The Best Foods for Joint Health
By Sara Butler
It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old; you should always be concerned about keeping your joints healthy. It’s also never too late to start working toward healthier joints! You can eat in order to prevent joint inflammation and deterioration. Here are some of the best foods to help you keep your joints healthy.
Fatty Fish
Bring on the salmon, tuna, and other fatty fish! The omega-3 fatty acid in fatty fish helps to prevent and reverse inflammation, which is one of the keys to joint health. But Americans aren’t getting enough of these inflammation-fighting fats in their diets.
The American Heart Association says you should aim for two servings of fish per week. The good news is this isn’t that difficult. Salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring are easy to find just about anywhere and even easier to prepare. Plus, getting adequate servings of these fish in your diet can help improve heart and brain health right along with your joints!
Fatty fish also help to give your Vitamin D intake a boost and Vitamin D is essential to help with arthritis symptoms. Pair something with Vitamin D in it with your fatty fish, such as eggs, cheese, milk, and yogurt.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are among some of the healthiest foods out there. They’re full of Vitamin K, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, the health of your bone and cartilage depend on getting enough Vitamin K.
Leafy greens are easy to find. Swiss chard, watercress, and kale are easy to find and prepare. Add some to your salad or sauté them up with a little olive oil as a side dish to promote joint health.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts have a lot going for them. You may have feared them as a child, but try to give them another chance as an adult. That’s because they contain a compound called sulforaphane, which has anti-inflammatory properties. They can help to keep the cartilage in your joints healthy and prevent their breakdown. If Brussels sprouts aren’t your thing, then you can find healthy sulforaphanes in cabbage and broccoli too.
Caring for your joints is important as you get older. Eating these foods can help to keep your body and joints healthy, so it’s a winning situation you can benefit from on so many levels. Give them a try!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Arvada, Colo.
