Maintaining healthy joints is one of the best ways to improve our quality of life into our later years. Keeping our joints healthy is something which the vast majority of us have a tendency to overlook until we reach a certain age and inevitably suffer joint pain. Being proactive is always the most beneficial approach. This is true of many things in life which we often seek to avoid.
Luckily, there are an abundance of ways in which we can maintain and improve our joint health. This process can start in our very own kitchen or during any meal. This is made possible by the existence of various foods which promote healthy joints. With more than 50 million Americans currently suffering from arthritis, not to mention the number of joint injuries it’s time to start taking care of your joints.
This list is full of healthy foods which can easily be incorporated into your daily lives. Luckily, in addition to being extremely healthy for your joints these powerful foods will have a host of other health benefits. If you’re a picky eater we’ve also included a number of joint pain supplements which are easy to take daily.
Spinach
Studies have found that spinach is among the best performing vegetables when it comes to reducing inflammation in the joints. Since inflammation is a primary source of joint pain for many of those who suffer from arthritis and can also increase the discomfort of an injury, it’s naturally important that we keep inflammation in our joints to a minimum.
Thanks to the rich nutritional properties of spinach, which contain high amounts of vitamin K, and C while also being packed full of antioxidants, we give our joints the best chance of health and speedy recovery from many injuries. Some research even points to the possibility of a link between green leafy vegetables and arthritis prevention. It has never been more important to eat your green.
Ginger
Ginger extract, whether dried or fresh is another excellent example of how to decrease inflammation and joint pain. Ginger is often referred to as a “smart person’s aspirin”. This is due to the plethora of advantages it provides to the individual. These range from being anti-inflammatory and helping reduce joint pain, to settling the stomachs of some travel sick passengers.
Whilst it would be best to get ginger directly from the root, by grating it into a nice cup of ginger tea for example. This is not always possible. The best option in these cases is to avail of a top quality ginger supplement. Capsules provide one of the most direct routes possible when it comes to taking ginger.
Garlic
As well as scaring away the vampires, garlic is often viewed as an adaptable cure-all for many problems which the human body may pose. One other benefit garlic can provide which you may not already know of, is in keeping your joints healthy.
Research has shown that garlic serves anti-inflammatory purposes as well as having a great number of antioxidants. These anti-antioxidants help to prevent the oxidation of free-radicals, this helps prevent joint damage among arthritis sufferers. For the remainder of us, cartilage problems are a big trigger for declining joint health. Luckily, garlic also helps to encourage cartilage repair.
Fatty Fish Oil
Fish oil especially the likes of salmon and tuna are ultra-rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is one of the most commonly used supplements in the world. In addition to helping combat inflammatory joint conditions and improve overall health of our joints, the EPA and DHA fatty acids contained within omega-3 have proven to be beneficial in a host of other areas. These include, combatting depression and helping lower blood pressure.
A lot of people hate the taste of fish and frankly, unless you don’t mind eating Sardines or Tuna it can be difficult to find delicious tasting, fresh fish. Fortunately, it’s never been easier to get your daily dose of fish oil from a supplement.
Omega-3 is also shown to have a positive impact on decreasing the enzymes which degrade cartilage. This can present long lasting positive results for our joint health. Many find that taking fish oil capsules containing omega-3 is a much more convenient and efficient method given our busy everyday lifestyles.
Berries
The powerful anti-oxidant content of many berries including fresh cherries, blueberries and blackberries mean that it often has a swift positive effect on joint and muscle pain. These anti-oxidants are some of the most powerful in nature, known as flavonoids. By also helping to reduce inflammation, berries naturally improve blood flow. This improved blood flow leads to more blood circulating around the joints which helps remove stiffness and aches.
While nature is always the best source, these tart cherry capsules offer a wholly organic supplement which you don’t have to roam the fields in search of.
Bone Broth
The final food we will take a look at is bone broth. Although it may not sound appealing to the unknowing ear, bone broth is in fact one of the most effective foods we can consume when it comes to maintaining and improving our joint health. It possesses a wealth of joint boosting ingredients including, gelatin and glucosamine. These play an integral role in helping to repair and strengthen cartilage and also fight joint crippling inflammation respectively.
If you are struggling in search of this purposeful food, look no further than this highly recommended bone broth protein powder which you can easily incorporate into your daily routine.
Conclusion
As we move through life, we pick up many beneficial attributes and experiences along the way. Unfortunately for our joints, they too accumulate many experiences. However, this accumulation can lead only to the natural wearing down of the joints. This is presuming we do not encounter serious injury along the same path. Living in the most positive way possible and trying to incorporate a few of these foods into our daily diets is a great way to help our joints stay fit and healthy.
Don’t wait until you’re already suffering from joint pain, start incorporating a few of these foods into your daily diet.
About Author: John C. is a physiotherapist student who also holds a BSc. in Kinesiology as well as a Master’s Degree in Biomechanics. When he’s not studying or blogging over at Brace Access you can find him at the rink doing what all good Canadian boys do, playing puck.