Eat Your Way to Healthy Joints
By Sara Butler
Your joints are important. Without healthy joints, you simply can’t have comfortable mobility and your quality of life may take a turn for the worst. While your joints may be subject to some serious wear and tear from everyday use, there are some things you can do to keep them healthy. One of the most important is your diet. Here are a few of the foods you can eat for healthy joints.
Cherries
Cherries are delicious and they are just so happy to be good for your joints! Cherries get their deep red color from plant chemicals called anthocyanins. These chemicals have been found to naturally help reduce inflammation, so make sure you add some cherries to your day!
Red Peppers
Red peppers are full of Vitamin C, a nutrient that is crucial to joint health. All peppers have Vitamin C, but red peppers are an especially good source of it. Vitamin C helps your body produce collagen, a vital part of the makeup of the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage that help hold your joints together. This vitamin has also been found to help reduce pain.
Nuts
You can go nuts for nuts -- within reason, of course. Nuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as manganese and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects your body and helps joints to repair themselves.
The only thing to be on the lookout for with nuts is serving size. Nuts can be quite high in fat and calories, so you don’t need very many to get the benefits. About a handful a day should be just fine.
Leafy Greens
When it comes to the health of your joints, you must remember to go green! Kale, collard greens, spinach, and bok choy are all high in vitamins essential to the health of your joints, such as calcium, selenium, and Vitamin C. Selenium is particularly important for joint health since it plays an important role in the production of new cells to help your joints heal.
Berries
Berries are berry good for your joints, so make sure to add blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries to your shopping list. They help to fight inflammation, so add some to your oatmeal or yogurt for a burst of flavor that supports healthy joints.
Eating healthy is important for many reasons, your joints are just one of them! Luckily, eating to keep your joints healthy is delicious.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.