Antioxidants, which help quell inflammation, are plentiful in fruits and other food sources.
Part of the answer may involve your diet.
Is There Such a Thing as a Joint-Friendly Food?
Antioxidants, which help quell inflammation, are plentiful in fruits and other food sources.
Its certain, for starters, that obesity is a risk factor for inflammatory conditions.
That said, changing your diet probably won’t reduce inflammation enough for you to forgo otherRA managementtreatments.
And, Dr. Sandon adds, eating well has never been known to make any condition worse.
Read on to find out what foods could help ease your symptoms and keep you healthy.
Another option, notes Sandon, is to avoid taking your medication with citrus juices.
Instead, have the juice or citrus fruit at another time of day.
Talk with your healthcare provider to figure out whats best for your diet and medication routine.
These little fruits pack powerfulantioxidant compounds, like proanthocyanins and ellagic acid, which fight inflammation and cell damage.
These and other orange-hued vegetables arerich in vitamin Aand beta-carotene, both of which are believed to fight inflammation.
Cooking seems to increase the availability of these compounds.
Caution: When buying whole wheat bread, dont be misled by the label.
It should read 100 percent whole wheat or have the Whole Grain Stamp from theOldways Whole Grain Council.
This versatile root adds flavor too.
Ginger supplements can also help reduce inflammation, but check with your doctor before taking them, Sandon says.
It can also decrease blood sugar levels, raising the risk ofhypoglycemia.
In addition, ginger may lower blood pressure, which could affect those taking high blood pressure medication.
So, add this tropical fruit to your diet every chance you get.
Bromelain may also interfere with the action ofantibioticsandsedatives.
Turmeric: This Spice May Cool Inflammation
The Indian spice turmeric containscurcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenol.
Onestudysuggested that the curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
However, most studies have been on small samples.
A newerstudylooked at a real-world, large scale study.
Result: A higher intake of green tea was associated with lesser disease activity.
But take this news with a grain of salt, Sandon says.
Add it to a seltzer for a refreshing libation instead of sodas!
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Samir Dalvi, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist.
Michele Bloomquist is a full-time freelance writer and editor based near Portland, Oregon.
Bloomquist also writes often on home and garden topics and pursues a career in creative writing.
When she isn’t writing, she is operating her small boutique winery.
