The Best Diet for Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is America’s number one cause of chronic disability, affecting 40 million Americans. The foods you eat can play a big part in helping you deal with the pain of arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. It is a degenerative condition that causes pain and stiffness in the joints. It can worsen with age, and is aggravated by being overweight. Proper nutrition can actually help prevent the disease, and a good diet can provide relief from arthritis symptoms.

Unfortunately, the typical American diet is nearly the opposite of what is needed to bring relief for an arthritis sufferer. Grabbing a hamburger and fries might be convenient, but as you can see from the list below, you would be better off planning your meals in advance and preparing them at home.

Best foods for arthritis relief

1. Get your fiber from fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

2. Cold water fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout, herring and halibut, will help in reducing joint pain. In addition, oily fish can help, such as tuna, salmon, sardines, and cod liver oil supplements.

3. Drink six to eight glasses of water daily to flush toxins from your body.

4. Good vegetables to eat include carrots, celery, kale, okra, watercress and parsley.

5. Unsalted pecans and almonds provide necessary nutrients.

6. Whole grains, such as wheat, barley, brown rice, millet and oats are important.

7. It is essential to get Vitamin C, but avoid fruits that are highly acidic, like oranges and lemons.

Worst foods for arthritis sufferers:

1. Avoid foods that make the internal environment of the body more acidic. Acid promotes inflammation in the joints, which causes pain and worses the disease. Foods that increase acid include saturated fats, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, rich fatty foods, fried foods, and refined sugar.

2. Other foods high in acid content, and therefore to be avoided, include cranberries, rhubarb, chard, spinach and plums.

3. Avoid fatty meats, chicken, dairy products, eggs, margarine, excess salt, shortening, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and sugars. If cutting them out completely is out of the question, cut back on them as much as possible, to get relief from arthritis symptoms.

4. Solanines, or nightshade plants, cause problems in about 33% of arthritis sufferers. Solanines include potatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and tobacco.

By adjusting your diet, you will experience a reduction of the pain and inflammation from arthritis. Find out more about arthritis pain relief