How diet can impact joint pain

Everyone knows that eating healthy and having a balanced diet is great for health and wellbeing. However, it is less known how your diet can have an impact on your joints and aches and pains.

There have been many studies done on this topic. They found that having a diet that’s packed with anti-inflammatory foods, can have a positive effect on your pain levels even if you are suffering with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. One diet that they studied was the Mediterranean diet. This diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are known to reduce eicosanoids. These are involved in causing inflammation.  

Foods or diets that can help reduce your pain

When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, you need to focus on reducing inflammation. You do this by altering the balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and increase antioxidants. This is because omega-6 fatty acid, which is found in animal foods is a precursor for eicosanoids. In the studies, the people following an anti-inflammatory diet experienced lower levels of pain when compared to people on ordinary diets.

Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet is packed full with fresh fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, olive oil and a healthy dose of fish. Fish is full of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids act as natural anti-inflammatory agents. This then leads to reduced joint pain and swelling. This is why choosing fish over red meat can help your body to fight inflammation, making your pain less and keeping your joints comfortable.

Vegetarian and vegan diets

These diets are low or completely devoid of arachidonic acid. This acid causes inflammation. By choosing a plant-based diet, you're steering clear of arachidonic acid and reducing your inflammation. Your joints will feel better and you will be able to move more freely and without pain.

Omega 6 fatty acids

People are sometimes using processed seed oils which, although high in omega 6 have unhealthy ratios of omega 6 to omega 3. Some sources of refined, bad vegetable oils used for cooking are soybean, safflower, grapeseed, sunflower, corn, cottonseed, sesame, peanut and walnut oils. Give them a miss.

Gluten, Nightshades, and Your Joints

Gluten is in grains including wheat, rye, barley, spelt and sometimes oats. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where your immune system reacts abnormally to gluten. Studies show that people with coeliac disease can get joint pain. So, if this is you, try avoiding wheat and gluten to reduce your joint pain. Many people can be sensitive to these products, even if they don’t have coeliac disease. You will have certain symptoms arise after eating gluten and wheat, these can include foggy mind, headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and leg or arm numbness. However, many people have no apparent symptoms and are still sensitive. If you suspect sensitivity, call us at the clinic and book in a test. It’s non-invasive and will let you know for sure and will be part of the reason you have joint pain. We also test for many other things in this test so let’s discuss it so you know once and for all what is making you ill. Check us out on this link www.stressfreehealthmanagement.com

Vegetables

A group of vegetables that belong to the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers can exacerbate joint pain. This is even more so for people with certain autoimmune conditions like arthritis. This is because they contain chemical compounds called alkaloids, which contribute to inflammation and joint discomfort in sensitive individuals.

Why not call us today to find out what you are sensitive to and let us design a health plan you can get healthy with and stay healthy?