How is joint pain treated?

 What can be done to relieve joint pain?

Certain foods can increase inflammation in your body and joint pain. Olive oil, however, is an excellent substitute for salad dressings or cooking. These foods have been found to block enzymes that result in swelling of the joints. Great options include almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds.

Coldwater Fish

Coldwater fish offers an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, too. Inflammatory foods you should limit or steer clear of include:

Fried food

Oils high in Omega-6 fatty acids or saturated fats

Sugar and refined carbohydrates. Choosing foods that prevent inflammation, strengthen connective tissue, and build greater bone density can preserve joints, prevent injuries, and offer natural relief for joint pain.

If you want to reduce joint inflammation and improve overall joint health, food remedies may be the answer. It’s a healthy fat and packed with those inflammation-fighting Omega-3s.

Whole Grains

While the proteins in refined grains can trigger the body’s inflammatory response, whole grains may help counteract it. The foods you put in your body impact your wellbeing, so it is essential to make a habit of healthy eating. Beans and lentils also provide a great source of essential minerals, fiber, and protein.

Olive Oil

Oils such as peanut oil, vegetable oil, and sunflower oil can increase inflammation levels. Root veggies and garlic can be added to meals for additional flavor while boosting joint health.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is delicious and great for joint paint because cocoa contains antioxidants that counteract inflammation. They can treat joint pain and other symptoms of arthritis. Here’s a closer look at some of the top anti-inflammatory nutrients for healthy joints, as well as a few inflammatory foods to avoid.

Seeds and Nuts

Seeds and nuts are packed with healthy Omega-3 fatty acids known to fight inflammation and help reduce it in your connective tissue and joints. They’re also packed with a great dose of vitamins and minerals.

Beans and Lentils

Pinto beans, chickpeas, black beans, soybeans, and lentils all include anthocyanins, a flavonoid that helps reduce inflammation in your body. Blueberries are one that have strong flavonoids that turn the inflammatory response in your body off. Tomatoes have the antioxidant lycopene that provides improvements for this physical health concern, too.

Cruciferous Veggies

Cruciferous veggies include brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli. Pineapple also contains a strong element, bromelain, which is shown to relieve joint pain that comes with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Beyond reducing inflammation, these nutrients can lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health conditions. Grains recommended for reduced inflammation and joint pain includes whole oats, rye, barley, and whole wheat.

Root Veggies and Garlic

The aromatic root vegetables such as onions, garlic, turmeric, and ginger are all known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Want to know how to keep your joints healthy? One key step may be changing up your diet to include foods that cure and prevent joint pain. The key is to choose chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa and to indulge in moderation.

Inflammatory Foods to Avoid

Along with knowing which foods to add to your diet for healthier joints, it’s also vital to know what to avoid. You can add fish such as halibut, tuna, salmon, or trout to your diet or a daily fish oil supplement.

Fruit

Many fruits have powerful antioxidants that reduce inflammation in the body which helps joint pain.

Inflammation aggravates arthritis pain. Ginger is a key ingredient in Asian cuisine, but you can consume it as a tea or as an ingredient in baked goods.

Citrus

Citrus fruits contain a ton of vitamin C, which has wound-healing properties and supports the health of your cartilage. Oranges, grapefruit, and kiwis contain a lot of the vitamin. Omega-3s fight both the inflammation that irritates osteoarthritis and the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. These compounds suppress the production of enzymes that erode cartilage, the primary cause of arthritis pain. They cause cellular damage, accelerate aging, and exacerbate the inflammation of arthritis pain. These veggies contain vitamins C, A, and K -- all of which act as antioxidants to protect you from free radicals. Aim for two or three 4-6-ounce servings every week.

Cherries

Cherries can reduce the number of gout attacks you experience show research. Research suggests that regularly consuming these antioxidants can reduce your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is another rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly the type known as ALA, or alpha-linolenic acid. Each serving also has ample amounts of vitamin E, which may serve to boost the health of your connective tissue. Eat walnuts as a snack out of hand, or toss into salads or stir-fry dishes.

Ginger

Ginger contains chemicals that work just like those found in some anti-inflammatory medications. Have a salad daily to reap the benefits of leafy greens.

Orange root vegetables

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash contain carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants that reduce inflammation. ALA is a boost to your health because it lowers your cholesterol and improves heart health. Grab a handful of the fruit for snacking, or down an occasional glass of tart cherry juice with no sugar added.

Green tea

Green tea contains many compounds, including antioxidants and polyphenols, that reduce inflammation and slow the cartilage destruction associated with arthritis. They can give you more nutritional advice as well as other lifestyle recommendations to reduce pain and improve function. If you want other sources, eat up cantaloupe and strawberries or go for broccoli as a vegetable source.

If you suffer from arthritis pain, seek treatment from our experienced doctors at Maryland Orthopedic Specialists. Your diet contributes a lot to inflammation -- eat lots of refined sugars, alcohol, and saturated fat and you may make your arthritis pain more severe.

Instead, include foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and specific vitamins -- such as vitamins C and A -- to fight inflammation and encourage your body’s immune system to function optimally.

Here are 10 foods to include in your diet every week to help relieve joint pain, including some you may choose to have every day.

Fatty fish

Fatty fish -- like salmon, mackerel, and herring -- is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Use this anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis food to top yogurt or cereal.

Walnuts

Walnuts have a high ALA content, too. This combination of nutrients may decrease some of the joint damage commonly seen during the earliest stages of osteoarthritis.

Dark leafy greens

Consume plenty of spinach, kale, bok choy, and Swiss chard. Plus, cherries contain compounds known as anthocyanins that reduce inflammation. Just call our office or click the button to book on. When you consume them, your body produces less C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that’s linked to heart disease and arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis. Free radicals are found in the environment, foods you eat, and pollution. People with rheumatoid arthritis benefit from a specific antioxidant known as EGCG, short for epigallocatechin-3-gallate, that prevents the production of molecules that cause joint damage.

Avocados

Avocados are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and the carotenoid lutein, an anti-inflammatory compound.