By Jeery Park
Joint pain and inflammation is one big inconvenience that can hamper our mobility and decrease the zest we feel for life as we get older. However there are plenty of tasty anti-inflammatory foods that can ease swollen joints, finger pain, and even symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Turmeric
Turmeric is very effective in reducing inflammation of all kinds in your body. It also helps to relieve pain. It contains several chemicals that decrease inflammation in your body which are very similar to NSAIDS drugs that are often prescribed for people with joint pain.
Olive Oil
Olive oil contains a natural compound called oleocanthal which may help prevent arthritis-related inflammation. This compound blocks the same inflammatory pathways as ibuprofen and aspirin, medications commonly used to fight arthritis pain.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is an excellent source of Omega-3 in vegan form. It is very important to help keep your immune system strong and also fights inflammation. The vegan aspect is important because animal fats can often cause inflammation in people with arthritis. You should try to put two tablespoons of flaxseeds into your diet each day.
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and defuse dangerous free radicals that can irritate body tissues and cause inflammation. Anthocyanins-rich foods include cherries, berries, blackcurrants, eggplant, red and black grapes, and plums.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Studies confirm that fatty acids ease joint and menstrual pain and decrease inflammation in the body. Salmon and walnuts are a great source of omega-3s and so is flaxseed.
Ginger
Ginger extract blocks activation of inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 and TNF, as well as suppressing the inflammatory prostaglandin E2 pathway. In a two-and-a-half-year study that investigated the effects of powdered ginger on people who had either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, approximately 75% of the patients experienced pain relief and decreased swelling, and there were no reports of adverse effects.
Red Grapes
This deeply hued fruit contains resveratrol, a powerful compound that blocks the enzymes that contribute to tissue degeneration. The evidence: In lab experiments at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, resveratrol protected against the kind of cartilage damage that causes back pain.
Green tea
A cup of green tea a day may keep the joint pain away. Researchers at the University of Maryland and Rutgers University found that rats with arthritis-like symptoms improved significantly after green tea was added to their water for one to three weeks.
