Factors that can trigger Arthritis

1. Fried & Processed Foods

Fried and processed foods like fried potato chips or even the frozen preserved meat can contribute to your joint pains due to their high content of purines that helps in uric acid formation and crystallization. An advanced glycation end product (AGE) is a toxin that appears when foods are heated, grilled, fried, or pasteurized. AGEs damage certain proteins in the body, and the body tries to break these AGEs apart by using cytokines, which are inflammatory messengers. Depending on where the AGEs occur, they may result in arthritis or other forms of inflammation. Recent findings showed that “cutting back on the consumption of fried and processed foods, such as fried meats and prepared frozen meals can reduce inflammation and actually help restore the body’s natural defenses.”

2. Sugar and high carbohydrate diets:

There is a direct connection between sugar, inflammation and joint pain. Inflammation is the immune system's healthy response to restore the affected area to normalcy following an injury, irritation or infection. However, in response to high sugar intake, which includes simple carbohydrates, the body is flooded with insulin and stress hormones. These inundate your blood supply triggering the inflammation process which creates stress and pain on your organs and joints. The less sugar you eat, the less inflammation you will experience, and the stronger your immune system becomes, it will protect you from infectious and degenerative diseases.

3. Smoking: 

Smoking increases your risk of developing osteoporosis — a weakness of bone that causes fractures. Elderly smokers are 30% to 40% more likely to break their hips than their non-smoking counterparts. Smoking weakens bones in several ways, including:
a. Studies have shown that smoking reduces the blood supply to bones, just as it does to many other body tissues.
b. The nicotine in cigarettes slows the production of bone-forming cells (osteoblasts).
c. Smoking decreases the absorption of calcium from the diet. Calcium is necessary for bone mineralization, and with less bone mineral, smokers develop fragile bones (osteoporosis).
d. Smoking seems to break down oestrogen in the body more quickly. Oestrogen is important to build and maintain a strong skeleton in women and men.

4. Alcohol:

Alcohol or alcohol containing beverages contain a high amount of purine that undergoes chemical changes in the body to form uric acid. This triggers joint pains to a great level.

Thus, avoiding such factors and maintaining a proper and healthy lifestyle can help avert a number of complications, that can otherwise restrict our normal daily activities.