Foods That Will Help You Combat Arthritis and Joint Pains During Winter

For the longest time, people with arthritis (and, of course, joint pains) have reported that their pains get worse as the weather gets colder. The science behind this postulation may still be unclear, but it still remains a thing that happens. Due to this, people with arthritis are usually advised to keep warm and try to exercise to reduce the pains. In addition, a well thought out diet can be used to help keep this disease in check. Among the foods you can incorporate in your diet to towards this end include:

1. Spinach

All over the world, this green vegetable is widely known for its high magnesium content. When taken in abundance, it will supply the body with ample magnesium that will help reduce the pain and stiffness that comes with arthritis. This is in addition to strengthening your bones. If you cannot access spinach, you can use magnesium supplements or eat legumes rich in this nutrient because they will have the same effect. Magnesium oil can also be applied on sore joints. Basically, any food that will provide magnesium to the body should prominently feature in your diet this winter if you are to keep arthritis and joint pains in check.

2. Fish oils

Fish oils and particularly omega3 fatty acids have anti- inflammatory properties. Because arthritis is caused by joint inflammation, an intake of these oils will help avert any further inflammation and thus reduce the possibility of the joint pains appearing or when they are already there; the possibility of them getting worse. Try taking, at least, 3spoonfuls of fish oil every week or eat fish twice a week.

3. Broccoli and cabbage

These vegetables contain sulforaphane, a compound that helps reduce cartilage damage. Now, when you get joint pains especially on the knees, it is usually because your cartilage has worn out. What this means is that when you incorporate broccoli, cabbage or any member of the cruciferous family into your diet, you will be able to reduce this wearing out and consequently the pains. All you need to do is use these vegetables, in your salads and your trouble will be solved.

4. Garlic

This food contains disulfide, a compound that helps combat the cartilage destroying enzymes. Now we do not need to re-visit the connection between cartilage damage and arthritis joint pain or do we?

When these enzymes are empowered, the cartilage will remain intact and hence pain will be drastically reduced. The good thing with this one is that there are a thousand ways of incorporating it into your diet.

5. Turmeric

Apart from being an excellent food coloring agent, this spice is also an excellent anti-inflammatory agent. Now, arthritis is as a result of joint inflammation and turmeric helps avert inflammation.
Please tell me you got that. No? Come on!
When turmeric helps prevent inflammation, it also ensures that no further inflammation happens and hence pain is reduced. Now that wasn’t that hard or was it?

6. Fruits and vegetables

Winter is usually a time most of us spend indoors. If you are anything like me, when you are indoors, you tend to keep nibbling on snacks and in the long run end up accumulating some fat around your waist.   This is one thing you should avoid when you have arthritis and joint pain. Research has shown that increase in weight leads to arthritis because it means an increase on the stress placed on your joints. In this regard, any eating that will lead to an increase in weight should be avoided if you are aiming at little or no aggravation of the pain in your joints.
Fruits and vegetables are excellent snacks that will help keep you full during winter without adding any kilos. If anything, they will help you drop the extra ones.

7. Green tea

This one gained popularity due to its weight cutting capabilities. However, it can also be used to relieve arthritis pain because it has compounds that combat inflammatory compounds. When this happens, your joints will not get inflamed and hence pain will be averted. As a bonus, it will also help ensure that you don’t gain any additional weight hence further reducing the possibilities no joint pains due to excess stress. Oh just before I forget; it will help you keep warm throughout the period. Just keep taking mugful’s and you will never complain about joint pain.

Conclusion

Over the years, it has been concluded that winter worsens arthritis and joint pains. This is why you should be fully geared to avert this menace during winter. Though there are a number of ways to keep these ailments in check, the use of a proper diet is almost the easiest and most effective. The foods mentioned above will help keep you healthy, full and above all, they will help reduce your pains the threat of winter notwithstanding.

References:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/kellyeverson1/view/5-tips-to-relief-joint-pain-during-winter-782036

http://www.examiner.com/article/11-daily-habits-for-arthritis-pain-relief