Your diet plays a crucial role in helping you avoid or control osteoarthritis. The first objective of a healthy diet is to help you lose weight if you are overweight. Being overweight can cause additional stress to your joints.
The second way a balanced, varied diet can help ease the pain of arthritis is by providing vitamins and minerals that keep your joints healthy.
If you have arthritis or knee or hip pain, vitamin C and vitamin D can help prevent additional bone and cartilage destruction. And a multivitamin can help ensure that you always get the nutrition you need.
Here are some other healthy (and delicious) choices to include in your diet.
Fresh pineapple. Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapple, reduces inflammation. Be sure the pineapple is fresh, not canned or frozen.
Cherries. Recent research has shown that tart cherries are an excellent source of nutrients that may help to reduce joint pain and inflammation related to arthritis.
Fish. Cold-water fish such as salmon and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamin D, which help keep joints healthy as well as reduce pain and swelling. If you don't care for fish, consider supplementing your diet with fish oil capsules.