There are many different types of arthritis, but two are quite a bit more common than the others. Osteoarthritis develops in joints that are overused. Repetitive stress from certain careers or sports can play a part.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system goes rogue and attacks your joints. (Seriously, what did you ever do to justify such mutiny?) Other less common forms of arthritis include gout, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis.
If you have arthritis, regardless of type, we bet you’d do just about anything to avoid triggering an attack. Thankfully, many foods can reduce arthritis-related inflammation and relieve some of that grinding, radiating, off-the-charts pain. The following are 8 great choices.
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8. Fatty Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to have strong anti-inflammatory effects, and that’s what you want when arthritis is dominating the picture.
Certain fish like sardines, mackerel, salmon, and trout are especially high in omega-3, and adding them to your diet is a smart move. Fish, in general, are also high in vitamin D, and some studies have concluded that rheumatoid arthritis is associated with low levels of D.
It doesn’t take much – just two servings per week are enough to reap the anti-inflammatory properties, but you don’t have to stop there if you enjoy fish.
If you’re someone who thinks it looks and tastes gross, a fish oil supplement is a good alternative. You could be rewarded with less morning stiffness, a decrease in pain intensity, and a reduced need for pain medication.
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7. Garlic
We’ve double-teamed these two seasonings because it’s not like you can just snack on either. They are, however, extremely versatile ingredients for lots of different meals.
They even go nicely together. Garlic has a strong anti-inflammatory effect to go along with its strong flavor. It may even enhance the ability of certain immune cells to bolster the immune system and decrease some inflammatory markers of arthritis.
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6. Ginger
Ginger has a similar effect. It can be consumed as a tea, in soups or stir-fries, and either fresh, powdered, or dried. The components of ginger (over 200 individual ones) seem to work together to block the production of substances that cause inflammation in the body. Both of these ingredients go nicely with our next food suggestion.
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5. Broccoli
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are associated with reduced inflammation, but broccoli in particular has another component that may reduce your arthritis pain.
Sulforaphane blocks the formation of a particular kind of cell that plays a key role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. It also limits the production of inflammatory markers and could thereby slow the progression of the disease.
Other cruciferous veggies like Brussels sprouts and cabbage also contain sulforaphane, but they are more of an acquired taste. If you’re new to the world of cruciferous vegetables, start slow as they are also notorious for producing gas.
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4. Walnuts
Walnuts are another food high in omega-3 fatty acids and therefore may be good for reducing inflammation. This easy snack is also nutrient-dense and offers a bunch of other compounds that can further soothe symptoms. An analysis that looked at 13 individual studies came to the conclusion that eating walnuts do help in this regard.
Additionally, walnuts contain enough fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fat to offer some heart-protective benefits. That’s important because people with rheumatoid, psoriatic, and gout arthritis are at an elevated risk of heart disease. Feel free to eat a handful every day, but don’t overdo it as they are also fairly high in calories.
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