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Avoiding pro-inflammatory foods may ease pain.Inflammation (swelling) and pain are inextricably linked. If you’re having increased joint pain, take a closer look at your diet. The following foods are considered to be “pro-inflammatory” and should be avoided:

  • Red meat
  • Dairy
  • Saturated fats (lard and meat fat)
  • Fried foods
  • Trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils found in margarine, chips, cereal and baked items)
  • Cooking oils containing exclusively corn, safflower, or soy oil
  • Soft drinks (regular and diet!)
  • Excessive sugar from processed or natural sources (like fruit juice)
  • Refined carbohydrates(white flour, for example)

Foods that contain an over-abundance of arachadonic acid, an Omega 6 fatty acid, also play a primary role in the promotion of inflammation. Americans eat an over-abundance of Omega 6 fatty acids.Anti-inflammatory diets balance Omega 6 and Omega 3 fats, and eliminating all trans-fats and refined carbohydrates. Good sources of Omega 3s:

  • Cold water, wild caught fish, the best being Alaskan sockeye salmon.
  • Raw nuts and seeds, especially pe-cans, almonds, and flaxseeds.
  • Tuna oil supplementsExtra-virgin olive oil (Uncooked, and cold-pressed. Cook with avocado oil or grape seed oil)

Anti-inflammatory effects can be derived from other foods as well:

  • Dark, green leafy vegetables (the darker the better)
  • Homemade soups made by boiling meat or poultry bones, which are natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfa