According to the CDC, about a quarter of the population in America suffer from arthritis and are dealing with symptoms of joint pain, hindering their everyday lives. Medication can help relieve joint pain, but so can a better diet.
Weight gain is one of the most obvious links between diet and joint pain. Those extra pounds tremendously impact joint health – increasing pressure and inflammation on the knees, hips, ankles, and even spine – essentially triggering pain and stiffness. Thus, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet for healthy joints.
Foods That Help With Joint Health
For healthy joints, it’s important to avoid highly processed foods that are loaded with salt, fat, sugar, and other chemicals. By skipping refined carbs, saturated fats, and unhealthy trans fats, you will notice less inflammation in your knees and other joints.
To help preserve cartilage and improve joint function, eating a healthy, nutritional diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats is essential. These foods are known to help reduce inflammation:
- Omega 3-rich foods (tuna, salmon, nuts, and olive oil)
- Fruits high in antioxidants (grapes, raspberries, and cherries)
- Foods rich in vitamin D (egg yolks, mushrooms, and yogurt)
- Some spices (ginger and turmeric)
- Leafy veggies
- Carrots and peppers
- Lentils and beans
- Oatmeal
- Green tea
- Garlic
- Onions
- Dark chocolate
Visiting a chiropractor for an adjustment will also help alleviate joint pain by restoring proper alignment and motion in your body. Merckling Family Chiropractor is here to help. Contact us at (631) 286-2300 to schedule an appointment.
