Every patient wants to alleviate the pain of osteoarthritis (OA) as safely and naturally as possible. A few simple changes in the area of diet and nutrition can gradually provide comfort to irritated joints. The reason that revising food intake fights arthritis is that certain foods contain inflammatory compounds while other ones contain anti-inflammatory compounds. Reducing problematic foods and increasing helpful ones can be incredibly effective in conjunction with medical, physical therapy, and chiropractic approaches.

Foods to fight arthritis

Here are several anti-inflammatory foods to prevent the pain of arthritis, as curated by Cleveland Clinic in July 2014:

  1. Fish. A great source of protein, fish are also high in Omega-3 fatty acids. The most nutritious and anti-inflammatory options for combating arthritis pain are (in descending order) mackerel, lake trout, herring, bluefin tuna, and salmon.
  2. Beneficial oils. Transition away from saturated fats and genetically modified oils with healthy varieties such as olive and walnut.
  3. Supplements and spices. Numerous nutrition shortcuts to alleviate your pain may be as close as your medicine cabinet or spice rack. Some of the best choices in this category are garlic, B-complex (especially B6), ginger, turmeric, glucosamine/chondroitin, white willow bark, and boswellia. Be sure to talk over any supplements with your physician to avoid adverse drug reactions.

Foods that fuel arthritis pain

As you add the above elements to your diet, minimize the following foods:

  1. Nightshades. Foods and spices harvested from this type of plant – which include tobacco, paprika, pepper, eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes – have inflammatory properties and can exacerbate arthritic conditions.
  2. Gluten. Many specialists argue that gluten should be the first ingredient to go. Unfortunately, gluten is high in wheat and present in most grains, so this dietary revision is especially challenging.
  3. Sensitivities. If you have any allergies or food sensitivities, it’s wise to use an elimination diet to identify all ingredients that could be compounding your body’s inflammatory response.

Inflammation: establishing defenses

Anti-inflammatory foods are a great way to help your body re-achieve its natural balance, in turn diminishing your arthritis symptoms. Remember the nature of inflammation: it is a physical response to bodily dysfunction. By trading the most inflammatory foods you eat for anti-inflammatory ones, you can gradually subdue your body rather than simply blocking pain, as is typical of some medical solutions.

We not only have expertise related to arthritis pain at Health Star Clinic but also provide exceptional care. One of our patients, Brad Shaw, reported in a Google Review, “Everyone is extremely kind and courteous.… The process and procedures are second to none.” Get a free consultation today!