Healthy Foods for Healthy Joints

Have you been struggling with sore and inflamed joints? Do you notice the aches and pains when you are partaking in physical activity, or even when you’re just walking around your house? These joint pains may be very bothersome, but you can do one effortless thing that will make a world of difference: eat healthy foods.

Healthy foods will lead to healthy joints. Healthy joints will lead to a happy you. If you struggle with joint pain, you should look for a few specific nutrients in your food. It would be best if you looked for foods that are high in antioxidants, specifically Vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Antioxidants protect tissues in the body from being damaged. This protection is an excellent preventative measure for maintaining strong and healthy bones and joints; they can also help reduce inflammation and ease pre-existing joint pain.

Below you will find a list of foods that can help you maintain healthy joints and relieve pre-existing pain.

Fish

Many types of fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and anchovies, are great Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 helps maintain bones and joints by alleviating symptoms. Omega-3 reduces swelling, pain, stiffness, and tenderness, leaving your joints feeling less sore. Additionally, the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish help aid in blood flow during exercise; increased blood flow can prevent injury during physical activity because more oxygen arrives at muscles and joints, which helps them warm up, reducing your chances of injury. Fish is a high source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which will help you prevent joint pain and maintain healthy bones.

Cherries

Cherries are a great source of antioxidants that can help reduce swelling in joints and muscles. Cherries get their bright red color from the anthocyanins in their makeup. These anthocyanins also act in similar ways to antioxidants, which reduce inflammation in the body. Cherries also contain high amounts of Vitamin C, which aids in the body’s production of collagen. Collagen is beneficial because it helps to pad the joints by increasing tendon, ligament, and cartilage strength. You can find similar benefits to cherries in other tart fruits such as blackberries and pomegranates.

Walnuts

If you suffer from joint inflammation, walnuts can be a life-saver. Certain types of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can flare up when an outside stimulus triggers inflammation. Walnuts can help reduce the effects of these triggers. Walnuts are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which assist in alleviating painful inflammation. Eating walnuts regularly can reduce the pain you feel in your joints and other parts of your body.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens, such as kale, have high amounts of antioxidants in them. Specifically, these vegetables have lots of Vitamin C, which helps the body create and maintain collagen levels. Collagen aids in the growth and maintenance of cartilage tissue, which reduces the grinding of joints that leads to pain. In addition to their high amounts of Vitamin C, leafy greens contain high levels of calcium. Calcium helps develop and maintain healthy bones, which can reduce joint pain. Some of the most nutrient-dense leafy greens include kale, broccoli, and bok choy. Eating healthy foods like leafy greens can help you maintain healthy joints.

Whole Grains

If you suffer from joint pain and inflammation, making nutritional choices is essential in maintaining and preventing pain. When choosing food to eat, you should opt for whole grains over refined grains. Whole grains carry anti-inflammatory antioxidants that will reduce pain and increase comfort in the joints. The antioxidants found in whole grains reduce the levels of inflammatory-inducing proteins in the circulatory system. You can eat some specific foods to get more whole grains in your system are oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice. When you are shopping for your food, remember to choose whole grain options rather than refined grain options; this simple choice can help reduce your joint pain and increase overall wellness.

Peppers

Another food that can help maintain healthy bones and painless joints are peppers. Peppers of all colors contain high amounts of Vitamin C, which, as discussed before, helps with the growth and maintenance of collagen in the body. Along with the benefits of Vitamin C and collagen that you can find in all peppers, there are additional benefits to specific types of peppers. For example, bell peppers have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling around joints. Additionally, chili peppers can help reduce the effects of aging, which can help maintain healthy bones. Whether you are a person who likes spicy foods or not, you can find a pepper that will help you keep healthy joints.

Conclusion

Whether you suffer from joint pain or not, eating healthy foods is an integral part of well-being. By maintaining a nutritious diet, you will be less likely to gain unwanted excess weight. Avoiding processed food with high amounts of sugar and saturated fat can help maintain overall health; these foods harm the body and cause excessive weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight is beneficial to bones and joints because it reduces unnecessary stress on the body; the heavier you are, the more pressure you will put on your joints. Therefore, another essential part of maintaining healthy bones and joints is exercise.

Following a regular exercise routine can increase well-being throughout the whole body, including the joints. By exercising, you increase the strength of muscles and bones, which reduces the chance of injury. Exercise increases blood flow throughout the body resulting in a reduced risk of injury while being active because more oxygen goes to the muscles and joints. Exercise can also increase the immune system’s strength, preventing the flare-up of certain types of joint pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

This combination of diet and exercise doesn’t just benefit the joints but also greatly benefits the whole body. Overall wellness can improve immune systems, which combat pain and sickness, resulting in a healthier life. Make sure to follow a nutritious diet, a daily exercise routine, and a consistent sleep schedule to help your body stay happy and healthy.

Dr. John Knight

Dr. Knight is a renowned hand, wrist and upper extremity surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. Dr Knight has appeared on CNN, The Doctors TV, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Oxygen network and more.