In my practice I often see patients who are struggling
with joint pain. Joints are meant to be flexible and resilient, but your joints
can be weak points of your musculoskeletal system. When a joint is forced to
take more pressure than it can handle, the result is often painful. Worn cartilage and torn ligaments are injuries
that can occur when your joints fail. Fortunately, there are plenty of things
you can do to strengthen your joints and your diet and activity is a big part
of accomplishing that goal.
We would rather see patients get their joints in good
shape before joint replacement is necessary, so here are some foods you can eat
that will give your body the ingredients it needs to build healthier bones and
joints:
· Fatty
fish
· Nuts
and seeds
· Fruits
· Olive
oil
· Leafy
greens
· Bone
broth
· Roots
· Dark
chocolate
Your bones are the foundation of your joint strength. Joints
like the knee are supported by the network of muscles, ligaments, and tendons
that attach muscle to bone and to other muscles. When your bones are healthy, these attachment
points become stronger and less likely to fail. To keep your bones as strong as
possible, a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D is important since they work
together to provide your body with the raw materials it needs to build bone
tissue. Dairy products are high in
calcium, as are many green vegetables like kale and broccoli.
One of the problems your joints face is that they are
under constant attack from free radicals, the invisible, energetic atoms which
bombard our bodies every day and are thought to be responsible for the aging
process. When free radicals attack your joints, they cause painful inflammation
which can get worse over time. Foods high in antioxidants can slow down this
constant assault, keeping your joints healthier longer. Some of the more common antioxidants include
Vitamins A, C, and E, which can be found in many fruits and vegetables.
Vitamins A and C are abundant in almost any fruit you can think of, while
Vitamin E can be found in avocados, whole grain products, and peanut butter. Also,
the power of garlic, ginger, and turmeric should not be forgotten when it comes
to adding flavor to your dishes and reducing inflammation in the joints.