In the United States, there are over 54 million people that suffer from at least one type of arthritis. Arthritis is the tenderness and swelling of joints in the body. When people have arthritis they often must limit the physical activity they do and change the way they live their lives. The most common symptoms of arthritis include pain and stiffness of the joints, which makes it difficult to move.

Arthritis comes in a variety of different forms, but the most common forms are osteoarthritis, which affects the cartilage of joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the joints of the body. Arthritis is irreversible and tends to worsen with age.

While you cannot reverse arthritis there are some foods that you can avoid in order to get some relief from the symptoms:

1. Omega-6 fatty acids
While omega-3s are considered healthy fats (i.e., found in salmon and nuts), omega-6 fatty acids, found in foods like corn, peanut, sunflower, safflower, and soy oils, as well as most meats, are only healthy in moderate doses. Excessive omega-6 consumption can trigger inflammatory chemicals, which are especially troublesome for those with arthritis.

2. High fat dairy
While some dairy products are essential for bone health (i.e., calcium), high fat dairy sources found in foods like margarine, butter, hard cheese, and cream cheese are often sources of excess saturated fats and triggers of internal inflammation. However, certain dairy products (i.e., Greek yogurt) are known anti-inflammatories good for those with arthritis.

3. Alcohol
If you drink more than one alcoholic beverage per day, health authorities will confirm that alcohol causes excess inflammation. If you believe alcohol is a source of inflammation, try skipping it for a month to see if there’s a difference, both a reduction in inflammatory joint pain and better sleep quality.

4. Red meats
Meats, particularly red meats, organ meats, and processed deli meat, are rich in saturated fats, which contribute to both joint inflammation and increased cholesterol. Organ and processed meats contain nitrates and advanced glycation end products (or AGEs) which are linked to excessive levels of inflammation.