plus, staying still in one position might cause joints to become stiff. Less distractions in the evening could also turn your attention inward on your joint pain, making your symptoms seem worse.
Other processes may also intensify RA pain, including the nighttime release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, an increased number of cells traveling to inflamed tissue, and changes in the bodys immune response.
Additionally, the body releases higher levels of melatonin and prolactin at night, both of which can cause an increase in inflammatory cytokines.
Avoid falling into the cycle of poor quality of sleep > workday fatigue > increased levels of pain.
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What Should I Avoid While Taking Aspirin And Caffeine
If you are taking aspirin and caffeine to prevent heart attack or stroke, avoid also taking ibuprofen . Ibuprofen may make aspirin and caffeine less effective. If you must use both medications, take the ibuprofen at least 8 hours before or 30 minutes after you take the aspirin and caffeine .
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin and caffeine. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any cold or allergy medicine, diet pills, or pain medication. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or caffeine. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of this type of medication. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, or caffeine.
Ask your doctor before using aspirin and caffeine if you take an antidepressant such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine , fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline , trazodone, or vilazodone. Taking any of these medicines with an NSAID may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Nightshade Vegetables Cause Inflammation
Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers all contain the chemical solanine, which some blame for arthritis pain. However, the Arthritis Foundation say that there is no scientific evidence for this. Adding these nutritious vegetables to the diet can have many benefits for chronic health conditions.
There is evidence that certain foods and nutrients can improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. They do this by fighting inflammation, providing nutrition, and boosting bone, muscle, and immune system function.
People may also benefit from avoiding or restricting foods that contribute to inflammation.
Being overweight or obese places extra pressure on the joints, which can make the symptoms of osteoarthritis worse.
Eating a balanced diet rich in plants, fiber, and anti-inflammatory fats, such as those that the Mediterranean diet includes, can help people living with osteoarthritis to maintain a healthy weight.
This will help to ease symptoms, such as pain and swelling.
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Not Asking For Help Or Support
Arthritis can be a lot. The pain and disability or loss of function can take a toll on your emotions, increase your levels of stress, and lead to depression or anxiety. A research review published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy suggests stress may trigger an RA flare. Though researchers are still trying to understand the connection between arthritis and stress, what we do know is that seeking support can improve how well you cope and manage your condition. Tell family members and friends how you are feeling, and how they can help when youre feeling particularly overwhelmed. Connect with others who have your same condition through a support group in your community or online . Talk to your doctor if you think you could have symptoms of depression or anxiety.
How Caffeine Affects The Joints
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Joints are located where two bones meet, with a primary responsibility of supporting skeleton flexibility. Some are hinge joints, such as ones in elbows and knees. Others are the ball-and-socket type such as in shoulders and hips. The nutrients you consume have a direct effect on the health and functionality of your joints. Caffeine, a common stimulant found in coffee and sodas, has been shown in preliminary studies to reduce pain associated with certain forms of joint pain and possibly delay or prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or RA.
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Reducing Inflammation And Preventing Damage
A balanced, nutritious diet will give the body the tools it needs to prevent further damage to the joints, which is essential for people with osteoarthritis.
Some foods are known to reduce inflammation in the body, and following an anti-inflammatory diet can improve symptoms. Eating enough antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, may help to prevent further damage to the joints.
Maintaining A Healthy Weight
Being overweight can put extra pressure on the joints, and excess fat stores in the body can cause further inflammation. Maintaining a healthy weight can lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Keeping to a healthy weight can be difficult for some people, especially those who have a medical condition that reduces their mobility, such as osteoarthritis. A doctor or dietitian will be able to provide advice.
Including specific foods in the diet can strengthen the bones, muscles, and joints and help the body to fight inflammation and disease.
People with osteoarthritis can try adding the following eight foods to their diet to ease their symptoms:
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No Bones About It: Drinking Coffee May Increase Arthritis Risk
July 25, 2000 — Here’s some news Starbuck’s probably doesn’t want you to know: A new report suggests heavy coffee drinking may raise your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The findings are based on two studies of more than 25,000 people in Finland.
“This is probably the most comprehensive look at a large number of patients to look at a potential risk factor,” says Beth Jonas, MD. But Jonas, a clinical assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a board-certified rheumatologists, hastens to add that these findings raise many unanswered questions, and that the coffee-drinking habits of those in Finland may not be comparable to those of Americans. Jonas was not involved in the study.
Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation of the lining of the joints in the body and can lead to deformity and disability. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the joints, although it is not known why. There is also no cure.
Lead author M. Heliövaara, MD, and his colleagues at the Social Insurance Institution, Research and Development Centre in Turku, Finland, studied the association between coffee drinking, rheumatoid arthritis, and a blood marker called rheumatoid factor that is found in about half the cases of rheumatoid arthritis. They published their findings in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease.
Tips For Cutting Down On Soda
If you’re ready to cut down on your soda consumption, here are some tips to get you started:
Switch to diet soda.
Diet soda, which uses artificial sweeteners rather than sugar and has few or no calories, was not found to be associated with increased RA risk in the Nurses Study. If you want to continue drinking soda, switch to diet.
Find a good substitute.
Drink seltzer water or carbonated no sugar added juices for the same fizz as soda. Or better yet, drink water instead. Your water doesn’t have to be plainyou can make it more interesting by adding lemon, lime, cucumber, or mint.
Or drink skim milk. The Nurses Study found that drinking skim milk actually cuts the risk for RApossibly because of the healthy vitamin D it contains.
Taper off gradually.
Don’t try to quit all at once, especially if you consume several sodas a day. This can make quitting much harder and also cause caffeine withdraw. Instead, use a “step down” approach by cutting your consumption in half each week.
Stop super sizing.
You can still have soda occasionallybut when you do, choose the smallest size. Try to stick to a serving size no more than a regular can of soda, which is 12 ounces.
Put a water bottle on your desk and a water filter pitcher in your refrigerator.
When you have the means to drink cold filtered water conveniently available to you throughout the day, you’re more likely to choose that option.
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Mixed Research Results On Caffeine And Rheumatoid Arthritis
Some studies have shown that coffee is beneficial for health, but others have not.
A review of various observational studies by Danish scientists published on July 28, 2021 in the European Journal of Nutrition found that high coffee consumption was associated with a low risk of mortality, as well as reduced odds of cardiometabolic diseases, some cancers, and gallstones.
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But other research has been less positive. A small study published in August 2016 in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that after drinking coffee some people exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in their blood, but others actually had increased inflammation.
Some scientists have specifically studied people with RA and found a possible association between heavy coffee consumption and incidence of the condition. A meta-analysis published in Clinical Rheumatology concluded that people living with seropositive RA were more likely to drink a lot of coffee, although doctors were quick to say that an association doesnt prove that one causes the other. Drinking a lot of decaf was not linked to higher RA rates.
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Meanwhile, Swedish researchers studying tea consumption, which has caffeine but not at the same levels as coffee, found that heavy use of the beverage was correlated with lower rates of RA, as they reported in August 2021 in Arthritis Research & Therapy.
How Much Caffeine Is In Our Diet
The biggest sources of caffeine are coffee and energy drinks . Be aware of your portion size. Many mugs and coffee-shop drinks can hold as much as 20 ounces.
According to Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health, other sources of caffeine include a shot of espresso , a cup of black tea , green tea , 12 ounces of Mountain Dew or cola , an ounce of dark chocolate , and decaffeinated coffee .
Of course, dont forget to drink water, which not only hydrates the body, but helps counter the potential diuretic effects of caffeine.
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And The Side Of Fries Instead Of Veg
Researchers at Harvard found that after potato chips, potatoes may contribute to more weight gain per serving than any other food and French fries were by far the worst offenders. Extra weight can exacerbate inflammatory arthritis. Plus, it can put increased pressure on your joints particularly your knees, says Christopher Morris, MD a rheumatologist with Arthritis Associates in Kingsport, Tennessee. For every pound a person weighs, about five pounds of stress goes through the knees with every step, he explains. For a 250-pound person, that equates to nearly two-thirds of a ton of stress on the joint.
The good news is that weight loss really makes a difference, says Dr. Morris. For example, losing as little as 11 pounds can decrease the progression of knee OA by 50 percent. One way to shed pounds: eat tons of brightly colored veggies. Theyre low in calories, high in fiber , and provide nutrients that may help fight inflammation. Here are more tips for losing weight when you have arthritis.
Beverages To Ease Arthritis Pain
Remember the saying You are what you eat? Well, turns out you are what you drink, too! When we think of nutrition, we often think only of solid foods. But what you drink is a large part of what we put into our bodies and should be considered as part of our overall nutrition. Making healthy beverage choices is equally as important as choosing healthy foods.
What you eat and drink is passed on as information to your bodys organs and can have an adverse effect on how you feel. Consuming sugary drinks such as soda can negatively affect your bodys ability to absorb calcium. Instead, try these drinks. Besides being healthy choices, you may very well find them to help relieve arthritis pain!
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Caffeine And Its Effects On Joint Pain
As a stimulant, caffeine can have multiple effects on your overall health, both positive and negative. A study from 2000 suggested a connection between caffeine and rheumatoid arthritis, a common source of joint inflammation. Subsequent research has produced mixed results. A more recent study in Finland indicates there may be a link between how many cups of coffee people drink daily and their joint pain. In the article below, Los Angeles spine surgeons discuss a few of the ways caffeine can negatively affect joint pain.
The Everyday Choices You Make Like How Active You Are And How You Handle Stress And Fatigue Affect Your Joints Heres How To Make Sure You Might Not Unknowingly Be Making Things Worse
You take your medications as prescribed. You see your doctor regularly and are good about sticking to your arthritis treatment plan all key steps to helping to ease symptoms and prevent disease progression. But the everyday choices you make like how active you are and how you handle stress and fatigue affect your joints, too. And sometimes, seemingly inconsequential habits may derail your good efforts. It helps to be aware, so you can make adjustments if needed. Here are some surprising habits that could be hurting your joints when you have arthritis:
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Avoiding Dairy Helps With Osteoarthritis
There are also claims that avoiding dairy can help with osteoarthritis. Although milk, cheese, and other dairy products for some people, these foods can have anti-inflammatory effects in others.
People who have inflammatory symptoms relating to gout may find skimmed and low-fat milk protective against this condition.
An elimination diet can help people to determine whether or not their symptoms improve or worsen with dairy intake.
Rheumatoid Arthritis And Caffeine: What To Consider
While experts are not sure if people living with RA should limit caffeine, you can probably consume it if you keep a few things in mind.
Kelly Knox/Stocksy
Whether its served up in the form of hot coffee, iced coffee, energy drinks, soda, or even dark chocolate, Americans love their caffeine. We get about 300 milligrams a day on average, mostly from coffee and other beverages.
Nearly 60 percent of Americans drink coffee each day, making it more popular than any other beverage including tap water, according to the National Coffee Association. The average daily consumption is almost two cups for every adult in the country.
But is caffeine something people living with rheumatoid arthritis should be consuming?
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Caffeine And Joint Pain
We’ve found some mixed results here. The first study suggested that decaf coffee can increase your risk of diseases that cause joint pain, while the second study stated the opposite. The studies used different populations, particularly different genders. Overall, the studies associated caffeine with joint pain but do not provide enough evidence for a medical recommendation.
What Are The Causes Of Joint Pain
If youre experiencing joint pain, its likely that you suffer from arthritis. There are other reasons for joint pain but arthritis is the most common cause of joint pain in adults. If you suffer from Osteoarthritis, joint pain is caused by the protective cartilage in your joints breaking down.
If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, then you have an autoimmune disease where your bodys immune system attacks the joints and other organs.
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Insomnia And Other Side Effects
Overdoing it with caffeine, whether from coffee, other caffeinated beverages, or even chocolate, can sometimes produce unwanted side effects that can increase muscle and joint stiffness. For instance, insomnia or trouble getting enough recuperative sleep each night can exacerbate existing joint issues, especially when first waking up.
Caffeines Role In Articular Cartilage: Osteoarthritis
5.1.1. Prenatal Caffeine Exposure
As evidenced above, PCE induces OA-like features in rat cartilage . Similarly, excessive physical activity also promotes cartilage alterations like those found in OA, increasing the risk of OA . In agreement with this, PCE further increased the Mankins score of rats exposed to excessive physical activity, suggesting that PCE may also increase OA susceptibility . Supporting this, the cartilage of rats exposed to both PCE and excessive physical activity exhibited rougher articular surfaces, increased worn and torn cartilage surfaces, an increased number of clefts, reduced matrix safranin-O staining , a reduced number of chondrocytes, and increased blurred tidemarks .
Apart from the observed additive effects of PCE-induced cartilage matrix alterations on typical OA matrix lesions, it has been suggested that PCE may also contribute to OA susceptibility through diverse specific mechanisms . Among these mechanisms are alterations of chondrocyte vitality and differentiation , an alteration of cholesterol metabolism , and the reduction of the circulating and local levels of IGF-1 during fetal development .
5.1.2. Direct and Indirect Effect of Caffeine on Articular Chondrocytes
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