4.5 million people in Canada suffer with Osteoarthritis. For many patients, the condition comes with a great deal of pain that isn’t dealt with completely by medication.

While there is no cure, there are steps you can take to manage your condition. One way is through a healthy diet. While there is much to be learned about the effect of diet on osteoarthritis, there is also a lot of good information on how best to approach your meals. Try eating some of these foods to help your body run at its best.

 

Antioxidant Rich Foods

Antioxidants work as anti-inflammatories and can reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis. You can find them in many fruits and vegetables, including:

● Berries – raspberries, blueberries, blackberries are extremely rich in many antioxidants

● Purple grapes

● Beta Carotene Rich Foods – Carrots, cantaloupe and apricot

● Passionfruit – One research study suggests that purple skinned passion fruit extracted in pills can lower the intensity of pain associated with osteoarthritis. Though you may be able to find passion fruit extract, the skin extract is currently are not commonly found in health food stores, so going straight to the source might be the best option.

● Citrus and other Vitamin C rich foods – Oranges, Lemon, Lime, Pineapple, kiwi, tomato, broccoli, peas

 

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 Fatty Acids works by reducing the breakdown of cartilage in your body.

Try putting some of these in your grocery basket:

● Seafood: Some of the highest Omega 3 sources are Salmon, Trout, Mackerel and Oysters

● Nuts and Seeds – Flax, Chia seeds, Walnuts

 

Vitamin D

Like Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin D helps your body by strengthening your cartilage.

You can find Vitamin D in the following:

● Dairy – Yogurt, Milk, Cheese

● Seafood – Shellfish, Salmon and other fish

● Eggs

 

While osteoarthritis may be an inevitable part of aging for some, there are still steps we can take to alleviate symptoms and manage the condition effectively. Happy Eating!