5. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Soda, fruit juices, sweet tea, and other sweetened drinks often contain a large amount of sugar. Try to limit your total added sugar intake to 9 teaspoons per day. (For the sake of comparison, a 12-ounce can of soda has about 36 grams of sugar, or more than 8 teaspoons.)
Try unsweetened versions of your favorite sweetened beverages or add natural flavors (like fresh lemon or lime slices) to your plain drinks.
6. Fried Foods
Fried foods are often cooked in oils that are high in saturated fat and omega-6 fatty acids. Both have been associated with increased inflammation and an increase in arthritis symptoms.3
Fried foods often have other ingredients—breading, salt, and added sugar—that can lead to inflammation, too.
Try making your meals at home more often, so you can control what goes in them. Opt for air frying or baking instead of frying.