Foods to Eat When You Have Knee Osteoarthritis in Vacaville

When you have osteoarthritis in Vacaville, there is no specific diet that could help cure it. However, there are certain anti-inflammatory foods that could help ease the pain, stiffness, and other symptoms associated with osteoarthritis.

It is worth noting that your weight can contribute to your osteoarthritis symptoms. You need to eat well so that you can at least manage your weight. It is not necessary for everyone with knee osteoarthritis but if you're overweight, maintaining a healthier weight can help reduce your osteoarthritis symptoms.

Osteoarthritis friendly foods in Vacaville

Below are some of the foods that are ideal if you're suffering from osteoarthritis:

• Fruits and vegetables: These superfoods have vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that can help fight joint pain and swelling. The more colorful the better. It is best to include as many of these colors as you can in your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Examples of fruits and veggies that have anti-inflammatory benefits include blueberries, carrots, spinach, and red grapes.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, mushrooms, and fortified foods can help manage osteoarthritis-related pain. Try to take in more vitamin D in a day or better yet, consume a daily vitamin D supplement.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish, particularly salmon, and other foods with omega-3 fatty acids can help manage sore, achy joints. If you don't like eating fish, then you can go for flaxseed, walnuts, and olive oil, or perhaps take some omega-3 supplement to experience the same benefits. A serving of omega-3s at least once a day is the best way to go.
• Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and dried chili peppers can reduce your osteoarthritis symptoms. They can provide anti-inflammatory properties to the body, which reduces stiffness and swelling. These spices are also full of flavor without adding any calories. If possible, try to sprinkle some in every meal.

Avoid these foods if you have knee osteoarthritis

There are some foods that could worsen the pain and other osteoarthritis symptoms. If possible, limit the consumption of these foods even if you don't have osteoarthritis.

• Aspartame: This sweeter is man-made and it contains chemicals that increase pain perception. It does this by triggering neurons in the brain. You can acquire this from all sorts of foods from soft drinks to healthier foods like yogurt.
• Processed foods: Foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates can cause the development of inflammation. MSG is common in frozen dinners and nitrates can be found in hotdogs.
• Saturated fats and trans fats: Packaged baked goods and fast-food French fries are the best examples for this. They can promote inflammation and can even clog your arteries, which makes them dangerous to the health.

Supplements for knee osteoarthritis

There's no doubt that eating the right kind of foods can provide you with key nutrients, but if your diet is not enough, then taking some supplements can help fill that void.

Taking these supplements is okay but it is best that you talk with your doctor first to ensure that they will be safe for you. This will also help you determine how much is ideal for you and whether it will interact with the medications or other supplements that you're already taking.

Apart from omega-3s and Vitamin D supplements, these are the other supplements that can be helpful for your osteoarthritis diet:

Chondroitin and glucosamine: When these 2 are taken together, they can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms like pain, swelling, and stiffness. However, the results of certain studies on chondroitin and glucosamine have been mixed. Although chondroitin helps keep the cartilage healthy, and glucosamine can help rebuild the cartilage, the jury is still out on these supplements.

Keep in mind that if possible, don't just focus on an anti-inflammatory diet for knee osteoarthritis. It is still best that you eat a well-balanced diet, especially the one that supports eating healthy foods and maintaining a healthy weight.