Arthritis is a health concern that should not be taken lightly. This can bring so much discomfort and pain. In worse cases, it could also lead to immobility because the slightest movement can trigger excruciating pain.
Contrary to what most people believe, experiencing arthritis is not limited to just the older individuals. Even those who are younger can suffer from this too. Arthritis is not just triggered by brittleness of cartilage. This could also be a result of excessive weight, joint infection, occupational hazard or injury due to accident or sports.
When arthritis hits you, what do you do then? Before you even start shoving pills into your mouth, try the arthritis diet first. This is a natural way of beating the pain and inflammation but the results could be quite impressive.
Anti inflammatory foods should certainly be added to arthritis diet. Arthritis is typically accompanied by inflammation which is not just a red discoloration that is show on the epidermis but it also enlarges the affected part. Because of this, it is even more difficult and painful for the joints to perform its functions.
Healthy fats and oils which contain high amount of Omega-3 will help you alleviate inflammation. This can be obtained from cold-water fish, avocado, olive oil, flax seeds, grape seed and walnut oil. The essential nutrients and phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables will contribute too.
It has to be noted though that arthritis diet should not contain high amount of sodium. This does not only make inflammation become worse, it also causes more calcium loss in the bones. Hence, processed food and junk food are certainly prohibited.
Foods that have high amount of protein should also be incorporated in the arthritis diet. This means eating the breast part of chicken and turkey meat and indulging on poultry products like eggs and low fat yogurt. It is recommended to eat red beef meat too but in moderate amounts. Red meat should be eaten only about 2 to 3 times a week to regulate the amount of fat that can be obtained from it. Better, yet, the red meat can only be used as an added ingredient along with healthier meat cut like the ones from chicken and turkey.
For the drinks, stay away from those which contain high amount of sugar too like soda and artificial juices. Water is the best drink because this flushes out the toxins in the body which could eventually form into plaque. This plaque avoids better blood circulation and destroys the joints much further. If you want some flavour, go for freshly squeezed fruit juices, especially the ones made from citrus fruits like orange, lime or pineapple. Vitamin C helps a lot when it comes to alleviating the pain caused by arthritis. Herbal tea and non fat milk are beneficial too.
The most important aspect in arthritis diet is that you should forget about foods that have high amount of unhealthy fat, cholesterol, preservatives and artificial ingredients. These unnatural and harmful ingredients can make it faster for arthritis to progress because these do not nourish the bones, cartilage and muscles.
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