Top Health Foods for Your Joints

Lisa Franchi July 03, 2014

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If you’ve been reading our blogs for quite some time now, you must have learned about certain foods that are good for specific parts of your body, such as your brain, blood sugar, heart, digestive health, etc. It’s time to talk about those that promote health joints.

 Almonds

Inflammation of the tissues surrounding your joints can cause chronic pain which can be eased by taking painkillers. But if not cured properly, over time, inflammation can become more potent and cause damage to cells. A delicious way to fight inflammation is to eat almonds. These nuts are a good source of Vitamin E, which help protect the outer membrane of cells against any harmful chemicals that cause inflammation. They also have useful antioxidants which can benefit the body in the long term. A 2006 study in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases found that oxidative stress is also associated with the more common osteoarthritis.

Apple

An apple a day is sure to keep joint pain away. This fruits is rich in antioxidants necessary to build collagen. Collagen is what holds the cartilage and indeed the joints together, and protects them from any strain. But over time, the amount of collagen surrounding our joints weakens, so we get more prone to arthritis and muscle pain.

Kale

This curly-leafed variety of cabbage is very high in calcium – which is the building block of healthy bones and joints. Apart from calcium, kale also contains a lot of muscle-building compounds. This vegetable is very low in calories so it’s a great addition to your diet.

Broccoli

In addition to calcium, broccoli is rich in vitamins like A, B and D too. But what makes it really good is that it contains sulforaphane – a powerful compound that protects against radicals which can harm joints.

Black Beans

These super beans play an important role in the production of cartilage and other bodily tissues. Black beans contain a lot of protein- which is well known for building muscle and keeping things taut and in check. Whilst most beans of any colour are rich in antioxidants, black beans have the highest level of these toxin-fighting nutrients.

Salmon

This fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that fight inflammation. Salmon is also a good source of Vitamin D, which helps build healthy joints and bones.

Papaya

A 2004 study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases found that people who consumed the lowest amounts of vitamin C were three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who consumed more. Vitamin C penetrates through the cells, protecting them from DNA damage. Papaya has twice more amount of this antioxidant than oranges. Plus, it has more beta carotene that also supports joint health.