5 foods you should be eating for a healthy joints

As bipedal animals, our locomotion depends entirely on the proper functioning of our joints. From walking to the grocery store, running on the beach, or dancing to celebrate a special occasion – the activities we take for granted can get marred by pain and discomfort when enough attention is not paid to the health of our joints, and can lead to chronic and painful conditions like Arthritis. With modern life being increasingly spent either in front of or bending down to look at an illuminated screen of some sort, shoulder joint pain, back pain and knee pain are becoming common symptoms of our sedentary lifestyles.

Whether it is niggling joint pain, or chronic arthritis, overall lifestyle changes and diet modification can work in conjunction with therapy to provide relief. Today, let's look at some common foods that can ameliorate joint pain.

Almonds have anti-inflammatory properties and are a rich source of Vitamin E, which helps in the management of arthritis related pain. They are also an excellent source of mono-saturated fats, making them low in calorific value. Snacking on almonds can keep weight gain at bay, which can also ameliorate arthritis related symptoms.

The poster child for healthy eating, apples are a source of anti-inflammatory agents, and can help with joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.

Do you look forward to your afternoon brew of Green Tea? Excellent. Green Tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is a natural antioxidant that can prevent the accumulation of inflammatory chemicals in the body and prevent the flare-up of arthritis.

Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which is why it is such an important part of eastern medicine, diet and rituals. The active ingredient in turmeric, Curcumin, is as potent as synthetic Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) for pain relief, but without the side-effects of NSAIDs. There are now natural dietary supplements available for joint pain and arthritis that contain standardized extracts of the active ingredients in Turmeric, eliminating the need for ingesting synthetic drugs with side-effects.