Sugary Drinks and Foods with Added Sugar
If you have polymyalgia rheumatica, you should stay off foods and drinks that are high in sugar, particularly artificial sweeteners. These foods can worsen inflammation. They also cause weight gain, which can worsen pain in the muscles and joints affected by polymyalgia. Excess weight gain can also increase the risk of other health problems.
Other foods you should avoid if you have polymyalgia are gluten-rich foods such as barley, rye, and wheat, especially if you’re gluten-intolerant. Do not eat red meats, consume alcohol or take refined carbohydrates. These can all worsen the condition.