Osteoarthritis Diet

Osteoarthritis Diet is Indeed an Important Part of Your Overall Treatment

For most people affected by osteoarthritis, the idea of osteoarthritis natural remedies or diets seem like a waste of time or a fraud carefully planned by a charlatan who wants to benefit from their affliction. However, it is widely accepted by OA specialists that an effective osteoarthritis diet can provide great relief to patients from this type of arthritis.

It isn’t hard to understand why the idea of a diet for osteoarthritis raises such skepticism. Osteoarthritis patients have to deal with swelling, painful joints, movement difficulties and even stiffness on a daily basis. For these people, the thought that their situation could be eased by something as simple as a proper diet is, if not a blatant lie or at least fiction.

However, for those of you less skeptical and willing to try something different in their daily battle against osteoarthritis, this article will provide you the insight of an efficient osteoarthritis diet.

Foods to Avoid in Your Osteoarthritis Diet

While the idea of forbidden foods might have a negative psychological impact on some readers, it should help you understand that in order to overcome the symptoms of OA, it is vital to keep these foods out of your daily menu.

Nightshade plants – potatoes 9except sweet potatoes), eggplants, most types of peppers (except black peppers), tomatoes and even tobacco contain Solanine, a natural poison which acts as a defense mechanism. Although not all arthritic patients who eat nightshade plants experience pain after eating. There are thousands of reported cases when, after eating potatoes, eggplants or other nightshade plants, people have experienced excruciating arthritis pain.

Other foods that contain Solanine are: artichokes, blueberries, cayenne, pickles and yeast.

Alcohol, saturated fats, nuts, sugar and coffee consumption should also be reduced to a minimum in your osteoarthritis diet.

If you feel that you’re unprepared for excluding all of these foods from your diet at once, experiment by excluding one at a time and noticing any changes in the evolution of your condition. After identifying which one of these foods affects you, you can include the non-harmful ones back into your diet list.

Osteoarthritis Natural Remedies – Foods to Include

On the plus side, there are a lot of nutritious, delicious foods you can greatly benefit from once included on your list of osteoarthritis natural remedies.

Foods rich in vitamin C are often recommended for people who suffer from osteoarthritis. Poor levels of vitamin C are, in fact, a main trigger of joint inflammation and cartilage damage. Vitamin C catalyzes collagen and proteoglycans production, the primary components of any cartilage. However, an excessive vitamin C dosage can prove to be harmful in OA. This is why it is important to consult your physician first, to find out the right vitamin C dosage for you.

Foods that contain vitamin C are: citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits), broccoli, papaya, kiwi, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe.

Vitamin D is also beneficial for your osteoarthritis diet. Foods such as salmon, sardines, fortified milkand some types of yogurts are known for their high concentration of vitamin D. Vitamin D has an inhibitory characteristic, which slows down the evolution of osteoarthritis.

Beta-carotene rich foods should also be part of your diet for osteoarthritis. Beta-carotene inhibits the expansion of osteoarthritis through its antioxidant proprieties.  Foods that incorporate the highest amounts of beta-carotene are: baked sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, oatmeal, peaches, kale and pumpkins.

Foods that contain fiber are also extremely beneficial as osteoarthritis natural remedies. They speed up weight loss, reduce the risk of medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and help in the repair of the arthritic joints.

Foods that contain high-fiber include: whole grain breads, muffins and bagels, breakfast cereals, corn, popcorn and brown rice.

Conclusion

Osteoarthritis is an extremely unpleasant and painful medical condition. Several treatments for OA are now widely available, such as physical therapy, medication, joint injections and even replacement surgery. However, osteoarthritis natural remedies have also proven effective in slowing down the evolution of OA and overcoming its symptoms.

Adjusting your diet for osteoarthritis according to the information presented earlier could provide tremendous help in your battle against OA. However, before you do so it is important to consult your physician or an OA nutritionist, to receive a list of the exact foods and dosages you should keep in mind when planning your own osteoarthritis diet.

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