Does Changing Your Diet Help With Joint Pain?

Anyone can suffer from joint pain, also known as arthralgia, which has many causes. Injury to the tendons or ligaments, and bursae (fluid sacs that cause friction in the joint) are the most common causes of joint pain. However, it also can be due to injury to the bones and cartilage located inside the joint. Joint pain is also the most obvious symptom of arthritis, a degenerative disease that causes cartilage to break down and eventually leads to bones touching each other with movement, which may lead to severe pain in the joints. Such a condition can be present in different areas of the body where joints are located, such as the hands, knee, hips, ankles and shoulders. In addition to pain, arthritis also causes inflammation.

While there are more than 100 different arthritis types, all of them can cause symptoms such as pain and inflammation in the body’s joints. Some patients experience the symptoms in a concentrated area of their body, such as only in their fingers, while other patients experience these symptoms in multiple parts of their body. When joint pain flares up, a person’s ability to perform certain day-to-day activities may be impaired. This not only can interfere with the person’s personal life, but also may lead to complications at their workplace.

A Diet For Reduced Joint Pain

People who experience joint pain often seek medical assistance. A physician will perform a series of tests to determine the cause of the pain and then provide the patient with appropriate medication to help relieve their symptoms. Unfortunately, these prescription drugs often lead to unpleasant side effects. For example, some arthritis medications can cause stomach ulcers, heartburn and swollen feet. Fortunately, medical experts that specialize in alternative treatments have discovered various natural substances can help reduce inflammation and provide relief from joint pain. These natural substances include foods, spices and other naturally extracted compounds that not only provide relief from joint pain but also do not cause any of the side effects of prescription drugs.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is used in cooking, as a salad dressing, to make sauces and even can be used as a bread dip (replacement for margarine and butter). The oil contains compounds that have numerous health benefits. One of the most popular benefits of olive oil is its anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing agents that provide relief from arthritis symptoms. The particular compound that provides these benefits is known as oleocanthal. This compound can stop the production of an enzyme known to cause inflammation.

Garlic

Garlic is used in cooking and has a delicious taste. It can be used in soups and burger patties, mixed with spinach or mushrooms, or on pizza… the possibilities are endless. The main active compound in garlic is known as allicin. This compound is what gives garlic its taste and odor. Garlic also provides another important benefit that is even more beneficial than its pain-reducing ability. Diallyl sulphide, another active compound in garlic, has been scientifically proven to reduce a number of proteases, enzymes that damage cartilage in arthritis patients. This means garlic can protect the joints from further damage, which not only can help relieve the symptoms, but also stop the disease from developing any further.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the spice that adds a golden color to curry dishes. It has been used in cooking for a long time, and it is also a popular medicinal spice. The spice contains a natural compound known as curcumin, which has many promising medicinal properties. Two of the most beneficial medicinal benefits of this compound are its anti-inflammatory agents and pain-reducing ability. In fact, scientific studies have proven turmeric to be more effective in relieving the symptoms of certain types of arthritis than the most commonly prescribed drugs (NSAIDs).

Omega-3

Omega-3 is a fatty acid. It is a type of fat that the body does not naturally produce, so we need to consume foods that contain this fatty acid to maintain healthy levels of the substance in our bodies. Many biological functions of the human body need this fatty acid to work as they should. Arthritis patients and people who experience joint pain that is accompanied by inflammation can benefit from including more omega-3-rich foods in their diet as this fatty acid has been proven to reduce inflammation throughout the entire human body.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a green vegetable that contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. The vegetable also contains a compound known as sulforaphane. This compound has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in antioxidants. The result is relief of joint pain and possibly other symptoms that are caused by arthritis.

Conclusion

Joint pain can cause complications in a person’s life that may interfere with both personal and work tasks. In some cases, the pain can be severe and even lead to absence from work. To manage joint pain, anti-inflammatory drugs often are used, but these can result in adverse reactions that are also unpleasant. In recent years, medical experts have started focusing on natural treatments for joint pain and inflammation that result in relief of the symptoms, but without causing any significant side effects. The foods we shared here all have powerful pain-reducing agents. These foods can reduce a person’s symptoms of arthritis without suffering from the harmful effects conventional treatment options may have on their bodies.

References:

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/medication/side-effects/possible-side-effects.php 

http://www.medicinenet.com/joint_pain/symptoms.htm