Nearly 55 million adults live with arthritis, with knee arthritis being most common. For many adults, arthritis is more than a minor annoyance. It causes pain that limits mobility and hinders your ability to perform day-to-day to tasks that others take for granted.
While no single food magically banishes arthritis pain, increasing evidence suggests that adding specific foods to your diet can help provide some relief. Find out which foods to put in your cart next time you make a trip to the grocer.
Reach for berries
When it comes to nutrients, berries are jam-packed with antioxidants and components that help lower inflammation. They contain unique substances called anthocyanins that provide a wide range of health benefits.
Anthocyanins can help relieve arthritis pain by interfering with the inflammatory process in your body. These pain-fighting substances block inflammatory chemicals like cytokines and COX-2’s to help soothe the inflammation that causes arthritis pain.
Hunt for whole grains
Most adults in America could use more fiber, with the average adult eating less than the recommended intake. If you have arthritis, it’s even more important that you make high-fiber foods like whole grains an everyday part of your diet. Whole grains naturally fight inflammation by lowering C-reactive protein, a major marker for inflammation in the body.
It’s important that you choose the right grains. It turns out, refined grains actually promote inflammation, contributing to arthritis pain and making it worse. The best whole grains to add to your diet include:
- whole oats
- whole wheat
- quinoa
- millet
- bulgur
- amaranth
- rye
- sorghum
Seek out sour cherries
Take a quick check at your local grocer and you’re likely to find sweet cherries instead of the tart variety. That’s because tart cherries are difficult to find fresh unless you live in one of the regions that grow them, such as Wisconsin.
Luckily tart cherries are readily available in dried, frozen, and juice form. These small balls of goodness are packed with more anthocyanins than any other fruit and eating tart cherries or drinking tart cherry juice on a daily basis significantly reduces arthritis pain and stiffness.
Feed on fatty fish
Fat often gets a bad rap, but did you know that your body needs certain fats to function properly? Omega-3 fats have a host of health benefits. Not only do they fight depression, lower cholesterol, and keep your brain healthy, they also battle inflammation. These powerhouse fats can also help reduce arthritis pain to such an extent that some arthritis sufferers are able to lower their dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
Arthritis doesn’t have to get in the way of enjoying your life. Stop in to see Dr. Dominique Nickson for innovative ways to manage your arthritis and reduce pain. Call us at (972) 547-0047 or book an appointment online.