Open up the fridge, open up the pantry! The relief you’ve been in search of for your arthritis pain and prevention of arthritis all together may very well be in your kitchen! I know from my personal experience and my patients the pain and discomfort of arthritis is no joking matter. However I am not joking when I say relief may be in your kitchen. Just as there are many foods that can cause inflammation in the body there are many others that can possibly relieve or prevent that inflammation from occurring in our bodies and joints. I believe you can improve your arthritic condition dramatically, if you will incorporate these foods into your diet on a daily basis. There are various types of foods, but I want to recommend three of my favorites.
First is Fruit! There are several fruits that can help with inflammation, but the berries are the best! Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and acai berries to name a few. These berries are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties! Here is a great post detailing the healing properties of blueberries!
Second is the vegetable family! Broccoli, onions, and garlic are considered the best for anti-inflammatory purposes. Just as with the fruit, there are numerous studies that can validate these claims. Check out this post on broccoli!
Last, but not least, and found in your pantry, are the spices, such as turmeric, ginger, cinammon, oregano, and cayenne. For those of you who may not like to spice up your food, all of the forementioned spices can be purchased in capsule form for easy and convenient consumption. Again there is much scientific evidence verifying the anti-inflammatory properties of these wonderful spices. Here is a post detailing the specifics of many of the spices listed above!
As I mentioned previously, there are also many foods that cause inflammation. For optimal arthritic symptom control, here are three common types of foods that you need to limit or avoid all together.
1. Processed Dairy and Processed Sugar – The Froyo fad could be increasing inflammation in your body through the two main ingredients: sugar and milk, not to mention those cookies or candy you put on top.
2. Processed Grains – This category includes processed breads and pasta as well. These two foods are quickly broken down in your body into sugar, and if you haven’t been keeping up with current health trends, sugar is one of the most inflammatory ingredients out there.
3. Processed Meats – According to studies, the saturated fats found in most supermarket meat causes inflammation. They can also contain a compound called arachidonic acid which triggers a natural inflammatory response in the body.
If these are some of you favorite foods, don’t be discouraged! The key with consuming these inflammatory foods is to do so in moderation. It is when your body is in a constant state of inflammation, caused by exclusively consuming these ingredients and foods, that it begins to cause problems!
If you are interested in learning about more foods that are naturally anti-inflammatory, then you’re in luck because, I will cover those in my next blog. For information on specific anti-inflammatory supplements check out my last post! If you have any great recipes using any of these ingredients please share them in the comment section below, and if you have any questions about arthritis fill out the contact form or leave a message using the “Ask Dr. Phil” Microphone!
Healthy Blessings,
Dr. Phil
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