The Best And Worst Foods For Joints
Adhering to a healthy diet is essential to ensure good physical condition of the joints. The joints are exposed to hard work every day. If not taken care of properly, they can be seriously damaged.
Joints are parts of the body where two bones meet and allow the bones to move. They therefore consist of bone and cartilage. These structures can be easily damaged.
Both aging and physical activity significantly increase the risk of these injuries. However, if you eat the right kind of food, you can help protect and care for your joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a very well known joint disease. This disease is caused by the consumption of hyaline cartilage. It is a very specialized structure that covers the bone surface of the joints. There are only partial treatments for them today.
Foods important for joints: recommendations
According to the scientific literature, these are the best foods to include in your diet:
Turmeric
Turmeric is a good ally in osteoarthritis cases. The good thing is that unlike other anti-inflammatory factors, it does not damage the gastric mucosa.
In addition, it is also able to reduce histamine in the inflammatory process and stimulates the activity of two enzymes : glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase. These enzymes are responsible for regulating the body’s response during the inflammatory process, facilitating the removal of waste products.
Olive oil
Olive oil and other foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the chronic inflammation associated with various diseases and joint ailments. So it is important to include it in your diet.
Ginger
This natural remedy has been used for many years for nausea, migraines and even high blood pressure. In recent years, some magazines have revealed mixed results about its benefits for osteoarthritis.
However, research published by the Journal of Medicine Food supports the beneficial role of ginger in joint health.
Vitamin D
Although there is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, science is advancing every day. A comparative and randomized clinical study of the effect of vitamin D on various parameters of knee osteoarthritis was recently conducted.
Its authors investigate whether the use of this vitamin can relieve pain, improve joint function, and alter some biochemical factors in 107 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis and vitamin D deficiency.
After a year of follow-up, the authors found that patients taking vitamin D showed improvement in pain and function, as well as normal vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is therefore good for the joints.
Other foods useful for joints
In addition to the foods mentioned above, many other foods can also strengthen these structures. Here are some of them:
- Raspberries and blackberries
- Magnesium supplements
- Broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables
- Oranges
Bad food for the joints
Just as some nutrients can improve the condition of joints, others can negatively affect them. Seafood and red meat stand out among these dishes. They can promote the development of gout.
Gout is a disease that develops due to the accumulation of uric acid in the blood. It forms crystals that get stuck in the joints in a painful way. Thus, it is not recommended to get all the protein from meat, chicken or fish, but it would be healthier if you got some of it from plant sources, such as legumes.
Other foods to avoid include sunflower and soybean oil. These oils are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, which can aggravate inflammation. Also be careful with industrial foods.
Some studies also claim that sugar can increase inflammation. Despite the rapid increase in energy levels, it will not withstand and may be a burden for patients with osteoarthritis.
Summary
If you want to protect your joint health, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle, not overwork yourself and eat lots of vegetables as well as foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in addition to other nutrients.
