Anti-inflammatory foods for OA

The most powerful way to combat inflammation comes not from a pharmacy store, but from a grocery store. The goal of an anti-inflammatory diet for osteoarthritis is to reduce unnecessary inflammation and the joint degeneration and painfulness. Your immune system becomes activated when any foreign material invades your body with a microbe, plant pollens or chemicals. This triggers an inflammatory response in the body. At times inflammation persists without any foreign attacker that is when inflammation becomes your enemy. Osteoarthritis is one such disease.

Choosing the right type of anti-inflammatory food help in reducing your risk of osteoarthritis. Unhealthy eating habits also contribute to weight gain, which is a primary risk factor for inflammation.

Foods to avoid :

Refined carbohydrates : worsen arthritis. Avoid foods like white bread, pastries, candy and cola.

Redmeat : Diets heavy in processed red meat have shown to increase levels of inflammatory markers.So, it is advised to avoid foods like hot dogs and sausages.

Fried food : Fried foods like french fries, fritters, chips etc increases your risk of arthritis contributing to inflammation and risk factors like obesity.

Addition of anti-inflammatory foods :

Our nature provides us with many anti-inflammatory foods to reduce inflammation. Some of them are :

Go green : Rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, leafy vegetables also are a storehouse of antioxidants that fight inflammation like nothing else. Make this a part of your regular diet as juices, smoothies and meal for maximum health benefits.

Right red : Tomatoes top the list of foods that fight inflammation. It’s a versatile fruit that can be included as an ingredient in anything like salads, salsas or just eaten raw.

Fetch the fish : Fishes like mackerel, salmon, sardines, tuna are rich source of omega-3 fatty acid, powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients. Incorporating them in the diet shows best results in inflammation reduction.

Nothing like nuts : Nuts are your go-to option if you are a vegetarian. They are rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. A handful everyday should suit you well. Almonds and walnuts can be consumed as a healthy snack.

Juicy fruits : Strawberries, sweet lime, grapefruit, blueberries, oranges and pineapple are a few fruits for you to eat to reduce inflammation. They are especially rich in ‘Quercetin’.

Cook in olive : The virgin olive oil have the maximum amounts of anti-oxidants. They are great for combating inflammation. This oil fights free radicals that are responsible for arthritis.

Tea dips : Green tea also called ‘elixir of life’ is the remedy for belly fat and obesity which is a risk in arthritis. Green tea tackles your inflammation by providing anti-oxidants. 3 cups are enough for a day.

Roots out the rheumatoid : Ginger is a very good source of antioxidants. It fights all anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial diseases. It’s great for indigestion and joint swelling. Seeping some hot ginger tea works wonders. Eating fresh ginger gives maximum benefits so use it in your food items as a spice and in dips or to a glass of lemonade.