Food for healthy joints: 5 foods you should start eating today
If you suffer from a rheumatic disease such as arthritis or arthrosis, you will know that strengthening your joints, especially the cartilage (the semi-rigid tissue that covers the bones in the joints), is essential.
Specialists recommend eating a healthy diet to strengthen bones and articular cartilage. More specifically, a balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals.
For this reason, we have made a list of 5 foods for healthy joints, which promote cartilage regeneration, helping you to combat arthritis or arthrosis and their symptoms from the inside.
Proper food for healthy joints
1. Garlic
With a high sulfur concentration, it is a vital mineral that is essential for collagen formation in ligaments, cartilage and tendons.
Furthermore, garlic contains anti inflammatory, purifying and detoxifying properties, among others.
Always choose fresh garlic over pre-prepared garlic; when packaged, conservatives are often added and they dilute its potency.
If you can’t handle garlic on its own, use it as a condiment in your cooking and give some real flavor to your dishes.
2. Fruits rich in vitamin C
Pineapple, orange and papaya are some of the fruits with a high vitamin C content.
This vitamin helps the formation of collagen for the normal functioning of blood vessels, bones, cartilage, gums, teeth and skin.
It is recommended to eat between 3 and 5 portions or pieces of fruit per day.
3. Spinach
It contains magnesium and calcium, which are vital for building and maintaining healthy bones.
It is a very important source of vitamin E, which helps to protect the body from cytokines (proteins that regulate cells that promote inflammation in joints).
The best way to eat spinach is fresh and raw in a salad. Though you can also eat cooked spinach or eat it in a soup, it does slightly reduce its potency.
Another one of its great properties is that 100 grams of spinach only have 16 calories.
4. Berries
Berries such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and cherries are rich in antioxidants and have anti inflammatory properties.
Furthermore, they help to prevent the destruction of collagen in the skin.
It has been proven that people that eat berries regularly have lower amounts of inflammation in their joints.
5. Legumes
Beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas… these are the most common types of legumes, which all have a high lysine content that aids in cartilage recovery and prevents fatigue.
An additional recommendation if you are suffering from arthritis or arthrosis, is to avoid foods rich in omega 6 fatty acids, which are found in many meats, egg yolks, fried foods and junk food, as they can actually increase inflammation in your joints.
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