Some foods and drinks, like highly processed foods and drinks with a lot of sugar, may make arthritis worse or raise the risk of getting it.
Making the right food choices can not only help you deal with your arthritis symptoms, but it can also lower your risk of complications, improve your overall health, and make your life better.
There are over 100 types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common. Other types include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and gout.
What you choose to eat and drink with arthritis may affect your symptoms and overall well-being. Here, learn about some foods and beverages to avoid if you have arthritis.
Everyone can benefit from limiting their sugar intake, and especially if they have arthritis. Candy, soda, ice cream, and many other foods, like barbecue sauce, salad dressings, and ketchup, have extra sugar in them.
217 people with RA took part in a study and said that out of 20 foods, sugary soda and desserts seemed to make their symptoms worse the most.
Can Eating Shrimp Cause Joint Pain? A Closer Look
Shrimp and other shellfish are beloved foods for many. But could these tasty crustaceans actually contribute to joint pain and arthritis? Some people claim cutting out shrimp relieves their symptoms. Is there any truth to this? Let’s dive in and examine the evidence.
First we’ll overview arthritis and its common signs. Then we’ll explore gout specifically and its link to seafood. We’ll also highlight key research on shellfish and joint inflammation. By the end, you’ll have a clear answer to the question: Can eating shrimp cause joint pain?
Understanding Arthritis and Its Symptoms
Arthritis refers to joint inflammation and can affect one or multiple joints. It may be short-term or chronic. Common symptoms include:
- Pain, swelling, stiffness in joints
- Redness around joints
- Limited mobility
- Warmth around affected joints
While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and painkillers provide relief, arthritis cannot be cured. However, lifestyle changes like diet adjustments, exercise, and stress management can help.
Gout and Its Connection to Seafood
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis especially in men. It happens when excess uric acid builds up, forming crystals that deposit in joints. This causes sudden pain and swelling.
Gout often first strikes at night, feeling extremely tender and throbbing. The initially affected joint may be red, warm, and slightly feverish. Attacks usually subside within days but often recur.
High purine foods like meat, seafood, and beans increase uric acid production and gout risk. People with gout are typically advised to limit animal proteins including shellfish like shrimp.
Key Research Linking Shrimp to Joint Woes
In one major study, researchers tracked over 47,000 gout-free men for 12 years. Participants completed food frequency questionnaires every 4 years. Over the study period, 730 men developed gout.
Results showed higher meat and seafood intake was linked to greater gout risk. Specifically, men eating the most meat and seafood had the highest incidence. In contrast, increased dairy intake was associated with lower gout risk.
So while the study didn’t call out shrimp per se, it did directly correlate overall seafood consumption with increased gout development
Potential Mechanisms Behind Shrimp Causing Joint Pain
So why might shrimp contribute to gout and joint pain? A few key reasons emerge:
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High Purine Content Shrimp contains moderate purines that break down into uric acid Too much uric acid leads to painful crystal deposits,
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High Cholesterol Shrimp has high dietary cholesterol. Some research connects high cholesterol to increased gout risk likely by affecting uric acid.
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Shellfish Allergies: Many people are allergic to shellfish. Allergic reactions can sometimes provoke joint pain.
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Contaminants: Shrimp may contain traces of metals that may impact arthritis. However, more research is needed.
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Iodine: Shrimp has high iodine levels. For those predisposed, excess iodine intake can potentially worsen joint pain.
So in susceptible individuals, shrimp’s purine content, cholesterol levels, and other components may promote gout attacks and joint inflammation. However, it’s important to remember shrimp can be part of a balanced diet.
Tips on Incorporating Shrimp If You Have Arthritis
While shrimp and some seafood may contribute to gout and arthritis in predisposed people, you don’t necessarily have to avoid it completely if you have joint issues. Here are some tips for enjoying shrimp while limiting risks:
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Eat in moderation: Have shrimp 1-2 times per week rather than daily.
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Limit portions: Stick to 4 medium shrimp or less per serving.
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Balance with dairy: Pair shrimp with yogurt or milk, which may counteract risks.
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Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids like water to flush out uric acid.
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Avoid triggers: Limit alcohol, sugary drinks, and purine-rich foods around times you eat shrimp.
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Take precautions: If shrimp seems to consistently worsen pain, then avoid.
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Talk to your doctor: Discuss your diet and lifestyle to manage joint symptoms.
While research shows links between seafood intake and gout/arthritis, individuals vary. Tracking your symptoms and flare-ups in relation to the foods you eat can provide useful clues. Your doctor can also help design an anti-inflammatory diet that meets your needs.
The Bottom Line
For most people, occasional shrimp enjoyment poses little risk for joint pain and arthritis. But for those prone to gout or with seafood allergies, shrimp may provoke or worsen joint inflammation. Moderation, limiting purine-rich foods, and anti-inflammatory lifestyle habits can allow safely savoring shrimp. Talk to your doctor and listen to your body’s signals to determine if shellfish like shrimp worsen your joint health.
Foods high in salt
Cutting back on salt may be good for people with arthritis.
Foods high in salt include shrimp, canned soup, pizza, certain cheeses, processed meats, and numerous other processed items.
A 2019 mouse study found that arthritis was more severe in mice that consumed a high salt diet than in those whose diet had less salt.
A lot of sodium may also make people more likely to get autoimmune diseases like inflammatory arthritis, according to research. One factor could be that salt stimulates immunological processes that lead to inflammation.
Meanwhile, a 2015 study linked a high sodium intake to an increased risk of RA. The study looked at data for 18,555 people.
Foods high in AGEs
Dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are molecules created through reactions between sugars and proteins or fats. They exist naturally in uncooked animal foods and are formed through certain cooking methods.
- fried, roasted, grilled, seared, or broiled animal foods that are high in protein and fat, like bacon, steak, chicken, or hot dogs that have been grilled or fried.
- fries
- American cheese
- margarine
- mayonnaise
When AGEs accumulate in high amounts in your body, oxidative stress and inflammation may occur. Oxidative stress and AGE formation are linked to disease progression in people with arthritis.
People with inflammatory arthritis — such as RA — may have higher levels of AGEs in their bodies than those without. AGE accumulation in bones and joints may play a role in the development and progression of OA.
Your body may have less AGE if you eat healthy, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fish instead of foods that are high in AGE.
7 WORST Foods for Arthritis & Inflammation [EAT This Instead]
FAQ
Why do my joints hurt after eating seafood?
Is shrimp an inflammatory food?
Can a seafood allergy cause joint pain?
A seafood allergy can cause joint pain. Swelling and inflammation are common symptoms of seafood allergies, according to MayoClinc.com. Although most swelling occurs in the skin, the sinuses and the lungs, if you have any joint conditions — such as arthritis — you may develop joint pain.
What are the side effects of eating shrimp?
Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.
What causes joint pain if you eat fish?
Although most swelling occurs in the skin, the sinuses and the lungs, if you have any joint conditions — such as arthritis — you may develop joint pain. Seafood allergies are an exaggerated immune system reaction to proteins found in various types of fish. If you’re allergic to one type of seafood, you may be allergic to other kinds of fish.
Can food cause joint pain?
Certain foods can contribute to inflammation that might play a role in joint and muscle pain. There’s no hard evidence that any food can cause muscle or joint pain, but there is good evidence that foods can contribute to inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s way of fighting disease and foreign invaders.