Osteoarthritis is the top cause of joint pain, but joint issues can also be caused by injury. While joint pain isn’t always a cause for concern, the pain can make it difficult for you to complete your daily activities. Your doctor might prescribe medication if you suffer from chronic joint pain, but you can also manage your pain by changing up your diet.

The following foods need to be avoided by patients with arthritis and existing joint pain:

1. Refined sugar

Inflammation is the root cause of joint pain, and refined sugar is a common trigger of inflammation. To reduce joint pain, try limiting your intake of sugar. Deserts, sugary drinks, and candy are some examples of foods to avoid. It can be helpful to read food labels, as many foods have hidden sugar in them. Also look for words like dextrose and high fructose corn syrup, which are other forms of refined sugar. Sugar-free sweeteners, such as stevia and xylitol, can be used as replacements.

2. Fried foods

Fried foods stimulate inflammation, and are also high in trans fat. Trans fat not only causes inflammation, but it can also increase the risk of heart disease. Instead of eating fried foods, opt for baked or grilled versions.

3. Alcohol

Moderate alcohol intake will likely not harm most people. However, if you suffer from joint pain, then it is something that you need to avoid completely. Alcoholic beverages are very inflammatory, and can also interfere with gut health. The inflammation in the gut can cause problems in other parts of the body.

4. Dairy products

Dairy products contain proteins that can trigger inflammation. The body may perceive these proteins as something harmful, and then create antibodies to try to protect itself. Unfortunately, these antibodies can attack other parts of your body, such as the joints. You can curb inflammation by reducing the amount of dairy that you eat. Fortunately, there are many non-dairy milk options, including almond milk, cashew milk and rice milk.

5. Salty foods

It isn’t good for anyone to eat too much salt. However, if you have arthritis, then the salt can increase the symptoms you experience. Those with arthritis should limit their intake to 1,500 mg of sodium every day, a large drop from the 3,400 mg of sodium most Americans consume daily. You can reduce the amount of salt that you consume by using herbs and spices to season your food. Pay attention to labels and buy products with no or little salt.