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Updated May 21, 2023
February 11, 2022

Foods Causing Joint Pain: Is Your Latte Making You Suffer?

by Brenna Thompson, MS, RD, LDN
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Whether you're 20 or 70 years old, nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that you’re getting older. As a society, we do everything we can to feel young with supplements, cosmetics, and surgical procedures. And nothing says "old" more than dealing with stiff, sore joints, such as the low back, knees, or hips. Ultimately, joint pain can make you miserable for the first hour of the morning—or even all day!

While aging is inevitable, feeling old is not

If you feel your health is going downhill with issues like joint pain, you may feel tempted to surrender or resort to daily pill popping. Joint pain is often cumulative, with years of wear and tear from injuries, poor health choices, and the eventual onset of conditions like osteoarthritis. But you deserve better and you’re in control!

What if I told you there’s a better way to reduce joint pain?

Thankfully, all it takes is the simplest of changes to your routine. In this 3-part series, we will dive into three easy changes you can make to your morning routine (specifically what you’re putting into your body) to help you feel your best and ditch the aches.

You might be asking yourself: Is it really that easy?

Since most of us perceive getting healthy as an overwhelming task, it’s hard to imagine an easy solution. I have one word for you: COFFEE. Stop and ask yourself what your local barista (or you) is putting in your coffee each morning.

Curious? Your morning cup of joe and what you add to it might be contributing to your joint pain more than you realize. Let’s dive right in and see which ingredients are the culprits and how you can start making simple swaps.

To help you visualize what is going on in your body when you drink coffee, we will use the example of knee joint pain and three primary ingredients found in your morning latte.

Part 1: Sugar

In Part 1 of this series, find out why your knee pain could be linked to your fancy morning drink and how a simple change of ingredients could help.

Find Part 1 here: Is the Sugar in Your Morning Latte Causing Your Knee Pain?

Part 2: Caffeine

In Part 2 of this series, get more answers. Are you frustrated trying to understand if there is a link between coffee, caffeine, and your joint pain? This article will have the answers.

Find Part 2 here: Is the Caffeine in Your Latte Causing Your Knee Pain?

Part 3: Dairy

In Part 3 of this series, learn which ingredient is a big offender and could be holding you back from immediate joint relief. Plus, we provide a few delicious substitutes to try today.

Find Part 3 here: Is the Dairy in Your Latte Causing Your Knee Pain?

So...do I have to give up my coffee?

Don’t worry, you won’t need to ditch your morning coffee routine to get rid of your joint pain. Instead, you can start by making some simple switches and go from there. I hope this series will help you feel empowered in combating joint pain, rather than feeling hopeless and frustrated.

Check back here for links to the articles as they're released. And, stayed tuned to our blog for continued updates from our expert dietitian.

Enjoy!

Before you go, please read our disclaimer. This blog is intended for informational purposes only. We are not providing legal or medical advice and this blog does not create a provider-patient relationship. Do not rely on our blog (or any blog) for medical information. Always seek the help of a qualified medical professional who has assessed you and understands your condition.

Headshot of Brenna Thompson, MS, RD, LDN
About the Author

Brenna holds a Master's in Applied Nutrition from Northeastern University in Boston and a Bachelors of Science in Dietetics from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is passionate about teaching people how foods interact with their body and helping them learn how what they eat affects how they feel.