Arthritis is the pain caused by inflammation and stiffness in your joints. Although it can be present in individuals of any age, the chances of developing arthritis grow the older you get. Having arthritis can make it hard to function and perform simple daily tasks. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to ease the pain you’re feeling in your joints. One simple thing you can do to ease your arthritis pain is to add a few simple foods to your diet.
Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts
One of the main reasons these foods are good for your arthritic pain is because keeping a healthy diet helps keep unnecessary weight off, which relieves some of the pressure you’re feeling on your joints. These two specific vegetables, as well as cabbage, contain a compound called sulforaphane. This helps slow the cartilage damage in your joints.
Garlic
Garlic, onions, and leeks all contain diallyl disulfide that aid in limiting the cartilage damaging enzymes in your body. Diallyl disulfide also helps keep your immune system functioning properly and keeps the rest of your body healthy.
Fish
Specifically fatty fish. Some fishes to consider adding to your diet would be salmon, mackerel, tuna, and trout. These fish are rich with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation and support healthy tissue development. If you’re not a fan of fish, you can easily take an omega-3 supplement, ask your healthcare provider for a suggestion.
Vitamin C
We all know Vitamin C is good for us! When you were younger and you had a cold, your mom would bring you a big, chewable vitamin to help fight your cold. In addition to fighting a nasty head cold, Vitamin C is full of other antioxidants that slow the progression of Osteoarthritis. You want to limit your daily Vitamin C intake to about 65 to 85 milligrams, because large doses of Vitamin C can increase your risk for developing kidney stones. Some great foods that contain Vitamin C include strawberries, pineapple, citrus fruits, kiwi, and cantaloupe.
Cherries
Not the bright red kind you put on top of your ice cream, though. Tart cherries have anthocyanin, which help relieve some of the joint pain symptoms you’re experiencing. Try drinking tart cherry juice in the morning instead of your regular cup of sugary juice, to alleviate the pain and stiffness you’re experiencing with Osteoarthritis. Make sure to get real fruit juice, for the best results.