Can Diet Impact Arthritis?

Do you suffer from arthritis or joint pain? If you do, did you know you may be able to actually control the pain to some extent by what you eat? There are some diets that are better for those with arthritis because they focus on foods that reduce swelling. Here are a few types of foods you may want to add to your diet to help reduce inflammation. Naturally, dietary changes may not always be enough to handle arthritis or other types of pain. You may also need to take medication.

Tomatoes

This fruit (it is a fruit, not a vegetable) has been shown to help reduce inflammation due to the high levels of lycopene in it. Lycopene is especially helpful for reducing inflammation of the lungs, which can help those with breathing difficulties.

Dairy

Low-fat dairy products are also very helpful in battling inflammation. Non-fat milk can help prevent gut inflammation plus help with building strong bones. However, those who are lactose intolerant will certainly want to avoid any dairy.

Yogurt

Add some yogurt to your diet. Not only is it rich in calcium and Vitamin D, both of which can help with inflammation, but it’s also high in probiotics that can help digestion and other gut and stomach issues.

Pomegranates

Research has shown that the pomegranate can help improve mobility and reduce pain in arthritis sufferers because it’s full of antioxidants. These antioxidants will help destroy the number of free radicals in the body. These free radicals can do a lot of damage, including causing cartilage to degrade and disintegrate. Without cartilage, bones rub against each other, leading to a loss of mobility, swelling, and a lot of pain. Many other foods that are high in antioxidants, such as blue berries, are also great to eat for arthritis.