” FOOD isn’t a panacea, but can make joints healthier ” – Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of sports Nutrition in the Dept of Orthopedic surgery at the university of Pittsburg.
Arthritis hits 1 in every 5 grown ups ! Can foods cure arthritis ? Unfortunately not, but there are some foods that can make the condition less painful. On the flip side there are foods that can aggravate the condition. Knowing what these foods are and making small changes in the diet can yield BIG rewards and improve quality of life. It can also prevent the condition from progressing further. Lifestyle changes like weight loss can significantly improve the condition because every extra pound you carry especially around your belly puts about 10 lbs of pressure on your joints. I have compiled a list of Eat it and Avoid It foods ! Hope they will help you make some choices and ease the pain. If you are not yet familiar with the pains and cracks of arthritis , eating these foods can delay onset and act preventive in nature.
Joint friendly Foods
Omega 3 : Good sources are Fatty Fish like Salmon, Sardines. Other sources are walnuts, flax-seed , canola oil etc. Reason these help are they decrease the production of chemicals that spread inflammation and they inhibit enzymes that trigger inflammation. Get at least 1000 mg of omega 3 / day. About a 4oz serving of fish or a handful of walnuts .
Extra Virgin Olive Oil : Contains olecanthal which blocks the formation of the enzymes involved in inflammation. Remember extra virgin is THE best coz it has most amount of the anti inflammatory property. Get at least a tbsp a day . Tip ; You can use it in salad dressings!
Vitamin C : Good sources are Sweet Peppers, citrus fruit, brocoli. Vitamin C helps in the formation of Collagen which strengthens joints . Get about 500 mg / day. An orange or a cup of brocoli would give you about 200 mg. Food sources of Vitamin C are superior to a supplement since there are other plant nutrients in these foods that can benefit arthritis.
Brazil Nuts : Contain large amounts of selenium, a powerful antioxidants which seems to magically slow down the progression of the condition. About a handful a day will give you the selenium you need. Other sources of selenium are oatmeal , beef, turkey
Leeks and Onions : Contain large amounts of quercetin , an antioxidant that inhibit inflammation and ease the pain. This antioxidant is supposed to mimic the pain killing effects of ibuprofen and aspirin. Use them in soups, salads , cooking etc. Try to eat 1/ 2 cup of quercetin foods / day.
Tart Cherries : Are the new black that can do wonders for arthritis ! Several studies shown the tremendous improvement in easing pain and improving joint function after eating Tart cherries. The magic ingredient here is anthocyanins , the pigment that gives cherries its rich color. Other anthocyanin rich foods are eggplant, raspberries, black grapes . 1/2 cup of tart cherries fresh frozen or dried should give you the amount needed. You could also buy tart cherry juice from a health food store. 4-8 ounces of pure cherry juice will give you amount you need. Tip : Frozen tart cherries taste great in berry smoothies.
Green Tea : Studies show drinking green tea can lessen incidence and severity of arthritis. 3-4 cups / day . Green Tea has so many other benefits , so huge win for anyone who drinks it.
RED ALERT ! Bad For Joint Foods : Avoid these !
Sunflower, Safflower oil, corn oil, and soybean oil : These have Omega 6 which increases inflammation. In lot of cases a simple switch to olive oil and other nut oils brings relief and improvement in symptoms !
Sugar : Increases inflammation. Bonus to eating less sugar means less wt gain which in turn puts less pressure on the joints.
Supplements : Glucosamine, Chondroitin – strengthens joints and cartilage muscle . Can be taken as a preventive too. Another useful supplement is Omega 3 especially for those of us who cannot eat fish everyday. Both of these are on my daily supplement list . I am a huge Supplement junkie and will probably write a post about supplements sometime.
Hope you found this article interesting ! If you have some thoughts to share on any ‘ other than meds ‘remedies you have for arthritis please share ! Ease your creaky joints and keep them healthy by filling up on these super joint friendly foods !
I can relate totally. Cross my fingers, my arthritis never really got bad but because I take fish oil daily and exercise, I rarely feel the effects of my arthritis. On most days I forget that I even have arthritis.
Thanks for a great article. I love green tea but I never thought that it could help in arthritis although it has been recommended for so many othr ailments. I had stopped taking too much tea as i was informed it may not be too good for my other condition, but I will go with green tea, may be not as many cups!
I have visited some of your other pages and the pictures make me feel hungry!!
Of course cherries and tart cherry juice help relieve the pain associated with arthritis and gout, because cherries have anti-inflammatory properties, due to the compound known as anthocyanins, which is responsible for the red dark color of the cherries. http://cherriesforgout.com/tart-cherry-juice-for-arthritis-2/
I had physiotherapy for my bone and joint pain in manchester and I am already starting to feel the results. My joints used to always crack and I was worried about the damage to my bones.
A diet that is higher in protein, such as one that incorporates protein powder can help to prevent and reverse skin aging. This can help to repair the damage caused by ailments or a low protein diet and encourage healthier skin. Healthy skin is noticed in a number of ways such as more firm skin that looks younger and healthier.
My wife and I are huge proponents of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Omega 3. It is a regular part of our everyday regimin, along with eating healthy, low-fat, low-carb organic foods.
I have observed that car insurance corporations know the vehicles which are at risk from accidents along with other risks. Additionally they know what type of cars are inclined to higher risk and the higher risk they’ve the higher the actual premium amount. Understanding the very simple basics regarding car insurance just might help you choose the right style of insurance policy that should take care of your needs in case you get involved in any accident. Thank you for sharing the actual ideas with your blog.
Hi there! I’m Sunithi, AKA Sue, a registered dietitian with a sweet tooth and a passion for eating healthy (quite a combo) currently working as an independent consultant in the DC Metro area. I’m also a blogger, health nut, nutrition geek who jogs to keep sane :)! I love to revamp recipes and add some ‘Nutrition Bytes’ to them. All my recipes are gluten free! I also blog on natural health and fitness! Visit often and drop me a note if you have any nutrition queries!
Hi there! I’m Sunithi, AKA Sue, a registered dietitian with a sweet tooth and a passion for eating healthy (quite a combo) currently working as an independent consultant in the DC Metro area. I’m also a blogger, health nut, nutrition geek who jogs to keep sane :)! I love to revamp recipes and add some ‘Nutrition Bytes’ to them. All my recipes are gluten free! I also blog on natural health and fitness! Visit often and drop me a note if you have any nutrition queries!
I can relate totally. Cross my fingers, my arthritis never really got bad but because I take fish oil daily and exercise, I rarely feel the effects of my arthritis. On most days I forget that I even have arthritis.
Thanks for a great article. I love green tea but I never thought that it could help in arthritis although it has been recommended for so many othr ailments. I had stopped taking too much tea as i was informed it may not be too good for my other condition, but I will go with green tea, may be not as many cups!
I have visited some of your other pages and the pictures make me feel hungry!!
Thanks again.
Of course cherries and tart cherry juice help relieve the pain associated with arthritis and gout, because cherries have anti-inflammatory properties, due to the compound known as anthocyanins, which is responsible for the red dark color of the cherries. http://cherriesforgout.com/tart-cherry-juice-for-arthritis-2/
I had physiotherapy for my bone and joint pain in manchester and I am already starting to feel the results. My joints used to always crack and I was worried about the damage to my bones.
A diet that is higher in protein, such as one that incorporates protein powder can help to prevent and reverse skin aging. This can help to repair the damage caused by ailments or a low protein diet and encourage healthier skin. Healthy skin is noticed in a number of ways such as more firm skin that looks younger and healthier.
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My wife and I are huge proponents of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Omega 3. It is a regular part of our everyday regimin, along with eating healthy, low-fat, low-carb organic foods.
Thank you very much for the wonderful tips to keep my knees in good shape.
I have observed that car insurance corporations know the vehicles which are at risk from accidents along with other risks. Additionally they know what type of cars are inclined to higher risk and the higher risk they’ve the higher the actual premium amount. Understanding the very simple basics regarding car insurance just might help you choose the right style of insurance policy that should take care of your needs in case you get involved in any accident. Thank you for sharing the actual ideas with your blog.