Eating a diet rich in saturated fat and carbs increases the risk of stiff and painful joints, experts reveal

JUNK food increases the risk of stiff and painful joints, scientists say.

Rats fed a diet rich in saturated fat and carbs showed signs of osteoarthritis, where the rubber-like cartilage protecting bones perishes.

3

The damage was most often seen in weight-bearing hip and knee joints, the Australian academics found.

The junk food rats were also fatter and had more liver problems.

Study leader Professor Yin Xiao, from Queensland University of Technology, said: “Our findings suggest it’s not wear and tear but diet that has a lot to do with the onset of osteoarthritis.

3

“Saturated fatty acid deposits weaken the cartilage.

This would lead to osteoarthritic pain from the loss of cushioning.” Butter, animal fat and palm oil were the most damaging.

Sunder Sekar, who also worked on the study, said: “Interestingly, when we replaced the meat fat in the diet with lauric acid we found decreased signs of cartilage deterioration and metabolic syndrome so it seems to have a protective effect.

MOST READ IN HEALTH

WARNING LINE

Warning over black line on nails after 'beautician spotted it on client now diagnosed with cancer'

WEIGHTY ISSUE

Size 18 mum says she lost SEVEN STONE while she was pregnant by going on a juice diet... but is it healthy?

CHEST WHAT THE DOC ORDERED

Want to boost your body confidence and add sizzle to a soggy love life? Then it's time to bin the bikini top like these celebs

PASSION PEAKS

This is the age when your sex drive will be at its most rampant (and girls, it might surprise you)

“We tested a variety of saturated fats and found that long term use of animal fat, butter, and palm oil could weaken the cartilage.

“Replacement of traditional diets containing coconut-derived lauric acid with palm oil-derived palmitic acid or animal fat-derived stearic acid has the potential to worsen the development of both metabolic syndrome and osteoarthritis.”

3

But lauric acid, found in coconut milk and oil, appeared to offer protection. Around 8.75 million Brits have osteoarthritis, which limits the ability to exercise, leading to weight gain.

That puts more pressure on joints, creating a vicious circle. Arthritis Re­search UK’s Dr Natalie Carter said: “This supports our advice that a diet low in saturated fats can help.

“Losing weight may mean not needing painkillers so often.”