Foods to help fight Arthritis pain

Article by: Bembu 

If you’re suffering from arthritis you have probably noticed that the pain can ebb and flow based on your diet, activity level, and even the weather. Getting a handle on the foods you eat can be a challenge, since you’ll need to learn how to incorporate foods into what’s known as an arthritis diet to help ease arthritis pain and improve mobility. You’ll also want to limit or cut off the intake of foods that make it worse. Here’s a list of foods you should start eating more of today in order to help your condition improve. Always consult with your doctor before making any major dietary changes.

1. Bananas
Bananas are simply a great food to consume overall, but especially if you’re trying to do something about your arthritis. They typically get referenced as a high-potassium food, but they do contain plenty of other vitamins and minerals that your body simply can’t go without for long. This vitamin mix includes folate, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6, all of which help to battle back arthritis and keep your symptoms to a minimum. Not only that but you’re getting the fiber from a banana, which can help your digestive system and help you be healthier overall.

2. Bell Peppers
The Vitamin C in bell peppers acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help battle free radicals in the body, which in turn helps reduce the amount of inflammation, and thus limits the amount of pain you feel from your arthritis. It’s difficult to the point of being nearly impossible to avoid everything that causes free radicals, so it’s better to supply your body with enough antioxidants to limit the damage done, and help you have better health and a feeling of well-being. Bell peppers are easily worked into most meals and give an instant vitamin boost.

3. Olive Oil
Olive oil represents a healthy fat, and is one of the best oils you can use for daily cooking. You’ll want to make sure that you’re using a high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil so that you get the most out of it. The great part about using olive oil is that it contains ingredients that act the same way that over-the-counter painkillers do. Talk with your doctor first before stopping any medications, but it’s fascinating to think that what you eat can have such a big impact on your health and the way you feel. Add olive oil as a salad dressing, or use it to cook up bright colored veggies to blast back arthritis pain.

4. Whole Grains
Whole grains need to get the go ahead instead of the refined grains you find in many mainstream products. They actually work to reduce your inflammation rather than raise it the way that refined grains can. The good news is that food manufacturers are catching on to the healthiness of whole grains, and you can now find many whole grain products. The bad news is that you don’t know the type of quality of grain being used, and there are often additional ingredients in these products that might negatively affect your arthritis.

5. Mango
Mangos aren’t always in season, but when they are be sure to pick some up. They go a long way in supporting your body and making it so you don’t have as much arthritis pain. This is thanks to the number of antioxidants they contain. They also supply Vitamin E in healthy doses, and contain beta Carotene which you can tell by their distinct color. This has been shown to help keep some types of arthritis from getting worse.

6. Shrimp
Shrimp and other shellfish can help symptoms of arthritis, as long as you don’t have any allergies to them. Shrimp also makes a healthy choice because of its protein content. It’s a versatile food that you can use in a variety of recipes, or simply stir fry it up with some vegetables in olive oil for a complete meal that should work to lessen the amount of inflammation you’re experiencing.

7. Apples
Apples offer a host of benefits because of all of the vitamins and antioxidants they contain. One of those is being able to help with arthritis. Apples are one of those fruits that has so many benefits to it, you owe it to yourself to have them on a regular basis. Apples can be used on just about any diet program to help you lose weight if needed, which can help reduce the strain on joints, which could also help your pain and mobility issues.

8. Nuts
Several types of nuts can help with the level of inflammation in your body. They supply healthy fats your body needs each day, and there are a few that are more notable for their ability to help with arthritis than others. Start adding more walnuts to your diet right away, as these seem to be one of the top performers. You can also supplement with Brazil nuts as well as cashews, as these have been shown to provide relief as well.

9. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have several benefits over their white counterparts, and they deserve spot on your regular menu. Their orange color is a giveaway that they contain beta Carotene, as well as additional antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Try substituting white potatoes with sweet potatoes whenever you get the chance, and reap the benefits from these more nutritious spuds.

10. Soy
Soy products can be a big help when trying to get a handle on your arthritis, but they should be avoided if you have gout along with your arthritis. You can eat soy in its many different forms, but fermented soy products like miso, tempeh, and some types of tofu seem to provide the best reduction in inflammation and arthritis pain.

11. Lentils
Lentils have been suggested as a dietary food for those suffering from arthritis. They also help you feel fuller longer, and help stabilize blood sugar levels. They can be used as part of a healthy diet, just be sure to buy them raw and cook them up as needed. This simply involves boiling them in a pot until they become tender. This gives you quality control so you can pick the best lentils.

12. Salmon
The omega-3 content of salmon is very high, and this is why it often gets recommended as a great fish to eat to help curb arthritis pain. But most oily fish will also suffice, and you can rotate between your favorites, or stick with a winner, eating salmon a few times per week, or even just once. Omega-3s help to reduce the amount of inflammation in the body, and this has a direct effect on your arthritis. It can counteract some of the other foods you eat that work at raising your inflammation levels, which is why it’s good to get a steady supply of omega-3s from various sources each day

13. Green Tea
Green tea is touted for its high level of antioxidants, which is what you’re after if you have arthritis pain. The EGCG is the specific substance green tea contains which has a direct effect on inflammation levels in the body, and is what will be responsible for any pain relief you feel after drinking it. It is unclear how much green tea is enough, but most studies have participants drinking multiple cups a day.

14. Spinach
Spinach is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, and also provides benefits to those with arthritis. Spinach and other leafy greens are simply adored by the body and you’ll get plenty of benefit from eating them. They’re a hydrating vegetable, and are packed with phytonutrients that help your body function at its best overall. Spinach contains plenty of fiber to help keep you regular, and your digestive system should be operating at its best to help with inflammation levels as well.

15. Tomatoes
Tomatoes often make the news for their lycopene content, and that’s what is theorized as being responsible for its help in relieving the pain associated with arthritis. When you eat your tomatoes, opt for cooked tomatoes because that helps to unlock the lycopene that’s inside them. When you eat raw tomatoes, you’ll get some lycopene, but not nearly as much as you’d get by eating them cooked.

16. Beets
Beets are very unique in their makeup, and contain an antioxidant that very few foods contain. It’s called betalain and it’s very helpful in giving your body the defenses it needs against free radical buildup. The thing you’ll want to remember about eating beats is to buy them fresh and raw, and then cook them rather than buying them in pickled form. You may also start to see beets being sold cooked instead of pickled, and those are acceptable, just be sure to check the label to see how they’re prepared.