Arthritis and Diet: What to Consume and What Not to

Dr. Agnivesh Patwardhan

Jun 7, 20243 min read

Arthritis & diet go hand in hand. The more nourishing and anti-inflammatory foods you consume, the better joint pain relief you will experience. Following an arthritis-friendly diet will allow you to manage arthritis symptoms and gain an upper hand on the condition. Those who take care of their joint health lead a better quality of life. Adding these foods to avoid arthritis in your daily diet will help reduce inflammation. In this article, we will explore the intricate relationship of Arthritis & Diet while uncovering the food choices that can reduce joint pain and which food items to stay away from.

How can diet for joint health help with arthritis pain?

While there’s no conclusive proof that consuming food can cure arthritis, there are many food items that can help reduce joint pain and strengthen your tissues. Making such foods for arthritis relief a part of your daily diet will help you reclaim your life once again. But, how does it help exactly?

Drop in joint inflammation and preventing damage

Following a balanced, nutritious eating plan comprising foods like vegetables, fruits, and lean protein, will give your body all the essential vitamins and nutrients it needs to prevent damage to the joints. Consuming antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods, including vitamins A, C, and E, can help tremendously in preventing damage to the joints.

Reducing cholesterol

There are chances that high cholesterol levels might multiply the arthritis pain in your joints. Thus, keeping a timely check on your cholesterol levels will ensure the condition does escalate further.

Maintaining a moderate weight

Extra body weight puts additional pressure on your joints, especially the knees. Over time, with daily wear and tear, the arthritis pain will emerge due to inflammation. You need to consume healthy food items to help keep a balance between arthritis & diet the way it’s supposed to be.

Foods for Arthritis Relief

There are certain foods that provide effective relief from arthritis pain. Here are the top 8 foods for arthritis relief.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids help lower inflammation and reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling. You can follow the Mediterranean diet as it is rich in the same. Omega-3 is a healthy fat that boosts your heart function and reduces plaque buildup in arteries.

Beans

Beans are loaded with fibres that help in reducing inflammation in your joints. It is also an amazing source of protein that keeps your joints in excellent shape. Red, pinto, & kidney beans are some good sources of nutrients for your bones.

Broccoli

Rich in vitamins A & C, consuming Broccoli on a daily basis will strengthen your bones. It is a great source of calcium.

Cherries

Cherries comprise a chemical called anthocyanins which are powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals and reduce inflammation in the joints. They are also responsible for giving cherries their bright colour. You can also find anthocyanins in other red and purple fruits, such as blueberries and raspberries.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are easily available in the market to help keep a balance between arthritis & diet. Oranges, limes, and grapefruits are great sources of vitamin C, which fights inflammation-causing free radicals and boosts your immune system.

Nuts

Nuts are a perfect replacement for those who don’t want to consume non-vegetarian foods like fish and meat. You can consume soybeans and walnuts as they are rich in plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

Whole grains

Consuming whole grains such as brown rice instead of white can help lower inflammation levels in the body. They are also rich in fibre, which fills you up and makes it easier to control or regulate your appetite.

Red peppers

Red peppers are rich in vitamin C which helps your body make collagen. This collagen is part of your tendons, cartilage, and ligaments that cushion your joints. Thus, red peppers are crucial in keeping your bone health in great condition.

Foods to Avoid for Arthritis Relief

Processed foods

Food items that are high in sugar and unhealthy fats damage your joints severely. It causes inflammation and affects your mobility. You should avoid consuming processed foods like meat and beef to ensure your joints are in great shape.

Fried foods

Rich in saturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids, consuming fried foods can worsen your heart health and also cause inflammation in joints. Switch to healthy alternatives to ensure you enjoy your favourite food without compromising on your health.

Refined sugars and carbohydrates

Sugary foods, such as candies, pastries, and sweetened beverages, tend to make your body release inflammatory messengers named cytokines. The same is true for refined carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread, and white pasta, which your body quickly digests into simple sugars. Consuming these foods instead of anti-inflammatory foods for arthritis can damage your joint health from within.

Salt

Too much of anything in life will give undesirable results. Similarly, taking too much of salt in your daily diet will shoot up your blood pressure and trigger joint pain. You must aim to restrict the salt intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.

Alcohol

Consumption of alcohol can increase inflammation and affect joint health. In case you’re facing bone issues, avoid consuming liquor and switch to anti-inflammatory food intake daily.

Supplements that help tackle arthritis pain

While tackling arthritis with nutrition-rich foods, there are certain other practices you can follow to accelerate your pain relief journey. You must take safe, efficacious supplements that will bridge whatever the gap might be between your daily nutrition and pain relief. However, the market is flooded with bone health supplements that might provide temporary relief but, in the longer run, your bone health will keep deteriorating. Being cognizant of making the right choices is imperative.

This is where you need to trust solutions that are effective, free of heavy metals, and have no known side effects. three60+ daily joint care & protect tablets step up and prove to be a perfect match for maintaining your bone health. They are made with research-backed ingredients in therapeutic dosages that give you the best results.

If you wish to keep your bones healthy, then dealing with arthritis with the right diet is of paramount importance. Consuming foods for arthritis relief and avoiding unhealthy foods is the right way forward. The healthier your bones are, the stronger your joints will be and the better you’ll be able to ward off joint pain from its roots.

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