Are You Eating These Foods For Better Joint Health ?
You know that a proper and healthy diet is important to implement into your daily life in order to experience greater health overall, but did you know that there are certain foods in particular that can work to improve certain, specific health conditions and issues that you may be facing? More specifically, there are certain dietary choices that you can be making now in order to improve joint pain, by improving overall joint health throughout your life. E
ven if you don't find yourself often thinking about joint health and wellness, this is an especially important aspect of your health to take into consideration if you are prone to experiencing back pain, muscle stiffness, or periods of reduced mobility and flexibility in general. As I learned after reading a helpful article by Nature Made, here are some of the best foods you should be eating in order to keep your joints in great working condition.
It is important to know about the two major components of a healthy, anti-inflammatory diet: antioxidants and fatty acids. Antioxidants, as you may already know,have the ability to fight off free radicals which can cause harm to joints and the surrounding soft tissues around them. Some of the more common types of antioxidants include vitamin A (also referred to as beta-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium. Feel free to use the acronym ACES to help you remember to consider these four key nutrients when planning out your meals for the week. You can find at least some of these antioxidants in tomatoes, oranges, raspberries, mangoes, grapefruit, pineapples, red peppers, asparagus, broccoli, and avocados. Whole grain breads and cereals, in addition to foods such as peanut butter and sunflower seeds can also provide you with a healthy dose of vitamin E. When it comes to selenium, try adding more foods such as oatmeal, brown rice, and brazil nuts into your diet.
Fatty acids, which are also commonly known as omega 3 fatty acids, are helpful for joint health because of their ability to reduce swelling and inflammation that may be causing stiffness in the joints. If you are a fan of fish, you are in good luck, since foods such as salmon, sardines, tuna, and herring all contain healthy amounts of omega 3 fatty acids. Whole grains, vegetables, and many seeds and nuts can also provide you with this important nutrient. Feel free to ask you doctor of chiropractic about any other foods they would recommend for your health needs.
