How Your Diet Affects Your Joints

For those living with arthritis or severe joint pain, it may feel like an endless battle to find relief. However, for many, a simple diet change can help reduce inflammation.

For those who are not sure where to start or are unaware that certain foods can help their joint pain, we have some wonderful news; you have a variety of foods to choose from. If you are looking to revamp your diet and reduce your inflammation and pain, here’s what you need to know:

Top Foods to Avoid

It’s no surprise that a diet high in processed and fried foods is no good for you. However, studies have shown that by reducing your intake of these meals, you may see a decrease in inflammation, too. So try to avoid frozen dinners and fried meats. Other foods to avoid include:

• Sugar and refined carbs
• Alcohol
• Salts and preservatives
• Dairy products

Consider a Colorful Diet

Also known as an anti-inflammatory or arthritis diet, studies confirm that a diet filled with fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, oils, and beans has many benefits to your overall health. Filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, these food groups can improve your overall health.

Don’t Forget Trial and Error

It’s also important to remember that what works for some, may not work for all. Some find that nightshade vegetables, such as eggplants and pepper, cause flare-ups. So you’ll want to be mindful of what you are eating around pain days and make changes as needed. If you do find that nightshades are causing you inflammation, stick to broccoli, kale, and K-rich veggies as they are known to reduce inflammatory markers in the blood.