As we age, there are a few things of which we can be ultimately certain. One of those unfortunate things is joint pain. In fact, that affliction is not just limited to the aging among our population. It is estimated the by 2030, a staggering 1 in 4 Americans will be suffering from doctor diagnosed arthritis. That is as many as 67 million people.
The pressure is increasing on us as a society to do our part in trying to reduce this pain. For the benefit of our own bodies and the health system at large, we need to focus more intensively on caring proactively for our joint health. One way in which we can do this is by eating food which can help our joints. Here is a look at six such foods and supplements which have proven benefits for our joints.
Bone Broth
Bone broth is one of the most beneficial foods we can consume to help our joints. It contains many ingredients which can help to restore and improve our joint health. Glucosamine and other amino acids can be found in bone broth. These can help to greatly reduce joint inflammation and calcium which is also present can help to strengthen the bones.
One of the most useful ingredients of bone broth is gelatin. This can be absorbed into the body and help to restore damaged cartilage, a vital part of our joints which can degrade with age. Gelatin can help restore their function in acting a lubricant for joint bones to glide together smoothly.
This bone broth protein powder from Left Coast Performance offers a superb, gut friendly option being dairy, soy, grain and gluten free. It is also rich in protein with 18g per serving and packed full of gelatin, glucosamine and collagen, helping you to train well and take care of your joints.
Collagen
Collagen may seem like an unlikely choice, however, it is the most abundant type of protein in our bodies. It is present in almost all areas of our body and many daily use products promote the use of collagen.
For our joints, collagen is vital. It is basically the substance which holds our joints together and allows them to glide smoothly when interacting with each other. As we age, a reduction in collagen is often the cause of joint soreness and feelings of stiffness. This can lead to reduced mobility and the onset of more serious joint problems.
Help is at hand in the form of this excellent collagen powder supplement from Dr. Axe. It contains multi-collagen blend of the various types of collagen required to keep not only our joints running smoothly but also many other functions. A one-stop product for improved joint health.
Ginger Extract
Ginger extract is another food with fantastic anti-inflammatory properties which can greatly decrease joint pain and inflammation. Several studies show this to be successful as a pain relief in arthritis patients. This can be of great assistance in slowing down arthritis in any of our joints.
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger make it similar in function to ibuprofen and in fact it has been used in oriental medicine treatments throughout history. It is also very mild on the body, therefore should be tolerable to most users. As it thins the blood however, you should exercise caution when taking ginger supplement in conjunction with other medications.
There are many ginger supplements available in convenient capsule form to add to your daily intake. One of the most popular is from Naturello. In capsule form it is rapidly absorbed into the body for maximum impact and contains a high concentration of ingredients most beneficial to combating pain from carpal tunnel and rheumatoid arthritis.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass has long been heralded as one of the best “superfoods” available on the market. It has a long list of areas where it is proven to be very helpful. One such area is in reducing joint pain. It has even shown positive results in fighting arthritis.
This positive impact is due in the most part to chlorophyll, which is essentially the lifeblood of the plant, helping to give its green color. Among the many positive results noted form chlorophyll is its ability to combat inflammation, which is a big part of the pain associated with arthritis and other joint pains.
Given its popularity, wheatgrass products are commonly available in many places, one of the best options however is Dr. Berg’s raw wheatgrass powder. It possesses all the commonly associated benefits of wheatgrass, is grown in an organic environment and is also gluten free. An excellent choice for those with other dietary considerations.
Pumpkin Seed
Pumpkin seeds are yet another food which can help to keep your joints in good health and fight against painful joint conditions. They are rich in many good fats and antioxidants, namely palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. These can assist in the reduction of inflammation in the joints which plays a major role in causing joint pain in our later lives.
They are however, high in calories. It would be wise therefore, not to overdo your pumpkin seed consumption, but a small sprinkling of pumpkin seeds can certainly contributing to maintaining joint health in later life.
For those who also like to keep fit with regular training, pumpkin seed protein powder is an excellent combined choice. This organic powder serves up a whopping 25g of protein per serving including all the added benefits derived from pumpkin seeds.
Turmeric
Turmeric is our final food which promotes healthy joints into our advancing years. It bears a relation to the ginger family and therefore possesses some of the same positive attributes when it comes to joint health.
Curcumin forms a key component of turmeric and this has been shown in clinical studies to both modify immune system response and act as an anti-inflammatory. It is also claimed to help reduce stiffness in the joints, a possible additional benefit as a result of reducing inflammation in the joint.
Turmeric is readily available in capsule form for those seeking the most efficient relief. This completely natural and non-genetically modified product from Vimerson Health offers an excellent choice and combines the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric with black pepper which is also known to be highly beneficial.
Conclusion
Having reviewed six of the foods you should eat to improve joint health, it is quite clear that with all the options on today’s market, there is something which can suit even the most refined palate. There are also various options which can cater for those on more restrictive diets or with allergies.
Combining this with the fact that the majority of these foods also contain ingredients highly beneficial to other areas of our body, there really is no excuse for not trying to incorporate them into our diets. It should be prioritized as an act of necessity given that it can greatly benefit our future health and wellbeing.
John C. is a physiotherapist student who also holds a BSc. in Kinesiology as well as a Master’s Degree in Biomechanics. When he’s not studying or blogging over at Brace Access you can find him at the rink doing what all good Canadian boys do, playing puck.