6 foods that can help you live well with arthrits

If you have arthritis, these six foods can help you live pain free.

By: Naini Setalvad | | Updated: January 27, 2017 11:49 am

If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, then you probably know that the condition can be quite debilitating. Along with all the pain and discomfort comes the inability to move and do daily activities that you love. Also Read - Rheumatoid arthritis can be debilitating: Say goodbye to joint pain with curcumin in your diet

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So, if you are tired of making every move with the fear of pain, here is something you ought to know — arthritis can be managed well with simply eating the right foods. Here are some tips on eating right from our expert Naini Setalvad, a renowned dietician. Also Read - Winter workout tips: Why your muscles and joints hurt more in cold weather?

Foods you should eat

Spice it up

Vegetables such as garlic and onions are perfect additions to your diet. Ideally you should combine them with ginger. I would even suggest simply chewing on ginger all day long that truly helps! In addition, stock up on the chilli family, ranging from the fresh green chillies to capsicum. You could also use more spices such as cloves and cinnamon.

Try some variety in your rotis

When it comes to your rotis, try those made of jowar, nachani and bajra. They are great for your arthritis-ridden joints because they contain nutrients that help ease the problem.

All fats are not bad

You also need healthy fats to soothe your joints – the kind present in nuts and seeds like walnuts, cashew nuts, pistachios etc. Seeds include sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and flax seeds. Cook your food in extra virgin olive oil and don t forget to dab some ghee on your rotis. If you do not like ghee you could eat some coconut flesh as a substitute. These fats not only help lubricate the joints, but they also help absorb certain vitamins which help keep your joints healthy and pain free.

Those you should avoid

Avoid some sour foods

As far as possible, avoid tomatoes, lemon, amla, imli, dairy products and wheat as these foods could possibly worsen the pain in your joints. However, the worst part about this is the fact that cutting some of these foods could deprive you of Vitamin C. As a result you must ensure that you eat enough guavas and kokum in your daily diet. This will not only keep your vitamin C levels up, it also helps fight inflammation.

Shun white foods

Other foods that you should avoid are white flour, white sugar and table salt. Make the switch from white sugar to natural sweeteners like jaggery and dates. You could also replace your white salt with rock salt and sea salt. These salts contain additional minerals that are not available in white table salt, and the minerals are known to heal.

Keep a tab on your vitamins

In addition to all the healthy changes, you should also keep a regular tab on your vitamin B 12 and vitamin D 3 levels; the latter being slightly more important in the case of arthritis. If they are low, consult a physician and have the supplements as required, since low vitamin B12 and vitamin D3 levels are a sure shot sign of arthritis.

And finally remember that these foods do not replace medications and exercise. Consult a doctor and get on the road to a pain-free life.

Image source: Getty Images

Published : March 19, 2015 6:50 pm | Updated:January 27, 2017 11:49 am