Keto helps to reduce inflammation, so naturally people want to know how keto can help with arthritis pain.
While it may seem obvious, let’s break down a few things that make sense about the arthritis and keto connection.
What is Arthritis?
Very simply put, arthritis is a condition where the cartilage in your joints between the bones starts to break down. The wearing down of the cartilage and connective tissue leads to the bones rubbing together. Over time, this causes chronic pain, swelling of the joints and can even disfigure the joints.
Arthritis progressively becomes more painful, sometimes to the point of being debilitating.
Is Arthritis Preventable?
Not necessarily. Research has shown that arthritis often has a genetic component. However, research has also shown that an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, and great mental wellness can reduce the impact that arthritis has on your livelihood.
Sugar Increases Inflammation
Sugars increase inflammation, which means they impact the severity that autoimmune disorders can range in. Keto is very low carb and sugar free, so it reduces oxidative stress.
The key here is not just to be carb and sugar free though. Ensuring you balance your diet with foods that are high in antioxidants is equally as important. Quality over quantity, am I right?
So, Where Does Keto Come Into Play?
Committing to a balanced Keto diet reduces inflammation.
The reduction in inflammation reduces how impactful the arthritis will become. Not only will reduced inflammation reduce flare-ups, but losing weight reduces the impact on your joints during everyday activity.
A keto diet can help to reduce stress on your body, and reduced cortisol levels (cortisol is a hormone released by stress) will allow you to sleep better, allowing your body to be better equipped to heal itself.
Here are a few foods that are not only keto, but are anti-inflammatory as well:
- Sardines
- Arugula
- Pasteurized eggs
- Grass fed beef
- Broccoli
- Salmon
- Cauliflower
- Curries/Turmeric
- Lettuce
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Spinach
- Mushrooms
- Black tea
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Kale
- Olive Oil
- Bone broth
Where a keto diet won’t necessarily make arthritis disappear, it can certainly reduce the speed in which it progresses.
Anyone who has this debilitating condition knows that being able to prevent flare ups and reduce the progression is better than carrying the weight of having to take pain medication daily.
Although pain medications are sometimes necessary, they also interrupt your natural gut flora and can lead to more inflammation in the body.
Getting adequate sleep, reducing stress, laughter, exercise, weight loss and a balanced keto diet are all major contributors to living well!
The key to beating inflammation has many moving parts.
Research has shown time and time again that keto can help reduce inflammation, meaning it can play a role helping with reducing the progression of arthritis.
Hope this was helpful
Amy XO
p.s. Make sure you’ve downloaded my Keto Guide to help YOU get started (or restart) on your Keto Journey
p.p.s Have you seen my September Top 10 list yet? Click here
Thanks I needed this. Fighting pain from inflammation due to osteoarthritis
I’m here to tell you it relieved my arthritis and joint pain!! I’m 69 yo and have been on keto for more than 2 yrs with a 60lb+ weight loss.
Very Helpful… My husband has Rheumatoid Arthritis and I’m going to use this to make better choices for him also
Thank you so much Amy for sharing. I really do appreciate it. This has helped me to make the decision to keep going on with Keto. I fell off thinking it was keto causing the pain but have come to realize it is the sugar. Whenever I cheat I have pain. So thank you again!
Sad thing is I know this diet helps so why can’t I get back on track? I’m only hurting myself. Thanks Amy
Yes, I have much less arthritis pain since I started keto
Thank you Amy, this helped a lot
Great blog post!
Thank you Amy! Great points here. Ultimately, we need to learn how sugar adversely effects our overall health.
Thank you Amy..
Thanks for this blog just what I needed to read today. I have Rheumatoid arthritis so sugar definitely is culprit as my rheumatologist saids. I feel so much better without that why I don’t know why I fall for the cheat day stuff.
This is good. My husband has arthritis and the food list you listed is very helpful. Thank you!!!!!!
Thank you for the information 😊 I have some inflammation issues I’m dealing with.
Thank you for all you do!
Great information. Thank you.
I have notice when I have eaten any sugar before keto my joints get sore. Since I’ve benign doing keto there is not more inflammation in my fingers and knees
My arthritis and fibromyalgia pain is almost non existent since being on keto. I no longer take any specific medications for either, If I do have a flare up it is usually because I over did it and then over the counter tylenol or advil do the trick.
Great article
Thank you for the great information. Never thought about sugar and arthritis. I knew about sugar and cancer.
This blog is hitting everything I’m dealing with right now. I was eating keto about two years ago and quit, I’m not really sure why. I’ve been trying to start again with not much success. I’m going to start using your guide and my journal and get back in the right mindset. Thanks for all you.
Thanks for the info. My is really flaring up!
Thanks for the info. Vert helpful.
Thanks for the information. I do feel that the keto diet is impacting the minor arthritis symptoms I have. Glad to have a way to combat this disease progression.
love this information. although my husband is gluten free (we think we are still in the early stages) he is always saying that his joints hurt. I will have him focus more on these foods. thank you as always.
Great blog. I’m passing this blog onto my husband. Although, he does not have a weight problem, eating healthier would help his arthritis.
Thanks I needed that
Thank you so for the information. It will help me make better choices on my menus.
Thank you for sharing
This is so true, when I had let things slip a bit, I totally noticed a difference in my knees and my hand
The lessening of arthritic pain was one of the first things I noticed when I started the keto way of eating.