Eat Your Pain Away! The Anti-Arthritis Diet
If you’re one of the 30 million Americans suffering from osteoarthritis, you know just how much it impacts your quality of life.
The pain, swelling, and stiffness can make even the most enjoyable activities absolutely miserable.
But you don’t have to load up on painkillers, get steroid injections, or go under the knife to experience relief.
Following this simple anti-osteoarthritis diet can give your body the tools it needs to reverse your arthritis once and for all.
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that occurs when cartilage in your joints break down. Without this cushion, the bones in the joint rub against one another, leading to the characteristic pain and stiffness associated with the condition.
Wear and tear play a major role in the development of osteoarthritis. But that’s not the only source of the pain.
Once the damage takes place, it sets in motion a chain of events that contributes to chronic, low-grade inflammation.
That revelation opens an entirely new approach to treating and preventing this degenerative condition – namely, reducing inflammation in the body.
And one of the best ways to do that is by following a proven anti-inflammatory diet. The following list includes 5 beneficial anti-inflammatory foods – and 2 to avoid at all costs.
- Oily fish. Fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and tuna contain lots of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of healthy fat that is well known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
- Extra virgin olive oil. This healthy oil has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, it contains a specific compound called oleocanthal that has been shown to have similar properties as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).
- Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and chard contain lots of vitamin D. Because this important vitamin helps maintain strong bones, helps regulate the immune system, and reduces inflammation, it is essential for people with osteoarthritis. One study even showed that maintaining higher levels led to less cartilage loss in the knee.
- Green tea contains polyphenols and antioxidants – two categories of nutrients proven not just to reduce inflammation but also to slow cartilage loss.
- Garlic contains a compound called diallyl disulfide that works to shut down destructive enzymes that damage cartilage.
Of course, you can load up on anti-inflammatory foods, but if you’re continuing to eat other foods that CAUSE inflammation, you’re just shooting yourself in the foot.
To keep the best anti-inflammatory balance, here are two types of foods to avoid:
- Sugar. This is easier said than done, but there are few foods that are more inflammatory than sugar. Consuming too much processed sugar is guaranteed to make any inflammatory conditions worse – including osteoarthritis.
- Refined carbohydrates. Foods like white bread, pasta, white rice, and potato chips cause your body to produce dangerous molecules called advanced glycation endproduts (AGEs) that fuel inflammation throughout the body.
Follow this eating plan, and see how you feel in a couple of weeks. I know you’ll notice a difference.
To a brighter day,
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
