Is There a Beneficial Diet For Osteoarthritis

Scientists believe that a healthy diet that eliminates certain inflammatory foods, while adding more beneficial ones, is valuable to the arthritis sufferer.  Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that is most often caused by a previous injury to your joints, or, is the outcome of carrying excess weight on your frame.  Excess weight, or obesity, puts a lot of undue stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as the knees or hips.  Overweight men are four times more likely to develop osteoarthritis than their healthier peers.  Women, who are commonly at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis, are five times more likely to suffer than their slimmer counterparts.  In fact, a weight loss of about ten pounds can cut your chance of developing osteoarthritis of the knee in half! A healthy diet aimed at relieving osteoarthritis symptoms may help you lose extra pounds as well.  The following are some suggestions that may assist you in your fight against arthritis.

• Remove foods from your daily diet that you suspect agitate your arthritis.  Such as dairy products, wheat, tomatoes, tobacco, and caffeine.  Do not consume the items for at least one month.  After a month, you can reintroduce the items one at a time to see if it disturbs your arthritis.  Well…maybe not the tobacco.
• Take a Glucosamine supplements including Chondroitin, like Synflex®, to maintain good joint health.
• Drink water and lots of it, at least 6-8 glasses a day.  Some studies actually suggest that arthritis sufferers need to consume more water than the non-sufferer.  Skip coffee, sugary drinks, and alcohol that actually dehydrate you further.
• Try to replace red meat with fish.  Good fish choices include salmon and tuna.
• Eliminate foods with high sugar content, like bakery items.  These foods usually contain no nutritional content.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.  Replace your usual sweets with fresh or dried fruits.  Avocado, carrots, and sprouts are great choices that often get forgotten.  Sliced veggies with hummus dip can effectively replace chips without all of the empty calories.
• Add seeds to your diet.  Pumpkin seeds are an excellent snack choice.  Flax seeds can easily be added to your morning cereal. 
• Replace some dairy products with soy products. 
• Cut down on processed foods.  Try preparing meals with fresh groceries.
• Add whole grains, such as brown rice and barley.
• Eliminate bad fats (hydrogenated fats).  Use olive oil in place of butter and margarine.
• Increase activity level with a doctor’s approval.
• Get more sleep.  You should try to get an average of 8 hours a night.